Kansas City is known as the “City of Fountains” and a skilled purveyor of BBQ and Jazz, but that’s not all. Thanks to its reputation as a top US urban destination, K.C. has attracted dozens of high-end hotel chains and boutique hotels spread among its interesting areas and neighborhoods, adding a little spice to the accommodations scene. With so many lodging options, choosing where to stay in Kansas City, Missouri, is a big decision that’ll set the tone for your entire vacation.
The most well-loved hotels in Kansas City are located within five key districts, each with its own vibe and amenities. No matter what kind of traveler you are, one of these neighborhoods will fulfill all your wishes—and we’ve provided you with an easy-peasy breakdown to figure out which one suits you the most.
Looking for the ideal neighborhood to become your home-away-from-home on your K.C. holiday? Find the perfect area and hotel with this complete guide to the best places to stay in Kansas City, MO.
Looking for more ideas for your trip? Check out our other hotel & accommodations guides and our Missouri Travel Guide for more tips & recommendations on when to visit, where to go & what to do on your vacation!
Best places to stay in Kansas City, MO
With so many amazing accommodation options to choose from, finding the perfect home base for your KC vacation can be a challenge, especially if it’s your first time visiting Kansas City.
To stay in close proximity to all the excitement, Downtown Kansas City, Crossroads, and Midtown-Westport should be on your radar. These communities are all located in the greater downtown area, are smack dab in the center of all the action, and host many of the best Kansas City hotels.
Looking for something a little quieter? The Country Club Plaza Area and Overland Park offer quiet streets, greenspaces, and a more laid-back vibe to the centralmost areas.
The best areas to stay in Kansas City, MO, are:
Downtown Kansas City
The top area to stay in Kansas City for first-time visitors and for nightlife
Downtown Kansas City is a neighborhood that never sleeps. Home to K.C. hotspots like the Power and Light District, this is where you’ll find all things entertainment, from concerts and comedy shows to nightclubs and adults-only arcades. Truly, the fun never stops in Downtown K.C.
The city center areas may also appeal to foodies since many of the city’s tastiest restaurants are concentrated in Downtown Kansas City. Enjoy craft beers and pub grub at a brewpub, or enjoy a more elevated meal at a fine-dining restaurant.
As is the case with many major cities, the downtown core of Kansas City is a melting pot of everyone and everything. And its hotels are no different. Depending on your style and your lodging budget, you can find anything from apartment-style vacation rentals and budget-friendly hotels to sophisticated, trendy boutique hotels with a heftier price tag.
Holiday Inn Express – Kansas City Downtown, an IHG Hotel
With clean, spacious rooms, a well-equipped fitness center, and close proximity to all of downtown’s top attractions, The Holiday Inn Express will never leave you wanting. The hotel even serves a complimentary hot buffet breakfast, so there’s no settling for cereal and toast around here! Comfortable and budget-friendly, you can’t go wrong here.
21c Museum Hotel Kansas City
This one’s for art lovers: The 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City is a totally unique boutique hotel with a massive collection of modern art and museum exhibitions right on site. Just take a look around. Bright, gallery-inspired hallways lead to modern guest rooms with a pop of color juxtaposed with an old-world, speakeasy-style lobby lounge and bar. Even if you choose not to stay here, this hotel should be on your travel radar: anyone can walk in and enjoy the on-site art museum here!
Hotel Indigo – Kansas City Downtown, an IHG Hotel
Though it’s hard to pick, the Hotel Indigo – Kansas City Downtown might just be the most fun on this list when it comes to decor. That said, an IHG Hotel is always an all-around top pick. Adored for its expertly curated spaces and eclectic, art deco vibe, the interior is a magical combination of 50s diner tiling, splashes of color, and velvet chaises. Want to feel like you’re living in the Great Gatsby? Be sure to stop at the Dott and Boss Cocktail and Coffee house for refreshments and soak it all in.
Ambassador Hotel Kansas City, Autograph Collection
Did you know that the Ambassador Hotel Kansas City, Autograph Collection is home to an upscale jazz club? That’s right: Lonnie’s Reno Club is located right downstairs with extravagant velvet seating, gold accents, and a moody candlelit atmosphere. The boutique-style hotel also has expertly furnished, jewel-toned guest rooms and rainfall showers. With amenities like these, it’s undeniable that the Ambassador Hotel has personality—and elegance to boot.
Crossroads
The best district to stay in Kansas City for 20-something hipsters
If you love slow tourism, an eclectic nightlife scene, and a trendy, up-and-coming neighborhood, then Crossroads is for you. Located in Kansas City’s downtown area, the Crossroads is home to micro-breweries, indie boutiques—and a whole lot of personality!
The Crossroads community is a trendy area, with art galleries and coffee shops acting as a magnet for the younger, hipster crowd. You’ll also find a large theater-geek population, with multiple live performance venues, including the infamous Kauffman Center, one of the top tourist attractions in Kansas City. Just south of the area, you can slip down to Union Station Kansas City, a reimagined entertainment complex full of museums, attractions, and restaurants.
From budget-friendly stays to 5-star independent resorts, the Crossroads KC has it all. You’ll just need to decide if you want to take a back-to-basics approach so you can splurge in other areas of your vacation or invest in a night in one of the most luxurious hotels you’ve ever stayed at.
Hampton Inn Suites Kansas City Downtown Crossroads
The Hampton Inn Suites Kansas City Downtown Crossroads provides all the value you expect from the chain name, with modern decor, free breakfast, and flat-screen TVs with all your favorite streaming services. Plus, they offer connecting rooms and suites so you can continue socializing with your whole travel crew after hours.
Hotel Indigo Kansas City – The Crossroads, an IHG Hotel
Another stunner from the IHG collection, the Hotel Indigo Kansas City Crossroads is beautiful, to say the least. Previous guests absolutely rave about its collection of modern art, exposed brick, and marble showers. While there are plenty of well-known restaurants in the area, you should plan to eat at the avant-garde hotel restaurant at least once, specializing in elevated American cuisine.
Loews Kansas City
For a simple but swanky experience, choose Loews Kansas City. This high-tower hotel has a fitness center outfitted with Pelotons, floor-to-ceiling windows for premium city views, and a spa-worthy saltwater lap pool.
Loews’ top priority is ensuring that every member of your family is well-pampered. Families can take advantage of complimentary cribs in their guest rooms as well as luxury baby bath kits. There’s even a whole slew of additional amenities available for pets. Canine and feline guests will receive their own little welcome bag of treats, a cozy bed of their own, as well as a pets-only room service menu curated by a top chef.
Crossroads Hotel
The Crossroads Hotel is undeniably gorgeous. Rich, warm tones and old-world decor are carried throughout, and guestrooms shine with exposed brick walls. Plus, a night here promises you’ll never run out of activities, even if you never venture out into the city.
The hotel offers a rooftop seafood and cocktail bar with live music and an in-house art gallery and studio. One of the most popular features of the Crossroads? The premium billiards tables in the lounge, where you can challenge your friends to a quick game over a glass of bourbon.
Want to know a secret? The Pendergast suite has its very own pool table, so you can play into the wee hours of the morning without ever waiting for a turn.
Midtown-Westport
The ideal neighborhood to stay in Kansas City for art lovers
If you’re a true creative at heart, the Midtown-Westport might just be the ideal Kansas City neighborhood. From galleries to concerts, this district celebrates art across every medium.
So, what are the can’t-miss attractions in Midtown-Westport? Be sure to book tickets to a performance at the Uptown Theater and then go gallery-hopping from The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. With so much to explore right outside your front door, you won’t ever have to leave the neighborhood to find some artsy entertainment.
Midtown-Westport’s accommodation scene stays true to its creative personality. You’ll largely find mid-range to luxury boutique hotels in this area, with a high focus on design and personalized customer experience. It may not be one of the cheapest areas in the city, but it’s certainly one of the coolest!
AC Hotel Kansas City Plaza
Clean and sleek, with neutral minimalist features, the AC Hotel Kansas City Plaza is for those who want to travel in style. With boutique-hotel amenities and service under an umbrella brand we all know and trust, you simply can’t go wrong. Plus, it’s rare for a hotel this chic to be totally pet-friendly. If you’re traveling with Fido, be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to live in luxury with your furriest pals.
Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza
Modern comforts at a mid-range price point are the name of the game at the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza. Staying here promises bright rooms with city views, an express café with Starbucks coffee onsite, and many of the neighborhood’s top attractions, like the Kauffman Stadium, right at your doorstep.
The Truitt
The Truitt is the small luxury hotel of your dreams, known for its Colonial brick facade and manicured gardens. This refurbished historical home gives guests a true boutique experience with only six sophisticated guest rooms.
From wall to wall, the guesthouse is photogenic, with modern and masculine-leaning features like cognac leather couches, dark black accents, tropical plants, and an iconic neon sign. The icing on the cake? A collection of artisanal snacks will be delivered to you each morning, ranging from madeleines to fine chocolates.
Country Club Plaza Area
The best area in Kansas City for couples’ getaways
The Country Club Plaza Area is a truly romantic neighborhood, with Spanish-style architecture, horsedrawn carriage rides through the streets, and plenty of high-end restaurants for dining by candlelight.
And the romance doesn’t stop there. After exploring the Country Club Plaza, you can meander through the Jacob L. Loose Park rose garden hand-in-hand. Or hear your partner gasp at the breathtaking city skyline on a scenic gondola ride at Brush Creek.
The Country Club Plaza Area has hotels spreading across every price range, though there are a few luxury boutique hotels that blow the rest of the accommodation options out of the water.
Hampton Inn & Suites Country Club Plaza
Friendly and accommodating, the staff at the Hampton Inn & Suites Country Club Plaza make taking care of guests their top priority. In addition to a great indoor pool and fitness center, previous guests gush about how tasty the complimentary breakfast is, which is a big win. No rubbery scrambled eggs at this hotel!
The Fontaine
Seen as a bit of a “social hub,” The Fontaine is where all the cool kids spend their vacation in Kansas City. Its most identifying features are its charming and somewhat daring decor and its rooftop pool, flanked by luxury sunbeds. This boutique hotel is also a great choice for travelers who value culinary experience. Guests will enjoy a complimentary European breakfast in the solarium and then scale to the top floor in the evenings, where they will find an upscale American restaurant with a view.
InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, an IHG Hotel
You’ll know you’ve reached the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, an IHG Hotel when you pull up to its beautiful street-facing fountain. Bridging the gap between fancy and approachable, this hotel offers great value for its price point. Guests will love their outdoor pool with a water feature for enjoying the nice weather and Brasserie, where you can grab some quick eats to the tune of live jazz.
The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection
Stylish and vintage-inspired, The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection is as pretty as it is focused on excellent customer service. This Marriott hotel, operating as an independent boutique hotel, offers several luxury amenities, including live jazz during the week, outdoor gathering spaces with firepits, and even a complimentary shoe shine service.
Overland Park
The top place around K.C. for the small-town tourist
Traveling to the big city but prefer to the friendliness of a small town? Overland Park, over the state border in Kansas, is a suburb-style community chalked full of parks, outdoor recreation, and slower-paced tourism.
Despite its urban zip code area, you’d hardly know you’re in the center of a big city when staying in Overland Park. There’s tons of greenspace to explore, especially at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and there’s even a pop-up farmer’s market every Saturday morning. As it’s set away from the downtown traffic, the suburb is also a fantastic spot to launch into some of the most popular Kansas City day trips.
Overland Park has a large selection of budget-friendly to mid-range hotels, making it an excellent choice for those who don’t want to blow their vacation budget on the bells and whistles of a fancy-pants hotel. That said, regardless of the price point, you want somewhere reliable, clean, and up-to-date with the current times. Here are a few of our top picks:
Drury Inn & Suites Overland Park
Drury Inn & Suites Overland Park is perfect for the traveler who likes to keep things simple without losing out on extra perks. One of the most exciting things about this hotel is the gathering each evening when complimentary drinks and appetizers are served. In fact, the Drury Inn never wants you to leave when you start to feel that rumble in your belly. A full hot breakfast and freshly popped popcorn in the lobby are also included in your reservation.
WaterWalk Kansas City Overland Park
Loved for its outdoor firepits, perfect for evening celebrations, the WaterWalk Kansas City Overland Park is a hotel that has convenience at its core. Guest suites come equipped with all of the amenities of home to make for a more comfortable stay, including a full kitchen and private, in-room laundry. This makes this hotel a great choice for families who need a few extras to keep everything running smoothly or travelers planning a longer stay without trying to rack up a huge bill.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Overland Park Leawood
It may not be overly fancy, but the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Overland Park Leawood is a well-reviewed, modern hotel that’ll help keep you on track with your vacation budget. A full American-style breakfast is included, and each room comes with a microwave and mini fridge, so you don’t need to leave the hotel every time you want a snack. You’ll also have a 24-hour gym on-site to avoid wasting money on expensive gym guest passes when trying to meet your fitness goals.
