Why is there no room 420 in hotels?

Why You Won’t Find Room 420 in Most Hotels

Walk down the hallway of most modern hotels, and you might notice something odd: after room 419, the next door reads 421. It’s not a clerical error—room 420 has been quietly retired. Much like the infamous missing floor 13, the absence of room 420 isn’t due to superstition, but to a cultural phenomenon that’s taken on a life of its own.

The number 420 traces its roots back to the 1970s, when a group of California high school students used it as code for meeting up to smoke cannabis. Over decades, the term was embraced by marijuana enthusiasts, and April 20 (4/20) became an unofficial holiday celebrating cannabis culture. What started as a niche reference exploded into mainstream awareness, with rallies, festivals, and widespread use of the number in stoner lore.

Hotels, eager to avoid attracting crowds or encouraging gatherings linked to substance use, began quietly retiring room 420. Some properties have even renumbered existing rooms to prevent theft—guests have been known to steal plaques as souvenirs or symbols of pride. One Colorado hotel reportedly replaced its 420 sign nightly, only for it to vanish again and again.

"We just got tired of replacing it," said a manager at a Denver-area motel. "People weren’t just visiting—they were *celebrating*."

While the move might seem excessive to some, it reflects a broader effort by hospitality businesses to maintain order and discretion. In cities where cannabis is legal, the line between cultural nod and disruptive behavior can be thin. And for many hotels, skipping a single number is a small price to pay for peace and quiet.

So next time you’re booking a room, don’t be surprised if 420 is conspicuously absent. It’s not bad luck—it’s just too much fun for its own good.