20 Classic American Motels That Look Like They’re Straight Out of the ‘60s, Two in Pennsylvania

The 1960s were a golden era for road trips within Pennsylvania and around the country.

Families loaded into station wagons, rolled the windows down, and cruised down Route 66 with paper maps and no cell phones.

When it came time to rest, roadside motels were the go-to. And luckily for us, many of these mid-century marvels are still standing today.

Some have been lovingly restored to their retro roots, while others have barely changed since the John F. Kennedy years.

Whether you’re into neon lights, kidney-shaped pools, or tiki flair, these classic American motels will transport you straight back to the swinging ‘60s, no time machine required.

Note: In an era where artificial intelligence is making it difficult to be an independent publisher, your support means the world to us. This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The Blue Swallow Motel – Tucumcari, New Mexico

The Blue Swallow Motel is legendary. Opened in 1939, it really came into its own in the 1960s, when Route 66 was booming.

Today, the curved neon sign, pastel paint, and cozy carports remain gloriously intact. Walk into a room and you’ll see vintage rotary phones, pink tiled bathrooms, and even built-in garages for your car.

But it’s more than the looks.

The owners have kept the spirit of the ’60s alive with handwritten welcome notes, old-school hospitality, and a community of travelers who bond over a shared love of the past.

You almost expect someone to hand you a glass bottle of Coca-Cola when you check in.

It’s pure Americana, wrapped in turquoise and neon glow.

Book your stay at Blue Swallow Motel here.

The Coral Sands Inn – Ormond Beach, Florida

Beachgoers in the ’60s loved motels like this.

The Coral Sands Inn opened in the early 1960s and still looks like a postcard from the era.

There’s the classic pastel-pink stucco, the bright-blue shutters, and a beachfront view that hasn’t changed since families toted coolers and transistor radios to the sand.

Rooms keep it simple and breezy, with retro furniture and large windows to soak in the ocean air. The pool sits right next to the beach, surrounded by loungers that look like they’ve been plucked from a vintage Sears catalog.

It’s the kind of place that makes you want to wear cat-eye sunglasses and pretend it’s 1962.

Book your stay at Coral Sands Inn here.

The Orbit In – Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs is like a living museum of mid-century cool, and the Orbit In fits right in.

Originally built in the 1950s and given a loving ’60s-style restoration, this nine-room boutique motel is the definition of atomic-age chic.

Think turquoise doors, vintage barware, and a cocktail hour by the pool every evening.

Even the music is retro. There’s usually a loungey soundtrack playing softly through outdoor speakers. If you close your eyes, you might imagine Frank Sinatra stepping out of the pool with a martini in hand.

It’s hip, it’s stylish, and somehow, it feels like home.

Book your stay at Orbit In here.

The Austin Motel – Austin, Texas

This motel knows what it is, and it leans all the way in.

The Austin Motel has been around since the 1930s, but it fully embraced its funky ’60s style over the years. Its iconic phallic neon sign has become something of a tourist attraction, and the motel itself is pure retro gold.

Inside, you’ll encounter colorful wallpaper, mod-inspired furniture, and a sense of humor.

Outside, you’ll find a palm-tree-lined pool, shaded patios, and one of the coolest lounging scenes in Texas.

It’s part roadside motel, part Instagram dream, and all retro charm.

Book your stay at The Austin Motel here.

The Sea View Inn – Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

This one’s a little quieter, but just as classic for the ’60s.

The Sea View Inn has that unassuming elegance that was common in the early ’60s. Think white clapboard siding, breezy curtains, and simple coastal decor.

It doesn’t scream “retro,” but it whispers it beautifully.

Set on a quiet street near the beach, the Sea View feels like a secret hideaway for old souls. Rooms are cozy, often with antique touches, and you’ll wake up to the sounds of gulls and the salty breeze coming through the window.

It’s the motel equivalent of a soft linen dress and a good paperback book.

Book your stay at The Sea View Inn here.

The Galaxy Motel – Brooklyn, New York

Yes, even Brooklyn has a retro motel worth mentioning.

The Galaxy Motel may not be fancy, but its signage and layout are straight out of the ’60s playbook. Located in East New York, it once catered to road-trippers coming off the Belt Parkway before it was swallowed by urban expansion.

Today, the pink neon sign still flashes above a low-slung building that refuses to modernize.

There’s a gritty charm to it all, and you half expect a ’64 Impala to pull in with a family of five headed to Coney Island.

The Galaxy Motel is proof that not everything has to be polished to be nostalgic.

Book your stay at The Galaxy Motel here.

The Skyview Los Alamos – Los Alamos, California

Perched on a hillside along California’s Highway 101, the Skyview is a former ’60s motor lodge with new life and old bones.

Its neon sign, desert color palette, and carport-covered rooms scream mid-century.

But inside, you’ll find just the right blend of retro and modern: typewriter-style signage, cocktail kits, and rotary phones that still work.

The pool, framed by lounge chairs and hillside views, gives you that sense of calm road trip adventure. This is where you’d stop for a night and end up staying for three.

And yes, you can still park right outside your door.

Book your stay at The Skyview Los Alamos here.

The Lincoln Motor Court – Manns Choice, Pennsylvania

Tucked in the Allegheny Mountains, the Lincoln Motor Court is a time capsule with heart.

Built in the 1940s and modernized just enough in the ’60s, it still features its original cottages, each one a separate little unit with its own charm.

The wood-paneled interiors, floral curtains, and formica-topped tables feel like something straight out of a black-and-white family photo album.

There’s no pool or fancy amenities here. Just warm hospitality, mountain air, and the sense that you’ve stepped back in time to a simpler kind of road trip.

If you’re looking for authenticity, this is the real deal.

Book your stay at The Lincoln Motor Court here.

The Hi-Lo Motel – Weed, California

You’ll know it when you see it—the sign alone is worth the stop.

The Hi-Lo Motel looks like a film set from a Route 66 movie. Its large retro neon sign, bold red-and-white color scheme, and drive-up doors give it that unmistakable mid-century energy.

Inside, things are modest but clean, with wood accents and throwback touches like floral bedspreads and old-school lamps.

Equally as charming? There’s a diner next door with pancakes that taste just like they did in 1965.

You can almost smell the motor oil and coffee when you pull in.

Book your stay at The Hi-Lo Motel here.

The Thunderbird Inn – Savannah, Georgia

Southern hospitality meets groovy roadside flair.

The Thunderbird Inn has been around since 1964 and still greets guests with MoonPies and RC Cola at check-in.

The neon thunderbird sign is a showstopper, and the rest of the property leans hard into retro culture, from its comic book artwork to its throwback vending machines.

The rooms come with lava lamps, rotary phones, and a sense of fun. It’s playful without feeling forced, exactly how motels in the ’60s were intended to be.

The Thunderbird Inn is one of the few places in America where you’ll wake up in 2025 and feel like it’s 1969.

Book your stay at The Thunderbird Inn here.

The Bel-Aire Motel – Missoula, Montana

This one’s easy to miss but worth pulling over for.

The Bel-Aire Motel has been quietly sitting in Missoula since the early 1960s. Its sign, with its cursive red letters and classic arrow shape, hasn’t changed since the Beatles were still a bar band.

The Bel-Aire’s rooms are small but functional, and the whole place gives off a blue-collar, working-road-trip kind of charm.

There’s no attempt to modernize, and that’s the appeal.

It’s the kind of place your dad probably stayed during a cross-country trip with his college buddies… and it’s still there waiting for the next one.

Book your stay at The Bel-Aire Motel here.

The Shady Dell – Bisbee, Arizona

Okay, this one’s not technically a motel. But it might be the coolest ’60s lodging in America.

The Shady Dell is a vintage trailer park where you can stay in restored Airstreams, buses, and even a 1947 Chris-Craft yacht.

The trailers are decked out in ’50s and ’60s memorabilia. Think chenille bedspreads, Bakelite radios, and tiki mugs galore.

There’s even a diner-style kitchen trailer where you can grab a slice of pie or a root beer float. Every inch of this place is committed to the mid-century.

Book your stay at The Shady Dell here.

The Thunderbird Motel – Treasure Island, Florida

The moment you step onto the Thunderbird Motel’s property, it feels like nothing has changed since 1963.

The Thunderbird’s enormous neon sign glows like a beacon, pointing travelers toward tiki torches, palm trees, and that ever-alluring heated pool. It’s a mid-century Florida dream: bright, bold, and beachy.

Many rooms still feature wood-paneled walls and furniture that might remind you of your aunt’s old condo.

There’s even a shuffleboard court, which makes you wonder why we ever stopped playing.

It’s not just a motel. It’s a throwback to the heyday of Floridian fun.

Book your stay at The Thunderbird Motel here.

The Red Caboose Motel – Ronks, Pennsylvania

Have you ever wanted to sleep in a train car from the past? Now’s your chance.

The Red Caboose Motel opened in the ’70s but is themed like a 1960s roadside attraction.

Guests stay inside real train cabooses, each painted in authentic railroad colors and equipped with vintage décor that makes the experience feel cozy.

There’s even an on-site dining car that serves up diner classics. It’s kitschy, quirky, and a whole lot of fun—exactly the kind of family memory people sought out on road trips decades ago.

Don’t miss the chance to climb up and ring the bell!

Book your stay at The Red Caboose Motel here.

The Starlux Boutique Hotel – Wildwood, New Jersey

Wildwood was the summer capital of ’60s fun, and the Starlux knows it.

This spot was designed as a tribute to the Doo-Wop architecture that once ruled the Jersey Shore. Neon lights, curved metal awnings, and space-age lamps make it feel like you’re walking into a Jetsons beach episode.

Rooms come with lava lamps, bubble chairs, and bold, colorful linens.

The pool area has that kidney-bean shape you’d expect, and there are free bikes to ride along the boardwalk.

It’s part beach vacation, part retro museum, and all heart.

Book your stay at Starlux Boutique Hotel here.

The Wigwam Motel – Holbrook, Arizona

“Have you slept in a wigwam lately?” That was the motto in the 1960s, and it still holds up.

This roadside treasure is one of the last remaining Wigwam Villages in the U.S.

Built in the 1950s and wildly popular into the ’60s, it features concrete teepees you can actually sleep in. Each one comes with a bed, bathroom, and a window that looks out on old Route 66.

The parking lot is often lined with classic cars, many of which belong to guests just as enchanted by the past as you are.

Inside, it’s basic but charming, just like it would have been when your grandparents first pulled in.

You’ll feel like you’re part of an old postcard when you stay there.

Book your stay at The Wigwam Motel here.

The Palms Motel – Portland, Oregon

Sometimes the simplest places hold the most character.

The Palms Motel sits on North Interstate Avenue and hasn’t changed much since its 1960s heyday.

The pink and turquoise sign still glows bright, and the small rooms offer just enough nostalgia to feel charming without sacrificing comfort.

It’s the kind of place where you’d crash after a long drive, toss your keys on the side table, and flip through channels on a rabbit-ear TV.

There’s even a small neon palm tree out front to welcome you home. You’ll feel like you’re in a Polaroid.

Book your stay at The Palms Motel here.

The Madonna Inn – San Luis Obispo, California

No motel is quite as groovy (or as outrageous) as the Madonna Inn.

Built in 1958 and expanded through the early ’60s, this pink palace is famous for its themed rooms.

Want to sleep in a room covered in gold leaf? Done.

Prefer a rock-walled bathroom with a waterfall shower? They’ve got that too.

The exterior is just as bold, with bubblegum pink balconies and wild landscaping. But perhaps the most iconic part is the dining room, where hot pink chairs and crystal chandeliers set the mood for a meal that feels like a prom from another decade.

It’s kitsch, camp, and California magic, all rolled into one unforgettable stop.

Book your stay at The Madonna Inn here.

The Roadrunner Lodge – Tucumcari, New Mexico

Another gem from Route 66, the Roadrunner Lodge embraces its 1964 roots with gusto.

Retro wallpaper, chenille bedspreads, and restored vintage furniture fill each room, while outdoor speakers play era-appropriate music.

The owners even encourage guests to grab a glass bottle of soda and sit outside like it’s the summer of ’65.

There’s no fancy lobby or resort spa here. Just a lot of heart, nostalgia, and that deep American love for the open road.

And yes, the Roadrunner mascot makes a few surprise appearances, too.

Book your stay at The Roadrunner Lodge here.

The Tiki Resort – Lake George, New York

Tiki culture was huge in the ’60s, and this place has never let go.

The Tiki Resort features Polynesian décor, torches, statues, and thatched roofs, all designed to make you feel like you’ve stepped into a tropical dream.

Built in 1964, it still hosts retro events like luau shows and car conventions.