Roy's Motel & Cafe
Roy's Motel & Cafe
4
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
3 within 10 kms
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
202 reviews
Excellent
63
Very good
71
Average
41
Poor
16
Terrible
11
Michael
Frankfort, KY23 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Solo
This is a must-see historic stop on Route 66 in Southern California. I stopped in to take photos and realized that the store is actually open. Attendant was very friendly and the selection of snacks was great. Was shocked to find bottled Cherry Ski here! Porta-potties outside were cleaner than most. It looks like they may sometimes also cook out here. You can also get fuel here, although you may have to go in and ask for the pumps to be turned on. The rest of the grounds are a museum of sorts showing what roadside motels were like in the Route 66 hay-day. Its location makes it, if nothing else, a good mid-point leg stretch between Needles and Barstow.
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thesecretdiner
Hampshire, UK116 contributions
Sep. 2022 • Family
The iconic Roys Motel at Amboy is a absolute must visit on route 66, its a little off the main interstate now but worth the trip just for the history and the photo opportunities. The amenities are basic but you can use the toilets and get a old drink and a snack and watch the long trains crossing the dessert in the not so distant haze
Written August 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew A
1 contribution
Aug. 2023 • Family
Vince is a top Lad … recommend a beautiful root beer . Was an incredible experience in a lovely place … shout-out to Vince 😮💨😮💨
Written August 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne
Palm Springs, CA1 contribution
Jul. 2023 • Family
Fab place. So many custom souvenirs!
Tons of fun & silly bottled sodas to pick from. Gas might be in the high side but as the employee said, it's MUCH CHEAPER then calling AAA or a tow truck.😄 Employees are quick to share the history and the unique happenings in Amboy. It's a true classic, on Route 66, and by the construction I saw, it looks like the restorations are well in their way. Saw a bus of tourists and 2 motorcycle tour groups come through to get pics with the 1950s neon signs. Probably because of all the movies, commercials and other stuff it's been in. Gotta stop everytime.
Tons of fun & silly bottled sodas to pick from. Gas might be in the high side but as the employee said, it's MUCH CHEAPER then calling AAA or a tow truck.😄 Employees are quick to share the history and the unique happenings in Amboy. It's a true classic, on Route 66, and by the construction I saw, it looks like the restorations are well in their way. Saw a bus of tourists and 2 motorcycle tour groups come through to get pics with the 1950s neon signs. Probably because of all the movies, commercials and other stuff it's been in. Gotta stop everytime.
Written July 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Young A
5 contributions
Jun. 2023 • Couples
A piece of Rt 66 history has become the unfriendliest place on the Mother Road. I'm a longtime Rt 66 traveler. All I've encountered are people who share an enthusiasm and passion for this slice of American history. Roy's isn't an easy place to get to. It's an hour off the highway into the Mojave Desert. Once there, you find an amazing neon sign and abandoned landmarks that speak to American history. Take that as you may (I enjoy it). But once you enter the gift shop, you are met with hostility, annoyed looks, bullying to buy something (and if you want to buy a t-shirt and ask for a size that isn't on display, you get more hostile looks). They don't mince words here. I heard an employee tell a tourist "get out." Someone wanted to fill their tank up and was told "you have to tell how many gallons in advance." The poor tourist did not speak English. He was traveling Route 66 as his vacation.
Is this how Roy's treated all vacationers and travelers? I believe so. This place is run by people who don't give a care for hospitality, friendliness, or basic customer service. In fact, they can't believe they have to work there.
Don't go here. They don't want you here. As a Rt 66 roadie, this is the place I'd say to stay far, far away from. You have been warned.
Is this how Roy's treated all vacationers and travelers? I believe so. This place is run by people who don't give a care for hospitality, friendliness, or basic customer service. In fact, they can't believe they have to work there.
Don't go here. They don't want you here. As a Rt 66 roadie, this is the place I'd say to stay far, far away from. You have been warned.
Written June 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ken W
Los Angeles, CA1 contribution
Jun. 2023 • Family
Simply put: do NOT go in the gift shop. Do NOT buy gas here. Do NOT shop here. There is a surly bearded man who couldn't care less about working there, let alone interacting with other human beings. What did I witness? Remarks to customers like "you are killing me," "I can't wait to get home," "you gonna buy something?" This is NOT the Route 66 spirit. This is NOT what human being do to other human beings. Albert Okura is spinning in his grave. People come from all over the world to see Route 66 and the American spirit. Roy's was rescued from obscurity by a wonderful generous man. Since his passing, this place has turned into a human dump, with a garbage man behind the counter. Some landmarks deserve to be saved; others should be forgotten. Avoid Roy's and keep going. A man with HATE IN HIS HEART will chase you out and give you dirty looks. This is by far the worst place on Route 66 now. Avoid avoid avoid.
Written June 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Woodys5
Sydney, Australia305 contributions
Mar. 2023
This was purely a photo stop. Sadly, apart from the Motel and Cafe there isn't anything here. I didn't see anything in the cafe to grab me and pull me in to purchase. We drove out down the road a little to get some good shots of the Route 66 sign on the road. Definitely fun to stop at and imagine how the place may have been back in its heyday.
Written May 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel
Gold Coast, Australia433 contributions
Dec. 2022
I absolutely love this place !! Love the architecture, the old motel rooms, the shields on the road and of course the Roy’s sign. Got some great photos. Would love to have seen it lit up at night with all the neon. Super friendly guy working in the shop was happy to chat to us for half an hour. Picked up some cold drinks and a couple of tshirts and carried on down the road. Highly recommend stopping here, especially if you are a Route 66 fan. It’s well worth the detour. RIP Mr Akura.
Written February 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris L
Niles, MI788 contributions
Feb. 2023
If you like recent American history, this is the place to stop. Motel and display room of 1950s furniture along with old car that will never run again. This is Route 66. The rest rooms are a row of porta potties, but clean.
Plan to spend a little bit of time here. No rush. Little traffic so you can get your picture taken on highway that has Route 66 painted on the asphalt. Cool place.
Plan to spend a little bit of time here. No rush. Little traffic so you can get your picture taken on highway that has Route 66 painted on the asphalt. Cool place.
Written February 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee S
Cincinnati, OH257 contributions
Feb. 2023 • Couples
Traveling to Vegas from Palm Springs Way stop by Roy’s. An iconic and classic stop. The restrooms are out houses and very clean. On the day we stopped, and our host told us a lot of history, as well as offered us drinks and snacks and everything else instead of a restaurant. We hope for a café, but there was no café. Instead, a very pleasant surprise as we stopped. Make sure you do.
Written February 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
darietto888
Rovereto, Italy11 contributions
Si possono acquistare souvenir?
Skysere29
Rome, Italy1,496 contributions
Si, c' è di tutto !
MrBoulanger
Prescott Valley, AZ2 contributions
is roy's motel open?
ethomps1
Dearborn Heights, MI133 contributions
Agree with the other two answers. We bought a tee-shirt and drove to the nearby Amboy Crater Park to use that outhouse. We figured it would be cleaner.
Stop, take a picture, buy a postcard and move on.
David M
East Providence, RI8 contributions
Now I have to go there. This was a great review.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing