8 Best Hotels, Resorts, and Inns in Iowa (2024)

The major factor that can make or break your vacation is the choice of hotel or resort. A wrong move while choosing a favorable accommodation can majorly affect your entire holiday. However, when you are planning a holiday in Iowa, the chances of disappointment are quite low. Iowa is home to an array of great luxurious resorts, hotels, lodges, cabins, and inns. While some flaunt the century-old architecture, others flaunt their lakefront setting. In all corners of the state, multiple hotel options dedicatedly work towards adding the best experience to their guest’s time.

A trip to Iowa will make you experience both relaxation and adventure within your hotel itself. Be it enjoying a spa day at the resort or earning that adrenaline rush in the indoor resort waterpark, lodging options here are a total packaged affair. For ideas on the best place to stay, here we have the list of the most popular hotels and resorts in Iowa. Depending upon which part of Iowa you are staying in, you can make decisions accordingly. Several of these properties are also ideal for planning a weekend vacation, enjoying and relaxing in the resort itself.

The Best Iowa Hotels, Resorts and Inn – Popular Accommodations

Have a look:

1. Surety Hotel

Located in downtown Des Moines, Surety is a new era grand hotel. Today, the hotel was once a working bank back in 1913, and from then till today, it has been known for its elegant beaux-arts. The building still maintains its heritage charm, especially with several original charm/ artwork from back then. The Surety Hotel has 138 rooms (Standard, Deluxe, and Suite), a private outdoor courtyard, a meeting space, and a 200-person ballroom. Every single room here has a large window offering clear city views. Besides that, Surety’s lobby features a beautiful lounge that calls for coffee and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The hotel has its own on-site restaurant that serves classic American, Italian and French dishes. Surety Hotel is within proximity to Pappajohn Sculpture Park, the Iowa Hall of Pride, and absolutely close enough to Interstate 235.

2. Honey Creek Resort

Noted amongst the best resorts in Iowa, the Honey Creek Resort is on the banks of the Rathbun Lake in the south-central part of the state. This polished hotel and golf resort overlooks the Rathbun Lake and is perfect for a relaxing vacation escape. It has over 100 rooms in the form of lodge rooms and cottages. And for an extended experience, the resort also has its own camping sites within its spread. In addition, honey Creek offers to stay and play packages featuring its 18-hole The Preserve at Rathbun Lake golf course.

Along with that, the resort also has the Buccaneer Bay Indoor Waterpark for added for. Or, in case you find peace outdoor, Honey Creek offers kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and fishing gear near Rathbun Lake’s shore. Other activities like boating, biking, and hanging out on the beach too are popular here. Honey Creek Resort makes up for the best weekend getaway in Iowa with accommodations and in-house adventure at the place.

3. Bridges Bay Resort

Bridges Bay Resort is a 3-star hotel located on East Okoboji Lake. It is a laid-back resort with hotel-style rooms, lake access, and beautiful lake views. Accommodations here come in the form of hotel rooms and condos. The condo suites are ideal for families since they can accommodate several individuals in one place. And for more privacy, inside the resort, vacation cabin rentals offer home-like comfort. Inside the resort, there is a massive waterpark along with a high-flying zipline that aids in in-house fun. Besides that, the Arnolds Park Amusement Park and Bridges Bay are within 5 minutes walk from the resort. For an exclusive dining experience, three waterfront restaurants serve ultimate cuisine and live entertainment. Other amenities of the resort include a fishing pond, boat hoist rentals, an arcade, and a fitness center.

4. White Rock Resort

White Rock Resort in Iowa is a beautiful accommodation property nestled in the huge 5,500-acre White Rock Conservancy. The character cottages and campsites here offer a unique staycation experience here. The property features individual rooms in the historic Garst Farmhouse, country cottages with comfortable beds and full kitchens, three campgrounds, a remote primitive cabin rental, and a single primitive campsite. The options here are so unique that they will conveniently suit guests with different budgets and needs. Though since there are no on-site restaurants or any other dining facility, visitors have to venture out for food or bring their own beforehand. There are fully stocked kitchens where guest can prepare their own food. For someone who loves outdoor recreation, opportunities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, mountain walking, and fishing are in abundance here. Since the resort is a small part of White Rock Conservancy, guests staying here always have an abundance of photography and nature watching opportunities all across.

5. Hilton Garden Inn

Hilton Garden Inn is a relaxed hotel in downtown Iowa City. It has multiple bright rooms with wooden furnishing, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, microwaves, coffeemaking facilities, a mini-fridge, and more. Along with that, the suites at Hilton come with a living area, sofa-cum-bed, and nice window views. The premium hotel facilities here include an all-year-round indoor pool, hot tub, a trendy rooftop restaurant/bar with a terrace, and a gym. Hilton Garden Inn is just 1 mile away from Route 6 and less than 10 minutes walk away from both University of Iowa Museum of Natural History and Old Capitol Museum. Settled in the pristine downtown region, it is ideal for individuals visiting Iowa city for work and tourism. It is also an ideal place for a family-friendly stay within the city.

6. Hotel Renovo

Located in the heart of Des Moines, the Hotel Renovo is the best in Iowa by far. This modern boutique hotel resembles an urban farmhouse delivering luxury and charm altogether. It is the only 4-star hotel in the region and is a prime choice that keeps Renovo full most of the year. There are 102 spacious guestrooms with luxurious bedding, a wraparound porch, and high-class comfort inside the hotel. The regular rooms feature amenities like flat-screen TVs, plus mini-fridges, a coffee machine, and free Wi-Fi. Whereas the upgraded suites include pull-out sofas, board rooms, dining rooms, add lofts, kitchenettes, and more. Besides that, the hotel features an indoor swimming pool along with a 24-hour fitness center. Along with offering room service, it has a trendy lobby bar that serves breakfast and dinner. Its open-concept lobby is also an ideal place to sit and enjoy a glass of cocktail. For added dining options, multiple restaurants, bars, and local food places are within 10 minutes from Hotel Renovo. The Adventureland Amusement Park, too, is just 20 minute drive away.

7. King’s Pointe Waterpark Resort

The King’s Pointe Waterpark Resort is Iowa’s finest resort to stay at. Located in the northwest part of the state, it is on the shores of Storm Lake and offers both indoor and outdoor fun altogether. The most prominent feature of this resort is the massive indoor and outdoor water park. It is like any other grand water park featuring a zero-depth entry pool, waterslides, kiddie fortresses, lazy rivers, rock climbing, and more. Besides that, the resort also features an elaborately themed Pirate’s Pointe mini-golf course along with the Storm Lake Golf Course nearby. There are regular guest rooms, suites, and sunrise cottages on-site for accommodation. Every room and cottage has a pleasing view from its window and balcony. And for dining, the resort has its own on-site restaurant, The Regatta. It is located near the floating dock and bike path and offers authentic American-style cuisine.

8. Cutty’s Okoboji Resort

Cutty’s Okoboji is a private resort offering a family-friendly vacation in Spirit Lake. It offers unique accommodation options in the form of cabin accommodation and several camping and RVing sites. However, everything, including cabins and campsites, is self-contained. This setting makes staying at Cutty’s Okoboji a very personal experience. All the cabins here are settled in in Lodge-style format, whereas the camps are kept nicely clean and neat. The owners of Okoboji also offer permanent purchasing options. Individuals who would invest in any cabin here can have it for their life, coming back every time to their home within this exclusive resort setting. For dining, there is an on-site restaurant on the campsite. The resort even features an on-site swimming pool, facilitating comfort for its guests. It also keeps organizing art and craft festivals during the peak tourism season, ensuring utmost guest entertainment.