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Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel

3.5 star property
Small-town charm meets arts accessibility at this unique property, where guests can tee off at the nearby golf course or explore scenic cycling routes

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Photo gallery for Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel

Front of property - evening/night - Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel (Grinnell)
A modern lobby with a central 'g' logo, blue sofas, and a tiled floor. - Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel (Grinnell)
A multi-story building with a symmetrical facade, large windows, and a central entrance with a glass door. - Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel (Grinnell)
A modern hotel room with a large bed, a sitting area with a chair, a small table, and a built-in bookshelf. - Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel (Grinnell)
A modern cafe with a checkered floor, bar area with stools, and tables with chairs. - Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel (Grinnell)
Hotel Grinnell, steps from Central Park and the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, is perfect for relaxation and culture. Start your day with the 24-hour gym, then head to the nearby golf course or unwind on the welcoming terrace.

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Gym

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 12 of 12 rooms

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, minibar, desk

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, a chair, and large windows.

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking

7.4 out of 10
Good
(3 reviews)
  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

A four-poster bed with a modern design, two bedside tables with lamps, a small desk with a chair, and a large window with a view of trees.

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Room, 2 Queen Beds, Accessible, Non Smoking

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, a chair, a TV, a painting, and a window.

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Accessible, Non Smoking

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, minibar, desk

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Sofa Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking

A four-poster bed with white bedding, two bedside tables with lamps, a painting on the wall, and a bench at the foot of the bed.

Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • 28 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

A modern hotel room with a four-poster bed, a desk with a chair, a blue armchair, and a side table with a lamp.

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking

A modern bedroom with a four-poster bed, a desk, a chair, a lamp, and a painting on the wall.

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, minibar, desk

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Standard Room, Multiple Beds, Non Smoking

A room with bunk beds, a wooden floor, and a wardrobe with neatly folded towels.

Standard Room, Multiple Beds, Non Smoking

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 10
  • 10 Twin Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking

A modern hotel room with a large bed, two bedside tables with lamps, a desk, and a large window.

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Standard Room, Multiple Beds, Non Smoking

Standard Room, Multiple Beds, Non Smoking | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, minibar, desk

Standard Room, Multiple Beds, Non Smoking

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Twin Bed
  • Free WiFi

About the neighborhood

Located in Grinnell, Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel is in the city center and next to a golf course. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Central Park and Arbor Lake, while Bucksbaum Center for the Arts and Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center are popular area attractions. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Iowa Speedway. Kayaking, fishing, and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails nearby. Visit our Grinnell travel guide
Map
925 Park Street, Grinnell, IA, 50112

What's nearby

  • A bridge over a pond with lily pads and trees in the background.
    Central Park
    2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Grinnell College
    2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Bucksbaum Center for the Arts
    3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Louis Sullivan Jewel Box Bank
    3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Arbor Lake
    1 min drive - 0.9 miles

Getting around

  • Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
    71 min drive

Restaurants

  • Casey's General Store
    5 min drive
  • McDonald's
    8 min walk
  • Subway
    6 min drive
  • Casey's General Store
    16 min walk
  • Casey's General Store
    15 min walk

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi and wired internet
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi and wired internet

Parking and transportation

  • Free offsite parking
  • Area shuttle
  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Restaurants on site

  • The Periodic Table

Things to do

  • 24-hour gym
  • 9-hole adjacent golf course
  • Arcade/game room
  • Free bicycle rentals
  • Games
  • Outdoor pool (guest access)
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • Access to nearby outdoor pool
  • Arcade/game room
  • Snack bar/deli
  • Soundproofed rooms
  • Travel crib

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Change of bedsheets (on request)
  • Change of towels on request
  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Proposal/romance packages
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • 3 meeting rooms
  • Coworking space

Outdoors

  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • In a nature reserve
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 3 accessible parking spaces
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Elevator (32 inch wide door)
  • Front entrance ramp
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • Hardwood flooring in room
  • Lever door handles
  • Smooth flooring in public areas
  • Thin carpet in public areas
  • Visual fire alarm
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible concierge desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
  • Wheelchair-accessible public washroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk (30 inches high)
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking
  • Wheelchairs on site

More

  • 1 building
  • 3 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1921
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Reception hall
  • Renovated entire property - May 2017
  • Smoking not allowed
  • Some LED lighting used
  • Vegetarian breakfast available
  • Vegetarian dining options
  • Water dispenser usage encouraged

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Pillowtop mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shampoo
  • Slippers
  • Toilet paper
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste (on request)
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
  • Netflix

Food and drink

  • Limited room service
  • Minibar
  • Restaurant dining guides

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Bulk dispensers for toiletries
  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Eco-friendly toiletries
  • Free daily newspapers
  • Heating (climate-controlled)
  • Individual decor
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Laptop workspace
  • LED lighting
  • Recycling
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:30 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: USD 28
Contactless check-in available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before noon
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: USD 28
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Guests will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 10:30 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 30 per pet, per stay
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Pet-sitting services are available

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Pet fee: USD 30 per pet, per stay
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Early check-in fee: USD 28 (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out fee: USD 28 (subject to availability)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted

We should mention

Reservations are required for golf tee times; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation

Frequently asked questions

Does Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel have a pool?

Yes, this property has outdoor pool access.

Is Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. There's a fee of USD 30 per pet, per stay. Service animals are exempt from fees.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property; nearby parking is also free.

What time is check-in at Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:30 PM. Early check-in is available for a fee of USD 28 (subject to availability). Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel?

Check-out is at noon. Late check-out is available for USD 28 (subject to availability).

Where is Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel located?

Located in the heart of Grinnell, this golf hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Central Park, Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, and Grinnell College. Arbor Lake and Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center are also within 1 mi (2 km).

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

Hotel Grinnell Downtown, an Ascend Collection Hotel Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

9.6

Cleanliness

9.2

Location

9.4

Staff & service

9.4

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 295 out of 404 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 69 out of 404 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 28 out of 404 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 9 out of 404 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 404 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Michele

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very cool place to stay! A must! Even small warm breakfast included in the morning!
Check in
Main floor hallway
Bedroom
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Diana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Wonderful place, service was excellent.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Lynn

Disliked: Amenities
I wanted to love this hotel so bad! I love adaptive reuse projects— such a cool building, but the experience was subpar due to cost saving compromises. I expect quirky/unique properties to have a few glitches, but this property had too many for the price tag. Here’s where this hotel scores low: -no restaurant on site, contrary to the Expedia listing. -no hot water in shower and “rain shower head” clogged. Low quality soap/lotion in random dollar store bottles. For comparison The Graduate hotels provides Malin & Goetz, Surety Hotel provides Byredo. -Air conditioning in rooms are poorly executed. Window units with plywood and large gaps. Unsightly and loud. -No air conditioning in common areas (hall ways, gym, etc…) -Room decor is odd. Nice case goods but weird cheap Asian themed art. kills the vibe. -no original building features in rooms. Drywall and luxury vinyl :( Not worth the price. Stay in Des Moines if looking for amenities.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Justin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Thoughtfully appointed. Excellent location. Very helpful staff. Would stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Timothy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Bar/Restaurant had Excellent food! Hotel staff were very helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Bruce

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great check in experience. This was the best place to pick in the area hands down for the kids. We had a blast.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

mathilda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Really enjoyed the stay. Room was clean and comfortable. Interesting space in an old school. I would stay there again.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Gary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice and helpful staff
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Melissa

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great spaces
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Susan

Liked: Amenities
Unique hotel; spacious halls, comfortable bed, modern bathroom with nice penny tile, nice hardwood floors, so close to Central Park, great Buddha Bowl.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Catherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Loved the room!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Such a fun hotel with its mix of modern and school house classic. Great accommodations. Clean. Easy to walk to dining and shopping options.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Warren

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Grinnell Gem

Staff very gracious, friendly and professional. Cool setting and public spaces, in a great location.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great spot, cute lil collegetown, easy access i80

Lovely hotel, restored/converted thoughtfully from an old high school. It was clean, safe, great service, and just off of i80. Perfect to break a cross country road trip!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Gwen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Stay here if you have the chance!

Very charming hotel, converted from a former Junior High School. Retains much of the original wooden and tile flooring,just adds to the overall charm of the place. Staff very helpful and the free breakfast was delicious.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ricardo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very unique hotel. This used to be a high school in 1921. Rooms are large, with great wood floors and high ceilings. Wonderful breakfast. They also have great dinner menu options. They have free bicycles.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Sue

Liked: Cleanliness
the room was clean & the bed very comfortable. They were understaffed and it was hard to find someone at the front desk for help. The bill was overcharged from what I had arranged for on line, but it was eventually corrected. The included breakfast was from 7-10 but by 8:30 it was nearly empty. I finally found someone to refresh (they were helpful and courteous when they finally responded), but we were ready to leave. The decor is sparse & cold.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
There was no second reservation but Hotel Grinnell fixed the problem immediately. Excellent service!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

I loved it!

Since I haven't been traveling much lately, I wanted to stay someplace nice--and Hotel Grinnell definitely was that. Since they repurposed an old school into a hotel, they used a school theme throughout. Rooms are a wonderful mix of new and old--nice, clean modern styling, but with the wonderful old hardwood floors from days gone by. Other guests made the same comments as I did, "This place is cool!"
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Roy M

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice local hotel in a former school. Room and bathroom were clean and in excellent condition. Price was very reasonable. Only about a 10 min drive from interstate 80. Complimentary breakfast was excellent. My wife and I would stay here again if in the area. 4/5 stars for service because there staff is not always at the front desk and can take a few minutes for staff to arrive when called. However, did not detract from our staff.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Clean rooms with a great lounge and fun history

Hotel was easy to find and parking was easily accessible. Staff was very nice and helpful and check in was very easy, even after posted hours. Rooms were clean and cozy, although old electrical and plumbing makes for a constant humm noise. Nonetheless, the history and architecture of the building were fun to learn about. The restaurant "Periodic Table" was a fun lounge with games including Scrabble, shuffleboard, and skeeball, along with card games. If you are a gamer, you'll love hanging out in the lounge, bring an extra set of your favorite card game to donate as the games have clearly seen better days! Due to visiting during the off-season, breakfast was not available, so we received vouchers for nearby restaurants. Overall we enjoyed our stay and would recommend booking here if you are visiting Grinnel College or just the town.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Maria

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
If you need to travel to Grinnell, this is without a doubt the nicest hotel in the area. However, the walls are paper thin and we could hear all the conversations from the room next to ours. The old hardwood floors are so squeaky that if anyone in the room adjacent to ours got up during the night, we would hear them. The elevator works good, but it makes an unsettling noise right before it stops, so loud that my son did not feel comfortable in it. The room itself is beautiful and in good condition. The hotel advertises that it offers free breakfast, but in fact it offers $10 vouchers per person for nearby restaurants that offer breakfast. The hotel does not have its own private parking lot, but rather street parking.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Christine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Clean and comfortable but too pricey

Everything was great! Very clean. Hallway on the third floor had a strange smell but not terrible. The shower has the new style with half of a door (no curtain) which is nice except the rain shower a hole that sprayed sideways and flooded the floor. The free breakfast was perfect. We were going to go to the restaurant the night before for an appetizer and have nachos but they were $25! Overall a very nice hotel but not sure it's worth the price. It is also strange that no one is at the front desk, you have to call them on the phone. If the price was much lower, I would stay again
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort

Beautiful, but not comfortable

Good and bad. The bed was pretty low quality -- despite the lovely four poster aspect, the mattress was too soft. I have back problems and ended up sleeping on the floor. The water faucet squirted all over the place every time we turned it on, soaking the mirror and counter. We had to request bedding for the pull-out sofa. Once received, the bedding lacked sheets. When I went back to the front desk to let them know, the concierge had walked away and left a phone number. Understandable in such a small hotel, but annoying because now it was late and we had no sheets. One good thing was the small bar/restaurant on the premises. They had a very good jazz trio, and the food was very good, both dinner and the free breakfast in the morning. The hotel was a beautiful building, but they need to work out the kinks.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Jeongrim

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amenities should be upgraded
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026