Trade Winds Inn (Elvis Suite)

Elvis Presley's connection to the Trade Winds Inn dates to the mid-1960s. Elvis was an avid road-tripper through his entire career — he generally preferred driving cross-country to flying, and his regular Memphis-to-Los Angeles route (for film work in Hollywood and for performances on the West Coast) typically followed the southern transcontinental corridor that included U.S. Route 66 through Oklahoma. The Trade Winds Inn became his preferred overnight stop in western Oklahoma, and he stayed at the motel on four documented occasions between 1964 and 1977, generally checking in late in the evening, leaving the next morning, and traveling with a small entourage in two or three vehicles.

Elvis consistently requested the same room — Room 215 on the upper level — which the motel held for him on advance notice. The room was chosen partly for its second-floor position (which gave Elvis a little more privacy from curious passers-by at ground level) and partly because it sat at the end of the upper corridor, which made it easier for the entourage to occupy adjacent rooms without disturbing other guests. Hotel staff and the motel ownership during that era generally respected Elvis's privacy and did not publicize the stays at the time, which is why the Trade Winds avoided the disruption that some other Elvis-frequented properties experienced.

After Elvis's death in 1977 the motel ownership eventually began to commemorate the Elvis connection, partly as Route 66 nostalgia tourism became a meaningful business segment for the surviving Mother Road motels. Room 215 was preserved with its original furniture (the mid-century bedroom set, dresser, and chairs that Elvis used during his stays remain in place), and a small collection of photographs, news clippings, and Elvis memorabilia was added to the room and to a small display area near the motel office. The room is now marketed as the Elvis Suite and is available to book for guests; curious Route 66 travelers who are not staying at the motel can typically request to see the room during daytime hours, though access depends on whether it's currently occupied by paying guests.

The Trade Winds Inn is architecturally a classic late-1950s American motor court — exactly the kind of property that defined Route 66 lodging during the highway's commercial peak. The building footprint is a long single-story wing along the back of the property with a two-story wing along one side (where Room 215 is located), wrapping around a central parking lot with the pool in the middle and the diner building at the front facing Gary Boulevard. Rooms open directly onto exterior corridors rather than into interior hallways, which is the defining feature of motor-court design and which Route 66 enthusiasts generally appreciate as authentic.

The rooms themselves have been updated across the decades to keep up with modern guest expectations — beds are modern, bathrooms have been remodeled, flat-screen TVs replaced the original tube televisions, and HVAC units replaced the original through-the-wall systems. But the basic room layout, the exterior-corridor access, the small kidney-shaped pool, the diner building, and the overall property feel remain unmistakably mid-century. Room 215 specifically has been preserved more aggressively than the standard rooms — the mid-century furniture set Elvis used is original, the room finishes have been kept closer to their 1960s appearance, and the Elvis memorabilia provides additional period atmosphere.

The pool is open seasonally (generally Memorial Day through Labor Day weather permitting) and is small but functional — useful for travelers with kids who need to burn off energy after a long driving day. Free parking is plentiful in the central lot. Free Wi-Fi reaches all rooms, though signal strength can vary at the back of the property. The motel does not have an elevator, so the upper-floor rooms (including the Elvis Suite) require taking exterior stairs — guests with mobility limitations should request ground-floor rooms.

The motel's on-site diner — the Trade Winds Inn Restaurant — is a separate operating business located in the standalone building at the front of the property facing Gary Boulevard. The diner is open for breakfast and lunch most days (typically 6am to 2pm, though hours vary seasonally) and serves classic American diner fare: egg breakfasts, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, burgers, chicken-fried steak, blue-plate specials, and bottomless coffee. Prices are budget-friendly — most plates run $8 to $15.

The diner is not a culinary destination in the way that a serious Route 66 diner like Pops 66 (in Arcadia) or the original Rock Cafe (in Stroud) might be, but it's a perfectly serviceable on-property breakfast option for motel guests and a reasonable lunch stop for Route 66 travelers passing through. The interior is decorated with vintage Route 66 photographs and a modest collection of Elvis memorabilia tied to the motel's history. Staff are typically friendly and willing to share local Route 66 stories and pointers to other Clinton-area attractions.

For evening meals, motel guests generally drive elsewhere — Clinton has the standard small-town selection of fast food and chain casual dining along Gary Boulevard and around the I-40 exits, plus a handful of locally-owned options including Jiggs Smokehouse (a Route 66 BBQ stop) and various Mexican and steakhouse restaurants. The diner closes by mid-afternoon and does not serve dinner.

The Elvis Suite (Room 215) is bookable directly through the motel — typically via phone (580-323-6556) rather than online travel agency platforms, which often don't display the specific room. The room generally runs $20 to $40 more per night than a standard motel room (so typically $80 to $120 depending on season), which is a modest premium for the authentic Elvis context. The room books up well in advance during peak Route 66 travel months (April through October) and around significant Route 66 anniversary events; advance booking is strongly recommended for travelers who specifically want this room.

For Route 66 travelers, the natural Clinton day plan pairs the Trade Winds Inn with the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum directly across Gary Boulevard. Most travelers check into the motel in the late afternoon, walk across to the museum for a 90-minute visit before the museum closes at 5pm, have dinner at a Clinton restaurant, and spend the evening enjoying the motel pool and the Route 66 ambience. The next morning, breakfast at the on-site diner and a walk-through of the Elvis Suite (if not staying in it) round out the Clinton portion of the trip before continuing west toward Elk City, Sayre, and the Texas state line.

Beyond the immediate Route 66 context, Clinton itself is a working small western Oklahoma town with a downtown commercial district about a mile north of Gary Boulevard, several historic churches, and access to Foss Lake (a state park with fishing and boating) about 30 minutes northwest. The Trade Winds Inn is centrally located for accessing all of these, but most overnight visitors focus their time on the motel, the museum, and a single Clinton restaurant for the brief overnight stop.

The Trade Winds Inn is honestly a budget motel — clean and functional but not luxurious, and not trying to be. Travelers expecting four-star hotel finishes, premium bedding, or extensive amenities will be disappointed; the motel competes at the $60-$90 per night price point and delivers what that price point typically delivers in small-town Oklahoma. What the Trade Winds offers that comparable budget motels don't is the authentic Route 66 history, the Elvis story, and the across-the-street proximity to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum.

Recent guest reviews on travel platforms typically average around 4.0 out of 5 — generally praising the cleanliness, the friendly staff, the Route 66 ambience, and the Elvis Suite specifically, while occasionally noting that the motel shows its age in places (worn carpet in some rooms, dated bathroom fixtures, thin walls). The pool and diner receive mixed reviews depending on the season and recent maintenance. Most guests who book the motel because of the Route 66 and Elvis context come away satisfied; guests who book it as a generic overnight stop without the nostalgia interest are more likely to wish they'd stayed at one of the modern chain hotels at the I-40 exits.

Pet policy varies — call ahead to confirm current policy before traveling with pets. The motel typically accepts pets in select rooms for a modest fee. Check-in is at the standalone office building at the front of the property; check-in time is typically 3pm and check-out is typically 11am, though staff are generally flexible with both for travelers with reasonable requests.