very wonderful place for how cheap it is! the owner is extremely kind and friendly, the rooms were very nice and had several amenities to enjoy, and the location was perfect for my girlfriend and i's trip to Joshua Tree. read more

Stayed here many years ago with a friend, happy to be welcomed in again for a last minute over-nighter. It's outdated and that's part of the charm for me. The bed was very comfortable, and I love what they've done with the outside area in the back. My only complaint was like someone else said, the water pressure was very light, it took longer than expected to shower and wash my hair. Other than that very minor negative, I felt very safe and taken care of here. The owners are great. Best deal in town, by far. read more

When staying in Joshua Tree, you have three options for accommodations. Fancy expensive resorts, camping or a selection of small motels in the heart of the city. If you wish for something affordable, in the center of town, the Safari Motor Inn is THE BEST. It's important to understand this motel is nearly 70 years old, so please manage your expectations but I can assure you as of 2-1-25, this motel is clean, well appointed and you CANNOT beat the absolutely amazing customer service. The employee I dealt with was SO kind and helpful. I will be staying here one weekend a month indefinitely. I can't wait to return!!! Disregard the bad reviews, truly. They have clearly all been left by individuals with unrealistic and unreasonable expectations. ‍ read more

Safari Motor Inn - I came here to work on my novel and the environment is perfect. It's quiet and there is a lot of usable, comfortable outdoor areas. - Hotels Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

Clean and cozy hotel just outside of Joshua tree. Got exactly what we needed - a comfortable room for the night. Old school with physical keys. The interior was old but well maintained. Fridge kept our drinks cold. Bed was generally comfortable. My only complaint was that there were only 2 pillows. It's a small thing but really makes a difference. read more

It was our first time in Joshua tree and we weren't sure what to expect. But, once we got to the motel/check in the man at the desk was very sweet and accommodating. He gave us some quick info and recommendations that were great! The hotel is older so we really loved the quirky charm and history of it. It's close & perfect walking distance to all the shops and restaurants. The only drawback that we encountered was the morning we left we wanted to grab breakfast and come back for the refrigerated items we had in the room before the 11 am check out but a woman came out and was very impolite to my friend insisting to check out now and not understanding we weren't intending to leave just yet when we went to breakfast at 9:30 am. Not sure her role at the motel but she unnecessarily and in a rude demeanor tried to pressure us to leave earlier than the time we paid for. The only redeeming factor is the nice man in the front (probably the owner) and that's why I'm still leaving 5 stars for this review. read more

Safari Motor Inn - Hotels Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

See all

Looking for a clean and affordable place for your little desert excursion? This is the place! Sure it's not the ritz but if that's what you were expecting you should have done your research better. This is my second time staying here and I wanted to show them some love. The owners here are super sweet and accommodating. They were able to get me a room during a festival week at the last minute. They explained if I wanted to wait another day the room would be cheaper. I booked anyway since it was just a short trip. When I arrived the room already had the AC turned on and they let me know there was cold water in the fridge for me. How nice. The location is also close to the park and walking distance for shops and cafes downtown. Definitely my go to home when I visit Joshua Tree. read more

See all

It's a quirky motel right at one of the entrances to the park. Maybe 10 rooms - old motel style. The couple that runs the place are super nice, the room was clean and the price was pretty reasonable. It was a basic room - but there was a fridge and microwave, and the wifi was solid. The rooms have a front and back door so you can get some nice ventilation if you like. The water pressure in our room was pretty weak, gives a new meaning to low flow shower head - other than that it was great. Make sure you peak out the back door at night! There are several places to eat within walking distance. Even with the water pressure issue I'd stay here again! read more

Not a bad place to stay. You do get what you pay for. The owner Ravi is a very interesting fellow. A decade-plus ago a UFO actually landed on the property there. And he caught it on security video. Ask to see his photo binders...he may show you photos of that event. Pretty cool! read more

They attempted to forcefully charge me a $200 cash deposit simply because of where I was from!!! The woman at the desk was very crass, and there was someone else's piss in the toilet in my room when I got in there. I DO NOT recommend at all read more

Small motel, very close to Joshua Tree National Park entrance. The room was fine, had enough room for us and our bags. The bed was very firm, not comfortable for me, but that's my preference. Pillows were comfortable! The shower had very little pressure, which was okay for out trip. We were there for two nights in the winter. It would've been very difficult to wash long hair in the shower though. Check in process was very easy and the lady who checked me in was friendly. Great location! read more

Had to leave... gross! Pictures speak for themselves. This place is so dilapidated, I can't believe they are still allowed to stay open. I have NEVER left a place after looking at the room. I am not a hotel/motel snob by any means, but this place makes Motel 6 look like the Ritz. Drips of some dark liquid running down the wall, bugs, dirty everything! Stay away. Cameras everywhere... weird. read more

See all

For the price ($92 w/ tax) it was great for a single night stay. The room was dated, but it was extremely clean, the bathroom and shower were spotless and the bed was comfy. read more

This place is the cheapest in town. It's not dirty, but everything is old. You get what you paid for. When I checked in, Ravi was very friendly and chatty. I was traveling alone by myself and booked for nights for me only. After dinner with 5 of my friends at Pie to the People, we came back to my hotel room to hang out while my friend did caught up on work on his computer. My friends had a campsite at the BLM land so they weren't staying. We weren't drinking or making a lot of noises. We had the deck of cards out and were talking about climbing. This was around 8PM. About 20 minutes into hanging out, I get a call from Ravi that my friends needed to leave. I went to the front desk to talk to him. He claimed they are staying there, I'm having a party, and if I wanted to stay, they need to leave immediately. I told him they'll be leaving and went back to my hotel room. 10 minutes into talking in my room, Ravi knocks on my door saying my friends needed to leave now. He wouldn't let me close the door for my privacy and stood there until they walked out. He claimed they're staying there, and I need to get out and pay for their use. He called the Sheriff to come as well. At this point, I didn't feel safe because obviously he's been watching on the cameras and being very invasive. When my friends left the room, all but one who didn't want to leave me out of concern, I closed the door and locked the handle. Ravi continued to try and open the door. When the police came, the officer said they've had problems with him before. She helped me get a full refund and told me other motels where I can feel safer. Stay here for the cheap rates, but be expected to be watched constantly. When I first checked in, he had called me while I was unloading my car to let me know he gave me the wrong room key. In his voice message, he said he wanted to tell me something but it "seems like I'm busy". Creepy. Ravi treats the hotel like it's his personal home rather than a business. read more

I booked this place ahead of time for one night, April 24 through 25. They have 7 days cancellation policy. They canceled on me 4 days (!!) before the trip, when there were no more hotels available in the area. Apparently, because they found customers that will pay more for the room. Do not EVER book anything with this place!! read more

the owners wife was EXTREMELY RUDE and disrespectful.. really bad customer service over the fact that we had a small child in a room with 4 adults 2 beds and she was saying we had to get another room because 5 people in that room isn't ok but she was yelling like being super rude about it .. her customer services was shit honestly she could've handled the situation better read more

Ravi has DEFINITELY gotten a rough time on the review board. My girl and I had a Perfect weekend. This place is spittin distance from instant karma yoga, all of downtown JT and the national park. We brought our own coffee and even though Ravi didn't provide a standard coffee maker, he went out of his way to find one with filters. Gotta understand people: stayin here is like stayin with at your foreign uncle's place for a weekend. All in all, a wonderful no-frills, perfectly located lil' inn for the budget traveler. Thanks Uncle Ravi read more

SUPER CLEAN! Has AC and heat, microwave, coffeemaker with 2 coffee cups, mini fridge, a loveseat, nice handsoap and shampoo/ conditioner, and hairdryer. The attendant was EXTREMELY helpful and went all the extra miles to make sure we were taken care of. We would definitely come again. (Not a bug in sight! Hooray! ) read more

Great motel and priced just right. Our room was clean- although it did smell a bit musty. There's a back door from each room and leads to a cactus garden. It's beautiful and well kept. Definitely keeps you in that desert state of mind. Just past the garden is a huge swimming pool. It's only open til 8 which is a bummer since a dip would be refreshing on a hot summer night. All the rooms are non smoking and they are strick about no smoking in the garden as well. There is a mini fridge, coffee maker, microwave and hair dryer in the room. Overall a great vintage 1950s motel. read more

Safari Motor Inn - Hotels Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

We really enjoyed our stay here when we visited JT national park. It's super close to the park. It's clean and walking distance to some food places and shops. The backyard is also nice to sit and enjoy the outdoors. read more

The place sits perpendicular to the E/W Engine Enduro Blacktop so if you're a light sleeper some earplugs are valuable - The motel features some of the wonderful late 60's early 70's touches including great "Subway " tile showers with good modern shower head and contemporary sink and commode - beyond convenient parking with every room door steps away. Neat and interesting courtyard/pool and owners' artistic items. Very easy to feel safe with motion sensors lighting walkways and all angles covered by digital cams Tremendous location with walking distance to all the attractions and clean comfortable beds, linens and towels waiting for you when you get back read more

Very cute place in the desert. Very close to national park. It was nice and quiet. The backyard is very nice at night with all the lights. Good area in the back to sit and relax. read more

Quiet mid-century small motel near the heart of Joshua Tree, CA. I have been staying here for close to three years, usually one or two nights each week while doing some work at a local community college. The rooms assigned to me have always been so clean and ready that I have been pleased for the chance to rest and not worry about anything. In my time at the motel, there has been refreshment of paint, rugs, utilities and bedding. Mattresses are new and carpets are as well. Never have I seen anything to suggest that this is other than clean and ready for myself or any other customer. I am so pleased for the attention paid by the owner and his wife to my comfort and ease to visit and work. read more

Great motel. Friendly service, clean rooms, solid free Wi-Fi, beautiful backyard seating area, easy parking, and very close to the Joshua Tree park entrance. We would definitely stay here again when revisiting the park. read more

Safari Motor Inn - Backyard seating area - Hotels Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

Do not stay here, the owner is rude and has no boundaries. I decided to stay in family owned motels on my road trip with my service dog, to support families and small businesses rather than corporations and to hopefully have a really pleasant human experience. That was not the case here. I had all paperwork and identification for my 15 lb service dog but it was clear the owner didn't want us here at check in. He made it clear that the dog could not stay in the room and needed to be with me at all times, which is really none of his business. I planned to take my dog everywhere anyway but the owner really crossed the line when he entered my room without my consent while I was out sight seeing. I went to the front desk to ask why someone was in my room-- there were no new towels, nothing. They denied it, but I have it on camera. I feel extremely violated, I'm a single female traveling alone and this man entered my room without my consent. Totally inappropriate. read more

Wonderful roadside motel. The owners were very friendly and gave us information about the area and maps! They also feed the stray kitties, people after my own heart. The grounds are full of planted cacti and fun decorations. You can tell they put their love into this place. Might not be the standard 5 star place, but seriously it truly is!! Did not get to swim in the pool, time did not allow. Only stayed here one night, but would definitely stay here again next time we are in Joshua Tree and also recommend to anybody. read more

See all

This is a great value motel in Joshua tree. A perfect location to explore the National Park. It's a simple family owned motel. The rooms are clean and have a fridge and microwave, hairdryer and there's a courtyard out your back door to sit and soak up the sun. Parking is at your door so it's convenient to load and unload. The best part about staying at this motel are the Owners Ravi and his wife who have always treated me so well. I have stayed many times during my trips to the US from Australia and always look forward to going back there and being welcomed by Ravi and his wife. Good value for money and such lovely people! read more

Safari Motor Inn - Hotels Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

If you've been to any sort of prison camp or Gulag, you'll probably do a lot of reminiscing while staying at the Safari Motor Inn. To start, the surveillance here is tighter than a dolphin's anus (which, as you can imagine, are pretty tight). After about 20 minutes, I got the sense that all forty+ of the motel's cameras are actually directed at the guests themselves and not meant for their protection (unless of course you're into that "I Love Big Brother" kind of protection). This fact was confirmed upon check-out when the proprietor informed my friend and I that he had been "watching us the whole time" and that his suspicions about us harboring other "mysterious extra guests" during the night would be "proven by the tapes". He then showed us a bank of TVs from which he keeps tabs on his tiny little world. It was some serious Lost shit. Push the button my paranoid friend, or don't...see what happens. The room itself was mostly clean. The plethora of stains in some places were easily explained by a positive mental attitude and a very healthy imagination. "No, that's not where someone shit the bed, that's, uh where they spilled the batter from the brownies they were making...in the microwave." The shower had some cottage-cheese-like substance actively oozing out of the cracks...and that's cool, man, that's cool...just not if you want to take a shower. When you make a reservation online and when you check in, you understand that these folks are super-proud of their "Giant Swimming Pool". When you actually get ready to go for a swim and approach the "Giant Swimming Pool" you understand what "false advertising" is. I mean it was Art Week or whatever, but I was not informed by any of the literature that the Safari Motor Inn was hosting the world's largest bowl of putrefying Campbell's Chicken and Stars. Did someone toss some Gremlins and ass-mulch in there? Was that the septic over-flow? I'm pretty sure...I'm not positive...that was supposed to be the pool. Either way, you're not gonna want swim in it without some vaccine updates. After that, you're still going to want to shower...at another motel. There are a handful of standard positives that other folks here have mentioned: Doors. Windows. Beds. Not to sound too bourgeois or luxury-driven, but these are actually standard in all but the most rudimentary of home-hewn lean-to's. I paid for a motel - not a home-hewn lean-to. Given the other negatives - Gulag surveillance, bed-diarrhea, shower-cheese, and Campbell's Cup O'Swimmin' Pool - you're much better off finding a quiet desert patch nearby and sleeping under the stars...not under the ever watchful eye of some paranoid innkeeper and his equally paranoid wife. Quick Summary: Do not stay here. Do not let friends stay here. Do not let friends of friends stay here. Rent a tent. Sleep in your car. Do anything but stay here. read more

When my bf and I found out that all reservable camp sites in Joshua Tree were taken for Thanksgiving weekend, we decided to get a motel room instead of counting on a walk-up site. Considering that night temps that weekend got down to the low 30s, I am SO grateful we couldn't camp (that was a crazy idea anyway). I did some searches for motels near the park and this place came up as the closest to the West Entrance. It had decent reviews and the price was reasonable ($50ish during a holiday weekend) so we booked a room. It was a fairly large room, with a king bed, decent-sized flat panel TV, a small fridge, love seat and coffee table. The decor was typically small motel-dreary but I'd seen worse (like, at the only other motel in JTree I've ever stayed at). It was pretty dang cold when we first got in but once we cranked up the wall heater unit, it got nice and toasty. It was quite loud, though, and I think we turned it off sometime in the middle of the night. The bathroom shower was a little weird to get in and out of but at least everything was in good working order. We stayed two nights and we thought it was a decent experience and wouldn't mind staying here again should the need arise. STEPH JUDGEMENT: Serviceable, convenient, and reasonably priced. read more

When you're on the road and on a fixed, tight budget and are looking for an indoor place to bed-down, luxury bells and whistles mean little- especially if they add cost to the final per-night bill. Essentially speaking this is what you need: a clean, comfortable room with working A/C, a clean, comfortable bed, a clean, working bathroom with a shower that has plenty of hot and cold water. Anything above that is a luxury. The Safari is not a luxury-driven motel. It is not an establishment for spoiled, prissy-princesses, nor partying hipsters. Instead, it's an inexpensive, no-frills place to relax after spending the day in Joshua Tree National Forest hiking and/or climbing, or participating in any number of outdoor activities available in the Mojave Desert. It is a place to cool off, relax, and clean up and get ready physically and mentally for the next day's events, which is all that one really needs. That is not to say that this is all that there is. Each room does come with a television (w/ cable), and a refrigerator. A word of caution: to save money in this desert environment, the refrigerators/freezers are typically turned to the lowest settings possible- so be sure to adjust as needed. All the rooms are smoke-free, so if you need to light one up, it's advisable to use the courtyard, or you might find that the final bill has an extra, fat charge slapped on top of the room rate. Because this is the Mojave, the temperatures are more often than not in the triple-digits. This is where the other luxury of The Safari comes in- the pool. The water isn't heated and is solely dependent upon solar and environmental temperature adjustment. That being said, it's clean, treated and when it's a hundred and twenty degrees, feels great- especially when doing nothing but floating and watching the sky. So there you have it. The Safari Motor Inn- quiet, clean, inexpensive, and comfortable. All that a seasoned adventurer of the road could ask for. Highly recommended. read more

My boyfriend and I came to Joshua Tree to check out the national Park. We wanted to stay at an old Western 1950's motel. That is exactly what we got. For only $57 it was pretty good. The owners were very friendly and the room was decent. The reason I'm giving it a 4 star rating rather than a 5 is because the room wasn't as clean as it should've been. There was pubic hair on the toilet seat as well as urine stains. There was hair in the shower that was not mine and pubic hair in the sink. It definitely is a you get what you paid for motel. And i can't complain much. It's very close to the National Park and the town is very nice. read more

Great service requires a great recommendation. Comparing the Safari Motor Inn, a mom and pop motel to Motel 6 would just be sad. When you stay at mom and pop inns you are looking for great service, great interaction and a peaceful night's stay. The inn is very modest, so be prepared. The service is great! I left my clothes in there and the motel owner contacted me trying to see if I wanted them back. Since my clothes are never that expensive, I took up his offer of having them donated at the local thrift store! It doesn't get better than that. This was my third stay at the same location, and I will go back for the great service from Ravi and his family! read more

Um, never again. We got into Joshua Tree late at night so my boyfriend had made a reservation here knowing we were just going to sleep & get up early the next day to go into the park. Worse night of sleep ever. I have stayed at my fair share of budget motels, but I told my boyfriend: "I've stayed at Motel 6's in the middle of Texas nicer than this place!" I understand that this is a budget motel, but the offering of a fridge & microwave doesn't make up for the fact that our bathroom walls were covered in long dark hair, the bed was a piece of shit & we only had two pillows - there were no extra blankets or pillows in the closet. I "slept" [for lack of a better word] with a hood on my head so I didn't have to touch the pillow. Last spring we stayed at another budget motel down the street & I did not get skeeved out the way I did in this place. The towels had weird brown stains on them & the bathroom sink had an old bottle of Bath & Body Works handsoap refilled with some that most definitely wasn't B&BW. The most redeeming thing this hotel had, besides being right next to the western park entrance, was the cool art deco tiling inside the shower. I didn't even bother to shower there because 1. I knew we were going hiking all that day anyway & 2. Just because the tile was pretty doesn't mean it wasn't hoarding seem serious HPV or staph infections viruses. ::shudders:: We love Joshua Tree & will definitely go back again & again, but we sure as hell won't give them our money ever again. But I don't really think they were much concerned with repeat customers & good reviews. They know what they are - a crusty place for people to spend a few hours inside. read more

Great friendly service. This is a simple, basic modest roadeside motel for about $50/night, a cheap motel, but with spacious rooms, a fridge, microwave, couch, drawers, a closet, and a shower that works. It's very close to Park Blvd., where you drive up to Joshua Tree National Park, and is walking distance to a lot of the places to eat and shop. It has a basic wall AC unit that works great. The bed was clean and comfortable. The two window blinds don't keep out the sun during the day like dark thick drapes would, so if you keep vampire hours like I do, this may be an issue for you, but I still managed to sleep like a baby after getting in around 5 am. It also has a pool! I like the personal touch, and found the people here to be very kind. The owner recognized me even though I stayed here over 2-3 years ago. Anyway, definitely recommended. read more

Due to a popular local singer's wedding, a sort of last minute trip turned into a frantic search for a vacancy, any vacancy. I ended up at Safari. I had no problems at this motel, and felt that I got a lot for the price. I had room 110 on the end. The room was sparkling clean, the mattresses were new with clean sheets. I liked the "back door" in the room leading to the sand garden and pool. Fridge/microwave/ac-heater combo worked just fine. The pool looked clean, although it was too cold to swim in it when I was there. The owners were very nice, and gave me a map of the area with local business info, and coupons for dinner. There is a security camera outside so I felt safe entering the room, leaving the car, etc. I only have one mild complaint and that is about the blinds, which are set out from the wall kind of far. People could see in the room, and there was no way to block out the sun if you wanted total darkness. Other than that I think the Safari is a great bargain, it's right on top of the West entrance to Joshua Tree park and has quite a few walkable restaurants/shops/galleries. I'd stay there again. read more

The Safari Inn is exactly as described by Abe S. We wanted a convenient place to stay while visiting Joshua Tree and this motel fit the bill. The owners were nice and offered us a nice large room at the end of the building for more privacy. It has two doors, the second leading to the patio and swimming pool. Do not expect an exotic garden in the desert, think more India-like. Clean, large, everything in working order. Just a typical 1950s motel with drive to door parking. Very cheap for what you get. Be sure to ask the owners for coupons to Sam's Pizza. read more

First, the positives: comfortable bed, nice manager, close to Joshua Tree National Park and within walking distance of good food. Now, the negatives: noisy heating unit, lots of exterior lighting that the window blinds couldn't keep out, shower and sink drains that were sluggish, and minor repairs that should be attended to such as a bare lightbulb in the bathroom or no hook for clothing in the bathroom. It was evident there had once been a clothing hook and a fixture over the lightbulb, and I expect even an inexpensive motel to take care of that kind of small item. But the big deal was that I couldn't sleep well with all the light coming in and the noise of the heater. I should have stayed in 29 Palms where better accommodations were available. It would have been further from the park, but worth it. read more

STAY AWAY!! Made a reservation over the phone for me and my boyfriend for Friday and Saturday night. The owner asked if we need one bed or two and I said one. When we checked in he apparently gave our one bed room away so he gave us a room with two beds. No problem right? I did not expect much of the motel and I was right. There was only one packet of coffee for us for Saturday morning. The room was in desperate need of repair, the tv was small, no DVR, not a smart TV. The bed was too hard and not comfortable at all. All of that was expected so that is not why I'm giving this place one star. The reason for one star is that after we dropped off the room key Sunday morning we were sitting in the car in the parking lot ready to leave and a woman came out of our room and started yelling at us that we used two beds and we had to pay $20 more. One of THE most unprofessional, weirdest thing that has ever happened to me when staying in a motel. We used the pillows from the other bed and the blanket and had put our suitcases on top of the bed. So what?? Even if we slept in the other bed too it wasn't our fault they gave us two beds when we asked for one. These people don't know how to run a business. Unless you are desperate STAY AWAY!!! read more

Good value and clean, basic room, nothing fancy. Quiet. Good for a budget-type motel. The owner Ravi and his wife were very nice and very accommodating, a definite plus. It's obvious they take care of the place. read more

This inn was well maintained and our room was clean. The price was right and the staff was great. However I would suggest that they try to get different systems for heating and cooling. We had to run out and buy a room heater so that we could sleep in the room. The window unit there was so loud that we couldn't sleep the night before. It has great access though to Joshua Tree. read more

My fiancé and I stayed here because we came a little too late to reserve a camping spot in the Park. We were very grateful that we snatched the last Vacancy at the Safari Motor Inn. The owner Ravi is really nice and has been doing this for 10+ years. I hope we didn't offend him because we sat in the parking lot reading yelp reviews for some time before deciding to go in and see for ourselves. I'm glad we did! Clean sheets, towels, a mini fridge, a table to eat at, lights, a closet, a blow drier, soap and shampoo = All the amenities we wouldn't have had camping. Also the location is super convenient, you can walk to the Joshua Tree Saloon to hear live music and then stumble back in record time ! read more