We love road trips in the fall.
There’s the beautiful foliage, crisp air, and breathtaking scenery… but there’s also the unfortunate realities of money and time.
Luckily, there are still ways to “get away” without going too far or spending too much. Located along the Kingsway Corridor, the 2400 Motel is an iconic Vancouver landmark that has been offering affordable accommodations and old-school hospitality to adventure seekers since 1946. It’s a destination in itself and also the perfect home base for a road trip or staycation that will transport you back in time.
So grab your snacks, call shotgun and get ready to road trip through some of Vancouver’s historic sites.
Roedde House Museum – 1415 Barclay St
The Roedde House Museum is a charming late-Victorian home nestled within the shady, tree-lined streets of Vancouver's West End. Built in 1893 in the Queen Anne Revival style for Gustav Roedde, founder of Vancouver’s first bookbindery, the house became a family residence for Roedde and his loved ones. Now operating as a museum since 1990, Roedde House showcases more than 2,700 artifacts that capture the early history of Vancouver, including furniture and clothing once owned by the Roedde family.
Holy Rosary Cathedral – 650 Richards St
Holy Rosary Cathedral is a French Gothic Revival church from the late 19th century, serving as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. The parish was established in June 1885 when the Right Reverend Louis d’Herbomez, OMI, Vicar Apostolic of British Columbia, appointed Father Patrick Fay to minister to the two settlements of Granville: Gastown and Hastings. While selecting a site for the new church, Father Fay gazed south from the waterfront, up the forested slopes, and pointed to the tallest tree. The land was acquired, and the original church was built on that very spot, where it still stands today.
Camosun Bog – Pacific Spirit Park
The land now known as the City of Vancouver has long been home to many Indigenous peoples and remains the traditional unceded territory of three nations—the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlil̓wətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh). As such, Vancouver is rich in Indigenous historical sites, including the Camosun Bog, a distinct ecosystem within Pacific Spirit Park on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nation. According to the Camosun Bog Restoration Group, this once-vast bog was a vital source of food, medicine, raw materials, and trade goods for the Musqueam people.
The Kingsway Corridor
Kingsway has a long and storied history dating back to the gold rush. In 1858, the Royal Engineers were sent from England to maintain order and defend against a potential invasion by the expansionist United States. To secure the region, they created a 13-mile (20-kilometer) trail running northwest from New Westminster to Burrard Inlet to stave off the potential threat coming from south of the border.
Just shy of a century later, the 2400 Motel became a premier motor court, catering to North Americans traveling to Vancouver while also connecting Vancouver to the American highway system, serving as a literal starting point for countless road trip adventures over the last 78 years. Today the motel stands as the last remaining symbol of Kingsway’s rise as the northern terminus of the Pacific Highway, holding significant historical, aesthetic, and cultural value as a landmark of post-World War II Kingsway and the golden age of road trips in B.C.
And if nostalgia is your thing, you’re in the right place! As the last classic motel in Vancouver, the 2400 Motel is brimming with cheery, kitschy charm from within their clean drive-up suites and colourful exterior, offering travelers a comfortable, suburban home away from home. It’s also host to the Vancouver Chapter of the Vintage Car Club of Canada’s annual Show and Shine, which sees some of the rarest historical cars in B.C. grace the motel’s pristine grounds.
Of course, The 2400 has stayed up with the times too – in addition to enhanced WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and EV charging stations, they are the recent recipient of a 2024 British Columbia Hotel Association Award of Excellence for Sustainability, which acknowledges an individual or property in the accommodation sector that has shown exceptional dedication to sustainability, reducing their carbon footprint, and promoting eco-friendly practices. The motel also believes in sustainability for the staff, having been the first accommodation partner certified as a Living Wage Employer.
If you’re going to staycation, you might as well travel back in time! Experience the nostalgic charm of a vintage motor hotel with modern amenities at the 2400 Motel in Vancouver, the perfect rest stop for travelers seeking a nostalgic vibe.
To book your room or learn more about special offers at the 2400 Motel, visit 2400motel.com.
