17 of the Best Family Hotels in Kansas City

Kansas City Missouri, has a vast array of adventures and places to stay for families. For younger children, exploring LEGOLAND and the Kaleidoscope children’s museum promises to delight. The Negro League’s Baseball Museum and the fine Nelson-Atkinson Museum of Art offer older kids cultural adventures. For everyone, there is a fantastic barbecue to enjoy and a rich, fascinating city to discover. 

Below are some wonderful selections for families with younger children, upscale hotels, accommodations for larger families, and hotels close to the airport. 

The hotels offer kid-pleasing amenities like adventurous, tented bunk beds, family barbecues, indoor saltwater pools, entrance to a water park, and even an in-room pool table. And one hotel invites kids to stay free (with their family, of course).

Resorts Great for Younger Families

We recommend the following resorts fro those with younger children bursting with energy.

Great Wolf Lodge

Many people may know about the Great Wolf Lodge experience. They have resorts across the country, including in Kansas City. 

One of the spectacular amenities here is the indoor water park, a complimentary feature for resort guests. Protected from the elements, it’s available to guests all year. 

The tropical-like temperature of 84 degrees means it will feel like summer, even on the most bone-chilling February day. Other adventures to be had at the Lodge include mini-golf and arcade games.

Adults will appreciate the fitness center. The resort has a range of rooms, the standout being the themed suites. 

The KidKamp Suite has a faux canvas tent enclosing bunk beds. It looks as if a tent was picked up from a favorite camping site and dropped inside the suite, which is sure to thrill kids and possibly make bedtime a little easier for parents. 

Worlds of Fun Village 

The Worlds of Fun Village is located an easy and quick walk from the largest amusement park in the Midwest, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun. 

Guests at the Worlds of Fun Village are eligible for discounted admission to the Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun Amusement parks. Both a pool and hot tub, which is open seasonally, are located in the campground. 

There is a fully stocked store nearby with food, necessities, and souvenirs. The range of accommodations for families includes fully-equipped RV sites, Family Cabins, and Woodside Cottages. 

The cottages include room for six with a bedroom with a full-sized bed, a bunk bed, and a TV. They include linens and towels. The living room has a sofa that converts into a futon bed. Overlooking the woods is the private outdoor deck with two Adirondack chairs and a charcoal grill. Each cottage has central air-conditioning, heat, and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. 

The cabins are set around a serene pond offering privacy and tranquility. Every cabin has room for six people, including one in the bedroom and two futon sofas in the living room. There is also a loft space with enough room for two more people with sleeping bags. An outdoor patio has a charcoal grill and picnic table. Each unit has central air-conditioning, heat, and free high-speed Wi-Fi. Bed linens and towels are also provided. 

Upscale Stays 

If you’re looking for something more on the luxury side, take a look at the options below.

Crossroads Hotel 

This Crossroads Hotel is a mixture of modern and historic with superb amenities. It is a great place for families with older children since it is near the dynamic Crossroads Arts District. 

The District is filled with restaurants, shops, and art galleries to check out. The hotel itself has a gallery with rotating artists and concerts. The walls and light fixtures, furniture, and amenities are often made by local KC artists and artisans. 

There are two restaurants and a seasonal rooftop bar. The Pendergast Suite has room for twelve guests to stay and offers a pool table in the living room for family entertainment. 

The Westin Crown Center

The dazzling lobby of the Westin Crown Center welcomes guests to a hotel that is a great choice for families. It is an upscale stay near prized attractions and bills itself as a “haven of wellness and renewal.” 

The hotel is just a walk away from LEGOLAND. And there is plenty to do on the property itself, which features a pool, hot tub, and fitness center with cardio and tennis.

It features Club-level rooms with a private lounge and complimentary breakfast. The hotel is pet-friendly and smoke-free.

Intercontinental Kansas City

The Intercontinental Kansas City is famous for its attentive and welcoming service, a true asset of a child-friendly hotel. The family plan means children 18 and under stay for free in a parents’ or guardian’s room. The hotel offers guests a pool and a host of other amenities. It is located at Country Club Plaza.

The Plaza itself is fifteen blocks of gorgeous Seville-inspired architecture. There are courtyards and fountains and great family-friendly special events, including music all year. The Plaza is especially noted for its fantastic shopping and dining. 

The Fontaine

The Fontaine could be the perfect hotel if you have older children who would love a sophisticated stay. With Egyptian sheets and sleek decor, the hotel feels very adult in a modern way. It has a rooftop pool and fitness center. 

In winter, they may offer dining in a private, heated luxurious igloo on the rooftop, something a teenage foodie would certainly want to text home about. 

Good for Large Families

The following hotels are especially convenient for larger families, as they offer large rooms or spaces and family-tailored services.

Residence Inn Kansas City/Convention Center 

The Residence Inn Kansas City Downtown / Convention Center offers apartment-style hotel suites. The smoke-free suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, a contemporary design, and plenty of amenities. 

The hotel offers a free complete American breakfast and a complimentary grocery delivery service to stock a full-sized kitchen.

The hotel is pet-friendly. There is a fitness center and an indoor pool. The Kansas City Power & Light District is three blocks away, and a free streetcar will take you to LEGOLAND and the Crossroads Arts District nearby. 

The Hyatt Place Kansas City/Overland Place/Convention Center

The Hyatt Place Kansas City/Overland Place Convention Center is a good choice for larger families. It has a clean and sleek design. It offers free breakfast and all-day dining. 

The dining options include the Breakfast Bar with fresh fruit and hot breakfast entrees and The Market, which has a variety of to-go items, including snacks and salads, delicious pastries, and sweets.

The property has a pool and fitness center. It is pet friendly for dogs, and there is free parking. 

The Museum at Prairiefire, which specializes in fine art, is nearby, and it’s wonderful for older kids. Younger children will enjoy the Kansas City Zoo. Families can take in a game of football at Arrowhead Stadium or shop at Town Center Plaza. 

Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff 

Five miles north of Kansas City is the Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff. Many families are looking for green hotels more than ever – they will be glad to know that this is the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified hotel in Kansas City. The hotel also offers environmentally friendly services and amenities. 

Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff’s well-appointed rooms range from standard rooms to suites. The hotel has an indoor saltwater pool, whirlpool, and fitness center. It is near the Kansas City Power & Light District and Arrowhead Stadium. 

Hampton Inn Kansas City Liberty

The Hampton Inn Kansas City/Liberty hotel is a ”Circle of Excellence” hotel. It is within 15 minutes of Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun amusement parks and 14 miles away from Kansas City. It offers a free hot breakfast. There is an indoor pool and fitness center on the property. The hotel welcomes pets. 

Hampton Inn & Suites Kansas City – Country Club Plaza

The Hampton Inn & Suites Kansas City – Country Club Plaza is under a mile from the Plaza. It offers free hot breakfast, children, and family-friendly activities, a pool, and a fitness center. The parking is free. Pets are allowed, and there is an EV charging station. 

Home2 Suites Kansas City Downtown

The Home2 Suites Kansas City Downtown is located in the dynamic Crossroads Arts District. The Crossroads neighborhood has exciting galleries, restaurants, and shops to explore, which will especially engage families with older kids.

It’s a lesser-priced option, but that doesn’t take from the benefits – families can enjoy an en-suite kitchen and a daily free hot breakfast. There is an indoor pool. Home2 Suites offers pet-friendly rooms. It also has an EV charging station.

Holiday Inn Express Kansas City Downtown

The Holiday Inn Express Kansas City Downtown is a new hotel and is smoke-free, a very important feature for kids or family members with allergies. 

Kids eat free, and for adults, a full breakfast or breakfast buffet is included. There is always complimentary coffee in the lobby and free high-speed internet. A fitness center offers a treadmill, elliptical machine, stationary bicycle, and free weights. It is open 24 hours a day.

Best Western Worlds of Fun Inn & Suites

The Best Western Worlds of Fun Inn and Suites is located a mile from the extensive Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun amusement park. Worlds Of Fun has 235 acres of family rides, thrill rides & waterslides, including seven world-class roller coasters and Oceans of Fun. 

Kids under 17 years of age stay for free. This one is also a smoke-free hotel, and it offers a complimentary breakfast. The fitness room is open 24 hours and has a stationary bike, treadmill, and weights. 

Hotels Near the Airport

Finally, here are the best hotels near the KC airport.

Best Western Plus Kansas City Airport- KCI East

At the newly renovated Best Western Plus Kansas City Airport-KCI East, kids stay free. The hotel offers a complimentary hot breakfast buffet to guests. The kids will enjoy bowling and the heated pool, while the fitness center appeals to adults. Free parking is available, and the hotel is pet friendly. 

Sonesta Kansas City Airport Prairie View 

At the Sonesta Kansas City Airport Prairie View spacious rooms welcome families. A pool is ready for the kids, as is a fitness center. There is free parking. A shuttle ferries guests to and from the airport. And a laundry room is available onsite. The hotel welcomes dogs for a one-time fee which includes a pet bed, bowls, waterproof mats, and dog treats. 

Drury Inns & Suites Kansas City Airport

The Drury Inns & Suites Kansas City Airport offers free breakfast for the entire family. Kids will be able to splash in the indoor/outdoor pool and whirlpool. There is also a 24-hour fitness center. A laundry room is available, too. It is pet friendly, with dogs and cats allowed for a fee.