Madonna Inn
San Luis Obispo, CA
A pink hotel with more than 100 individually themed rooms, including one built like a caveman's cave.
The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo is a piece of California roadside culture. Construction magnate Alex Madonna and his wife Phyllis opened it on December 24, 1958, as a motel with twelve rooms; it had 40 by 1959, the main inn followed in 1960, and after a fire in 1966 the first units were replaced. Today it has 110 rooms and suites, each decorated differently; most of the themes came from the Madonnas themselves, a few from Disney artist Alice Turney Williams. The exterior is mostly pink in a pseudo-alpine style with huge boulders, while inside you will find pink roses, Western-style murals, and hammered copper. The Caveman Room (No. 137) is a favorite, originally a "Flintstone Room" according to the owner.
The inn sits west of US-101 on the lower eastern slope of Cerro San Luis Obispo. It is worth a stop even without an overnight stay: the Bakery & Pastry Shop is known for its pink cakes, and there are also the Copper Café, the Gold Rush Steak House, and the Silver Bar. Hearst Castle is about an hour's drive from here.
- Nearest town
- San Luis Obispo, CA
- Category
- Unique stays
- GPS
- 35.2670, -120.6740
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, June–August and December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- El Chorro Regional Park CampgroundMotorhome stopover6 mi from Madonna InnMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
- Avila Koa CampgroundCampsite6 mi from Madonna InnElectricityShowersToilets
- Flying Flags Avila BeachCampsite8 mi from Madonna InnElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Port San Luis RV CampgroundMotorhome stopover8 mi from Madonna InnMotorhomesElectricity
- Holiday RV ParkMotorhome stopover9 mi from Madonna InnMotorhomes
- Morro Bay State ParkCampsite11 mi from Madonna InnTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
All campsites in California · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Madonna Inn?
Madonna Inn is in San Luis Obispo, CA, at GPS 35.2670, -120.6740. It is about 9 mi from Santa Margarita.
Can you camp near Madonna Inn?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camp San Luis Obispo RV Park, about 5 mi away; within 25 mi there are 82 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Madonna Inn?
Madonna Inn is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Monica.
What is there to see near Madonna Inn?
Places worth a stop nearby: Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove (10 mi), Oceano Dunes (13 mi), Hearst Castle (40 mi) and Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery (43 mi).
When is the best time to visit Madonna Inn?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, June–August and December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)