Gay Friendly Hotels Iowa City

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels Iowa City (2023 Updated)

Search and book Lesbian and Gay friendly hotels Iowa City, IA

Lesbiangaybisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in the United States have evolved in recent decades. However, LGBT Americans may still face some legal and many social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, particularly in states with large conservative populations, such as in the Deep South; in rural areas; and in some Native American tribal nations.

U.S. federal law does not explicitly include protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sexual orientation and gender identity are included under “sex” as a prohibited ground of employment discrimination in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Iowa has allowed for state recognition of same-sex marriages performed in and out of the state since April 3, 2009, after the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously upheld a ruling by the Polk County District Court in Varnum v.
Iowa City has a long history of being a  gay friendly town and in downtown we can find a few gay friendly bars as well as Studio 13 or Deadwood Tavern are the most famous gay bars in Iowa City, IA.
Iowa City is in eastern Iowa. The Old Capitol Building, the state’s first capitol, now houses a museum of local history. The adjacent University of Iowa Museum of Natural History features prehistoric stone tools and taxidermy. By the Iowa River, City Park has ponds and sports facilities. East, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum displays objects and photos tracing the life of the 31st U.S. president.

 Top attractions to visit in Iowa City

 

1. Element Iowa City 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Iowa City IA

Element Iowa City
Element Iowa City

Located in Iowa City, 0.9 mi from Kinnick Stadium, Element Iowa City provides air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi and express check-in and check-out. Featuring family rooms, this property also provides guests with a terrace. The hotel features an indoor pool, fitness center and a shared lounge.

All units in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV.

A continental breakfast is available daily at Element Iowa City.

Guests at the accommodations will be able to enjoy activities in and around Iowa City, like cycling and fishing.

Less than a mile from Highway 6, this contemporary all-suite hotel is 4 minutes’ walk from shops and open-air events at the Pedestrian Mall, and 11 minutes away on foot from the University of Iowa campus.

Streamlined, modern suites have Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and sitting areas, as well as kitchenettes with microwaves and mini fridges. Upgraded suites add pull-out sofas; 1-bedroom suites provide separate living rooms.

Amenities include an indoor saltwater pool and a 24-hour fitness room, as well as a furnished terrace, an airy lobby lounge and a coin-operated laundry. Parking, breakfast and loaner bikes are available.

hotel in downtown Iowa City! Our eco-friendly hotel is within walking distance of the University of Iowa Campus and offers open spaces, sustainable design, and natural color palettes for a refreshing short or extended stay. Recharge in our spacious rooms and suites with productive work-spaces, fully equipped kitchens, and our signature Heavenly Beds®.”,”viewport”:”DESKTOP”}]}”>

Discover the all-new Element hotel in downtown Iowa City! Our eco-friendly hotel is within walking distance of the University of Iowa Campus and offers open spaces, sustainable design, and natural color palettes for a refreshing short or extended stay. Recharge in our spacious rooms and suites with productive work-spaces, fully equipped kitchens, and our signature Heavenly Beds®.

Everything was quite nice in the lobby and the room. It looked new and the decor was calming. I liked the location within easy walking distance of the downtown area. Unexpected charge for parking in a shared municipal lot was only $14 a day.

We breathed a huge sigh of relief the moment we set foot in the lobby. I’ve traveled a lot and have never seen a cleaner hotel. It also happens to be beautiful.

Our king suite was an oasis after an exhausting drive. A beautiful kitchen to prep our baby’s food in, a large and spotless bathroom, and the bed… oh the bed… it was a cloud.

If we ever make this drive again, we will not hesitate to stay here. I will be seeking out Element hotels wherever we go from here forward. I’d give it 6 stars if I could, but that might also be because I got the first good night of rest I’ve had in weeks.

This is our first stay at an Element property. The rooms are very nice. Love the convenience of the kitchenette. Decor is very modern. The layout our our 2 queen room is very efficient. Desk chair is very comfortable. Sofa gives a nice place to sit besides the beds.

The front desk manager Branden was very friendly and gave us very good directions as to where the hotel parking was and how to use it. It’s actually very convenient. Already looking forward to our next visit and will seek out other Element properties as well from now on.

Gay Friendly Hotels Iowa City
Gay Friendly Hotels Iowa City

How much does a room costs at Element Iowa City?

Prices start 115$/night for Guest Room, 1 King. The 1 Bedroom Suite, 1 King, Sofa bed
is  139$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This double room features air conditioning and tea/coffee maker.

Where to book online– Element Iowa City – Gay Friendly Hotels Iowa City  – you can find the best hotels deals in Iowa City during Chicago Pride which  is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Iowa City IA on Booking.com or Agoda.com or Hotels.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

2. The Highlander Hotel 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Iowa City Iowa

The Highlander Hotel
The Highlander Hotel

Offering easy access to Interstate 80, this Iowa City hotel is 5.8 miles from the University of Iowa. It features an indoor pool with jacuzzi and guest rooms with free Wi-Fi.

The Highlander Hotel provides each room with cable TV and coffee facilities. The rooms include bathroom amenities and ironing facilities.

The hotel offers a game room and a gym for guests use.

In addition to our convenient location just off I-80, The Highlander Hotel has lived large in the mind of Iowa City locals ever since we opened our doors in 1967. Can’t get no satisfaction from buzz-killing, soulless chain hotels? Want to break on through to the other side at an uber-luxe crash pad where you can turn on, tune in, drop out and counter culture in psychedelic fashion?

Power up your inner Fleetwood Mac, and go your own way at Iowa City’s trippiest new urban resort, The Highlander Hotel. Picture chic meets shag. Five-star meets rock star. With new surprises and delights at every turn(table). Think you’ll find any of this at a hotel chain? Dream On.

If you like bland, average, run-of-the-mill hotel stays, then this is not the place for you. But if you prefer unique, retro, eco-friendly, and a lot of fun…then The Bohemian is your place to stay. You can feel the iconic history, and it’s been completely renovated and features upscale decor and furnishings.
Other areas include the ballroom, bar, exercise room, pool area, and outdoor courtyard, each being incredibly fantastic spaces.

The pool area also includes a hot tub and ping pong table. Large overhead doors open to the amazing outdoor space where you’ll find a fire pit, comfortable seating, and many yard games.
The staff is polite and very helpful. There are even vinyl records and record players that you can take to your room! I love this place and we will be back very soon! So impressed.

The Bohemian has one of the coolest vibes I’ve ever experienced in a hotel. Yes, I said experience. That’s what it is. You can still feel the laid back 1970’s life and iconic history of the building, with upscale and retro decor and furnishings.

The bar area is fantastic! The ballroom is huge and immaculate! The pool area will blow your mind, with pool, hot tub, ping pong table, etc… Three large glass overhead doors open up to combine the indoor pool space with an amazing outdoor space, featuring fire pit, seating, and games. Many poolside rooms are sure to be a hit along with rooms that surround that awesome outdoor space. When I was there in late June the penthouse suite wasn’t quite finished but trust me, it’s going to be incredible!

The Bohemian is where I’ll be staying whenever I’m in Iowa City or ANY surrounding area. It’s an epic establishment. I can’t wait to go back.

. Every member of their team was welcoming and accommodating, and truly made you feel at home. When you first walk into the hotel you can see all the effort that has gone into the Highlander. The bar area was fantastic and served incredible drinks. The record lending library is one of the most unique features I have ever seen in a hotel; I spent close to 20 minutes just flipping through their titles! The snack shack by the pool offered great coffee and had a delicious mango salsa.

Speaking of the pool, the Highlander does a great job at keeping it clean and safe to use, which has been at the forefront of every traveler’s mind this past year. To cap it off, the rooms were very cozy and comfortable which provided a great sleep. Overall, this hotel is the perfect getaway. Close to Iowa City and Coralville, your options as a guest are endless. I would recommend this amazing hotel to anyone I meet. Thank you, Highlander!

Gay Friendly Hotels Iowa City
Gay Friendly Hotels Iowa City

How much does a room costs at The Highlander Hotel ?

Prices start 159$/night for  Guest Room.

This double room features air conditioning and tea/coffee maker.

Where to book online– The Highlander Hotel – Gay Friendly Hotels Iowa City  – you can find the best hotels deals in Iowa City during Chicago Pride which  is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Iowa City IA on Booking.com or Agoda.com or Hotels.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. Surety Hotel  4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Des Moines Iowa

Surety Hotel
Surety Hotel

Surety Hotel features a restaurant, fitness center, a bar and shared lounge in Des Moines. Among the facilities at this property are a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Private parking can be arranged at an extra charge.

At the hotel each room is equipped with a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom.

hotel proudly stands as a modernized grand hotel with respect for the past and our doors open to a new era for Des Moines. Travelers and locals alike will enjoy the modern communal design and good old fashioned Midwestern hospitality at Surety.”,”viewport”:”DESKTOP”}]}”>

Located in the historic Hippie building, Surety Hotel celebrates the history of Des Moines while building the future of the City of Certainties. The hotel proudly stands as a modernized grand hotel with respect for the past and our doors open to a new era for Des Moines. Travelers and locals alike will enjoy the modern communal design and good old fashioned Midwestern hospitality at Surety.

The hotel is at a great location to easily walk to bars and restaurants in downtown Des Moines. Inside, it is elegant throughout, from the classically outfitted lobby and lounge to the stylish bathroom details. Everything felt high scale with a warm and knowledgeable staff.

Clean, inviting, gay friendly upscale hotel with trendy vibe and amazing ambience! Thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will definitely be back! Live music in the hotel lobby was a surprising treat and brunch at the Mulberry Street Tavern Saturday morning was spectacular! Such a great addition to downtown Des Moines.

I loved this hotel! It’s exceptional! My new favorite hotel when traveling to Des Moines! The staff was incredible, the food in the restaurant was amazing and the location was perfect! There’s plenty of landmarks to see downtown within walking distance of this hotel. Surety definitely delivers the hospitality that you are expecting, and they certainly exceeded my expectations.

The hotel room was very nice, cozy, well decorated and so clean! The bed and pillows were very comfortable and the towels were so fluffy and big (more like bath sheet size), which felt like an added luxury. The toiletries in the room also smelled amazing!! All of these things make a long road trip so much better and make even a brief stay in a hotel much more relaxing.

Fantastic renovation of a historic office building into a luxury hotel. The hotel just opened about two weeks ago and is stunning. Staff was friendly and helpful. The room large and comfortable. I would typically expect to pay over $300 per night for a room here but was less than half this.

The room felt like a presidential suite. Unique, clean and still homey. The king size bed was the perfect combination of soft to firm for me and my partner who had our best sleep of the trip. Not a sound could be heard from other patrons through the walls. Room service- something we’ve not been able to enjoy on our entire trip due to the pandemic. Stunning views. Shampoo and conditioner was even salon grade.
Customer service was above and beyond. Zoë and Zach (Hopefully spelled correctly) were so genuine, warm and kind. They made sure we had everything we needed.

There is no parking but there are options with $20 parking for the hotel, a lot across the street, covered parking less than a block away and plentiful metered parking. Honestly, a very minor setback compared to the rest.

I honestly don’t know why anyone would stay anywhere else- skip the gamble on a generic hotel and give yourself this guaranteed incredible stay.

Gay Friendly Hotels Des Moines Iowa
Gay Friendly Hotels Des Moines Iowa

How much does a room costs at Surety Hotel?

Prices start 156$/night for King Room. The Signature King Room with City View is  180$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This double room features a minibar, cable TV and air conditioning.

Where to book online – Surety Hotel – Gay Friendly Hotels Des Moines Iowa  – you can find the best hotels deals in Des Moines during Des Moines Art Festival which  is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Des Moines IA on Booking.com or Agoda.com or Hotels.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.