TL;DR

Retro motel vibe: Refurbished roadside motel turned boutique stay.
Modern design: Fresh, contemporary interiors with stylish lobby and rooms.
Location trade-off: Surrounded by a highway, a Motel 6, and a dispensary.
Quirky appeal: Best for travelers with a car and a taste for adventure.
Check prices here

Not at all your average off-the-side-of-the-highway motel, this IHG on the outskirts of Downtown Tucson is a unique addition to Tucson’s boutique hotel scene.

Surrounded by a Motel 6, a dispensary, and a highway, it’s not the romantic location many travelers are going for.

It is, unsurprisingly, the most hip of all the nearby buildings, making it that much more special.

The hotel is very obviously a refurbished roadside motel, but instead of leaning into the vintage-ness of it all, the hotel has opted for uber-contemporary style and a fresh look.

The lobby is completely renovated, all glass windows and steep angles, while the rooms are bright and casually stylish.

Anyone wanting off-the-shelf glamour and sparkly new luxury should readjust their sights, but anyone with a taste for retro adventure and a car can easily find something to enjoy.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 112 total.
Private entrances: Classic motel-style design works well in warm climate.
Stylish touches: Muted tones with bold headboards and curated details.
Amenities: HDTVs, mini-fridges, Bluetooth speakers, walk-in showers.
Suite perks: Full kitchen, soaking tub, and living area.
See each room in detail here

We say this a lot, but as a remodeled property, the rooms end up being a bit snug.

Walls might be on the thinner side as well, with noise from the nearby highway being maybe the most common guest complaint.

Now that that’s out of the way, we’ll touch on the good stuff. We’re always enamored by motel-style private entrances, in warm climates.

The decor is muted whites, blacks and grays, but it’s well-considered. The mustard-yellow headboards, nicely curated books and brightly colored prints give a little zhuzh to the whole situation.

All in all the effect is modern and sweet.

King Singles are the go-to if you don’t want to splurge for an Executive Suite. In our opinion, two Double beds in a 180-square-foot room is a bit cheeky, but if you think you’ll be comfortable, go for it.

They include HDTVs, mini-fridges, Bluetooth speakers, and walk-in showers. The Suite features a full kitchen, a seating area, and a soaking tub.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

On-site dining: Lobby and poolside service from breakfast to dinner.
Breakfast: Southwestern-inspired egg dishes, croissants, and good coffee.
Lunch & Dinner: Street corn, yucca fries, pizzas, and salads.
Poolside hub: Heated courtyard pool with cabanas, bar, and happy hour.
Extras: Fitness center and bicycles available for guests.

There’s dining in the lobby and by the pool, breakfast through dinner. Breakfast is a fairly simple menu of eggy takes on Southwestern classics, alongside a pretty exciting croissant selection and some nice coffee options.

Lunch and Dinner are non-eggy takes on Southwestern treats like street corn and yucca fries, combined with tasty pizzas and salads. It’s not extensive, however.

If you’re staying for a while, you’ll definitely want to explore the rest of the city’s food scene.

We’d suggest you do that in any case, but we digress.

The most attractive facility is the heated pool in the courtyard, with rentable cabanas and beach chairs. The Poolside bar is more than ready to serve you some snacks and drinks, with a nice happy hour on weekdays.

There’s a fitness center as well, and hotel bicycles that can get you around the area.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Bike access: Near the Tucson Loop path with year-round access.
Culture nearby: Music hall, arena, art museum, and children’s museum close by.
Local scene: 6th Ave and Armory Park for nightlife, shopping, and food.
Transit links: Amtrak station and free Tucson light rail nearby.
Nature escapes: Saguaro National Park, Desert Museum, and San Xavier Mission within 30 minutes.
Day trips: Bisbee and Kartchner Caverns around 1–1.5 hours away.

Bikes are not the easiest way to get around central Tucson, but the hotel is super near to the Tucson Loop, a bike path that circles the city and leads out to Santa Cruz barrio and Orc Valley.

This is where they really shine, and with water fountains and bathrooms, it’s doable year-round.

With four wheels, you’ll have easy access to the city’s best culture. The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, the Tucson Arena, The Contemporary Art Museum, and the Children’s Museum are just some attractions within a 5-minute drive.

Extend the trip out towards 6th Ave and Armory Park, and you’ll find an area well-suited to nightlife, shopping, and lots of eating.

You’re not even far from the Amtrak station, shared with the light rail. All this area is even walkable, with a fairly chill underpass that gets you past the highway and into the center.

We won’t say it’s the most scenic route, but it’s around 20 minutes to the very central El Tiradito Wishing Shrine.

Even the Amtrak station is close, as well as the Tucson light rail, free public transport. The University of Arizona is about 10 minutes to the east.

A trip to Tucson would be wasted without taking 4 wheels out to Saguaro National Park and the Sonoran Desert Museum are an easy half-hour drive to the west.

The San Xavier Mission is just a short jaunt south. We recommend stopping at Gate’s Pass for the sunset on the way back.

The best day trips are an hour and a half out towards the charming mountain town of Bisbee and the hour-ish drive to Kartchner Caverns.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

”Incredibly comfortable bed and pillows. Lovely rain shower, fluffy towels. The exterior is clearly an old style hotel but the facilities are so nice. Pool looked great but I didn’t have a chance to try it. Very good breakfast was included but there is also a menu to order from….”

”Very cute hotel with a retro/modern vibe. Lobby, bar and lounge was very cozy and inviting….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”A little noisy if your room is near the highway….”

”The toilet broke or got plugged. Luckily, maintenance arrived within 10 min of calling them. The space is well used, but the rooms are extra small. Not much space for storing clothes or hanging out….”

> Read all the reviews right here