Mother Lode Motel

1940 Broadway, Placerville, CA 95667, Auburn Lake Trails, United States

2-star hotel

Guest rating: 3.2 / 5

Overview

Mother Lode Motel is a budget, 2-star motel set among trees just off US Route 50 in the Placerville/Auburn Lake Trails area of California's Gold Country. Rooms are accessed via exterior corridors, giving it a classic roadside-motel layout suited to travelers looking for simple, affordable lodging near the region's wineries and orchards. With a 3.2 rating from 209 reviews, it's a no-frills option rather than a full-service resort.

Rooms

Air-conditioned rooms feature vibrantly painted accent walls, cherrywood furnishings, and colorful bedspreads, along with free Wi-Fi, cable TV, coffeemakers, microwaves, and minifridges. Suites step things up with in-room Jacuzzis set into pastel tiling, appealing to travelers wanting a small upgrade over a standard room. The exterior-corridor design gives the property a traditional motel feel rather than an interior-hallway hotel layout.

Amenities & Recreation

The property has an outdoor pool area with lounge chairs and umbrella tables for warm-weather relaxation, though guests should note the pool has at times been closed for renovations without clear advance notice on booking sites. Complimentary perks include on-site parking and breakfast pastries, keeping costs low for budget-focused stays.

Location & Surroundings

The motel sits roughly half a mile off US Route 50, about 5 miles from the El Dorado Historical Museum and 12 miles from Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. It's also close to Apple Hill's orchards and farms (Boa Vista Orchards, Apple Ridge Farms, Apple Hill Growers Association), several wineries (Lava Cap, Lewis Grace, Sierra Vista, Findleton Estate, Bumgarner Wine Tasting Camino), and Gold Rush-era attractions like Gold Bug Park & Mine and the Fountain & Tallman Museum, plus Downtown Placerville just a couple of miles away.

Best for

This motel suits budget-conscious road-trippers and Gold Country sightseers who want an affordable, no-frills base near Apple Hill's orchards, local wineries, and Placerville's historic sites. It's a practical fit for travelers prioritizing proximity to US Route 50 and a low-cost bed over upscale amenities.

Travel tips

Since the motel is about half a mile off US Route 50, a car is the most practical way to reach it and to explore the scattered Apple Hill orchards, wineries, and historic sites nearby, many of which are several miles apart. If visiting during Apple Hill harvest season (fall), expect heavier local traffic and book ahead, as farms and wineries draw crowds. Confirm directly with the motel whether amenities like the pool are currently operating before you arrive, since availability has reportedly changed without notice on third-party booking sites.

What guests say

Guest feedback is mixed, with some praising friendly staff, cozy rooms, and the motel's natural, tree-surrounded setting. However, recurring complaints center on service and reliability issues, including a reported billing dispute, a multi-hour water outage that prevented guests from showering, and a widely discussed incident involving pool closure and inflexible front-desk handling of a cancellation request. These accounts suggest inconsistent guest service and occasional facility disruptions alongside otherwise positive impressions of the rooms and atmosphere.

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