This little white motor court has serious star power. Opened in 1939 in sleek Streamline Moderne style, Boots Court still glows with black glass trim and green neon at the “Crossroads of America.” Inside, rooms are restored to their 1940s vibe, right down to the chenille bedspreads and that famous “radio in every room.” It feels like checking into a black-and-white movie, in the best way.

Stone cottages, crooked chimneys, and glowing neon? Yep, you’ve found Cuba’s long-running Wagon Wheel Motel. Operating since the mid-1930s and billed as Route 66’s oldest continuously operating motel, it mixes serious history with serious porch-sitting. Expect cobblestone cabins, shady lawns, fire-pit patios and an on-site boutique full of Route 66 loot.

If you’ve ever dreamed of sleeping inside a Wild West movie set, mosey over to the Big Texan Motel. The 54-room property is built like an Old West main street and sits right next to the Big Texan Steak Ranch, home of the infamous 72-ounce-steak-if-you-can-finish-it challenge. Expect saloon doors, bold cowboy décor, and parking so close you can practically roll from your room to your ribeye.

Quite possibly the world’s most photogenic motor court, the 1939 Blue Swallow is all pink stucco, attached garages, and neon promising “100% Refrigerated Air.” The sign alone is a Route 66 icon, and the rooms lean hard into 1950s nostalgia without skimping on modern comfort. Park under your own little carport, snap a million blue-hour photos, then sit outside and watch the glow of the sign do its thing.

El Rancho is where Route 66 meets Old Hollywood. Built in 1937 as a lodge for Western film crews, it hosted stars like John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn, who still stare down from the lobby’s photo-lined walls. The grand staircase, timber beams, and Navajo rugs make it feel like a movie set, only with a restaurant, bar, and plenty of cozy corners for star-spotting and people-watching.

La Posada is Fred Harvey’s 1930 desert showpiece brought gloriously back to life. Architect Mary Colter considered this her masterpiece, and it shows, from the hand-carved details to the shady courtyards. Today, it doubles as an art hotel with galleries, lawns that roll right to the tracks, and the Turquoise Room restaurant, turning train-spotting into fine dining.

Why stay in a normal hotel when you can sleep in a concrete teepee? Holbrook’s Wigwam Motel, also known as Wigwam Village #6, has fifteen cone-shaped units arranged around a classic neon sign and a lineup of vintage cars. Built in 1950, it is one of just three surviving Wigwam Villages in the country.

Flagstaff’s Hotel Monte Vista is equal parts vintage glamour and ghost story central. Opened in 1927 along the original Route 66 alignment, it has hosted everyone from John Wayne to presidents, plus, if the legends are true, a few permanent spectral guests. Ask staff about the phantom bellboy who knocks, calls “room service,” then vanishes.

Route 66 Motel in Barstow is basically an open-air Route 66 museum that just happens to rent rooms. Dating to the 1920s, this retro stop shows off a famous neon shield sign, a parade of vintage cars, and, in some rooms, wonderfully kitschy round beds. Inside, you get simple, comfy digs with modern basics.