Top 5 Kid-Friendly Hotels in the Iowa City Area
Your next vacation is just around the corner. If you haven’t started planning yet, don’t worry, this blog will point you directly to the kid- and family-friendly hotels and activities in Iowa City that will please everyone! From hotels and local attractions to restaurants, lazy rivers, independent film houses, comic stores, arcades, and more, here’s a list of some of our favorite places to stay and things to do in Iowa City and surrounding towns.
Before we dive in, go ahead and bookmark this blog, because it’s packed with ideas for spring break, summer break, staycations, remote working, and weekend or week-long trips you can take to Iowa City any time of the year.
Starting Point: Pick Your Hotel
We recognize people plan vacations in different ways. Some start with the hotel and then find the activities. Others dive into the activities and let those inform where the hotel stay should be. In this blog, we’ll start by highlighting five popular hotels with convenient locations in the greater Iowa City area. No matter which one you pick, it will put you at the center of it all. (Want to see the larger list of hotels? Go here. Want to skip hotels and go to favorite activities? Go here.)
As we put this hotel list together we wanted to provide a rich mix of options to different needs. Our collection includes national hotel chains where you can use your points and independent hotels for those who want to support local. We also provided diverse locations. Some are right off the interstate, in the middle of downtown Iowa City, on the river, or closer to the Coralville Coral Ridge Mall. We also looked at hotels with indoor or outdoor pools, free breakfast, and free happy hour. We also took into account hotels that might be within easy walking distance to activities vs those you might select if you plan to take the car or ride the bus to destinations.
No matter what you’re looking for, any of these five favorite hotels will be a crowd-pleaser.
Top 5 Family-Friendly Hotels
1. Highlander Hotel
The Highlander Hotel is independently owned and operated. As soon as you step inside, you know you’re in for a treat. The cool chic-meets-shag decor throughout the hotel pays homage to the hotel’s history as one of the most popular dining and hotel destinations in Iowa during the 60s, and 70s. The Highlander hosted celebrities such as Mickey Mantle, Joan Baez, and Arnold Palmer. And while those names might not impress your kids, the reenvisioning of the property into a modern, bohemian-style hotel definitely will.
One of the coolest things about the Highlander is the complimentary personal record turntables that you can check out in the Retro Lounge, along with your pick of records from the hotel’s expansive vinyl library. You can groove out to the records in your spacious room while enjoying the luxurious comforts of the room’s bed linens, flat-screen TV, and free Wifi. The Family Suites have the perfect setup for a family vacation with two adjoining rooms. One room has a king bed and the other has two queen beds with a privacy door in between. It also has a living room area with a full-size fridge, serving counter, and sink.
Another highlight is the large indoor pool and hot tub. People of all ages can join in on the cannonball fun or lounge on one of the many couches in the courtyard surrounding the pool. After, you can warm up by the firepit directly outdoors and while everyone is out there, you might as well play one of the fun outdoor games, like bags, bocce ball, croquet, or large human-sized chess games.
You also don’t have to go very far to eat. Enjoy a food-truck-inspired menu at the Supper Club onsite, while playing retro and new arcade games. Guests can also wander on into the Snack Shack to enjoy milkshakes during pool hours or access complimentary soft drinks and coffee 24-7. Coming soon? The Supper Club is joining forces with the now-closed Iowa River Power restaurant to offer nearly the same menu but now at The Highlander. Diners can expect the iconic prime rib, filet, lobster, duck, seafood, and more that made the former restaurant popular for more than 45 years. Check the menu to find out when they are serving brunch and dinner.
Other hotel perks include free self-parking, pet-friendly rooms, complimentary breakfast 7 days a week, and a board game library.
The Highlander Hotel is located off the intersection of 1-80 and Hwy 1. It’s just minutes away from all the fun attractions we mention later in this post.
Website: https://www.highlanderhotel.us/
Address: 2525 Highlander Place, Iowa City, IA 52245
Telephone: 202-929-5596
Email: [email protected]
2. The Graduate Iowa City
If you want to be just blocks from campus and in the heart of downtown Iowa City and the University of Iowa, this is the hotel for you. Located in the Iowa City Ped Mall, The Graduate is designed from head to toe with Hawkeye-inspired themes. It’s the perfect home base for your family vacation. As soon as you walk through the doors at the Graduate you are immersed in local history and legends. Every inch of the interior is splashed with retro college nostalgia and sports memorabilia. All the charming details throughout the hotel, like the trading card room key fobs and the wall of yellow pencils in the Poindexter coffee lounge, will have you slowing down and marveling at all the cool hidden gems.
The rooms feature unique art and furnishings that might just have your family shooting an impromptu Instagram photo session to capture all the retro and Midwestern style. Much of the decor inspiration comes from famous university alumni including Nile Kinnick, Gene Wilder, and Tennessee Williams. Many rooms also showcase custom “Field of Dreams” artwork as well.
If you want to stay together in one space, the Graduate offers two spacious suite options. The Graduate King Suite has a master bedroom with a side bonus room which makes it cozy enough for up to 4 people to stay. The suite has 2 bathrooms, a wet bar, and a sitting area with a sleeper sofa. If you need a little more space, then the Family Suite is just what you need. The two-room suite is the hotel’s largest accommodation featuring a master bedroom with a plush king bed that connects to a family-fun room. This room is perfect for playing games or watching a movie together and it also has a comfy bunk bed and a pull-out sleeper couch for your little ones to sleep on. The suite also has two bathrooms (one with a shower and one with a tub) so no one has to fight over whose turn it is next. No matter what suite option you choose, the whole family can spread out and enjoy time together without feeling like everyone is on top of one another.
For dinner, everyone can gather for a delicious meal together by visiting the Wilder restaurant onsite. The restaurant, which is named after the “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” star, Gene Wilder has a tasty no-fuss menu with light bites to eat and creative spins on heartland home cooking. It wouldn’t be a visit to the Wilder without ending a meal with the Wonky Sundae, which is a massive ice cream sundae with hot fudge, banana, caramelized pineapple, vanilla ice cream, and sprinkles. Make sure you get a spoon for everyone at the table!
One of the best parts about the Graduate? It’s literally in the middle of all the action. The Ped Mall surrounds the hotel and is just a short walk away from some of the city’s best attractions. You can start every morning by casually enjoying your breakfast and coffee outside while your little children enjoy the city’s playground directly outside of the hotel.
Other perks include an onsite parking ramp and pet-friendly rooms, Malin and Goetz bathing essentials, free wifi, and bike rentals to explore the city.
The Graduate Hotel is located in the center of downtown Iowa City. Close to all the fun shops at the Ped Mall, a twenty-minute walk to Kinnick Stadium, and super easy access to all the fun things on our list further down in this post.
Website: https://graduatehotels.com/iowa-city
Address: 210 South Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240
Telephone: 319-337-4058
Email: [email protected]
3. The Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center
Situated just off Interstate 80 at the heart of the dynamic Iowa River Landing in Coralville, this is the state’s first and only Hyatt Regency. The property, which features the Iowa River Landing Wetland Park as a beautiful backdrop, recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation that includes luxury hotel upgrades and a completely re-envisioned restaurant.
The Hyatt Regency Coralville is also the only local hotel and restaurant located along the Iowa River in the greater Iowa City area. And did we mention it’s just steps from the Xtream Arena (home to regional and national sporting and cultural events) as well as Von Maur, a brewery, a wine shop, a cookie store, and more.
The hotel is clean and modern and offers free wifi. It’s also a place where the whole family can unwind and recharge. Families love the contemporary and cozy rooms with 2 queen beds, a large flat-screen TV, and a mini-fridge. You can also opt to stay in the 1 Bedroom Suite which features a separate king bedroom and a queen sleeper couch in the living space.
This hotel has so many amenities that you and your family can spend the entire weekend just exploring. Enjoy the newly renovated indoor pool and hot tub or grab a Starbucks and pop into the acclaimed Iowa Writer’s Library room (a collection of regional, national, and international writers who graduated from the University of Iowa’s renowned Writer’s Workshop).
There’s also plenty of opportunities for the whole family to connect with nature. Right in the hotel’s backyard are expansive running and walking trails around a two-acre pond and five acres of wetlands. Many visitors love using the trails for bird watching and wildlife photography. Don’t miss the famous eagle’s nest perched along the walking trail. This is also a great place to bike.
The hotel is also opening the new Watermill Kitchen + Bar restaurant to complement the existing coffee shop. Enjoy your treats inside or out on the patio overlooking the wetlands.
Still looking for more entertainment? Just walk through the hotel to the conference center that’s home to events throughout the year, including those focused on arts and crafts, anime, gaming, and much more.
Website: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/iowa/hyatt-regency-coralville-hotel-and-conference-center/iowrc
Address: 300 East 9th Street, Coralville, IA 52240
Telephone: 319-688-4000
4. Drury Inn & Suites Iowa City Coralville
The Drury Inn & Suites just off Interstate 80 in Coralville stands out because it offers both a unique indoor/outdoor pool and free meals not just for breakfast but throughout the day, including happy hour. It also has free parking and is just steps from the Iowa River Landing.
As you drive up, you’ll see the pool. That’s because part of it is indoors and the other part is outdoors. Kids love that it has a divider in the middle of the pool so if you swim under, you’ll find yourself outside in the sun! There isn’t another pool setup like this in the area. It’s a big hit with the kids and the parents can have a great time supervising from the warm and relaxing hot tub near the pool.
Another unique feature of this hotel is how easy and affordable it is to eat onsite. Free breakfast is served daily. Then, every evening the hotel hosts what they call a Kickback where all guests can enjoy FREE hot food and either adult or child-friendly beverages. The rotating menu has a hearty variety of food options and beer, wine, and mixed drinks for the adults. (See an example of a Kickback menu here). Kids also love that there is free popcorn and soda in the lobby throughout the day to snack on. And parents enjoy how easy meal planning becomes on vacation—the only meal they ever have to truly worry about is lunch. How cool is that?!
At Drury, every room is a suite. For example, the deluxe two-room suite features a bedroom (either with two queen beds or a king bed) separated from a living room by a door. The living space features a pull-out queen sofa sleeper, a microwave, a refrigerator, and a coffee maker. Each room has a TV so that no one has to fight over what show to watch. There is also the King Bed Deluxe with a Sofa Sleeper room which offers a lot of the same amenities as the Suite but doesn’t have a door separating the rooms. Either option is cozy and comfortable for everyone in the family.
Other perks of the hotel include several special booking rates for senior citizens, military and veterans, law enforcement, and more. They also have free wi-fi, 24-hour fitness center, pet-friendly rooms, and more.
The Drury Inn & Suites Iowa City Coralville is conveniently located in the Iowa River Landing and is just minutes away from downtown. The perfect location for all the attractions we share below.
Website: https://www.druryhotels.com/locations/iowa-city-ia/drury-inn-and-suites-iowa-city-coralville
Address: 815 1st Avenue Coralville, IA 52241
Telephone: 319-337-4891
5. Residence Inn Coralville
This modern, all-suite extended stay hotel is a family favorite because it has an outdoor putting green, an inside pool and hot tub, a free hot breakfast buffet, and is within walking distance to Coral Ridge Mall.
Bonus! There is a fully equipped kitchen in every room that includes cookware, dishware, dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator, stovetops, and a coffee maker. That means you don’t have to go out to eat for every meal. Or if someone woke up late and missed the free breakfast, they could easily grab a bowl of cereal or make pancakes!
Residence Inn offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options. Each suite has a designated living, dining, and sleeping area. There’s also free WiFi, a large work desk, an ergonomic chair, and free wifi in case you need to get some work done. Or in case your kids want some downtime for gaming. Are the kids still hungry? You can also ask the front desk about complimentary grocery delivery or they can grab a snack in the small convenience store on site.
Other perks offered include an exercise room, free parking, pet-friendly rooms, 24-hour front desk, and more.
The Residence Inn Coralville is located at I-80 and Coral Ridge Mall/Highway 965. Since it’s close to the mall, you’re just steps away from dozens of retail stores and the Coral Ridge Marcus Theatres, The Iowa Children’s Museum, the mall’s indoor ice rink, and the food court. The hotel is also near Longhorn Steakhouse, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Five Guys, and much more.
Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/cidvl-residence-inn-coralville/overview/
Address: 2681 James Street, Coralville, Iowa 52241
Telephone: 319-338-6000
Next: Decide What Fun Things To Do
Staying at any of the family-friendly hotels we spotlighted above is enough to make for a fun family vacation. But the best thing about the Iowa City area is that no matter where you’re staying, there are dozens of popular family-friendly attractions just a short walk or less than 25-minute drive away. Below are a few things to consider as you plan your itinerary.
Things to Do in the Iowa City Downtown Area:
University of Iowa Campus Wellness and Recreation Center
Enjoy 20,000 square feet of fitness space. Scale the 52-and-a-half-foot climbing wall, dive into an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and dive well. Relax in the steam room, spa, or smoothie cafe. Challenge someone to a basketball game in the gym, walk or run the spacious inside track, or take the whole family for a leisurely spin around the lazy river.
Website: https://recserv.uiowa.edu/campus-recreation-wellness-center
Address: 309 S. Madison Street, Iowa City, IA 52242
Hours: Monday – Friday 5:30 AM – 12 AM, Saturday – Sunday 7 AM – 12 AM
Admission: Daily Walk-in Rates– Ages 0-3: Free, Ages 4-18: $8.00, Ages 19+: $10
The Old Capitol has become an iconic symbol for Iowa City, the University of Iowa, and the state of Iowa. If you love history, you will enjoy stepping back in time when you walk into what was Iowa’s first capitol building. Today the fully restored building is a National Historic Landmark. The cornerstone was laid in 1940 but the building wasn’t used by the Legislative Assembly until 1842. The entire building was not completed until 1857 and by this time Des Moines had been selected as the state capitol. The museum offers free admission and self-guided tours.
Website: https://oldcap.uiowa.edu/
Address: 21 N. Clinton St, Iowa City, IA 52242
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Admission: Free
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History
Located in the heart of the University of Iowa campus in downtown Iowa City, visit the second-oldest museum west of the Mississippi River. Established in 1858, the museum has been free and open to the public for more than 160 years. In Iowa Hall, you can explore 500 million years of Iowa’s natural and cultural history in exhibitions featuring dioramas, specimens, and artifacts.
Website: https://mnh.uiowa.edu/
Address: 11 Macbride Hall Iowa City, IA 52242
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Admission: Free
University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame
A true Hawkeye fan’s dream! Visit three floors of Hawkeye memorabilia from the National Championship trophies to Nile Kinnick’s Heisman trophy. Spanning 26,000 square feet, it includes museum exhibits, conference rooms, a movie theater, and even an interactive basketball court area constructed from the historic Iowa Field House flooring. You can also hold a birthday or retirement party here or an even larger event!
Website: https://hof.hawkeyesports.com/
Address: 2425 Prairie Meadow Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 12 PM – 5 PM
Admission: Free
FilmScene (On the Ped Mall or At the Chauncey)
This local, independent theater features two locations. It started On the Ped Mall and then expanded just a few blocks away into its newest location At the Chauncey. The venue shows more than 300 feature films every year. The organization’s love of movies goes beyond the screen to filmmaker dialogues, panel discussions, and community events. It was created with a member-supported, mission-driven approach to cinema and has a deep connection to the Eastern Iowa film community. It also offers wine and beer on the menu along with sodas, popcorn, and more. Oh, and it’s right next door to SpareMe bowling alley.
Website: https://icfilmscene.org/
Address: On the Ped Mall: 118 E College St Iowa City, IA 52240 At the Chauncey: 404 E College St, Iowa City, IA 52240
Located in the Chauncey Building, this upscale bowling alley features 12 bowling lanes, dozens of arcade games, and a full-service restaurant and bar. This is what many call an adult and child wonderland. Want to ensure you get an alley, go online before you visit to reserve your space.
Website: https://www.sparemeic.com/
Address: 404 E. College Street #101 Iowa City, IA 52240
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 7 AM – 10 pm & Friday-Saturday 7 AM – 12 AM
Take a stroll through the heart of Iowa City’s downtown and stop at a comic-lover’s dream! The store specializes in new and old comics, graphic novels, manga, gaming and sports cards. Oh, and did we mention this is just a few doors down from Iowa City’s iconic Prairie Lights bookstore? Kids love the lower level of Prairie Lights and everyone can enjoy the top-floor cafe. This is what we call a two-for-one when it comes to visiting attractions.
Website: https://www.daydreamscomics.com/
Address: 229 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240
Hours: Monday & Tuesday 12 PM – 4 PM; Wednesday 10 AM – 6 PM; Thursday-Friday 11 AM – 6 PM; Sunday 12 PM – 5 PM
Things to Do in Iowa City:
This is a throwback to bowling alleys gone by. And no one, least of all the owners, wants it to change. Bring your family and friends and enjoy old-school bowling and mini golf. Nothing fancy, but it’s affordable and a lot of fun! While you’re there, the kids can enjoy the arcades and the deep-fried appetizers and drinks.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063608439391
Address: 2253 Old Hwy 218 S, Iowa City, IA 52246
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 1 PM – 10 PM; Friday 3 PM – 12 AM; Saturday 1 PM – 12 AM.
Defy Iowa City
Still have more energy to burn? Defy is the ultimate extreme air sports park in the area with multiple trampoline and obstacle courses. Activities include ninja course, parkour, stunt falls, basketball, open jump, and extreme dodgeball to name a few.
Website: https://defy.com/defy-iowa-city/
Address: 851 Highway 6 East Suite 102 Iowa City, IA 52240
Hours: Monday – Friday 10 AM – 8 PM; Sunday 9 AM – 10 PM
Admission: 90 Min Day Pass: $20.99, All Day Pass: $26.99
Things to Do in the Coralville Area:
Did you know that Coralville features one of the premier Children’s Museums not only in the state of Iowa but beyond? It’s located inside the Coral Ridge Mall across from the indoor ice skating rink. Here, kids can play in a grocery store, farmer’s market, or post office, and explore the notion of motion, music, and art. Or they can take flight by climbing into a real Cessna 150, where kids can get a close-up look at the controls and talk to air traffic control over the radio. The exhibit also features immersive flight simulators.
Website: https://theicm.org/
Address: Coral Ridge Mall, 1451 Coral Ridge Ave, Ste 715, Coralville, IA 52241
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10 AM – 6 PM
Admission: Children 2 & Up: $10, Adults: $10
Antique Car Museum of Iowa
The Antique Car Museum of Iowa has revved up its space. In 2021, the Museum moved into a new home on the lower level of the Xtream Arena. The 28,000-square-foot showroom features 90+ cars ranging from 1899 to the mid-1970s, along with an early 20th-century Skelly gas station, and an exhibit featuring the Abernathy Boys. Founded in 2006, the Museum educates visitors on the history of transportation and provides a rare place to view historic cars in their original state.
Website: https://antiquecarmuseumofiowa.org/
Address: Inside the Xtream Arena, 200 East 9th St, Coralville, IA 52240
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM, Sunday: 12 PM – 5 PM
Admission: Adults: $10, Kids 7-12 years old: $5, Kids 6 and under: Free
This local, family-friendly restaurant features a beach theme throughout making it the perfect spot for kids and adults. Kids love the putt-putt, giant tic-tac-toe board games, and large, shipwrecked boats to play in. Adults love the beach bar and wood-fired pizzas, and darts. If you can’t go to the beach, Tavern Blue can bring the beach to you.
Website: https://tavernblue.com/
Address: 805 2nd Street Coralville, Iowa 52241
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 4 PM – 9 PM, Friday-Saturday: 11 AM – 11 PM (21+ after 9 PM); Sunday: 11 AM – 8 PM
Menu: https://tavernblue.com/eat/
If you want to spend the day treasure hunting for fossils look no further. This gorge pre-dates the age of the dinosaurs–dating back more than 375 million years. The site is located in Iowa City but is nestled between the popular Coralville Reservoir, the cascading Spillway, and the Iowa River. The 1993 flood uncovered this history, revealing an ancient fossilized sea floor ecosystem that’s become a favorite educational playground. The gorge is also a two-minute walk to the Iowa River trailhead and less than five minutes from the powerful Coralville Reservoir Spillway. If you enjoy fishing, this is also a popular area to throw in a pole.
Website: https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Coralville-Lake/Recreation/Devonian-Fossil-Gorge/
Address: 2850 Prairie Du Chien Rd NE, Iowa City, IA 52240
Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission: Free
Things to Do in North Liberty, West Branch, Kalona, and West Liberty:
This locally owned ice cream store has locations in Iowa City and North Liberty. So depending on where you’re staying you can find the one that’s most convenient for you. Heyn’s is known for carrying dozens of delicious ice cream flavors made on-site and served on a waffle cone, traditional cone, or in a cup. But they also offer everything from sundaes and floats to homemade, hard-packed ice cream pints you can take to go.
Website: https://heynsicecream.com/
Address: 811 S 1st Avenue Iowa City, IA 5225 or 25 E. Cherry St North Liberty, IA 52317
Hours: (Both Locations) Monday – Friday 1 PM – 9 PM; Saturday – Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
Just minutes outside of Iowa City, you can visit the incredible story of Iowa’s only President and the 31st president of the United States. The Library and Museum is in the heart of West Branch, Iowa. It’s one of only 15 presidential libraries operated by the National Archives and Records Administration.
It’s easy to spend part of a day or the whole day! That’s because the Library and Museum are located within the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, which contains Hoover’s birthplace, a reconstruction of Hoover’s father’s blacksmith shop, a one-room schoolhouse, a Quaker meeting house, and – on a hill overlooking the Library and Museum and Historic Site – the graves of Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover.
Enjoy the grounds and walk where Hoover walked. When you’re done, you’re one block from downtown West Branch where you can visit other shops and restaurants.
The Library and Museum is located at 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch, Iowa, 52358, on the grounds of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.
Website: https://hoover.archives.gov/visit
Address: 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA 52358
Hours: Daily 9 AM – 5 PM
Admission: Adults (16-61): $10, Seniors (62+), Active/Retired Military, and College Students: $5, Children (6-15): $3, Children 5 and under: FREE
Herb and Lou’s Pizza
A fun family-style pizza and sandwich place. If you’re visiting the Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum and Library, walk across the street for lunch or dinner in downtown West Branch. When you get here, order at the counter, and then have a seat in the retro booths or at a table. Want a soda or beer, stop at the back bar to order. The bar is cash only so don’t forget those dollar bills. But they do take credit cards for the restaurant menu. Another reason to visit: you can take over the TouchTunes and play your favorite songs!
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Herbnlous/
Address: 105 N Downey St, West Branch, IA 52358
Hours: Monday – Saturday 11 AM – 9 PM
Kalona Creamery
This is an institution. Today, it’s known for selling locally sourced foods, including cheeses, sandwiches, soups, salads, cheese curds, cream-top yogurt, ice cream, fudge, and more. Why is it worth the trip? Take a step inside and you will see decades of history. Amish and Mennonite farmers founded the cheese-making company that produced cheese curds here for decades. The original creamery closed in 2014. Three years later, it reopened under new owners who wanted to keep the history alive.
Website: https://kalonacreamery.com/
Address: 2206 540th Street SW, Kalona, IA 52247
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM (Watch cheese curds being made on Friday mornings)
Are you ready to start planning your next family vacation? If you found our tips helpful, make sure to tag your trip photos with the hashtag #thinkiowacity. We’d love to see all the fun you’re having!
