Motel Safari

What a great gem! Super quiet and clean and comfy. Love all the retro decor with the radio set to the oldies when we walked into our room. And owner Larry and his dog were the best welcoming crew. So friendly. Stayed while on our way from Phoenix to Tulsa and would stay again!

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. Very comfy beds!! 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!!

Wow! We were so impressed. What a fun treat on our cross country road trip. We loved the owner. He went out of his way to make us comfortable. The place was immaculate. The 25 degree weather kept us from using the very cool patio. It was a trip highlight. Great vibes!

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.

Super easy and convenient to get to! We enjoyed our night at this motel. It was super clean, comfortable, CUTE, and affordable. We will definitely return on our trip home. The radio was set to oldies when we entered and it was a sweet touch. Nice toiletries and good water pressure. Adorable fire pit and doggo working. 10/10 for this retro motel on rt 66.

It’s rare to find accommodations that check all the boxes of hospitality, value and aesthetics. Larry Smith and his friendly four-legged partner, Sam are terrific ambassadors for Route 66 in Tucumcari NM, and are welcoming hosts at Motel Safari. This motel transports guests back in time while generously providing many modern conveniences (ie, wifi, remote control AC, big screen tv and a modern oldies radio… who knew there was such a thing!?!). Incredibly, complimentary on-site laundry facilities, refrigerator/freezer and microwave are also available to all guests. The beds are very comfortable with fluffy pillows and nice linens. Indoor and outdoor spaces were all clean and comfortable. Thank you for being a bright spot on our long haul road-trip across I40.

If you’re looking for a place that feels like it was plucked straight out of a retro 1960s 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 which was awesome. The room itself 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.||||Oh, and I couldn’t resist snagging some retro soda and souvenirs 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!

This retro motel was a real treat, and we will certainly stay there again if in the area. Larry, the owner, was very helpful and friendly. Everything was super clean. The linens and towels were new, white, and a joy to use. The room decor was very well done and there is a nice coffee shop across the street for pastries and coffee in the morning.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!!

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.

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

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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!!

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!

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.

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.

This is the motel to stay at. Rooms are beautifully done. The service goes above and beyond to make your stay amazing.

As Route 66 fanatics we love supporting businesses on the Route. We had first tried to book a room at the Blue Swallow Motel but they were booked. That turned out to be perfectly fine.....we have found the place we will stay at from now on in Tucumcari. This place is a gem! The minute we walked into the office we fell in love with its retro vibe. The rooms are impeccably clean and decked out with great decor and modern amenities. There is a guest out door lounge that has a fire pit, chairs, tables, and piped in music. The owner, Larry, is very personable and knowledgeable about the Route. This is the best place we have stayed on the Route and we've stayed at some oldies but goodies. Give this place a try :)

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

Can't really give it a rating because they were closed for the weekend, never seen a hotel or motel that closes for the weekend, so if you want to stay here, you better plan ahead. But it looks cool from the outside. We ended up at the Blue Swallow and it was pretty cool too.

Awesome mid century place to stay on Rt 66. So comfortable & beautifully restored! Would highly recommend!

This by far and away the cleanest place, Larry is laid back but sincere, no idea why some peeps give bad reviews, all I can say is too notch clean

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

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!

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!

Loved this little place of nostalgia. The owner Larry goes the extra mile with great little touches. Free laundry facilities, keurigs in the rooms with quality coffee, premier TV channels, strong wifi. Each room has chairs outside that you can sit outside and enjoy the night (or morning) air. Very clean rooms. A community firepit. We will be keeping this one on our list for our next visit.

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.

Nostalgic mid-century, very clean, great water pressure. The owner obviously takes pride in his motel! So much attention to detail to bring to light the feel of the 1960s Route 66! Will definitely be back!

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!

Very clean, comfortable bed, love the retro. No amenities but well worth the low price! Highly recommend!

Just wonderful! Family friendly, comfy and VERY clean. Sat outside and stared at the New Mexico sky. Couldn't get any more nostalgic! We just love it!

Beautifully restored 1950's motel. It's nicely decorated with updated MCM furnishings. The whole place is spotlessly clean and nice, has modern amenities like strong Wi-Fi , Keurig coffee makers and big flat screens but maintains a retro MCM vibe. It's a great stay with a great rate! I've stayed here 8 times in the last 4.5 years and I plan on coming back many more times.

Highly recommend the Motel Safari, very clean refurbished Retro Motel on Route 66. Comfortable bed, friendly people and reasonably priced. Best place we stayed at on our Route 66 journey. Thanks for the hospitality.

We are coming back to this little town just to stay at this Motel again. (and eat at the POW WOW). (and we are bringing our moms) The attention to detail is incredible!!!! I was blown away by the feeling of nostalgia and although I wasn't born until the late 70's I appreciate every single detail and was really transported to a simpler time of the 60's. Larry the owner and his dog are both so sweet and we were enamored. My best friend and I could not stop "oohing and ahhing" at every little thing. My favorite part was when we got into our cute little room and the radio was set to oldies, but really good oldies. (Shout out to that radio station and DJ, we don't get anything close here in Los Angeles) We left it on all night while we watched a silent movie. It was awesome to be someone, something, somewhere else. Especially in the chaos of our lives. We felt safe, the beds were comfortable, the linens and simple amenities were lovely, and most importantly for us THIS PLACE WAS SPOTLESSLY CLEAN. Thank you for a lovely night wish we could of stayed longer. Best regards to you Larry, and hope to see you both soon.

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.

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.

We stayed here on our way to Oregon and loved it.. Now on our way back to Texas. Gonna get our kicks' here on route 66..One last time..

Excellent sweet little place to stay. The proprietor was super wecoming, friendly and helpful. The rooms are mid century modern with comfortable beds, nice thirsty towels, and it was super quiet. Air-conditioning worked great. Right across the street from the blue swallow, and conveniently near lots of places to eat and a Circle K for incidentals like cookies and milk! If this hotel were in Los Angeles it would cost at least twice as much. Highly recommend this place.

Stayed here on a road trip from Reno home to Houston. I wanted to spend some time on the Mother Road and decided on this motel while driving through Tucumcari. Very glad I did. It has that 50's feel that I wanted. I was greeted by a very friendly gentleman, (owner I think). He had me registered quickly and then walked me to my room. It's old school with everything you need these days. The bed is comfortable, flat screen TV, coffee maker, remote control heating/cooling fast WiFi and all sparkling clean. They also have a fire pit in front...there is a fire going right now. I recommend highly.

Love this motel!!! Rooms were impeccable in the mid-century modern style. The owner is very friendly. I plan on staying here again when I make my cross country trip home. Thank you for a good nights sleep. The bedding was wonderful

We have stayed here a couple of times. A great spot in eastern New Mexico along I40. Fantastic, friendly service. The rooms are spotless. And the showers....just what is needed after a long day on the road.

The new owner (Larry bought it in 2017-how many times can you sit and have a beer with a motel owner?!) seems to have a noble goal in mind: bring back the charm of this Route 66 icon. The updates mixed appropriate time-period decor and style with modern amenities like wi-fi. There's an outdoor seating area where we brought drinks to sit and chat with other traveling guests. The room was clean. Route 66 Radio played as were were shown to our room by Larry (again what personal service!). It all added up to an authentic experience and we're pleased with our choice. Larry had fun stories about the former crotchety owner, so be sure if you're reading negative reviews check on the date of the post. I highly recommend staying at this piece of Americana.

The owners have done a fantastic job remaking this motel along the Mother Road. Beautiful murals, and an all-around freshening up have made the Safari a must see in Tucumcari.