11 Best Hotels with Indoor Pools in Sacramento

Sacramentans used to shy away from calling their city ‘destination-worthy,’ but it’s all a thing of the past. Sacramento, California’s capital, has quietly risen to the forefront, helped partly by the Oscar-nominated film Lady Bird. Today, the city is all about canopied boulevards, charming corners, a lively arts scene, an underground local music scene, and a culinary revolution. That said, exploring all this in this sun-kissed city left us tired, especially since Sacramento has more than 250 days of sunshine in the year. So, what better way to cool off than in an indoor pool? When we looked for hotels with indoor pools in Sacramento, we were pleasantly surprised to find many big chain hotel brand names. While the city does have its fair share of amazing rooftop pools, we were trying to beat the heat, not get roasted all the more!

So, indoor pool hotels it was, and boy, did we find the choicest of choices across locations, vibes, and budgets. What more could we ask for? If you’re headed to the ‘City of Trees,’ as Sacramento is being called, here are your best spots for cooling off indoors without having to leave your property.

TownePlace Suites Sacramento Roseville

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We begin with TownePlace Suites Sacramento Roseville, which sits around 25 minutes northeast of Sacramento. It’s home to a lovely indoor pool area, which is shallow enough for small kids and even older adults. This is because the pool is just 3-4 ft deep, allowing even non-swimmers like us to enjoy the pool, especially since the pool even has a proper ladder entry.

What’s more, the pool opened at 6 am, allowing us to get in an early morning swim before we headed out to explore the city. Plus, the pool was open as late as 9 pm, which meant that we could even enjoy a late swim after a day of staying out in Sacramento. If that wasn’t enough, the pool was warm enough to be used even when it was chilly outside. The best bit? We could use the bubbling waters of the jacuzzi after a swim and enjoy it immensely.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Vacaville, an IHG Hotel

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Around half an hour from the center of Sacramento sits the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Vacaville, an IHG Hotel. It was a great way to stay close to Sacramento as we wanted to explore the region. After a long day of driving and walking around, the indoor pool area felt very welcome. While it was small, it was very clean and well-maintained.

What’s more, it was a heated indoor pool, allowing us to enjoy a swim even when the weather was colder. Plus, it welcomed all ages, so we had a lot of fun with the kids and even the elders in the pool. Since there was a hot tub by the side too, we were able to spend some time soaking our sore muscles too. The best bit was that the pool was open from 9 am to 9 pm, which gave us more time to hang out in the pool, especially on the days when we were out on tours exploring the entire day.

Holiday Inn Express Woodland, an IHG Hotel

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We have yet another Holiday Inn Express hotel on this list. This time, it’s the Holiday Inn Express Woodland, an IHG Hotel, which was perfect for us as we were looking for a hotel close to Sacramento Airport. What better than a Holiday Inn outpost to spend a day before a long-haul flight out of Sacramento, right? We couldn’t have chosen better, as this hotel was home to a wonderful indoor pool area.

The indoor pool was particularly a hit with the kids, as it was spacious and shallow, allowing them to safely play in the water. After a swim, we relaxed on the chairs next to the pool area, where we were able to keep an eye on the kids. What’s more, there was even a whirlpool off the pool where we could soak our sore muscles after a long day. The pool was open from 9 am to 10 pm, which is one of the longest pool hours on this list. Whoever said airport hotels had to be boring?

Fairfield Inn & Suites Sacramento Elk Grove

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We loved everything about the indoor pool area at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Sacramento Elk Grove, which sits around 20 minutes south of Downtown Sacramento. The indoor pool area was one of the most spacious we’d seen in the city and features a nice, perfectly heated indoor saltwater pool and a jacuzzi/whirlpool.

Since the pool was open on all days between 7 am and 9 pm, we didn’t have to scramble to use it. Rather, we were able to get in early morning and late evening swims as well, especially on the days we’d be gone for most of the day exploring the city. What was even better was that the hotel provided towels. So, we didn’t have to schlep and carry our own, which was a huge bonus. After a leisurely swim, we’d either camp out on the loungers or chairs by the poolside or enjoy some much-needed downtime at the whirlpool right next to it.

Hampton Inn Sacramento/Rancho Cordova

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Well-lit indoor pool areas are always a great bonus, which means that we can go swimming even after dark without being put off by the lack of lighting. That’s exactly why we chose the Hampton Inn Sacramento/Rancho Cordova, a wonderful Hampton outpost with an equally amazing indoor pool area.

Despite being smaller than most other indoor pool areas on this list, the space at this Hampton Inn outpost was inviting with lots of lights. What’s more, it had huge windows on one side of the wall, which allowed for a lot of natural light to filter in too. So, when we went swimming during the day, we didn’t feel like we had to switch on the lights. Thanks to the pool, we were able to disconnect a little, especially after spending the entire day on our feet and exploring the city. However, the best part about the pool was that it was heated and the water was warm. So, we were able to enjoy swimming without feeling cold!

Comfort Inn & Suites Sacramento – University Area

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We’ve always looked at Comfort Suites as a good value-for-money option when it comes to staying somewhere. So, when we heard that the Comfort Inn & Suites Sacramento-University Area outpost in the city’s wonderfully leafy University Area neighborhood had an indoor heated pool, we jumped at the chance to stay here, and we weren’t disappointed in the least. The indoor pool space was quite spacious and had three French doors on one side that let in a ton of natural light. The pool itself was heated, so we could swim in it even when it was cold outside. What’s more, there was even a hot tub jacuzzi on the side, where we could enjoy a leisurely soak to relax our sore muscles. There were lots of chairs by the pool where we’d lounge after a swim, not having to go back directly to our rooms immediately.

Hampton Inn & Suites Folsom

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How would you like to stay in a hotel where the pool is open until midnight? We thought so too! Welcome to Hampton Inn & Suites Folsom, where the indoor pool was open from as early as 6 am to as late as midnight. So, even if we’d gotten late after a long day of exploring the city, we could still get back and enjoy a late-night swim after dinner. We loved all the space in the pool area, which had a heated pool. So, we could swim at any time of the year that we wanted. What’s more, there was a lot of space to lounge poolside, right from daybeds and sofas to tables and chairs. Thus, we even had the choice of how we wanted to lounge! Moreover, the hotel even provided towels so we didn’t have to bring our own.

However, the best feature of the pool area, besides the pool, of course, was the hot tub jacuzzi in the corner. Hence, we could enjoy a soak in the bubbling waters after a leisurely swim.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Sacramento Folsom

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Best accessible pool. There’s something that we like about the pools at Marriott hotels, and the indoor pool at Fairfield Inn & Suites Sacramento Folsom was no different. There were many reasons we liked the pool, starting with the fact that it was a sloping one. So, the shallower end was 3 ft and the deepest end was 5 ft, allowing all of us, including those who didn’t know how to swim, to enjoy pool time.

Besides multiple entry points, the pool was also an accessible one, which we loved. What’s more, there were chairs around the pool for us to lounge after a swim, which we did, especially since the hotel even provided towels. There were even two ‘daybeds,’ for the want of a better word, which we’d be lucky to use when we went swimming at night. The pool is open for one of the longest times we’ve ever seen, from 7 am to 11 pm.

Staybridge Suites Sacramento-Folsom

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Best family-friendly. Dive into bliss at the Staybridge Suites Sacramento-Folsom, which has a very large and pleasant indoor pool area. There was a lot of space poolside, where there were several tables and chairs arranged. So, we could lounge by the poolside after a leisurely swim, and not just have to head back to our rooms. What’s more, the pool was heated and perfect for enjoying with the entire family, including kids and elderly people. The best bit was that there was even a bathroom by the pool, which we could access and not have to go back to our rooms every time. Moreover, the hotel provided us with fluffy beach/pool towels, so we didn’t have to carry our own either. That was a very welcome break since we were traveling with the entire family.

Residence Inn by Marriott Sacramento Rancho Cordova

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Best indoor pool with towels. The indoor pool area at the Residence Inn by Marriott Sacramento Rancho Cordova is one of the calmest and serene indoor pool areas we’ve ever seen. Specifically reserved for hotel guests, the pool was perfect for us to enjoy a swim and was a wonderful respite from the heat and humidity. What’s more, the indoor pool area could even be enjoyed after dark, as the soft lights lighting it up were just right and not harsh. We were even able to enjoy some quiet time by the poolside on the chairs after our swim time. The best bit is that the indoor pool is open throughout the year, welcomes all ages, including kids, and is heated so we can swim in all climates. Did we mention that the hotel provided us with pool/beach towels? Yep, so we didn’t have to carry our own.

“The indoor pool area here was perfect to get away from the heat and humidity of the city. Moreover, it was very tranquil and peaceful.”

WOW Travel

Embassy Suites by Hilton Sacramento Riverfront Promenade

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Best overall. We end, or rather begin the list with the Embassy Suites by Hilton Sacramento Riverfront Promenade. We loved the indoor pool area at this hotel, which boasted a huge wall of frosted windows on one side. What’s more, the fitness center also overlooks the pool, so imagine how awesome it would be to work out and directly jump into the pool. What’s more, the pool is a sloping one, measuring 3 ft 6 inches on the shallower end and 4 ft on the deeper end. The calming atmosphere was perfect for a refreshing swim, after which we could even relax on the chairs and tables right next to the poolside.

We were glad to have a ladder entry into the pool and the temperature was just right to swim in all kinds of weather. The best bit? We enjoyed a dip in the bubbling waters of the jacuzzi right off the pool area. It’s no wonder that it’s one of the best hotels with pools in Sacramento.

Our Verdict!

While we loved all the hotel pools on this list, the ones below are our favorites.

• Best overall: Embassy Suites by Hilton Sacramento Riverfront Promenade
• Best family-friendly: Staybridge Suites Sacramento-Folsom
• Best accessible pool: Fairfield Inn & Suites Sacramento Folsom
• Best indoor pool with towels: Residence Inn by Marriott Sacramento Rancho Cordova

Where to Stay in Sacramento?

Sacramento is a city of contrasts, but it’s a fast-growing one at that. So, even though it might not be as large as other state capitals, it is indeed a large city with many neighborhoods. Thus, you’ll need to choose where you want to stay depending on what you want to do.

For first-timers, we highly recommend staying in Midtown Sacramento, which lies just east of Downtown Sacramento. It’s the epicenter of Sacramento’s cultural, music, and art scene and is perfect for first-timers, families, and culture vultures. What’s more, this lively and hip district also has a wide range of hotels and dining options, so you’ll find a place to stay whether you prefer luxury or on a budget.

Secondly, consider staying in Old Town Sacramento if you’re a history and culture buff. This historic district is also called “Old Sac” and is the most exciting area of town. Moreover, it’s also home to many historic sites, museums, and 19th-century buildings. Finally, there’s Downtown Sacramento if you love to embrace the crowd. The quintessential business district in town, this is the perfect area to stay for all kinds of travelers since it’s also home to the largest shopping center in the state.

Which hotel indoor pools are kid-friendly?

While most indoor pools on this list are children-friendly, the ones specifically are TownePlace Suites, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Vacaville and Woodland, Staybridge Suites, and Residence Inn.

Which indoor pools provided towels?

The Fairfield, Hampton, Staybridge, and Residence Inn hotels provided towels to all guests.

Which is the best overall indoor pool in Sacramento?

That would be the Embassy Suites by Hilton Sacramento Riverfront Promenade.