Desert Hills Motel and Tally’s Good Food Cafe in Tulsa on Route 66 – Love, Laughter, and Luggage

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We are pretty fortunate to live in Joplin, just a few blocks from Route 66. Since we live in Missouri, we can also easily experience some attractions on the Route in either direction. Tulsa is a great example of a city on the Mother Road that is well within a day trip and a quick getaway for us. So one summer, when I had a medical procedure scheduled in Tulsa, Jeff and I made an overnight of it and booked a room at the Desert Hills Motel on Route 66.

I won’t lie; this place often has mixed reviews, and some people question the safety of this particular area. Still, I was drawn in by the classic neon, so for one night, I thought we could give it a try. And I’m glad we did.

Is this luxury lodging? No. But many old classic motels on Route 66 aren’t. Does it have all the modern comforts that many hotels offer on the Interstate? Again, no. But sometimes it’s an adventure to step back in time for a moment and experience a road trip the way travelers in the past might have. What can I say; nostalgia runs through my veins.

Checking in at Desert Hills Motel

We arrived at the motel around check-in time. We’d explored the Mother Road Market about two and a half miles away, which is a great stop, by the way.

This sink is in the motel drop-off area.

The registration room is full of interesting knick-knacks.

The window gives you a view of Route 66. Soon, we were all checked in and ready to go. I suggest asking for a Route 66 room. I’ll show you why later in the post.

We had Room 106. Love the classic key chain!

The ice machine and microwave is just outside the office. They also have a pop vending machine.

Our room was on the right-hand side of the motor court.

Here’s a glance at the other side.

Our Room

The rooms are arranged as a classic motor court-style motel. One unique thing, however, is that the rooms face towards the front of the motel instead of the car parking spaces. The “welcome” mat is a nice touch.

Since it was just the two of us this time, we had one bed. Notice the classic phone on the nightstand.

We had a nice-sized fridge along with a chair and ottoman.

Again, the room at the time was a tad dated, and some of the furnishings are a little rough around the edges, but for one night, it was worth the step back in time to experience a classic.

The best feature of the actual room is tile in the bathroom. Our room had the cactus and Route 66 pattern on the floor. I’ve seen pictures of some bathrooms with tile work on the shower walls. I’ve also seen some pictures with a cactus shower curtain.

The tiles are epic!

Our shower walls were plain, but they were still tile.

Early Dinner at Tally’s Good Food Cafe

After we settled in, we decided to grab an early dinner at Tally’s Good Food Cafe. The drive to this cafe didn’t even take five minutes. It’s that close.

There was seating outside, but since it was a warm summer evening, we opted to eat indoors. The decor inside the cafe is classic diner.

We were seated in a booth in the main dining area, but I explored a bit. Here is a space dedicated to Marilyn Monroe. It was early yet, so there weren’t a lot of patrons.

Before long, our food arrived. Jeff ordered the Tally’s World Famous Chicken Fried Steak.

For some reason, the gravy was served on the side. I can’t remember if he asked for it that way or not. No matter, he said it was great!

I had the croissant club sandwich. It was a hot sandwich with turkey and very yummy!

Circling Back for the Neon

We did some more exploring of Route 66. Tulsa is a great stop on the Route for nostalgic attractions, including the Meadow Gold District near the Giants and the Route 66 Neon Sign Park. You should also check out the Blue Whale of Catoosa while you’re in the area. We’ve been many times, and it always brings a smile to my face.

It was dark when we headed back to our motel, the perfect time to catch Tally’s neon.

Our motel at night is also a great place to check out, even if you don’t stay there.

The neon sign is iconic and worth a picture, even if you’re just passing through.

The Wrap-Up

We enjoyed our stay at Desert Hills Motel in Tulsa on Route 66. It’s not luxurious, so if that’s what you want from a hotel stay, you won’t find it here. If you’re looking to stay somewhere nostalgic at a good value, this could be your place. I would certainly ask for a Route 66 room. This may not be my favorite classic motel on Route 66, but it definitely wasn’t a bad stay for us. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.

Click below to read about some other classic motels we’ve experienced on Route 66.

Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico

Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona

El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico

El Vado Motel-ABQ in Albuquerque, New Mexico