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.
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About 15 minutes by car via I-35 - which is why Ankeny hotels are a common, quieter base for a Des Moines-area trip.
The Residence Inn by Marriott is the extended-stay option with suite kitchens, best for multi-night stays or a relocation landing spot.
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.