The Ankeny Brief
In town for a wedding, a tournament, house-hunting, or just passing through on I-35? Ankeny has a tidy cluster of chain hotels - nothing fancy or overwhelming, just reliable, well-located places to sleep. Here's the full lineup and a quick read on which one fits your trip.
Ankeny's hotels are mostly chains along the I-35 corridor: Fairfield Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express, Residence Inn (extended stay), Hampton Inn & Suites, Comfort Inn & Suites, Best Western Premier, and Days Inn. All are ~15 min from downtown Des Moines and close to the Outlets of Des Moines. Extended stay → Residence Inn; pool + breakfast → Fairfield Inn.
These sit close together on Ankeny's east and south sides near the interstate, so wherever you land you're minutes from I-35, a straight shot to Des Moines, and near the shopping at the Outlets of Des Moines in Altoona.
One example of what to expect: the Fairfield Inn & Suites (215 NE Delaware Ave) has an indoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, rooms with fridges and microwaves, and free breakfast weekdays and weekends. Most of the others follow the same midscale-chain pattern - clean, predictable, breakfast included. Confirm specific amenities when you book, since they vary by property.
Ankeny is one of the smartest bases for the Iowa State Fair (Aug 13-23, 2026). The fairgrounds sit about 15 minutes south of these hotels, a straight shot down I-35 to I-235, and Ankeny rooms are usually cheaper and easier to book during fair week than the properties right by the east-side gates. You still get free parking, free breakfast, and a quiet room to come back to after a long fair day.
Book early: fair week is the busiest stretch of the summer for every hotel in the metro, Ankeny included. Once your room is set, our complete Iowa State Fair guide covers tickets, the discount days, the Grandstand lineup and what to see, and the fair parking guide covers the drive down and where to leave the car.
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Ankeny has a cluster of well-known chain hotels, most near the I-35 corridor: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Residence Inn by Marriott, Hampton Inn & Suites, Comfort Inn & Suites, Best Western Premier Ankeny Hotel, and Days Inn by Wyndham. They range from budget to upper-midscale.
Most sit along the I-35 corridor on Ankeny's east and south sides, close to the interstate, downtown Des Moines (about 15 minutes away), and the Outlets of Des Moines in Altoona. The Fairfield Inn & Suites, for example, is at 215 NE Delaware Ave.
The Residence Inn by Marriott is the extended-stay option, with suites and full kitchens, best for multi-night stays or a relocation landing spot. The Fairfield Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express also have rooms with refrigerators and microwaves.
Most of the midscale chains here include free breakfast, the Fairfield Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn and Comfort Inn among them. Confirm at booking, since it varies by property.
Yes, several have indoor pools, including the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, which also has a 24-hour fitness center. Confirm the pool with the specific hotel when you book, since amenities vary.
Ankeny is a popular base for the Iowa State Fair. Its hotels are about 15 minutes north of the fairgrounds on I-35, and rooms are often cheaper and easier to book during fair week than the properties right by the gates. Families like the Fairfield Inn for the indoor pool, and the Residence Inn suits a longer stay.
Iowa State Fair guide · Fair parking · Things to do · Best restaurants · Day trips