Best Cleveland Hotels with a Pool
Cleveland sits on the shore of Lake Erie, where winters are long and snowy, so it makes sense that four of the five hotels with a pool on this page list an indoor pool. Four are downtown, close to the Convention Center, the lakefront and the Playhouse Square theatre district, and one is in University Circle, near the Cleveland Clinic and the city's museums. The differences are in the details: Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown has a saltwater pool and a hot tub, and Drury Plaza Hotel adds a hot tub and free evening appetizers to its indoor pool.
Cleveland stretches along the southern shore of Lake Erie in northeast Ohio. Its downtown holds the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the lakefront, the Convention Center and Playhouse Square, one of the largest theatre districts in the United States. To the east, University Circle gathers the Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Cuyahoga River winds through the Flats on its way to the lake.
Where to stay
Downtown, theatre district and University Circle pools
In a city where snow and lake wind can last from December to March, an indoor pool is the only kind you can rely on for most of the year. Most visitors come for a convention, a game, a show at Playhouse Square, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic, so the pool is a way to end a long day rather than the purpose of the trip. The choice comes down to which district you need to be in.
For conventions and lakefront events, two hotels stand out. Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown, on East Sixth Street two blocks from the Cleveland Convention Center, is the most reviewed hotel on this page, with more than 2,200 reviews and a 9.0 rating. It has an indoor pool and a hot tub, accepts pets, and includes complimentary appetizers and drinks each day. Hilton Cleveland Downtown, also rated 9.0, sits on Lakeside Avenue about 200 metres from the Convention Center and 400 metres from the lakefront stadium, with a pool and towels provided. Both offer valet parking.
If you are in town for a show, Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square puts you right in the theatre district, overlooking the outdoor chandelier that hangs above Euclid Avenue, which the hotel describes as the largest of its kind in the world. It has an indoor pool and an on-site restaurant, Brel's, and the stage doors are a two-minute walk away. Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown, on Carnegie Avenue, is one of the few downtown hotels to combine a saltwater indoor pool with a hot tub, and it accepts pets. I would choose between them by how close you want to be to the theatres.
University Circle, east of downtown, is where the Cleveland Clinic's main campus, the Cleveland Museum of Art and several other museums sit together. Residence Inn by Marriott Cleveland University Circle/Medical Center, on East 101st Street, is the only hotel on this page in that district. It has an indoor pool, garage parking and pet-friendly rooms, and its family rooms come with kitchenettes and a city view. For a longer stay tied to medical appointments or a few days around the museums, a kitchen and a pool for the evening make this the practical choice.
Because four of the five hotels here list an indoor pool, the season matters less than usual, and the decision rests on location and extras. If a hot tub is important, look at Drury Plaza Hotel or Hilton Garden Inn, the two that list one. If you prefer saltwater to chlorine, Hilton Garden Inn is the only option. If you are travelling with a dog, three of the five accept pets: Drury Plaza, Hilton Garden Inn and Residence Inn. Parking also differs: valet downtown, a garage at Residence Inn. And for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Hilton Cleveland Downtown is about an eight-minute walk away.
A traveler's perspectiveI would pick by district. For a convention or a game, Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown is my first choice, with the most reviews here, an indoor pool, a hot tub and free evening appetizers. For a show, Crowne Plaza at Playhouse Square keeps the theatres two minutes away. For appointments at the Cleveland Clinic or a visit to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Residence Inn University Circle is the only hotel on this page in the district, with kitchenettes for a longer stay.
Hilton Cleveland Downtown
Cleveland
720 reviews
200 metres from the Convention Center, steps from the stadium
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe lakefront location puts the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame about eight minutes away on foot, an easy outing with older children, and the Great Lakes Science Center sits next to it. FirstEnergy Stadium is about 400 meters away and the Convention Center about 200 meters, handy for game days and events. Pool towels are provided. Parking is valet, which simplifies arrival. A 9.0 score from 720 reviews shows consistent service.
Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown
Cleveland
2,206 reviews
Free daily appetizers with a pool and hot tub, two blocks from Convention Center
Check availabilityWhy guests love itComplimentary daily appetizers and drinks are a real plus for families at the Drury Plaza Cleveland Downtown, often enough for a light early dinner with children. The indoor pool and hot tub keep everyone happy after a day downtown, and rooms have a microwave and a refrigerator for snacks. Pets are allowed. Parking is valet, which I would factor in if you drive. With a 9.0 score from over 2,200 reviews, it is one of the safest downtown picks.
Residence Inn by Marriott Cleveland University Circle/Medical Center
Cleveland
484 reviews
Kitchenette suites with an indoor pool near the Clinic
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFamily rooms with kitchenettes make this Residence Inn on East 101st Street a practical base for families on a longer stay linked to the Cleveland Clinic, or for several days among University Circle's museums. The indoor pool gives children something to look forward to whatever the weather, and some rooms have a city view. Pets are allowed, and garage parking is available. Downtown's stadium district is a drive away, so I would book it specifically for University Circle.
Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square by IHG
Cleveland
994 reviews
Valet parking and an indoor pool facing Playhouse Square
Check availabilityWhy guests love itTheater nights are the reason to stay here: Playhouse Square's stages are about two minutes on foot, and children usually love the giant outdoor chandelier hanging over Euclid Avenue. The indoor pool gives kids a reliable activity in Cleveland's long winters, and Brel's restaurant on site saves a search for dinner before a show. Parking is valet only, which simplifies arrival with luggage but should be planned for. Rooms have a work desk and coffee maker.
Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown
Cleveland
466 reviews
Saltwater pool and hot tub combined downtown
Check availabilityWhy guests love itAn indoor saltwater pool with a hot tub in the same space is rare in downtown Cleveland, and it is what I would book the Hilton Garden Inn for with children, especially in winter. Family rooms are practical rather than plush, with tea and coffee makers and a work desk. Carnegie Avenue keeps the Convention Center and the ballpark district within reach for a game day. Pets are accepted. The 7.6 score from 466 reviews is modest, so I see it as a pool-first choice.
Local tips
- 1Four of the five hotels on this page list an indoor pool, so a winter visit to Cleveland does not mean giving up a swim.
- 2For a saltwater pool and a hot tub together, choose Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown on Carnegie Avenue.
- 3Drury Plaza Hotel includes complimentary appetizers and drinks each day, alongside its indoor pool and hot tub.
- 4Going to a show? Crowne Plaza at Playhouse Square is a two-minute walk from the theatre district's stage doors.
- 5Visiting the Cleveland Clinic or University Circle museums? Residence Inn University Circle has an indoor pool and kitchenettes.
- 6Downtown hotels here offer valet parking, while Residence Inn uses a garage; factor parking into your plans if you drive.