Downtown Kamloops Hotels: What Is Really Central
Downtown Kamloops is a compact grid of streets on the south bank of the Thompson River, with Victoria Street's restaurants and shops and Riverside Park on the water. Five hotels are listed on this page, but only one is actually downtown: The Thompson Hotel on Victoria Street. The others are a short drive away, from five minutes for the Knights Inn and seven for Accent Inns to fifteen for the South Thompson Inn in the countryside. I say clearly where each one stands, so you can choose between walking to dinner and having more space, a river view or easier highway access.
Kamloops grew where the North and South Thompson rivers meet, in a dry valley framed by open hills in British Columbia's interior. Its downtown sits on the south bank, with Victoria Street's restaurants and shops and Riverside Park along the water, where summer evenings draw locals and visitors. The Trans-Canada Highway and the Coquihalla meet here, so many travellers stop on their way between Vancouver, the Okanagan and the Rockies, while others stay for hiking, river days or skiing at Sun Peaks to the northeast. Most hotels stand along the highways rather than in the centre.
Where to stay
Where each Kamloops hotel really stands
Staying downtown in Kamloops means you can walk to Riverside Park, the riverside paths and the restaurants of Victoria Street, which matters on summer evenings when the city is at its liveliest. Outside the centre, hotels offer more space, easier parking and quick access to the Trans-Canada Highway, but every dinner out becomes a short drive. Since only one hotel here is truly central, the choice is mostly between The Thompson Hotel for walking and the others for a quieter setting, a kitchenette or a riverside escape in the countryside.
The Thompson Hotel is the only address on this page that is truly downtown, and it is my first choice for a stay in the centre. Rated 8.0 from more than twelve hundred reviews, it stands on Victoria Street, a short walk from local restaurants, shops and Riverside Park on the Thompson River. It has an indoor swimming pool, a hot tub and two on-site restaurants, so evenings work well even in winter. Kamloops Airport is about fifteen minutes away by car, which makes it practical for arrivals by plane, and you can leave the car parked once you have checked in.
Two hotels sit a few minutes by car from downtown. The Knights Inn Kamloops, rated 7.4, is five minutes from the centre and twenty from the airport, with kitchenettes that include a microwave and refrigerator, free parking, a 24-hour front desk and pet-friendly rooms, a useful setup for a longer stay. Accent Inns Kamloops, rated 8.3, is a seven-minute drive from downtown, with a seasonal outdoor pool, spa and wellness facilities and a restaurant serving all meals, and it also accepts pets. Both work if you are happy to drive in for dinner and want more space or a lower-key setting.
For a different kind of stay, the South Thompson Inn and Conference Centre sits on fifty-five acres of countryside along the South Thompson River, about fifteen minutes from the city. Rated 8.3 from more than five hundred reviews, it has a year-round hot tub with river views, a seasonal outdoor pool, rooms facing the mountains, the garden or the river, and mountain bike and hiking trails that start on the property. It is pet friendly as well. It is not a downtown hotel in any sense, but it suits travellers who prefer a quiet riverside setting and are willing to drive into Kamloops for restaurants.
The Super 8 by Wyndham Kamloops On The Hill, rated 7.9 from more than a thousand reviews, is a practical base off the Trans-Canada Highway rather than a central one. It serves a daily continental breakfast and has a fitness centre, rooms with a refrigerator and coffee maker, parking and pet-friendly policies. It suits a road trip stop between Vancouver and the Rockies, when highway access matters more than walking to restaurants. If your plans revolve around downtown Kamloops itself, The Thompson Hotel remains the only address here that puts Victoria Street and the river within easy walking distance.
A traveler's takeFor a stay where you walk to dinner and the river, I would book The Thompson Hotel without hesitation: it is the only truly downtown hotel here, with an indoor pool and two restaurants. If you prefer a quiet setting, I recommend the South Thompson Inn for its riverside hot tub and trails. For a road trip stop with breakfast, the Super 8 off the Trans-Canada is my practical pick.
4.2South Thompson Inn & Conference Centre
Downtown · 520 reviewsCountryside retreat with river-view hot tub and direct trail access
Why guests love itSouth Thompson Inn sits on 55 acres of countryside about 15 minutes from central Kamloops, and that space is the point for a family. Mountain bike and hiking trails start from the property, there is a seasonal outdoor pool for summer and a hot tub with river views all year. Rooms look onto the mountains, the gardens or the river, and pets are accepted. I would ask for a river-view room and plan at least two nights.
4.2Accent Inns Kamloops
Downtown · 271 reviewsPet-friendly hotel with seasonal pool and ski-in/ski-out access near downtown Kamloops
Why guests love itAccent Inns Kamloops is a pet-friendly hotel about a seven-minute drive from downtown Kamloops. In summer, the seasonal outdoor pool is the highlight for children, and the on-site restaurant serves every meal, which keeps days simple with a family. There are also spa and wellness facilities and free Wi-Fi in every room. It is a city hotel, so plan on driving to any outdoor activity. The 8.3 score from 271 reviews is solid.
4.0The Thompson Hotel
Downtown · 1226 reviewsDowntown Kamloops hotel with indoor pool, hot tub, and two restaurants
Why guests love itThe Thompson Hotel is a three-star hotel on Victoria Street in downtown Kamloops, and I would recommend it to families who want an indoor pool and a short walk to dinner. The pool and hot tub are joined by two on-site restaurants, and local dining, shopping and Riverside Park are a short walk away. Pets are welcome. The airport is a fifteen-minute drive.
4.0Super 8 by Wyndham Kamloops On The Hill
Downtown · 1034 reviewsHighway-side hotel with breakfast, fitness centre, and pet-friendly rooms
Why guests love itSuper 8 by Wyndham Kamloops On The Hill is built for road trips along the Trans-Canada Highway. Families can pull in, park and be in the room quickly, and the daily continental breakfast gets everyone back on the road without a detour. Rooms have a refrigerator for drinks and snacks, a coffee maker and cable TV, and WiFi is free. Pets are allowed and there is a small fitness centre. A score of 7.9 from 1,034 reviews reflects simple, functional comfort.
3.7Knights Inn Kamloops
Downtown · 607 reviewsPet-friendly hotel with kitchenettes, close to downtown Kamloops
Why guests love itKnights Inn Kamloops is five minutes from downtown Kamloops and 20 minutes from Kamloops Airport, a simple base for families on a budget-minded trip. Every room has a kitchenette with a microwave and refrigerator, so breakfasts and light dinners can be made in the room. Parking is free, WiFi and cable TV are included, and the front desk is open 24 hours for late arrivals. Pets are welcome. A guest score of 7.4 from 607 reviews points to basic comfort.
Local tips
- 1Book The Thompson Hotel on Victoria Street to walk to restaurants, shops and Riverside Park.
- 2Choose the Knights Inn, five minutes from downtown, for a kitchenette and free parking on a longer stay.
- 3Pick Accent Inns for a seasonal outdoor pool and a spa, seven minutes by car from the centre.
- 4Stay at the South Thompson Inn for a riverside hot tub and trails, accepting a fifteen-minute drive to town.
- 5Use the Super 8 off the Trans-Canada Highway for a road trip stop with breakfast included.
- 6Walk along Riverside Park on a summer evening, a few minutes on foot from The Thompson Hotel.