The Best Motels and Cheap Hotels to Book in Indiana

Whether you want high culture at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, a speed fix at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, or a shopping spree at the adjoining Fashion Mall, Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel at Keystone Crossing puts you close to the action at a lower price than city center hotels. Offering all the amenities expected of a Marriott property, this Sheraton also features a gym, a pool, an airy lobby with ample working space, and a cozy patio with a fire pit.

The ideal stay for a business meeting or campus visit, Morris Inn is located at the storied University of Notre Dame. Built in 1952, the property underwent a $30m renovation in 2013 that expanded it to 150 rooms and 30,000sqft (2,787sqm) of meeting space. Kingly amenities come at a provincial price, including room service from 6am to midnight, and same-day laundry and dry cleaning. With everything in order, you can relax on the hotel’s outdoor terrace.

Though bearing the moniker of the international luxury hotel company, this Four Seasons is actually a family-owned motel in Mount Vernon that’s been open since 1968, offering rooms at a fraction of the price of its namesake. Come for the complimentary breakfast with farm-fresh eggs, home-made gravy, freshly baked biscuits and cinnamon coffee cake, and stay for the amiable staff, pet-friendly rooms and idyllic setting near the Ohio River waterfront.

A complimentary warm DoubleTree cookie on arrival sets the tone for your stay in Lafayette, home to world-renowned Purdue University. Set 5mi (8km) from the school and Ross-Ade football stadium, this hotel offers a quieter stay across the Wabash River with all the amenities of a Hilton property, including a fitness center, heated indoor pool and on-site eatery. Easy access to I-65 gets you out fast for a trip to nearby Prophetstown State Park.

This quirky hotel — just a hop, skip and free loaner bike ride away from Indiana University Bloomington and its Memorial Stadium — prides itself as being the Hoosier Hangout. Grab a coffee and breakfast burrito at the charming on-site Poindexter diner before heading out to explore. Come back to commune with the Upside Down in the Stranger Things Suite, modeled after Joyce Byers’ living room in the hit Netflix series.

With its motto of “exclusive but not expensive,” Hoosier Inn proves that a budget booking needn’t lack warmth and great customer service. Small-town charm pervades this Portland city motel, which checks all the boxes for a wallet-friendly visit: clean, non-smoking rooms containing desks, mini-fridges, TVs, free wifi, microwaves, hair dryers, coffeemakers and more. There are even discounts offered for the Amish and business stays.

Bright pops of color define the decor at this Fairfield Inn & Suites in Merrillville, an Indiana city just south of Lake Michigan. Power up with free breakfast before hitting the fitness center or outdoor pool, then set out with sundries from the on-site convenience store and explore the local area. Alternatively, enjoy regional fare from your room, with local restaurant dinner delivery. Don’t miss a trip to Indiana Dunes National Park or downtown Chicago, just slightly farther afield.