The Best Hotels to Book in Emporia, Kansas

Plumb Hall, the administrative building at Emporia State University, dates back to the early 20th century
Plumb Hall, the administrative building at Emporia State University, dates back to the early 20th century | © Andre Jenny / Alamy Stock Photo
Michelle Juergen

When Emporia was founded in 1857, the town charter prohibited gambling and the sale and consumption of liquor, making it the first prohibition town in the world. Today, things are a lot less uptight in this east-central Kansas city. You’ll find pubs, saloons and breweries with small-town charm, along with plenty of non-alcoholic attractions, including museums, parks, historical landmarks and Emporia State University. See it all while staying at one of the best hotels in Emporia – bookable on Culture Trip.

1. MainStay Suites, for a fairytale time

Hotel

The three-story cream and salmon-pink exterior of MainStay Suites.
© MainStay Suites / Expedia

What’s so wrong with a provincial life? If you think Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991) had it all wrong, then book a holiday at MainStay Suites. This property sets up a longer-term Emporia stay with apartment-style suites complete with fully equipped kitchenettes – and even a dishwasher. (“Don’t believe me? Ask the dishes.”) Valet laundry service, a picnic area, an on-site convenience store and fresh-brewed coffee each morning make less of a beast of all of us.

2. Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Emporia Northwest, for a sparkling stay

Hotel

The rectangular indoor pool at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Emporia Northwest.
© Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Emporia Northwest / Expedia

A visit to Emporia isn’t complete without a stop at the Coca-Cola Silo. This farm silo decorated with a giant Coca-Cola Classic label is an iconic roadside attraction, and this Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites is just moments away. If you’re up for a walk after the complimentary hot breakfast at the hotel, you can tour Flint Hills Technical College nearby or head southeast to the David Traylor Zoo of Emporia to see lemurs, mountain lions and bald eagles.

3. Comfort Inn and Suites, for cute country charm

Hotel

An inviting blue and gray sitting area, leading into a dining space at the Comfort Inn and Suites.
© Comfort Inn and Suites / Booking.com

Imbued with country-style charm – think wooden bed frames and framed prints of pastoral scenes – Comfort Inn and Suites is a cozy choice for a down-home Emporia stay. Wake up to a complimentary hot breakfast of eggs and waffles or healthy yogurt and fresh fruit before heading to an annual local event, such as the Unbound Gravel bike race or Glass Blown Open disc golf tournament. Forget an essential? A Walmart Supercenter is just three minutes up the road.

4. Hampton Inn Emporia, for exploring the city center

Hotel

A colorful dining and sitting area at the Hampton Inn Emporia, with gold, orange and turquoise furnishings.
© Hampton Inn Emporia / Expedia

Stretch out in your spacious room at Hampton Inn Emporia, take a dip in the indoor pool, grab your free hot waffles, then get out and explore. It’s impossible to leave the city without adventuring around Emporia Main Street in the historic downtown area. It’s home to everything from coffee shops and eateries to antique stores, a gourmet chocolate shop and a winery. We suggest a craft beer and wood-fired brick-oven pizza at Radius Brewing Company, the first brewery in Emporia since prohibition.

5. Eleven Boutique Hotel, for chic on the cheap

Hotel

A spacious double guest room with exposed brick feature wall at the Eleven Boutique Hotel.
© Eleven Boutique Hotel / Expedia

The exposed brick exterior of Eleven Boutique Hotel continues into the lobby for an industrial-cool look – where coral-colored furnishings dot the large, open area – and then again into each spacious guest room, where a sitting area, a desk and a bathtub offer multiple ways to splay out. Rates are hard to beat at this property, which also holds an indoor pool, an on-site restaurant and a 24-hour front desk with staff that’s always around for any requests.

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