10 Revamped Motor Lodges for Your Next Road Trip
During the golden age of automobile travel, motor lodges sprang up along America’s highways, cementing a longstanding travel trend. In recent years, many of these vintage motels have been reimagined for a new generation of road trippers, transforming themselves from aging roadside motels into hip boutique hotels. Some honor the motels’ mid-century architecture but infuse the properties with modern design. Others have been completely renovated to evoke another time or place altogether. In either case, travelers will find swanky new digs rebuilt from the relics of a past era. For your next California road trip, why not pull into one of these destination-worthy motor lodges for a truly inspired stay?
Petit Soleil
Originally built in 1952 as the Don Motel in San Luis Obispo, what is now Petit Soleil has been reimagined several times since its early days as a popular stopping point between San Francisco and Los Angeles. In the 1960s, the motel was renovated into an odd combination of a mid-century motor lodge and a Southwestern bed and breakfast called the Adobe Inn. Four decades later, in 2002, John and Dianne Conner transformed the aging property into a B&B inspired by the south of France. In April 2024, the newest owners, Misty Orman Ristaino and Brandon Ristaino, unveiled an impressive renovation that tops all previous incarnations. Building upon its European-inspired charm, the newly revamped boutique hotel blends nostalgic design elements with wit and a modern sensibility. Guests will find bold wallpapers, retro telephones, thoughtfully designed custom furnishings, and gorgeous new baths. The rooms also feature elevated minibars with local wines and house-made bottled cocktails.
Viking Inn
With a front cottage built by Danish immigrants in 1920 and palm trees planted around the same time, the Viking Inn has long been a part of Solvang’s Danish cultural history. When new owners Angie and Matt took over last year, the former motor lodge was showing its age, so they set out to transform the property into a hip-yet-affordable motel. A month into renovations, the Magnolia/Discovery+ network invited the inn to be showcased on the first season of “Motel Rescue.” With a modern Danish vibe and clean, simple rooms that open to a large, shared courtyard, the inn now features relaxing outdoor spaces with fire pits. In addition to a convenient location within easy walking distance to the village’s shops, bakeries, and restaurants, every stay at the inn comes with pastries from a local Danish bakery, complimentary bikes, and a two-for-one tasting passport to over 25 Santa Ynez Valley tasting rooms, breweries, and wine bars.
Harbor House Inn
Just a block from West Beach in Santa Barbara, Harbor House Inn is an unexpectedly cool find. The family-owned and operated inn is housed in a completely revamped motor lodge, the perfect complement to its prime beach location just steps from Stearns Wharf, Downtown Santa Barbara, and the famous Funk Zone shopping and dining district. The inn features 17 one-of-a-kind kitchen suites decorated with neutral tones and upscale furnishings, alongside thoughtful amenities like super-fast Wi-Fi and smart TVs. In true motor lodge fashion, the inn’s suites all open to a cobblestone motor court anchored by a huge palm tree. Drawn to its clean aesthetic, superior value, and down-to-earth hospitality (think “first names and high fives”), guests of the refreshed property enjoy amenities that help create a fun Santa Barbara experience, including refillable water bottles, complimentary beach gear, and cruiser bikes.
Hotel Ynez
On a stretch of highway between Solvang and Santa Ynez, the former Meadowlark Inn was rejuvenated as a rustic-chic wine country escape. The new Hotel Ynez, which opened in March of 2021, exudes a tranquil, yet sophisticated vibe. The hotel’s redesign was helmed by Kimberly Walker of the Nomada Hotel Group, which seeks to create authentic hospitality experiences for guests by repurposing historic spaces in collaboration with local artisans. The bright, spacious guest rooms feature a tapestry of global and local art and furnishings from Morocco, Oaxaca, and Santa Barbara. The rooms open to patios strung with woven hammocks overlooking a garden courtyard. Beneath the shade of sprawling,100-year-old oak trees, the courtyard features a bocce ball court, romantic loungers, and fire pits for enjoying an evening under the stars.
Haley Hotel
The soul of Haley Hotel has always been rooted in exploration. The hotel was named after famous sea captain Salisbury Haley, who in 1850 was chosen to survey the city of Santa Barbara. Captain Haley’s original map of meandering streets and uneven parcels still contributes to the city’s character today, giving him the nickname “The Crooked Captain.” In recent years, the former motor lodge has evolved into a hip boutique hotel with a sprawling courtyard designed for play and relaxation. The refreshed guest rooms feature nautical design elements, modern furnishings, and amenities sourced from local artisans. Thoughtfully designed courtyards feature multiple outdoor living rooms with fire pits plus games such as ping pong, foosball, cornhole, and chess on an oversized chess board. Just a block from State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, the hotel is a short walk to the ocean, along with the city’s best restaurants, coffee shops, cocktail bars, and attractions. The hotel is the perfect respite after a day of exploring.
Skyview Los Alamos
Skyview Los Alamos is an iconic 1950s roadside motel turned luxurious boutique resort in the Santa Ynez Valley. Perched on a hilltop with stunning views of wine country, the five-acre outpost merges mid-century style with modern rustic chic. Nomada Hotel Group retained the mid-century architecture and heated pool but transformed the previously rundown motel with modern design and luxe amenities. The renovated rooms feature hardwood floors, flat panel televisions, down duvets, leather club chairs, and marble-clad bathrooms. Many rooms have indoor fireplaces and private patios with stunning views. The resort also features a full restaurant and bar with poolside service, complimentary bikes for cruising into town, and a working vineyard. Guests are greeted with a glass of house rosé made from the pinot noir grapes grown on-site.
Wildflower Boutique Motel
Along Highway 1 in Point Arena on the Mendocino Coast, the Wildflower Boutique Motel had previously been an abandoned roadside motel. But new owner Jeff Hansen transformed the old motel into a cozy, eco-friendly getaway with blooming gardens and modern décor. The motel’s 14 guest rooms pay tribute to local wildflowers and feature custom furniture crafted from wind-fallen cypress trees, natural stone flooring, updated baths, organic cotton linens, and solar-powered, on-demand tankless water heaters. Solar arrays atop the motel’s roof generate roughly 60 percent of the motel’s electricity and each parking spot at the motel has its very own EV charging station. The inviting outdoor spaces feature walkways and patios lined with native blooms.
Blue Sands Inn
Just steps from Santa Barbara’s famous East Beach and within walking distance of great restaurants, the zoo, the wharf, and the famed Funk Zone, the Blue Sands Inn is located in one of Santa Barbara’s most desirable neighborhoods. Rooms at the inn overlook an inviting pool flanked by comfortable lounge chairs, and many feature kitchens, patios, and ocean views. Inside, guests will find upscale, beach-inspired décor, with neutral color palettes and natural accents. The boutique hotel is dedicated to supporting and showcasing the work of local artists and artisans, including custom-made furnishings, countertops made from local hand-milled wood, and rotating art featuring new artists each month. Combined, the inn’s location, amenities, and décor are designed to integrate Santa Barbara’s unique, creative community into the guest experience.
Inn at Moonlight Beach
Near the beach in Encinitas, the Inn at Moonlight Beach had originally been built in the 1970s as a motel-style bed and breakfast. The building underwent a series of expansions and then fell into disrepair. When Mike and Shangwen Kennedy purchased the property in 2017, it had suffered from years of neglect and a withered landscape. The Kennedys gutted the property and made extensive state-of-the-art renovations to modernize the inn and become the first WELL Certified hotel in the world. They also revived the landscape to create a lush and sustainable biodynamic urban farm. The resulting property, which reopened in 2018, exudes a calming influence from the moment guests enter. The inn’s modern, minimalist design incorporates elements of Feng Shui and offers an inspiring setting in harmony with nature.
Hamlet Inn
Amid the Danish bakeries and windmills in downtown Solvang, Hamlet Inn is a former motor lodge turned budget-friendly hipster haven. The 15-room inn was revamped in 2011 by Kenny Osehan (CEO & Founder of the Shelter Social Club), who has developed a knack for transforming aging properties into works of art rooted in their destinations. The guest rooms have a minimalist aesthetic featuring modern Danish furnishings, electric blue accent walls, and Danish flag-inspired throws. Outside, the inn offers an outdoor gazebo, bocce ball, and complimentary bicycles for cruising around town. “When you inherit a structure with good bones and an old soul, it makes it easy to create a space when personality is already built into the property,” said Osehan. “All you have to do is enhance what the original architecture screams for, and make sure it complements the town or environment it lives in.”