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The Open Road
Travel & Places · Classic

Motels & Motor Lodges

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Use the arrow keys to move between letters. Press Enter or Space on the first letter of a word, then again on the last letter. Press Escape to cancel.

A few of the words

VACANCY
The lit VACANCY sign became one of the most iconic images of American road travel, and flipping it to NO VACANCY was a small nightly triumph for any motor lodge owner.Find this word in the grid to read its note.
NEON
Roadside NEON signs reached their golden age in the 1940s and 50s, when glass-tube craftsmanship lit up Route 66 and highways coast to coast with color and personality.Find this word in the grid to read its note.
COURTYARD
The U-shaped COURTYARD design, rooms ringing a central pool, was a signature layout of classic American motor lodges, letting guests keep an eye on the car while they relaxed.Find this word in the grid to read its note.
CHECKOUT
The 11 a.m. CHECKOUT time became a near-universal road-trip landmark, a gentle nudge back onto the highway with just enough morning left to make good miles.Find this word in the grid to read its note.

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motels and motor lodges word search

Motels & Motor Lodges: a free large-print word search

Motels & Motor Lodges, free, large-print puzzle evoking the vacancy sign's glow, the courtyard pool, and the quiet satisfaction of pulling off the highway for the night.

About Motels & Motor Lodges

Long before interstate chains standardized the overnight stay, the American motor lodge invented its own ritual: pull in under the neon sign, grab a key from the office, and let the sound of the ice machine down the breezeway lull you to sleep. Courtyard pools caught the late-afternoon sun, and hand-lettered signs out front promised air conditioning, color TV, and free local calls. There was a particular freedom in those roadside rooms, the open road waiting just beyond the parking lot, a diner close enough to walk to in the morning.

How to play

  1. 1
    Find a word.Tap its first letter, then tap along to its last — the trail fills in and finishes itself when it spells a word. Or press the first letter and drag.
  2. 2
    Words run in straight lines.Across and down, and on the harder difficulties diagonally and backwards.
  3. 3
    It marks itself.Each word you find takes on its own soft colour on the grid and is crossed off the list.
  4. 4
    Choose a difficulty.Relaxed, Classic or Challenging set those directions and how much the word list helps — never the grid size. Tap the A buttons at the top to enlarge the letters, or pinch the grid.

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More word searches in The Open Road

The Family Station WagonWood panels, roof rack, and the whole family packed in.The Filling StationFull service at the pump, the open road ahead.Roadside AttractionsGiant statues, caverns, and wonders worth pulling over for.
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