Downtown Indianapolis Hotels Near Monument Circle
Downtown Indianapolis is one of the most walkable city centres in the Midwest. Monument Circle sits at its middle, the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium are a few blocks south, and Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Canal Walk and White River State Park are all within easy reach on foot. TownePlace Suites Indianapolis Downtown and the InterContinental Indianapolis share the top rating here at 9.2, while the JW Marriott and The Westin connect to the convention centre by indoor walkways and sky-bridges. Several all-suite hotels with full kitchens suit families and longer business stays. Hotels are ranked by guest rating.
Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and the home of the Indianapolis 500, held each May at the Motor Speedway west of downtown. It is a friendly, practical Midwestern city that has built its centre around sport and conventions, with a canal, green parks and a compact grid of streets radiating from Monument Circle.
Walkable stays for events and games
Staying downtown in Indianapolis means you rarely need a car. Conventions, Colts games, Pacers games and concerts all happen within a few blocks, and in winter the network of covered walkways between hotels, the mall and the convention centre keeps you out of the cold. Hotels here range from luxury towers to practical suites with kitchens.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown and the InterContinental Indianapolis by IHG share the highest rating on this list, 9.2. TownePlace Suites is built for longer stays, with fully equipped kitchens in every room, a fitness centre, a bar and an outdoor fireplace with barbecue facilities, and it accepts pets. The InterContinental is the more polished choice, with a restaurant, bar, fitness centre and spa for wellness, and it also welcomes pets. Its score comes from fewer reviews, so weigh it accordingly, but both hotels put Monument Circle, Massachusetts Avenue and the downtown restaurant streets within a short walk.
For conventions and big games, location is everything. The JW Marriott Indianapolis, rated 8.8 from nearly 700 reviews, is linked to the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium by an indoor walkway, so you can reach a Colts game or a trade show floor without stepping outside. It has two restaurants and a modern fitness centre. The Westin Indianapolis, rated 8.9, connects by a covered sky-bridge to Circle Centre Mall and the convention centre, and it is pet-friendly and family-friendly. The Holiday Inn Express and Suites near the convention centre, also 8.9, adds an indoor pool and a free hot breakfast a short walk from the stadium.
Families and longer business trips get the most from the all-suite hotels. Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown, rated 8.9 from more than 400 reviews, offers spacious suites with full kitchens, a free hot breakfast, a fitness centre and a pool, and it accepts pets. Candlewood Suites in the downtown medical district, also 8.9, has kitchenettes, a gym, barbecue facilities and a pet-friendly policy, and sits about a mile from the university campus and the hospitals west of the centre. Both make it easy to cook simple meals, which cuts costs on a stay of a week or more in the city.
Downtown Indianapolis is also pleasant between events. The Central Canal runs through the west side of the centre, with a towpath for walking, running and pedal-boat rides, and it leads to White River State Park, home to the Indianapolis Zoo, museums and outdoor concert lawns. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail links downtown neighbourhoods for walkers and cyclists, including the bars and theatres of Massachusetts Avenue. Monument Circle, with the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at its centre, hosts seasonal events and lights up in winter, and it is a short walk from every hotel on this list, whichever one you choose.
A traveler's perspectiveFor a convention or a Colts game, I would choose the JW Marriott Indianapolis, because its indoor walkway to the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium is worth a lot in January. For a longer stay, my advice is TownePlace Suites Downtown: a full kitchen in every room, an outdoor fireplace, and a 9.2 rating that matches the best on the list.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown
Indianapolis
121 reviews
Spacious downtown suites with kitchens, a fitness center, and an outdoor fireplace
Check availabilityWhy guests love itTownePlace Suites Indianapolis Downtown gives families a fully equipped kitchen in every room, ideal for cooking simple dinners after a day in the city center. Barbecue facilities and an outdoor fireplace make pleasant evening spots, and pets are welcome. There is a fitness center, a bar and a 24-hour front desk for late arrivals. With 9.2 from 121 reviews, it is one of the best-rated downtown stays in Indianapolis.
InterContinental Indianapolis by IHG
Indianapolis
34 reviews
Downtown comfort with a spa, fitness center, and pet-friendly rooms
Check availabilityWhy guests love itI would consider the InterContinental for a downtown Indianapolis stay where service and wellness matter. Guests rate it 9.2, though that rests on only 34 reviews, so I read it as promising rather than proven. It has a restaurant serving French and American dishes, a bar, a spa, a fitness center, room service and a 24-hour front desk with concierge. Rooms bring tea and coffee makers and free WiFi, and pets are welcome.
The Westin Indianapolis
Indianapolis
173 reviews
Sky-bridge access to convention center and mall, with a modern gym
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Westin Indianapolis is connected by a covered sky-bridge to the Circle Center Mall and the Indiana Convention Center, so shopping and events need no stroll outside in bad weather. Rooms have coffee facilities, a flat-screen TV and a refrigerator. A modern gym and a restaurant and bar are on site, and the hotel is pet-friendly and family-friendly. Guests rate it 8.9 from 173 reviews.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Indianapolis Dtn-Conv Ctr Area by IHG
Indianapolis
573 reviews
Downtown hotel with indoor pool, free breakfast, and easy convention access
Check availabilityWhy guests love itLucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center are a short walk from Holiday Inn Express and Suites Indianapolis Downtown, which I find useful for families heading to a Colts game or a big event without moving the car. The free hot breakfast every day saves time before setting out, and the indoor pool works in any weather. The whole hotel is non-smoking, and rooms have a coffeemaker. An 8.9 score from 573 reviews is very good for a downtown hotel.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown
Indianapolis
407 reviews
All-suite comfort downtown with full kitchens and a pool
Check availabilityWhy guests love itI like the full kitchens here for families: you can keep snacks and cook simple dinners in the suite instead of eating out every night in downtown Indianapolis. A complimentary hot breakfast covers the mornings, and the pool gives children something to look forward to after a day of sightseeing. Pets are accepted, which helps families who travel with a dog. Guests score it 8.9 out of 10 from 407 reviews.
Candlewood Suites Indianapolis Downtown Medical District by IHG
Indianapolis
473 reviews
Downtown suites with kitchenettes, gym, and pet-friendly amenities
Check availabilityWhy guests love itCandlewood Suites Indianapolis Downtown Medical District has suites with fully equipped kitchenettes, made for families on an extended stay who want to cook their own meals. Barbecue facilities add an easy dinner option on fine evenings, and pets are welcome. There is a gym and a business center, and the hotel sits one mile from the university campus, close to downtown attractions. Guests rate it 8.9 from 473 reviews.
Staybridge Suites Indianapolis Downtown-Convention Center by IHG
Indianapolis
525 reviews
All-suite hotel with full kitchens, indoor pool, and hot tub downtown
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFull kitchens in every suite are why I would suggest Staybridge Suites Indianapolis Downtown-Convention Center to families on a longer stay: cooking meals in a separate space keeps children's routines steady. The indoor pool and hot tub work in any weather, and the 24-hour gym suits parents with odd schedules. Major event venues are within walking distance, so a game or a show needs no car. Pets are accepted. An 8.8 score from 525 reviews is very good.
JW Marriott Indianapolis
Indianapolis
678 reviews
Luxury downtown hotel with direct convention center access and fine dining
Check availabilityWhy guests love itJW Marriott Indianapolis is connected to the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium by an indoor walkway, so families heading to a Colts game or a convention stay dry and warm in winter. Two restaurants on site save a search for dinner after a long day. Rooms have a 40-inch flat-screen TV and an iPod docking station, and there is a modern fitness center. Guests rate it 8.8 from 678 reviews.
Hotel Indy, Indianapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Indianapolis
122 reviews
Modern downtown hotel with dining, a fitness center, and pet-friendly rooms
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHotel Indy, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, puts families in downtown Indianapolis with dining under one roof: an on-site restaurant serving American cuisine, a coffee shop for breakfast on the go and a bar with a terrace for parents. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi, pets are welcome, and there is a fitness center. Guests rate it 8.7 from 122 reviews, a solid score for a downtown stay.
Wyndham Indianapolis Airport
Indianapolis
140 reviews
Airport convenience with a seasonal pool and pet-friendly amenities
Check availabilityWhy guests love itWyndham Indianapolis Airport sits less than 10 minutes from Indianapolis International Airport, which makes it a practical stop for families with an early flight. Guests rate it 7.4 out of 10 across 140 reviews, a modest score. The seasonal outdoor pool is there in the warmer months, the American sports bar and kitchen covers dinner without a drive, and pets are accepted. Rooms have free WiFi and 32-inch flat-screen TVs. I would book it for one night around a flight, not for a longer stay.
Baymont by Wyndham Indianapolis Northeast
Indianapolis
259 reviews
Family-friendly hotel with a pool, hot tub, and spa near downtown Indianapolis
Check availabilityWhy guests love itA pool and a hot tub are the main family features of the Baymont by Wyndham Indianapolis Northeast, a 2-star hotel that also offers spa and wellness facilities. Pets are welcome, which helps families who travel with a dog. The guest rating of 7.2 is modest, so I would set expectations accordingly: this is a simple base on the northeast side of Indianapolis for families who mainly want a pool after a day out.
Local tips
- 1Book months ahead for the Indianapolis 500 weekend in May and for major conventions, when downtown hotels sell out.
- 2Use the indoor walkways and sky-bridges between hotels, Circle Centre Mall and the convention centre in winter.
- 3Walk or rent a pedal boat on the Central Canal, which leads to White River State Park and the zoo.
- 4The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is ideal by bike and connects downtown with Massachusetts Avenue.
- 5Downtown parking is usually paid; check the hotel's nightly rate or use a nearby garage.
- 6Choose an all-suite hotel with a kitchen for stays of a week or more to save on eating out.