Roadside budget motel provides old Southwestern charm
Homey rooms feature cowboy flair, flat-screen TVs, and kitchenettes
Convenient old Route 66 location that’s a quick drive to downtown
Outdoor dining in Southwestern courtyard
Gift shop in lobby
Covered terraces and picnic tables available
Smoking and non-smoking patios
Freebies include Wi-Fi, parking, and continental breakfast
Furnishings in some rooms and bathrooms are outdated
Some rooms only have showers
Roadside noise can be bothersome
Wi-Fi is reportedly slow
The 17-room Silver Saddle Motel provides an
economy roadside vacation with Southwestern touches, cowboy decor, free Wi-Fi,
and on-site parking. The motel offers a gift shop, free
continental breakfast, and an outdoor dining patio along with picnic areas.
Rooms are named after Western characters and feature kitschy style (think: cowboy hats on the walls and patterned quilts on the beds), flat-screen
TVs, and, in some cases, kitchenettes -- but this is a motel, so expect some datedness. The nearby El Rey Inn, which offers more hotel
frills and rooms with fireplaces, is another option.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Budget motel with old Southwestern charm
Prices at the Silver Saddle Motel are typical
for budget rooms in Santa Fe. The furnishings and thoughtful touches, though,
are a bit extraordinary for a value property. The motel has been serving
customers for 50 years. The adobe exterior is adorned with Southwestern touches
like old wooden wagon wheels and two 1950s pickup trucks. The setting appeals
mostly to couples but also to families and solo travelers who have a penchant
for the Wild West. The outside area has a
charming courtyard with casual patio furniture, striped umbrellas, bursts of
greenery, cacti, and cowboy memorabilia. The lobby offers kitschy Route
66-themed interior decor, a viga ceiling, and little details like a sign that
reads: “Please check your guns.” A small gift shop with New Mexican souvenirs
is also in the lobby, which features signed photos of the famous people who have
reportedly stayed at the property. There’s also a small hutch where guests can
get a morning meal and coffee.
Location
Located near Santa Fe’s historic Route 66
The motel is conveniently located on Cerrillos
Road, near the old Route 66 which is now I-40, and surrounded by other budget
motels. Family-friendly restaurants, bars, markets, and shops are all within five
minutes walking distance. Jackalope crafts shop is on the same block. Downtown
-- with the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, Georgia O’Keeffe
Museum, and Palace of the Governors -- is less than 15 minutes northeast by car,
with the Travelers Market in the same general direction. Nature lovers can also find Santa Fe National
Forest to the east. Santa Fe Municipal Airport is a 14-minute drive southwest.
Rooms
Budget rooms with a Wild West theme; some have kitchenettes
AnnieOakley, Buffalo Bill, Billy the Kid, and other Western figures are the
inspiration for rooms here, and cowboy
art by Robert “Shoofly” Shufelt adorns guest units (think cowboy hats on the walls, cowboy boots holding flowers). Overall, rooms are clean but basic and,
in some cases, outdated (not an issue for most guests, as this is a motel with budget prices). Decor is generally Southwestern, and rooms offer quilted bedspreads, flat-screen TVs with free HBO, microwaves,
mini-fridges, and air-conditioning. Most bathrooms are old-fashioned with '70s-style tiles and showers or shower/tub combos. Kitchenettes can be found in some
spaces. Select rooms are pet-friendly.
Features
Cowboy-themed courtyards and an Internet corner
Amenities are generally on the limited side at
the Silver Saddle, though the motel does offer a free continental breakfast. The
dirt parking lot has a terrace that feels like a campsite with worn picnictables, dilapidated wooden wagons, and pops of greenery. The property also has another covered terrace seating area and
a small garden. A wooden desk with a PC computer can be found in the lobby. Free
parking and Wi-Fi (though reportedly spotty) are available as well.
