---
title: "El Rancho Motel vs Thunderbird Motel: which hotel is better?"
description: "El Rancho Motel or Thunderbird Motel in Bishop (CA)? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/el-rancho-motel-bishop-ca-vs-thunderbird-motel-bishop-ca/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-01
---

# El Rancho Motel vs Thunderbird Motel

Both are in Bishop (CA), 470 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Motel · ★★★ · Bishop
## [El Rancho Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/el-rancho-motel-bishop-ca/)

- **Guest rating:** 7.7 ·  Good

- **Location score:** 4.7

- **Score by category:** 7 of 17

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1379579/agoda/?lang=en)

Motel · ★★ · Bishop
## [Thunderbird Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/thunderbird-motel-bishop-ca/)

- **Guest rating:** 7.2 ·  Good

- **Location score:** 5.0

- **Score by category:** 3 of 17

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2226161/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick El Rancho Motel

It comes out ahead on 7 of 17 compared facts. 470 m apart.

### Choose El Rancho Motel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (7.7 / 7.2)

### Choose Thunderbird Motel if you want

-   to walk to the sights (230 m / 690 m)

### Why is El Rancho Motel better than Thunderbird Motel?

1.  Higher guest rating (7.7 vs 7.2) (+0.5)
2.  Higher star rating (3★ vs 2★) (+1★)

### Why is Thunderbird Motel better than El Rancho Motel?

1.  400 m closer to the area centre (−400 m)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | El Rancho Motel | Thunderbird Motel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 7.7  (+0.5) | 7.2 |
| Location | 4.7 | 5.0 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 7.9  (+0.2) | 7.8 |
| Guest rating | 7.7  (+0.5) | 7.2 |
| Number of reviews | 21  (+5) | 16 |
| Google rating | 3.6/5  (+0.2) | 3.4/5 |
| Google reviews | 221  (+3) | 218 |
| Rank in Bishop (CA) | bottom 24%  (+6%) | bottom 18% |
| Location |
| Location score | 4.7 | 5.0  (+0.3) |
| Distance to Bishop centre | 460 m | 60 m  (−400 m) |
| To the airport | 3.3 km | 3.0 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 20 | 27  (+7) |
| To the nearest food shop | 160 m | 180 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 4 | 5 |
| Sights within 1 km | 1 | 1 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★  (+1★) | ★★ |
| Listed amenities | 4 | 4 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| Check-out until | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free parking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free breakfast | – | ✓ |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Location

470 m apart

El Rancho Motel: city centre: 690 m, Eastern Sierra Regional Airport (BIH): 3.3 km, 20 places to eat within 500 m, 1 sights within 1 km.

Thunderbird Motel: city centre: 230 m, Eastern Sierra Regional Airport (BIH): 3.0 km, 27 places to eat within 500 m, 1 sights within 1 km.

## El Rancho Motel or Thunderbird Motel: common questions

### Which is better, El Rancho Motel or Thunderbird Motel?

El Rancho Motel leads in 7 of 17 categories, including StayVersus score, guest rating, number of reviews. Thunderbird Motel is stronger in location score, distance to Bishop centre, restaurants within 500 m.

### Which is cheaper, El Rancho Motel or Thunderbird Motel?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Thunderbird Motel is closer: 60 m from the centre, against 460 m for El Rancho Motel.

### How far apart are El Rancho Motel and Thunderbird Motel?

The two hotels are 470 m apart in a straight line.

## More match-ups

-   [El Rancho Motel vs Super 8 By Wyndham Bishop](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/el-rancho-motel-bishop-ca-vs-super-8-by-wyndham-bishop-bishop-ca/)
-   [El Rancho Motel vs Days Inn by Wyndham Bishop](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/days-inn-by-wyndham-bishop-bishop-ca-vs-el-rancho-motel-bishop-ca/)
-   [El Rancho Motel vs Mountain View Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/el-rancho-motel-bishop-ca-vs-mountain-view-motel-bishop-ca/)
-   [Thunderbird Motel vs Quality Inn Bishop near Mammoth](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/quality-inn-bishop-near-mammoth-bishop-ca-vs-thunderbird-motel-bishop-ca/)
-   [Thunderbird Motel vs Cielo Hotel Bishop-Mammoth, an Ascend Collection Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cielo-hotel-bishop-mammoth-an-ascend-collection-hotel-bishop-ca-vs-thunderbird-motel-bishop-ca/)
-   [Thunderbird Motel vs Travelodge by Wyndham Bishop](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/thunderbird-motel-bishop-ca-vs-travelodge-by-wyndham-bishop-bishop-ca/)
-   [Thunderbird Motel vs Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Bishop By IHG](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/holiday-inn-express-hotel-suites-bishop-by-ihg-bishop-ca-vs-thunderbird-motel-bishop-ca/)

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

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Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/el-rancho-motel-bishop-ca-vs-thunderbird-motel-bishop-ca/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/
