Family-Friendly Hotels in Indianapolis I Recommend
Indianapolis is an easy city for families: downtown is compact, the Canal Walk and White River State Park connect the zoo and museums on foot, and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, one of the largest children's museums in the world, is a short drive north. The hotels on this page cover four bases: downtown near Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center, the northeast side and Keystone, the airport, and the Speedway area to the west. I favored free breakfast, indoor pools and suites, with Drury Plaza Hotel Indianapolis Carmel leading on score, although it sits in the suburb of Carmel rather than in the city center.
Indianapolis feels orderly and walkable at its core, with Monument Circle at the center, the Canal Walk running through downtown and White River State Park gathering museums and the zoo. Racing defines its calendar around the Indianapolis 500 each May, while Mass Ave and Fountain Square bring local restaurants and shops.
Indianapolis Bases for Museums, Zoo and Racing
Families can fill several days here: the Indianapolis Zoo and the Indiana State Museum in White River State Park, paddle boats on the Canal Walk, Monument Circle downtown, and race history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Indoor pools help during cold Indiana winters and rainy spring days.
Downtown is the best base for walking to the zoo, the canal and the museums. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Indianapolis Dtn-Conv Ctr Area by IHG, rated 8.9, offers a free hot breakfast and an indoor pool a short walk from Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center. Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown provides all-suite rooms with full kitchens and a hot breakfast. The Westin Indianapolis connects by covered skybridge to Circle Centre Mall and the convention center, useful on cold or wet days. From any of these, White River State Park and the Indianapolis Zoo are a walk along the Canal Walk.
For a higher-end downtown stay, InterContinental Indianapolis by IHG is rated 9.2 and accepts pets, and Hilton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites adds a pool, a spa and on-site dining close to Monument Circle. Families with older children may enjoy the two small inns on this page, Stone Soup Inn, rated 9.2, and Looking Glass Inn, both offering family rooms, a garden and a hot tub in a quieter residential setting. I would choose the Homewood Suites for younger children because of its kitchens and breakfast, and the InterContinental for a shorter city break focused on restaurants and Monument Circle.
North of downtown, the suburbs offer more space and pools. Drury Plaza Hotel Indianapolis Carmel, the top-rated hotel here at 9.2 with more than 1,000 reviews, has a pool, a hot tub and pet-friendly rooms in Carmel, close to the Monon Trail and Conner Prairie in neighboring Fishers. Drury Inn & Suites Indianapolis Northeast, at 8.9, serves a daily hot breakfast and offers an indoor-outdoor pool. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Keystone, rated 9.1, adds family rooms, free parking and a year-round outdoor pool near Keystone at the Crossing. All three need a car for downtown.
For race fans and early flights, the west side works well. Hampton Inn & Suites Indianapolis West Speedway, rated 9.0, has an indoor pool and a family-friendly restaurant close to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its museum. Holiday Inn Indianapolis Airport by IHG, at 8.9, offers an indoor heated pool, a restaurant and a 24-hour airport shuttle, with microwaves and refrigerators in the rooms. Wyndham Indianapolis Airport, less than 10 minutes from the terminal, has a seasonal outdoor pool. I would book the Hampton for a race weekend and the Holiday Inn before a morning departure with children.
A traveler's perspectiveFor a family weekend in Indianapolis, I would book Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown: the full kitchen and hot breakfast simplify mornings, and the Canal Walk leads to the Indianapolis Zoo and the Indiana State Museum. If you have a car and want a pool with a high score, I would choose Drury Plaza Hotel Indianapolis Carmel instead.
Stone Soup Inn
Indianapolis
74 reviews
Family-friendly inn with hot tub and spa bath in Indianapolis
Check availabilityWhy guests love itI would choose Stone Soup Inn for a family that prefers a small inn to a large chain hotel in Indianapolis. Guests rate it 9.2 across 74 reviews. Family rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and city views, a hot tub and a spa bath are available, and a balcony, a sun terrace and a garden give everyone room to spread out. Free WiFi is included throughout.
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.
Drury Plaza Hotel Indianapolis Carmel
Indianapolis
1,041 reviews
Pet-friendly hotel with a pool, hot tub, and spa-wellness facilities
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe pool and hot tub are the first things I would point out to families at the Drury Plaza Hotel Indianapolis Carmel, a hotel that clearly caters to children. Rooms are air-conditioned, each with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom, and the front desk is staffed around the clock, useful for late check-ins. Parents can book time in the spa and wellness facilities, and pets are welcome, so the family dog can join the trip. A 9.2 from 1,041 reviews is an outstanding score.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Keystone
Indianapolis
335 reviews
Family-friendly suites with a year-round outdoor pool and free parking
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFamily rooms and a buffet breakfast make this SpringHill Suites at Keystone an easy choice for parents in Indianapolis. The outdoor pool is open year-round, private parking on site is free, and rooms are air-conditioned with a TV and free WiFi. A lounge and fitness center are there for downtime. Guests rate it 9.1 out of 10 from 335 reviews, and I would book it for a family trip by car on the north side of the city.
Hampton Inn & Suites Indianapolis West Speedway
Indianapolis
230 reviews
Comfortable stay with indoor pool near Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHampton Inn & Suites Indianapolis West Speedway sits near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis International Airport, which suits race fans and early flights alike. Rooms are air-conditioned with a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, a work desk and free WiFi. An indoor pool and a fitness room cover leisure, and the family-friendly restaurant serves American cuisine. Guests rate it 9.0 from 230 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.
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.
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.
Looking Glass Inn
Indianapolis
47 reviews
Family-friendly comfort with a hot tub and daily breakfast
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFor a family stay in Indianapolis, the Looking Glass Inn works best as a small, quiet base rather than a full-service hotel. Its family rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and city views, and a continental buffet breakfast is served every morning. The garden, terrace and outdoor seating give children room outside, while parents get a hot tub and a spa bath. Free private parking on site helps when you arrive with a loaded car.
Drury Inn & Suites Indianapolis Northeast
Indianapolis
943 reviews
Comfortable stays with a hot breakfast and indoor-outdoor pool
Check availabilityWhy guests love itDrury Inn and Suites Indianapolis Northeast has an indoor-outdoor pool, so children can swim in any season, plus a hot tub for parents. A hot breakfast is served daily, which makes early starts easier, and laundry facilities help on longer trips. Pets are welcome, there is a fitness center, and every room has free WiFi. Guests rate it 8.9 from 943 reviews, a strong and consistent result.
Holiday Inn Indianapolis Airport by IHG
Indianapolis
701 reviews
Airport convenience with an indoor pool and shuttle service
Check availabilityWhy guests love itAn indoor heated pool is the feature I would put first for families at Holiday Inn Indianapolis Airport: children can swim whatever the Indiana weather. Rooms come with a microwave, refrigerator and coffee machine, handy for snacks, bottles and breakfast on a longer stay. The 24-hour airport shuttle takes the stress out of early flights, the on-site restaurant keeps dinner simple, and parking is free if you arrive by car. An 8.9 score from 701 reviews is very good.
Hilton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites
Indianapolis
275 reviews
Spacious city-centre hotel with a pool, spa, and pet-friendly options
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHilton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites gives families a central base in Indianapolis, with downtown sights such as Monument Circle close at hand. Guests rate it 8.6 out of 10 across 275 reviews and the rooms are listed as spacious, which helps when several people share. A pool keeps children busy between outings, the spa offers a break for parents, and pets are accepted. I recommend it to families who want to explore the city center on foot.
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
- 1Rent a paddle boat or surrey bike on the Canal Walk in warm months, an easy family outing near the downtown hotels.
- 2Plan a full day for The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, which sits north of downtown and needs a short drive.
- 3Book early for May, when the Indianapolis 500 fills hotels across the city, especially near the Speedway.
- 4Choose The Westin Indianapolis in winter, since its skybridge reaches Circle Centre Mall and the convention center indoors.
- 5Combine the Indianapolis Zoo and the Indiana State Museum in one day, as both are in White River State Park.
- 6Pick a hotel with free hot breakfast, such as the Drury or Homewood Suites, to save time on busy family mornings.