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The best hotels in Des Moines depend entirely on why you are visiting. Downtown boutique hotels like the Surety and Des Lux put you walking distance from restaurants and the sculpture park, while airport-area chains offer free shuttles and lower rates.
Families consistently rate the Ramada Tropics for its indoor water park, and business travelers favor the Hilton Des Moines Downtown for its direct skywalk connection to the Iowa Events Center.
I first landed in Des Moines for the Iowa State Fair and picked a hotel based purely on price. I ended up in a suburban motel twenty minutes from everything, paying for parking that was supposed to be free, with a dead coffee maker and a lobby that smelled faintly of chlorine. Chidi, our logistics lead at WakaAbuja, had the opposite experience; he booked a boutique room downtown and walked everywhere. We built this guide with local input so you do not repeat my mistake.
These are the 15 hotels Des Moines residents actually recommend when their own family visits, organized by neighborhood, budget, and travel style.
Jump to: Best Boutique Hotels | Best for Business Travelers | Best for Families | Best Near the Airport | Budget Picks Under $100 | Neighborhood Breakdown | Hotels for State Fair & Events | Booking & Parking Tips | FAQ
Key takeaways
- Downtown and the East Village are where you stay if you want to walk to restaurants, bars, and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park; the Surety Hotel and Des Lux are the top local picks here.
- Families should look at the Ramada Tropics for its indoor water park or the Holiday Inn near the airport for the indoor pool and free shuttle.
- Business travelers with events at the Iowa Events Center want the Hilton Des Moines Downtown for the skywalk connection or the Renaissance Savery for its classic service and free airport shuttle.
- Airport hotels like the Days Inn and AmericInn offer free shuttles and 24-hour desks, crucial for late arrivals, but the surrounding area has very few walkable dining options.
- Free parking is rare downtown. Expect $18 to $25 per night at most central hotels. Budget hotels near the airport and in West Des Moines often include it.
What are the best boutique hotels in Des Moines?
Des Moines has a small but strong collection of independent and boutique hotels that consistently outshine the chains on character. The Surety Hotel, housed in a former bank building downtown, gets the top nod from locals. The lobby bar, Mulberry Street Tavern, draws a non-hotel-guest crowd, always a good sign. Rooms have high ceilings, large windows, and a design that respects the 1913 architecture without feeling stuffy.
Des Lux Hotel, a few blocks west, takes a different approach. It is quieter and more intimate, with a wood-paneled lobby and a fireplace that actually gets used in winter. Chidi stayed here for a three-night work trip and reported that the complimentary breakfast felt genuinely generous, not just a sad pastry table. Hotel Fort Des Moines, a Curio Collection property, just completed a full renovation and anchors the historic Fort Des Moines hotel building. It is the most centrally located of the three, steps from the Civic Center and several downtown steakhouses.
Chidi’s honest take: “Stay at the Surety if you want to feel like you’re in a real city. The building alone is worth it. The windows are huge and the bed linens are the kind you actually notice.”
Surety Hotel
- Neighborhood: Downtown, near Court Avenue
- Price range: $180–$280 per night
- Standout feature: The historic bank lobby and Mulberry Street Tavern
- Parking: Valet only, roughly $28/night
Des Lux Hotel
- Neighborhood: Western Gateway, near Sculpture Park
- Price range: $160–$240 per night
- Standout feature: Hot breakfast included and a quiet, adult atmosphere
- Parking: Free surface lot, rare downtown
Which Des Moines hotels are best for business travelers?
The Hilton Des Moines Downtown connects directly to the Iowa Events Center via the city’s skywalk system. If you are attending a convention or a trade show in January, you do not step outside. That alone makes it the top business pick. The hotel has a full-service restaurant, Park Street Kitchen, and a fitness center that is larger than most downtown hotels offer.
The Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel is the legacy option. It opened in 1918 and retains that old-hotel sense of service, a doorman who learns your name, a bell staff that moves fast, a lobby that feels like a place you could close a deal. It offers a complimentary airport shuttle, which the Hilton does not. The AC Hotel by Marriott in the East Village appeals to a younger business crowd who want to walk to Proof or Lua Brewing for a post-meeting drink. Rooms are modern, clean, and smaller than the Savery. Parking downtown runs $18 to $25 per night at all three. Check the official hotel website for current rates and packages that might include parking or breakfast.
What are the best family-friendly hotels in Des Moines?
The Ramada Tropics Resort & Conference Center on the north side wins on one feature: an indoor water park. The 3.2-star rating on review sites reflects dated rooms and inconsistent service, but children do not notice worn carpet when there is a waterslide. I have spoken with three Des Moines parents who book the Ramada exclusively for winter birthday parties and stay overnight. If you want the water park, book directly and request a renovated room. Skip the Tropics entirely if you are a couple or solo traveler; the noise level is relentless.
@travelhavenescapes Ramada by Wyndham Des Moines Tropics Resort & Conference Ctr 5000 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines, IA 50322, USA
For families who want a pool without the water park chaos, the Holiday Inn Des Moines Airport & Conference Center has a large indoor pool, an on-site restaurant with a kids-eat-free policy on certain nights, and a free airport shuttle. It is five minutes from downtown, so you drive to the Science Center or Blank Park Zoo. The Staybridge Suites West Des Moines offers full kitchens in every suite, which is a budget saver for families doing a multi-day State Fair trip. They also have a free laundry room. Parking is free at the Holiday Inn Airport and Staybridge.
What are the best hotels near Des Moines International Airport?
The Days Inn & Suites Des Moines Airport holds the highest TripAdvisor rating among airport-adjacent budget options. It runs a 24-hour free shuttle, which matters if your flight lands after midnight. The rooms are clean, basic, and priced under $90 per night as of this year. The AmericInn by Wyndham Des Moines Airport, directly across the street from the terminal, also offers a free shuttle and an indoor pool. The breakfast includes hot items, which the Days Inn does not always manage.
The Holiday Inn Airport, mentioned in the family section, is the upgrade pick for an airport overnight. It has a full restaurant, a larger fitness center, and soundproofed rooms. All three airport hotels put you in an area with almost zero walkable restaurants. You will need a car or a rideshare for dinner beyond the hotel restaurant. Confirm shuttle hours before you book if you have a very early or very late flight; some shuttles stop at 11 p.m. Verify directly with the hotel.
Which Des Moines hotels give the best value under $100?
The Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Fairgrounds sits within walking distance of the Iowa State Fair entrance, which defines its value proposition. Rooms are dated but functional. During the State Fair, rates climb to $150 or higher; the rest of the year, you can book under $80. The Baymont by Wyndham Des Moines Airport keeps rooms clean and includes a basic continental breakfast and free parking. It is a reliable $75 to $95 option.
On the west side, the Motel 6 Des Moines West in Clive offers genuinely low rates, often under $60, and a location near Jordan Creek Town Center. Reviews note thin walls as the main complaint. If you are a light sleeper, spend the extra $30 for the Baymont. I have found that Kayak surfaces the sharpest price comparisons for these budget properties, especially when you set a price alert early.
Which neighborhood should I stay in when visiting Des Moines?
Downtown / East Village is where you stay to walk. The Pappajohn Sculpture Park, the Des Moines Civic Center, dozens of restaurants, and the Principal Riverwalk are all reachable on foot. Hotels here include the Surety, Des Lux, Renaissance Savery, Hilton Downtown, and AC Hotel. Parking is almost never free. Budget $20 to $28 per night for valet or garage parking unless you are at Des Lux, which has a free lot.
West Des Moines / Jordan Creek is the suburban option with chain hotels clustered near the mall. You get free parking everywhere, easier highway access, and significantly larger rooms for the price. The downside is a 15- to 20-minute drive to downtown. The Drury Inn & Suites West Des Moines is the local favorite here, with a free evening kickback that includes hot food and drinks and an indoor-outdoor pool. The Staybridge Suites offers kitchens and a quieter location.
The airport area and fairgrounds / east side serve specific trip purposes. The airport hotels are purely functional, with a free shuttle, free parking, and zero character. The Fairgrounds area is quiet except during August and the Drake Relays. The Quality Inn & Suites Event Center and Econo Lodge Fairgrounds are the primary options here.
Where should I stay during the Iowa State Fair or a downtown event?
Iowa State Fair (August): The Econo Lodge Fairgrounds wins on proximity; you walk to the gate. Book six months ahead; it fills the day after the previous fair ends. A smarter move is staying in West Des Moines near Jordan Creek. The drive is 20 minutes, but hotel rates do not spike nearly as aggressively, and you get a pool and free breakfast for less money. Check rates on Booking.com with the free cancellation filter so you can lock in a rate early.
Drake Relays (April): Hotels near Drake University, primarily the AmericInn on Keosauqua Way and the Baymont on Merle Hay Road, sell out months in advance. If you are not running or watching, avoid visiting during Relays weekend; room rates triple across the metro.
Iowa Events Center / Wells Fargo Arena: The Hilton Downtown and Renaissance Savery are the walkable picks. The skywalk system connects the Hilton directly, which is a genuine advantage if you are attending a winter concert and do not want to haul a coat across a parking lot.
What should I know about parking, pets, and booking in Des Moines?
Parking costs and how to avoid them
Downtown hotels charge for parking. The Hilton, Surety, and Renaissance Savery all range from $18 to $28 per night. Des Lux has a free surface lot, a notable exception. Every suburban and airport hotel includes free parking. If you are staying downtown for three or more nights, parking fees add up quickly. Some third-party booking sites display the nightly parking fee in the fine print; Hotels.com tends to surface this more clearly than others.
Book direct vs. third-party
Booking directly on the hotel website often gets you a slightly lower rate, free Wi-Fi that third-party guests pay for, and far more flexibility with cancellations. Chain loyalty members always get the best available rate on the direct site. Use Expedia or Booking.com to research, then check the hotel site before you commit. This is especially true for boutique hotels like the Surety and Des Lux, which run direct-booking promotions regularly.
Pet-friendly policies that actually work
Many Des Moines hotels accept pets, but fees vary wildly. The Drury Inn & Suites West Des Moines charges a flat $40 per night pet fee. The Surety Hotel welcomes dogs with no weight limit and provides beds and bowls, but a cleaning fee applies. The Staybridge Suites allows pets with a one-time fee that is lower than the nightly-charging competitors. Call to confirm current pet fees before booking; these change without notice on third-party listings. Grassy relief areas are scarce downtown; the East Village hotels have better walking proximity to the riverfront path for dog walks.
What mistakes do travelers make when booking Des Moines hotels?
Assuming every hotel has an airport shuttle. Only airport-area hotels and a few downtown properties like the Renaissance Savery offer one. The Surety and Des Lux do not. Always confirm if a shuttle matters to you.
Ignoring the parking line item. A $22 nightly parking fee on a five-night stay adds $110 to your bill. Factor it into your comparison, especially between downtown and West Des Moines properties.
Booking the Ramada Tropics for a romantic getaway. It is a water park hotel full of children. It is excellent for its specific purpose and a loud, damp headache for anything else.
Waiting to book during the State Fair or Drake Relays. Rooms vanish months ahead. If you are coming for these events, set a calendar reminder to book six months out. Use a platform with free cancellation like Booking.com to lock in the rate.
Not checking hotel restaurant hours. Several downtown hotel restaurants close on Sunday and Monday. If you arrive late on a Sunday, you may find the lobby kitchen closed and few walkable alternatives open. Call ahead and ask.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Des Moines for first-time visitors?
Downtown or the East Village. You can walk to the sculpture park, the East Village shops, the riverfront, and the best restaurants. Parking adds cost, but the convenience of walking everywhere offsets it for most visitors.
Do Des Moines hotels have free parking?
Suburban and airport hotels almost universally offer free parking. Downtown hotels typically charge $18 to $28 per night. The Des Lux Hotel is a rare downtown exception with a free surface lot.
Which Des Moines hotel is best for the Iowa State Fair?
The Econo Lodge Fairgrounds is for walking proximity, but it books a year out. West Des Moines hotels like the Drury Inn offer more availability, better amenities, and only a 20-minute drive to the fairgrounds.
Are there pet-friendly hotels in downtown Des Moines?
Yes, the Surety Hotel welcomes dogs with no weight limit. The Renaissance Savery and several Marriott properties also accept pets. Pet fees vary, so call the hotel directly to confirm the current charge.
What is the average hotel price in Des Moines?
Budget hotels run $60 to $90 per night. Mid-range chain hotels average $100 to $160. Downtown boutique and full-service hotels range from $160 to $280. Rates spike during the State Fair in August and the Drake Relays in April.
Do I need a car in Des Moines?
If you stay downtown or in the East Village, you can walk to restaurants, bars, and several attractions. For anything beyond the central core, including the airport, Jordan Creek, or the fairgrounds, a car or rideshare is necessary. DART bus service exists but is infrequent outside downtown.
Plan your stay: booking platforms we use
Our WakaAbuja team cross-checks rates across these platforms before every trip. Each one serves a different purpose, and no single site consistently has the lowest price.