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3-star hotels in Elko
A shortlist of 3-star hotels in Elko, the mining and ranching town on Interstate 80 in northeast Nevada and gateway to the Ruby Mountains. It is for road-trippers, hikers and visitors who want a working western town without pretense.
Staying in Elko
Elko is 20,000 people in the middle of the Great Basin, six hours from Reno and five from Salt Lake City, and the closest thing to a city for 200 miles in any direction. It runs on gold mining and cattle ranching. Idaho Street is the main strip with casinos, motels and a Basque restaurant scene left over from 19th-century sheepherders, and the Ruby Mountains rise 11,000 feet 30 miles southeast. The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering fills every room in town for a week each January.
Most of these hotels sit along Idaho Street and the commercial strip on the east side of town, with a cluster of suites hotels on East Jennings Way and Ruby Vista Drive, and a couple of smaller places nearer the old downtown grid around 10th Street, 2nd Street and West Cedar Street. That spread suits road-trippers pulling off the interstate, couples breaking the drive across Nevada, and families who want a kitchen or extra space. Business visitors on mine or ranch business find the same strip convenient, and anyone in town for the Cowboy Poetry Gathering or a Lamoille Canyon hike can use any of them as a base.
The shortlist
Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Elko
2625 East Jennings Way, Elko, United States
Best for: Business trips
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereSuites with kitchen corners set TownePlace Suites by Marriott Elko apart on East Jennings Way: a dishwasher and coffee-making corner suit guests staying several nights, and a business center plus banquet space cover work and small gatherings. Air conditioning throughout keeps rooms comfortable in Elko's desert climate, and the 24 hour front desk helps late arrivals. Guests rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 479 reviews, making it a strong choice for longer stays and travelers who want to cook for themselves.
See TownePlace Suites by Marriott ElkoHoliday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHG
2542 Ruby Vista Drive, Elko, United States
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Fitness Center
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereHoliday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHG on Ruby Vista Drive pairs a fitness center and gymnasium with free wifi and free car parking, so guests can keep up workouts and arrive by car without fuss. Air conditioning and coffee-making facilities in the rooms cover the basics, while the 24 hour front desk handles late check-ins. With 4.4 out of 5 from 422 reviews, it suits travelers who want a reliable, active base in Elko.
See Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHGHome2 Suites by Hilton Elko
2572 E Jennings Way, Elko, United States
Best for: Business trips
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereHome2 Suites by Hilton Elko on East Jennings Way offers a business center and a bar and snack corner, useful for guests mixing work with an easy evening. Air conditioning and coffee-making facilities feature in the rooms, and 24 hour security adds reassurance. Cots are available for families. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 388 reviews, it fits business travelers and families who want practical comforts and a bite close at hand.
See Home2 Suites by Hilton ElkoShutters Hotel
3650 Idaho St, Elko, United States
Best for: Breakfast · Business trips
- Breakfast
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereBreakfast is served at Shutters Hotel on Idaho Street, and banquet space plus a bar make it workable for events or a drink without leaving the property. Rooms are carpeted and air conditioned, with coffee-making facilities and a 24 hour front desk. Guests score it 4.3 out of 5 over 412 reviews. The combination suits travelers who value an on-site meal and gathering space alongside straightforward, comfortable rooms.
See Shutters HotelBest Western Elko Inn
1930 Idaho St, Elko, United States
Best for: Families · Business trips
- Family rooms
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereBest Western Elko Inn on Idaho Street stands out for family rooms and a fireplace, giving groups a warm common space, and a buffet and bar are available on site. Express check-in and a 24 hour front desk speed up arrival, while a business center and copy services help working guests. Air conditioning keeps rooms comfortable. With 4.1 out of 5 from 1262 reviews, it suits families and travelers who want amenities under one roof.
See Best Western Elko InnEconomy Inn
411 10Th St Elko Nv 89801 Usa, Elko, United States
Best for: Drivers
- Parking
Why stay hereEconomy Inn on 10th Street is a compact option with parking available, convenient for guests arriving by car. The address places it in Elko itself, and guests rate it 4.2 out of 5 from 68 reviews. With only parking listed among its facilities, it suits travelers who want a simple place to stay and are content to keep their needs minimal rather than expecting extras on site.
See Economy InnWingate by Wyndham Elko
3019 Idaho St, Elko, United States
Best for: Breakfast · Business trips
- Breakfast
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereWingate by Wyndham Elko on Idaho Street serves breakfast and provides a business center, covering both a morning start and work needs. Express check-in and a 24 hour front desk ease arrival, and rooms are air conditioned with coffee-making facilities. Baths in the rooms add comfort. Rated 4.1 out of 5 from 259 reviews, it suits travelers passing through Elko who want breakfast included and a straightforward base on the main road.
See Wingate by Wyndham ElkoMaverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels
2065 Idaho Street, Elko, United States
Best for: Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Beach nearby
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereA casino hotel on Idaho Street, Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels combines bars, banquet space and breakfast with 24 hour security and a 24 hour front desk. Some rooms have balconies, and a beach nearby is listed among its facilities. Air conditioning throughout keeps things comfortable. From 2140 reviews it holds 3.9 out of 5, and it suits guests who want gaming, dining and entertainment in one place.
See Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion HotelsRamada by Wyndham Elko Hotel at Stockmen’s Casino
340 Commercial Street, Elko, United States
Best for: Business trips
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereRamada by Wyndham Elko Hotel at Stockmen's Casino on Commercial Street brings together bars, a bowling alley and banquet space, so evenings stay busy without leaving the building. A business center and 24 hour front desk serve working guests, with 24 hour security and air conditioning throughout. Rated 3.9 out of 5 across 1253 reviews, it suits travelers who want casino entertainment and leisure facilities in a central Elko setting.
See Ramada by Wyndham Elko Hotel at Stockmen’s CasinoThunderbird Motel
345 Idaho Street, Elko, United States
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Beach nearby
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereThunderbird Motel on Idaho Street offers free wifi and free car parking, keeping a stay simple for drivers. Express check-in speeds arrival, and rooms are air conditioned and carpeted with coffee-making facilities and baths. A beach nearby is listed among its facilities. Guests give it 3.9 out of 5 from 265 reviews. It suits travelers who want a modest, easy-going base with parking and connectivity covered.
See Thunderbird MotelCharming Elko Home with Pool Table
1002 2Nd St, Elko, United States
- Air conditioning
- Free Wifi
Why stay hereThis charming Elko home on 2nd Street includes a pool table and a games room, making it a sociable choice for groups and families. A dishwasher and coffee-making facilities cover the kitchen side, and cots are available. Air conditioning, free wifi and a hairdryer round out the practical details. It suits guests who prefer a whole house with room to play over a standard hotel room, with no guest rating recorded.
See Charming Elko Home with Pool TableStudio Apartment on The Hill in Elko
457 West Cedar Street, Elko, United States
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Free car parking
- Family rooms
- Air conditioning
Why stay hereSet on West Cedar Street, this studio apartment on the hill offers a fireplace, garden and family rooms, giving guests space to relax indoors and out. Free wifi and free car parking are provided, and a dishwasher and coffee-making facilities make self-catering easy. It suits longer stays and families who want an apartment-style base in Elko rather than a hotel.
See Studio Apartment on The Hill in Elko
The shortlist side by side
| Hotel | Class | Guest rating | Reviews | Parking | Breakfast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TownePlace Suites by Marriott Elko | ★★★ | 4.5 | 479 | – | – |
| Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHG | ★★★ | 4.4 | 422 | Yes | – |
| Home2 Suites by Hilton Elko | ★★★ | 4.4 | 388 | – | – |
| Shutters Hotel | ★★★ | 4.3 | 412 | – | Yes |
| Best Western Elko Inn | ★★★ | 4.1 | 1,262 | – | – |
| Economy Inn | ★★★ | 4.2 | 68 | Yes | – |
| Wingate by Wyndham Elko | ★★★ | 4.1 | 259 | – | Yes |
| Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels | ★★★ | 3.9 | 2,140 | – | Yes |
| Ramada by Wyndham Elko Hotel at Stockmen’s Casino | ★★★ | 3.9 | 1,253 | – | – |
| Thunderbird Motel | ★★★ | 3.9 | 265 | Yes | – |
| Charming Elko Home with Pool Table | ★★★ | – | – | – | – |
| Studio Apartment on The Hill in Elko | ★★★ | – | – | Yes | – |
From each hotel's own listing on this site; a dash means it is not listed.
How to choose
For longer stays
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Elko and Home2 Suites by Hilton Elko both list dishwashers among their facilities, which makes them the practical pick for several nights. The Studio Apartment on The Hill in Elko and Charming Elko Home with Pool Table add family rooms or a games room for households that want their own space.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Elko · Home2 Suites by Hilton Elko · Studio Apartment on The Hill in Elko · Charming Elko Home with Pool Table
For the interstate stop
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHG, Wingate by Wyndham Elko, Best Western Elko Inn and Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels all sit on the Idaho Street and Ruby Vista Drive strip, the easy-on, easy-off side of town for a one-night break in a long drive. Free car parking is listed at the Holiday Inn Express.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHG · Wingate by Wyndham Elko · Best Western Elko Inn · Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels
For the highest guest ratings
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Elko leads with 4.5 out of 5 from 479 reviews, followed by Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHG and Home2 Suites by Hilton Elko at 4.4 from 422 and 388 reviews.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Elko · Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHG · Home2 Suites by Hilton Elko · Shutters Hotel
For the most reviewed
Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels carries 2140 reviews at 3.9 out of 5, Best Western Elko Inn 1262 at 4.1 and Ramada by Wyndham Elko Hotel at Stockmen’s Casino 1253 at 3.9. These are the names most travellers have already weighed up, useful if you want a large sample rather than a small one.
Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels · Best Western Elko Inn · Ramada by Wyndham Elko Hotel at Stockmen’s Casino
Where to stay in Elko
Idaho Street
Idaho Street is the main strip, with casinos, motels and the Basque restaurant scene, and at 9pm it is a mix of casino neon, mine-shift traffic and family-style dinners still being served at the Star Hotel and Nevada Dinner House. Shutters Hotel, Best Western Elko Inn, Wingate by Wyndham Elko, Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels and Thunderbird Motel all have Idaho Street addresses.
Our picks here: Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels · Thunderbird Motel
East Jennings Way
East Jennings Way lies off the interstate side of town, where TownePlace Suites by Marriott Elko and Home2 Suites by Hilton Elko both stand. This is the suite-hotel cluster, away from the casino strip and convenient if you are arriving late off Interstate 80 and leaving early, or staying several nights with a kitchen.
Our picks here: TownePlace Suites by Marriott Elko
Commercial Street
Commercial Street runs through the Basque hotel district on the Downtown Elko Historic Loop, past the Star and the Overland. Ramada by Wyndham Elko Hotel at Stockmen’s Casino has a Commercial Street address, putting you on the walking route that ends at the Sherman Station log cabin at the west end of Idaho.
Our picks here: Ramada by Wyndham Elko Hotel at Stockmen’s Casino
Plan your stay
Getting there and around
Elko sits on Interstate 80 in the middle of the Great Basin, six hours from Reno and five from Salt Lake City by road, and it is the closest thing to a city for 200 miles in any direction. The Ruby Mountains are 30 miles southeast, with Lamoille Canyon 90 minutes off I-80. Idaho Street is the main strip, and the Downtown Elko Historic Loop is a 2 km walk from the Northeastern Nevada Museum on Idaho Street and 15th, west past the courthouse and 1913 city hall, north on 5th Street to the old rail depot area on Railroad and the Western Folklife Center, then back on Commercial Street through the Basque hotel district.
When to go
Come between May and October if hiking the Rubies is the point, since snow can close Lamoille Canyon Road well into June some years. September is best for aspen color and cooler daytime temperatures. Summer days push past 95 degrees but nights cool fast at this elevation, so bring layers whatever the season. Winter visits mean the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, held the last full week of January from Monday to Saturday, when every hotel room in Elko is taken and you should book by August the year before. Otherwise most trailheads sit under several feet of snow.
Things to do near Elko
Questions, answered
Which Elko hotel has the best guest rating?
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Elko scores 4.5 out of 5 from 479 reviews, the highest on this list. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHG and Home2 Suites by Hilton Elko follow at 4.4, from 422 and 388 reviews.
Where can I stay with a kitchen for a longer visit?
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Elko and Home2 Suites by Hilton Elko both list dishwashers among their facilities, and the Studio Apartment on The Hill in Elko lists a dishwasher and family rooms. Charming Elko Home with Pool Table also has a dishwasher plus a games room.
Do any of these hotels have family rooms?
Best Western Elko Inn and the Studio Apartment on The Hill in Elko both list family rooms. Charming Elko Home with Pool Table is a whole house with a games room and pool table, which suits a family wanting its own space.
Which hotels are on Idaho Street?
Shutters Hotel, Best Western Elko Inn, Wingate by Wyndham Elko, Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels and Thunderbird Motel all have Idaho Street addresses. That puts them on the main strip, close to the casinos and Basque restaurants.
Which hotels offer free parking?
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHG and Thunderbird Motel both list free car parking. The Studio Apartment on The Hill in Elko lists it as well, and Economy Inn lists parking among its facilities.
Is there a hotel with a fitness center in Elko?
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHG lists a fitness center and a gymnasium among its facilities. No other hotel on this shortlist lists either.
When should I book for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering?
The gathering runs the last full week of January, Monday to Saturday, and every hotel room in Elko is taken. Book by August the year before if you want a room in town.
Which hotel suits a one-night stop on Interstate 80?
The hotels on the Idaho Street and Ruby Vista Drive strip are the easiest: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elko by IHG, Wingate by Wyndham Elko, Best Western Elko Inn and Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels. Holiday Inn Express lists free car parking.