Motel Safari was the highlight of my entire trip on Route 66! A beautiful building right on the historic road, in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Known as the inspiration for "Radiator Springs" in the Disney movie Cars, it was an incredible stop to the heart of the mother road. The owner Rich was so kind and personable. He made us feel right at home especially from New York! He gave us a whole introduction about the history of the motel, recommendations for local places around, his favorite spots to eat, and how everything works in the motel! The rooms are SPECTACTULAR! Absolutely spotless and pristine, decorated in a vibrant orange, blue and cream color. Everything looked and felt like you were stuck in the 50s. There was even a radio that had a dial, only playing 50s and 60s music. You park right outside of your motel door, with a key to get inside. Super easy process and easy to see when you get there! There is a dead bolt and chain to lock the room as well. An absolutely wonderful stay on the heart of Route 66! Would love to come back and stay longer and try more! read more

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What a great place!!! ! super clean ! comfy bed ! friendly owner ! excellent coffee in the room We loved everything about this place and plan to go back soon! read more

Motel Safari - Us in Tucumcari nm! - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Very nice, clean, nicely lit rooms and parking lot. The rooms are 50's/ mid century modern design. The guy running the desk is very informative, concise, humorous and friendly. I would certainly recommend this location again. Very reasonably priced as well. read more

I love this motel! It is very nice and clean and the rooms are so cute with the mid-century decor! I would much rather stay in a locally owned nostalgic place such as this rather than a chain along historic Route 66. I highly recommend this adorable motel. read more

Motel Safari - Love the camel in the lobby!! - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

We loved our overnight stay in the Rockabilly Suite! The room was very clean, the bed comfy, lots of fun memorabilia throughout the room and the property was well taken care of. We were towing a small trailer and had no problem parking in front of our room and we felt very welcomed when we entered our room and the air conditioner and ceiling fans had the room at a comfortable temperature and the blast from the past tabletop radio was on and tuned to an upbeat station. We definitely will return when traveling Route 66 and would recommend to family and friends!! read more

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If you're looking for a place that feels like it was plucked straight out of a retro sitcom, look no further! We stopped here on our way to the Balloon Fiesta and met Larry, the owner, and his furry co-pilot in the lobby. Seriously, if there were a reality show about motels, this would be the star! The standard king guestroom? More like the "I-just-time-traveled-to-the-1960s-and-I-love-it" suite! My Hyundai Santa Fe even squeezed into the retro carport! The room was decked out with mid-century modern flair and a radio playing 1960s tunes. I half expected to see Dick Van Dyke popping out of the closet to join the dance party. The bed was so comfortable I contemplated a career as a professional napper. And the color scheme? It was like a throwback to a groovy art class--very period-accurate and so tasteful that I felt underdressed just being there. Oh, and I couldn't resist snagging some retro soda and a souvenir from the lobby. Because nothing says "I'm on vacation" like drinking a sugary blast from the past while staring at a wall of nostalgia! Two thumbs up? Nah, let's go with two full-on jazz hands! If you're ever in the area, make sure to stop by--just don't blame me if you find yourself wanting to move in! read more

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We have been staying at Motel Safari for years and have come to love it as our favorite place to stay on the Route. Larry and his pup Sam became a part of the cherished memories of our family. When I heard that sweet Sam passed I wondered if Larry would continue as the proprietor of Safari. Well, as I expected, shortly after Larry did indeed sell Safari. We were concerned at first, but then we stayed at Safari and met the new owner, Rich. Rejoice fellow Safari fans....the legacy of great service, clean rooms and friendly staff continues. My family instantly felt at ease with Rich. He was super kind to my family and we had a great conversation out at the outdoor 'lounge'. All the amenities and the nostalgia is still intact! If you haven't stayed here and you are on the fence.....stay here! I'd eat Clyde the Camel if this doesn't become one of your favorite Route 66 places to stay, if not your favorite, like ours. Sure, the Blue Swallow is a stones away (and it is nice) but since staying here this is the place we stay. And for those of you who enjoyed Larry and Sam, be sure to go in the backyard and pay your respects to Sam who's resting place is there. Thanks Rich for keeping Motel Safari the place to get your kicks (and z's) in Tucumcari! read more

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We were looking for a place between Albuquerque and Oklahoma City to spend a night that didn't break the bank. The owner has created such a cool Route 66 vibe - even down to the 'old' radio playing Route 66 era music in our room when we arrived. Very clean and quiet. There is a communal fridge (which was empty except for our stuff) and a guest laundry room. Great a/c, water pressure, and tv channels. read more

Context: Visited in January 2025, charged around $110 (including taxes) Review: Definitely an interesting spot with unique themes. Owner seems to be a very nice guy, too. However, the overall experience doesn't justify the high price. Aside from its distinctive theme, the motel offers little more than what you'd expect from a $50-60 per night budget motel. The restrooms, while functional, are quite old -- though I understand this might be part of the property's historical charm. The location next to a major road means there's significant traffic noise, and the thin walls make it easy to hear neighbors, even down to their snoring. Other amenities are minimal and align more with a budget motel than a premium experience. read more

What a wonderful find on our road trip cross country. We used to stay in Amarillo, but I found this on Yelp and thought it would give it a try on history Route 66 in Tucumcari. I was beyond impressed how immaculate and Well appointed the room was. You could see and feel the tension that was given to the comfort and decor of the room by the owners. When we went into our room, they had a radio from that era playing music of the same 1950s. It took me back in time and made me enjoy again the memories of my childhood traveling cross country with my parents. Nothing was ever of this beautiful. I hated to leave, but to continue our trip home. read more

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Except for the'rough' drive way, the place was clean and the owner (new since 2 weeks ago) was so accommodating and friendly! The rooms had been renovated, spotless and comfortable. I'm a 'towel freak' and though they were scratchy, they were nice quality and plentiful. They were all I needed! The only con was the ice machine had ice that had frost but with heat and humidity, I'm sure that's a constant problem when you have an outside location rather than an inside, air conditioned location. I will definitely return next year on my way 'home' for the summer! Way to go, Rich! read more

This was our second time staying here and we will definitely return! The owner does such a great job at delivering an authentic mid-century vibe. You will feel it as soon as you open the door to your room. We debated on staying at a cheap chain hotel that was half the price, but decided we wanted to have a more memorable experience and capture the spirit of Route 66. The room itself was very clean and nicely decorated. The bed was good quality. The mattress is more soft than firm, which was fine for my husband but not for me. It's all about individual preference with that type of thing. Nice shower that gets hot quickly and fantastic water pressure. Very quiet premises and decent restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all in walking distance. In fact we watched the sunrise as we walked to breakfast to Kix. Owner is super helpful and friendly. We will be back for sure! read more

Motel Safari - Sign - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

The motel has a great atmosphere and the rooms were clean, you can't ask for much more. Friendly staff and an adorable dog.

If you are traveling Route 66 and need to stay in Tucumcari NM, I highly recommend this renovated motel. It is charming without being too much. The rooms are very clean and comfortable. We got a great rate on two rooms with an adjoining door for our kids to stay next to us. We enjoyed the spacious patio in the cool summer evening. We will return! read more

This is a cute and quirky refurbished motel on historic Route 66 in walking distance of a couple of decent restaurants. There is a nice outdoor seating area with a fire pit, should that need arise. My room was next-door to the communal, and free (!) laundry, ice, and refrigerator room, but it was quiet, access is closed at 10 PM, and I was not aware of any comings and goings. Jack Lalanne startled me all three times I walked in that room! I think my favorite part was the "Route 66 radio" which was fun and quirky music, that is until one song with a trope about Indians popped up in the rotation. Regardless, Larry the owner was nice. He is a little tricky to get ahold of by phone, as he does EVERYTHING, so I suggest trying between 7 to 9 AM and after 3 PM. In spite of the phone challenges, he was responsive. I was traveling for work, so asked for a zero balance receipt the night I checked in, which Larry was glad to provide me with. I would stay here again as the bed was comfortable, and the room was clean. 5 stars for what it is and the service I received. read more

Motel Safari - Laundry+ room with Jack! - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

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Road-tripping from Ohio to Arizona along Route 66, we were in need of 2 rooms with a rollaway bed or cot for one of the kids. I called ahead of time and was told they had a camping cot that could work if in a pinch but it would be tight- this was better than anyone else had to offer and we appreciated his honesty. Upon arrival, the lobby/office is absolutely adorable - very retro and cute. This neighborhood reminds me of Cars the movie. Turns out this stretch of highway is exactly what the movie was modeled after. They have a gift shop with reasonably priced merchandise that represents the area well. The rooms are small but comfortable. Very clean. Very comfy. Motel Safari was the best hotel experience on our road trip, which included some higher end hotels. Thank you for creating a pretty awesome memory for our trip. We will never forget Motel Safari. read more

Motel Safari - Night view - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Room was so clean, quiet, and decorated perfectly with retro Route 66 decor. Highly recommended and super affordable!!! read more

This 1950s Motel is so so so adorable and reminds us of a great time in history ...Route 66... simpler times... awesome mid century decor:) Super nice owner with adorable Boxer babes Sam. I'm super happy we decided to eat at Pow Pow Lizard Lounge and stay the night in this clean cute friendly spot:) with stars above. read more

Motel Safari - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Love this Route 66 Motel! It's a true MCM gem. Hats off to the cleaning staff-our room was clean and cool and we felt safe while here. MCM fans -this place is for you. The office is full of MCM decor as was our room. Everything was updated but also somehow keeping with the style. Great job with the artwork and furnishings! Room: Each lamp had usb and plug in charging stations on the base-super handy. The air conditioning unit got the room icy cold which is what I need to sleep. Everything was tidy, clean and neat. We got to park "in a garage" which made my sons day. Comfy bed, comfy pillows and hot shower with god water pressure. Quiet neighbors. Keurig coffee maker in the room! We felt safe!! Extra: The super handy thing is the free laundry -which came in handy when my son forgot to do his laundry before leaving the house. I hate bragging about my "secret" favorite finds because then people read them and then the places get busy and then I can't stay there any more-so I'm hoping that Larry reads this and "saves" room 23 for me-always. (A girl can wish). read more

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Reserved double room online, told them we wouldn't arrive til 9:45. When we arrived Larry was waiting for us with the light on in our room, radio playing music, and tv set to old movie. So cute & clean. Great attention to detail. Will stay here every time. Larry was kind and helpful. I felt prepared for and expected. Also felt price was perfect. Loved the decor! Beds are full size so fine for us but if you are bigger people might want to get two rooms with king beds. read more

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This was a great motel that we stopped at on our way from Phoenix to Tulsa. Very cute with all the retro decor, very quiet and safe. The owner Larry and his sweet dog were so warm and welcoming. Will definitely stay here again if on the path of future travels! Thank you Larry!! read more

Wonderfully cute! Top notch motel. Clean and comfortable room. The vintage charm has been kept while adding modern conveniences. Highly recommended. read more

Motel Safari - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

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This place is super kool lots of restaurants close by super clean nostalgic atmosphere for Route 66 fans

The owner definitely knows what he is doing. As someone who has stayed in dozens of motels across the country and loves small locally owned establishments, I can honestly say it's usually a gamble. This was one of the cleanest and most comfortable places I have ever been to. The owner stayed up late to meet me and check me in because I showed up later than expected, and the pillows were fantastic (which is usually my main source of agony when staying at any property). If you love traveling and you love Route 66, this place is a no brainer! read more

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Very cool atmosphere, host/owner was great to work with as well. We were riding motorcycles back from Colorado and made this a stopping point for the day. They even had a covered place for our bikes. If you are looking for a place to spend the night this is it. read more

This motel is a gem. Right on Route 66, it's clean and welcoming vintage look immediately draws you in. Checking in was a breeze and since we had called with our estimated arrival time the room was already a comfortable temperature with the lights on and a vintage radio playing softly on one of the nightstands. The room was extremely clean with attention to detail. The decor was vintage Route 66 with warming accents. Instant on hot water, high thread count sheets, a comfy matress and large fluffy bath towels were great amenities that helped make our stay a delight. We will be back! read more

Super cool looking Route 66 classic motel with extra comfy bed great deal looking forward to staying there again soon

A beautiful property that is painstakingly maintained. Rooms are pristine and spacious for a motel. Tucumcari is a must if you are a Route 66 traveler. It's nearby so many other great Route 66 landmarks, shops and restaurants. read more

This is a solid place. My wife and two little ones stayed here after the Southwest Airlines debacle forced us to drive home. We needed a clean and safe place to stay for the night. Motel Safari was clean and safe and more! The owner was super welcoming. The room was updated but still had the old timey charm. The attention to detail of the wall art, metal Kleenex box, etc really exemplifies the owner's pride in this historic and charming motel. read more

I had stayed at the Blue Swallow when coming through Tucumcari the previous year, but found it booked, so I reserved a room at the Safari. The office closes at 9pm, and we lost two hours when a phone was left in a Sonic rest room during a drink stop earlier in the day. As a result, we found ourselves sweating that last few miles after Amarillo. We even skipped dinner. We arrived with literal minutes to spare, were greeted warmly, and even steered to the only game in town for dinner at the Lizard Lounge. (They had Karaoke. RAP KARAOKE!) The room was excellent, clean, quiet, and reasonably priced. I'd stay again in a heartbeat. read more

Motel Safari - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Great welcoming on arrival Showed rooms before confirming reservation. Highly recommend stopping here your sure to be happy. A real gentleman. Motel was spotless. Rooms were clean. Beds cosy. Pillows fine. Great restaurant across the road. The only thing missing was a fridge and laundry facilities. Ice available at reception and laundry three blocks away note closes at 6pm read more

Motel Safari - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Classic on Route 66. This place is lovingly cared for. Beautifully maintained with the original architecture in mind. It manages to walk that fine line of being classic without the kitsch. Showers were terrific, fluffy towels, and comfortable beds. The 50s music piped into the rooms is a sweet and classic touch. read more

We have now officially finished Route 66 and Motel Safari was by far our favorite motel and even hotel. Larry and Sam are awesome! The rooms are super clean and remodeled. Larry takes the time to escort all guests to their rooms and gives some additional information for the rooms. The old school radios are a great touch! We had a great time hanging out with Sam, the sweetest dog at the motel. Thank you Larry and Sam! We might have to make a special trip back to visit and stay again! read more

Clean, comfortable, great price and so much personality! A lot of attention to detail following the Route 66 theme. There was an old-style radio tuned to nostalgic music when we entered our cozy room. Fun design touches all around. The owner who was manning the welcoming, warm front office said he commissioned a local artist to do the murals on the outside walls. Well done! We stayed 12/20/21 on our way east for Christmas. Coffee maker and wifi and great shower water pressure - oh my. So glad we found you - so glad you had a room left for us just before Christmas! Never found out why the camel - I'm sure there is a Route 66 safari story there somewhere. :-D read more

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We booked this room for a stay on Thanksgiving night as it was where we would be on our route on a 9 day road trip. We initially booked a room at the Blue Swallow Inn but a few months prior to our trip, they informed us that they would be out of town during that holiday. Fair enough. So we called Motel Safari and the lady assured us that they indeed would be open. The day before we were set to arrive, we got a call from the owner asking about what time we would be arriving. She wasn't being intrusive but more inquisitive. We then touched base that day as well to confirm our time of arrival. This is when it dawned on me that places like this are owned my people who put their heart and soul into it. They were delaying their holiday for people like me. Now of coarse they choose this life but at the same time, this shows they care about their motel much more than any chain ever will. The service can't get better than that. We arrrived as the sun was going down to a very old school retro motel as one would expect to find in 1950's Route 66. The owner walked us to our rooms, showed us how the TV worked, and told us to call if we need anything. The room was retro meets new age. A very big comfy bed, large flat screen tv, a rotary phone and a radio alarm clock that looked retro but had a docking station for Ipods. The next morning I walked arounf the property and took pictures of all the old advertisements that were painted on the wall. My favorite being the one that read "9 out of 10 doctors prefer Camel cigarettes". Too funny. The prices are ridiculously low, the rooms are super clean and the staff is great. read more

Motel Safari - The coolest advertisement ever - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Cute. Quaint. Fun. A little bit of the 50's in this vintage hotel. A few modern amenities might be missing but the beds were comfortable and the shower was above par. Clean! Enjoyed this overnight on a historic road. read more

Motel Safari - Our room - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

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We stayed here at this precious hotel of Route 66 on our way back to Texas from Utah. The owner was very accommodating and friendly! We stayed in the Rockabilly Suite, and it surpassed all expectations! The room was spotless and clean, beds were very very comfy, and the attached living area was so fun to enjoy while we watched tv that evening. In the morning, we explores the premises and also sat in the chairs outside our room while sipping morning coffee. Can't wait for our trip out west so we can stay here again! read more

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What a stay! This place is wonderful, the owner is very attentive and has amazing attention to detail! Everything about this place is one of a kind, from the 50s doo wop playing when you walk in your room to the thoughtfulness of the owner and his cute dog Sam! It was very clean and met the COVID guidelines for safety. I not only recommend this place but cannot wait to stay again! read more

Motel Safari - Hotels Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

My wife and I stayed in the Wanda Jackson room here passing through town on a Friday night. Our room was large, comfortable and clean. We really enjoyed the artwork and memorabilia in the room as well. No problem checking in. We got some dinner suggestions and tourist map before being shown to our room. Looked like only four or five guests staying this particular evening. I didn't care much for the overly soft king size bed but still got a good night's sleep. The giant TV can only be viewed from the living room and not the bed. The front door was a little thin allowing in more road noise than I would have liked. read more

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Every time we come through New Mexico, we stay here! We appreciate all of the little touches and attention to detail that the owner has added over the years! It is a very clean and comfortable space. The retro, mid-century modern accents are perfect. The shower may be the best shower I have ever had in my life! Lots of water pressure! The owner is knowledgeable and friendly. He is always helpful and available. His sweet boxer dog is always at his side. She is a little shy. :) We can't recommend this place more highly!! read more