The Legacy of Roadside Motels in the USA

For as long as I can remember, roadside motels in the USA have fascinated me. As the popularity of motor vehicles boomed in the 1920s, and cross-country highways broadened the horizons; it led to roadside communities popping up along these arterial roots. The transitory nature of the passing trade, and the adventure of a cross-country road trip makes me wonder what tales these properties could tell.

Not that there are many of those gems left. Once interstates took over, there was little need for the family-run one-storey drive-ups. However, what I have found over many road trips in America is that the legacy of roadside motels and the spirit of the hey-day of road-tripping is still alive and well; albeit manifested in modern, more WiFi-enabled ways.

In this article I will weave some well-known history (referenced) into a reflection on the broader road-trip paradigm; and of course some personal stories along the way.

History of the Motor Hotel

A seed is sown

The evolution from camping along the highways to something a little more sturdy happened at the tail end of the Great Depression. The search from dustbowl to a hope was taken by motor car. And for those looking for something more modest and accessible than a hotel, car-friendly lodgings started to appear. Humble groups of cabins and cottage court style lodgings laid the foundations of the motel legacy.

It was during this era that the now legendary Route 66 was built (it was started in 1926, and finished some time in the late 30s); bringing supplies and opportunities through the mid-west.

Then World War II struck. And for a time, there is a pause on motoring for fun.

The post-war boom

As Andrew Wood explains for the Smithsonian, Eisenhower’s vast network of post-war interstate highways, inspired by the German road network, allowed even easier road-tripping. By the late 50s and early 1960s, cross country road trips were a breeze. And motels had evolved too.

This is where the sweetest gems in motel history fall away, because the interstate roads breezed right past them. Towns that existed on this passing trade, and motels that were only viable because of their positions were suddenly bypassed and out of business. Just look at what happened to Harland Sanders (yes, that Sanders) Cafe and Motel in Cobin, Kentucky, once interstate 75 was built.

And while taking the back roads and seeing the little towns isn’t logistically or financially viable for the economy of a country; it sure changed the course for small town America.

Last of a dying breed

While the historic 18th century inns of the US were revered and preserved, the modern motel structures didn’t fare so well. In the moment, as the interstates bypassed them and the money ran out, nobody was thinking ‘one day this is going to be road trip heritage’.

The nostalgia tourism opportunities for a dying Route 66 hadn’t even been imagined, and all that was left were communities disintegrating. It wasn’t until the late 70s and early 80s, when the final pieces of the I40 interstate through Arizona cut the feet out from under places like Seligman, did the notion of a historic route through these places take hold.

A welcome renaissance

Now, I am not going to touch on the indy vs. chain debate in this article, as that adds another layer of decimation of the Mom & Pop motels. However, there are now instances where chains are renovating or acquiring old-school motel style drive-ups (think Best Western), realising that nostalgia tourism is very much alive and well in road trip culture.

For me, there is an inextricable connection between roadside motels and that sense of hope and opportunity that we chase on a cross-country road trip. Some of our favourite North American memories involve sitting out on mismatched chairs on shared motel porches or stoops, watching traffic and people roll on by. Where are they heading? What are their stories? And do they have the same dreams as us?

Motel Folklore

While it’s tempting to lean into that scary, run-down, Bates Motel trope; we shan’t… I want to convince you to revisit the motel style road trip, not run from it! Albeit, that era of financial hardship, communities breaking down and abandoned motel buildings are surely the stuff of nightmares; (as Kara and Nate discovered in Two Kings, Arizona – see vid, 9:55 minute mark).

Try to think back to how it was in the 1920s and 30s, when new roads and motor cars saw mass migration and opportunities grasped by millions of hopeful souls. To the 40s, when vacations by road opened up small-town America. In the land we now know as the burger capital of the world, how awesome is the history of drive-in diners and movie theatres of the 1950s.

I’ve spoken before about falling in love with the landscapes of the USA; but it was the folklore of motel and road trip culture that has me spellbound. When communities are built on the back of dreams, how can they not be captivating?

Tales from the road

Some of my most marvellous travel memories are punctuated by roadside motel stays. It isn’t like much actually happens at these pitstops, but it all weaves into the road trip experience. If I can drive up to a motel reception, get given a key and then can park outside my given unit; well, by gosh, I’m in motor hotel heaven!

Kitch is best

• When searching for roadside accommodation, I lean into the kitschy side of things. There’s nothing better than a motel that embraces the quirkiest sides of the motel legacy. Ridiculous neon signs are a true measure of a motel, as are silly names. Two points for the Fawlty Towers Motel in Cocoa Beach for being so kitsch it was actually cool. Check out Charles McCool’s tips for choosing a motel.

Watching the world go by

• By nature of their roadside locations, motels are marvellous for watching the world go by. I remember sitting outside our motel in Kanab, Utah (pictured above), in 95F temps, drinking iced coffee spiked with bourbon and in awe of the hummingbirds flitting around. We chatted to other guests, to the motel owner, and just watched the town go about its business.

Rocky Mountain gourmet

• Ok, so this one’s from Canada, not the USA… don’t be mad. One of our favourite things to do after a long drive is order some delivery food and just sit on the porch of a motel with a beverage of the alcohol variety. After discovering the absolute delight of the chainsaw statue trail in Hope, BC, we continued on to Revelstoke. Upon perusing the menus in the motel room (another great way to support roadside communities), we ordered some food for delivery from a local pub. I was surprised to see an asian quinoa salad on the menu of a small-town pub. Combined with the rye whiskey and dry ginger ale I had to drink that evening, while looking out from our 1st floor motel verandah / walkway; it was perfection.

Jackson Hole

• Anyone who has travelled to Jackson Hole knows how expensive it is to stay there. Our modest drive-up was called The Alpine Motel; and if located anywhere other than here, would be the usual roadside price. But here, it was a similar cost to a night in San Francisco. But, Jackson Hole is hands down one of the most fun nights out we’ve had on our travels. Saloons, live music, line dancing, saddles for seats, and the friendliest of locals! I have the notepad and pen from the Alpine Inn on my desk as I write this (you’re supposed to take them, right?).

And don’t get me started on how random motels in the middle of nowhere; (Tomahawk Motorlodge in the Wind River Reservation, Riverton, and the Imperial Inn Ramada in Medicine Hat, Canada); have had some of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in!

The Legacy of Roadside Motels in the USA

I realise that with these gushy odes to the American road trip legacy are also surrounded by heartache, economic failures, and lost communities. So whilst we can look back and enjoy the nostalgia trip; it is worth noting that roadside motels are somewhat the phoenix out of the ashes of road trip lore. Not every community recovered, and we must be mindful of that.

But the legacy of roadside motels in the USA is, undeniably, a strong one. Certainly in relation to the parallels with earlier journeys and migrations out west. And as we move into the renewable energy space and limitation of fossil fuels, I do wonder how we might see road trip travel evolve. And what that might mean for the roadside motels of the future.

If road trips are your jam, here are some tips for road trip planning!

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.