Retro design enthusiasts often look for a step back in time, and the New South Motor Inn in Madison, Georgia, provides exactly that. Constructed in the 1950s, this roadside motel retains a classic style with rooms where guests can drive right up to the door. The decor offers a charmingly dated midcentury aesthetic while still providing modern amenities for comfort. Similarly, the Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona, sits prominently along Route 66. It captures the true aesthetic of traditional roadside lodging with extensive drive-up rooms and bold colors. The property balances this carefree spirit with practical touches like pool access, lawn activities, bikes, and telescopes for exploration, along with convenient chargers for electric vehicles. Further along the same historic corridor, the High Country Motor Lodge in Flagstaff, Arizona, offers a retreat for those driving through rugged Northern Arizona. The retreat offers vintage style with contemporary amenities and was designed with wellness in mind. There’s plenty to do on-site, from stargazing to relaxing in Arizona’s first Nordic spa.
Several properties focus on immersion in the natural world rather than urban centers. Scribner’s Catskill Lodge in Hunter, New York, was originally a Dirty Dancing-style resort known for its iconic dance floor. Just off Route 23A, this 38-room bespoke hotel welcomes “urban explorers” with a warm, raised interior and easy access to nature trails that wind through the surrounding woods for miles. In Franklin, Tennessee, Southall Farm & Inn occupies 325 acres of lush land. Located just a few minutes off Carters Creek Pike, this roadside hotel encourages guests to reconnect with nature and immerse themselves in the surrounding farmland. With a healing spa and restaurant that offers fresh, seasonal fare using ingredients that were farmed just steps away, this retreat is a destination itself. Off the North Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, California, Hotel Joaquin awaits your arrival. This playful roadside hotel captures a refreshing aesthetic that is a combination of St. Barths, 1950’s Southern California beach culture, and timeless Mediterranean style, offering refreshing pools and luxurious in-room massages. Finally, Wildflower Farms in Gardiner, New York, serves as an Auberge resort and spa just 90 minutes from New York City. As the name suggests, this roadside hotel sits in an 140-acre meadow of native wildflowers. There, guests can unwind and reconnect with nature while taking advantage of the Thistle spa, pool, hiking trails, gorgeous interiors, and farm-to-table feasts they call “Progressive Dining Experiences.”
In practice, these stays encourage a significantly slower pace of travel that invites relaxation. They shift the focus entirely from checking off landmarks to simply being present in a unique environment. Whether the location is a quiet meadow or a historic lodge, the experience creates a deep feeling of place that separates the stay from daily life. Luxury refinements often accompany these nature-focused getaways to ensure maximum comfort. At the corner of U.S. Highway 64 and Main Street in Highlands, North Carolina, the Old Edwards Inn & Spa boasts beautiful architecture, relaxing amenities, and stunning surroundings. A Relais & Châteaux property that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is nestled alongside the Blue Ridge Mountains, so your outdoor activities will be as grand as your indoor options. In Vermont, Twin Farms sits on the Royalton Turnpike as a pristine roadside estate and another ultra-luxe Relais & Châteaux property. Each of the 28 rooms is different, but you can expect to find beautiful artwork, cozy but luxurious bedding, and stunning architecture in each space. Not to mention, you get to wake up in the bucolic countryside each morning you’re there.
Luxury refinements often accompany these nature-focused getaways to ensure maximum comfort. Some properties blend high-end comfort with outdoor adventure seamlessly. Guests find that the combination of modern luxury and rustic surroundings provides a restorative escape from the noise of modern living and the stress of work.
