Route 66 Motels

Route 66 Motels. . As automobiles became a popular mode of travel for leisure-seekers, early "auto-enthusiasts" camped along the roadside or in organized tourist campgrounds. Beginning in the 1920s, motor courts and motels developed along busier highways to provide affordable accommodations for families and individuals. Typically located outside of city centers, the motor hotel included rows of freestanding cabins or attached rooms arranged around a courtyard. The motel was often one part of a larger complex that also included a restaurant, a service station, and sometimes a swimming pool. There was ample parking in front of each room or sometimes in an attached garage.

The number of roadside motels soared through the 1930s and again after World War Il, following the rise in automobile ownership. As Americans enjoyed the prosperity and freedom of the post-war period, the number of motels in the United States quadrupled.

To attract customers, motel operators erected giant signs to catch the attention of travelers. Typically an elaborate neon display helped to communicate the motel's quality and range of services.