Best Downtown Stays in Wichita
Downtown Wichita sits along the Arkansas River, with the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center and Intrust Bank Arena as its main anchors, Old Town's brick warehouses to the northeast and the Delano district across the river to the west. Six of the hotels on this page sit in or beside that core, from the Drury Plaza Broadview with its spa overlooking the river to the Hyatt Regency next to Century II. The seventh, Country Inn & Suites Wichita East, mentions no downtown landmark at all, so I treat it separately. Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is about six miles away.
Wichita is Kansas's largest city and a long-time center of aircraft manufacturing. The Keeper of the Plains sculpture stands where the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers meet, a short walk from downtown along the river paths. Old Town's converted warehouses hold restaurants and bars, while Delano, west of the river, has grown into a district of local shops and cafés close to the ballpark.
Riverside spa, convention hotels and Delano suites
A downtown hotel in Wichita puts Century II, Intrust Bank Arena, the riverside paths and the restaurants of Old Town and Delano within a short walk or drive. Most of these hotels have an indoor pool, several accept pets, and two offer a free airport shuttle, which makes a short trip without a rental car realistic.
The Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview leads this list with a score of 9.2 across more than 500 reviews. It has an indoor pool and an indoor-outdoor spa overlooking the Arkansas River, a fitness center, a free breakfast and an evening hot food reception with drinks, and it accepts pets. I would choose it for a first visit, since the river paths lead toward the Keeper of the Plains and the free evening food makes it easy to keep a short trip simple. Families will appreciate the microwave and fridge in each room for snacks between meals.
Convention and event visitors should look at the hotels around Century II. Hyatt Regency Wichita stands directly beside the Performing Arts & Convention Center, with a heated indoor pool, a hot tub, a 24-hour fitness center, an on-site restaurant and rooms with a separate work area. Hilton Garden Inn Wichita Downtown sits near Intrust Bank Arena and Century II, with pet-friendly family rooms, a restaurant, a bar, free parking and a free airport shuttle. AC Hotel by Marriott, also near the arena and Century II, adds a restaurant serving European cuisine and a bar for an evening after a show.
Two hotels suit travelers who want more independence. Home2 Suites Wichita Downtown Delano scores 9.2, with kitchen facilities in spacious rooms, an indoor pool, a terrace and a continental breakfast, plus free WiFi and free toiletries, about nine kilometres from the airport. Fairfield Inn & Suites Wichita Downtown offers an indoor pool, a terrace, a bar, free bicycles and a shuttle service, with family-friendly rooms. My pick for a longer stay is Home2 Suites, where the kitchens help with breakfasts and dinners, while Fairfield suits families who want to explore the riverside on two wheels.
One listing needs an honest note. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Wichita East is not described as downtown: unlike the six others, it names no central landmark, and it gives no distance to Century II, the arena or the river. It still offers spacious rooms, a free breakfast, an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center and a free weekday airport transfer, and it accepts pets, with a score of 8.6 across nearly 800 reviews. It can work for a trip by car, but anyone coming for an event at Century II or Intrust Bank Arena will be closer at one of the six central hotels.
A traveler's perspectiveIf I were booking a first trip to Wichita, I would choose the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview. It scores 9.2 across more than 500 reviews, has an indoor pool and a spa overlooking the Arkansas River, and includes breakfast and an evening hot food reception. From there, the river paths lead to the Keeper of the Plains, and Century II is a short walk away.
Home2 Suites Wichita Downtown Delano, Ks
Wichita
93 reviews
Spacious rooms with kitchen facilities, an indoor pool, and free breakfast
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHome2 Suites Wichita Downtown Delano gives families room to settle in: every room has kitchen facilities, a seating area and a sofa bed, so children get their own bed and simple meals are easy. The free continental buffet breakfast includes warm dishes, pancakes, fruit and juice, which usually pleases young eaters. The indoor pool works in any weather, the terrace gives some outdoor space, and the airport is 9 km away.
Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview Wichita
Wichita
543 reviews
Downtown Wichita hotel with river views, pool, and pet-friendly policy
Check availabilityWhy guests love itDrury Plaza Hotel Broadview Wichita covers two meals a day for families: a free hot breakfast and an evening hot food reception, which keeps dinner simple after a day out. Children can swim in the indoor pool in any season, and the indoor and outdoor hot tub looks over the Arkansas River. Rooms have a microwave and a fridge for snacks. Pets are welcome, and on-site parking helps families arriving by car.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Wichita Downtown
Wichita
148 reviews
Downtown comfort with an indoor pool and free bikes to explore Wichita
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFairfield Inn & Suites Wichita Downtown is less than 1 km from Intrust Bank Arena and an 11-minute walk from the Century II Convention Center, so families can reach events on foot. The indoor pool gives children a swim whatever the weather, free bicycles make a downtown outing easy, and the hotel runs a shuttle service. Family rooms, a terrace and a bar round it out, and the hotel is easy to reach from I-135.
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Wichita East, KS
Wichita
797 reviews
Spacious rooms, outdoor pool, and a hot tub with free breakfast
Check availabilityWhy guests love itAn outdoor pool and a hot tub are the family highlights at the Country Inn & Suites Wichita East, a four-star hotel in east Wichita, less than 11 km from the city center. Rooms are spacious, with free WiFi, cable TV and coffee-making facilities, and the continental breakfast is complimentary every morning. Parents can use the fitness center. Pets are accepted, parking is on site, and a free airport transfer runs on weekdays, useful for flights.
Hyatt Regency Wichita
Wichita
359 reviews
Downtown hotel with a heated indoor pool and hot tub
Check availabilityWhy guests love itA heated indoor pool and a hot tub give children a reason to look forward to the evening at the Hyatt Regency Wichita, right in downtown next to the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center. Rooms have a 65-inch flat-screen TV and a separate work area. HARVEST Kitchen/Bar serves local, seasonal cuisine at every meal, and Perks Coffee and More covers mornings. INTRUST Bank Arena is a short walk away for a family show or game.
AC Hotel by Marriott Wichita Downtown
Wichita
29 reviews
Modern downtown hotel with European dining and a fitness center
Check availabilityWhy guests love itAC Hotel by Marriott Wichita Downtown sits near Intrust Bank Arena and Century II Convention Center, a handy base for families coming to a game, a concert or an event. Rooms have air-conditioning, private bathrooms, refrigerators and work desks, and the fridge helps with drinks and snacks for children. The restaurant serves European cuisine, the bar suits parents in the evening, and there is a fitness center. The airport is 10 km away. Guests rate it 8.4 from 29 reviews.
Hilton Garden Inn Wichita Downtown, Ks
Wichita
250 reviews
Pet-friendly downtown hotel with airport shuttle and family rooms
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHilton Garden Inn Wichita Downtown is a short walk from Intrust Bank Arena, so a family concert or game night ends without a drive. The restaurant serves American cuisine with vegetarian options, the bar suits parents in the evening, and rooms have a refrigerator and a tea and coffee maker. Pets are welcome, parking is free, and a complimentary airport shuttle helps families arriving by plane. The Century II Convention Center is close by too.
Local tips
- 1Book the Hyatt Regency for an event at Century II, since it stands right beside the convention center.
- 2Use the free airport shuttle at Hilton Garden Inn or the shuttle at Fairfield Inn to skip a rental car.
- 3Choose Home2 Suites Downtown Delano for kitchen facilities on a longer stay.
- 4Travelling with a dog? Drury Plaza Broadview and Hilton Garden Inn accept pets.
- 5Walk the river paths from downtown to see the Keeper of the Plains at the confluence of the two rivers.
- 6Remember that Country Inn & Suites Wichita East is not described as a downtown hotel.