Mountain-Lodge Style Hotels in Kamloops, British Columbia
Kamloops sits in British Columbia's dry interior, where hills and river valleys frame the city, so a mountain-lodge stay here means mountain views and a hot soak, not a log cabin. Four published hotels carry the tag. Three of them, the Vista Inn, the Riverland Inn & Suites and the Hampton Inn by Hilton, list mountain views, and the fourth, the Holiday Inn Express, is a roadside base off Highway 1. I rank them by what each gives after a day outdoors: pools, hot tubs, breakfast and a room that suits a family. None is a lodge in the strict sense, and I say so where it matters.
Kamloops is a river city in British Columbia's dry interior, built where the North and South Thompson rivers meet, with open hills around it. It is practical and outdoors-minded, a place people pass through on Highway 1 and many stay in to hike, ski or cycle. The weather is drier than on the coast, so hot tubs and pools are the usual end to an active day.
Where to stay
Mountain views and hot tubs in Kamloops
I choose this style of stay in Kamloops for hiking days, road trips through the interior and winter trips where gear needs a home. The hotels cover different needs: the Hampton Inn by Hilton has ski storage and an indoor pool with a water slide, the Riverland Inn & Suites sits next to the South Thompson River with an indoor pool and a hot tub, and the Vista Inn gives balconies with mountain views. They are practical bases, and I treat them as that.
The Hampton Inn by Hilton Kamloops is the one I would book first, with an 8.4 across 777 reviews. Its listing gives mountain views, an indoor pool with a water slide, a hot tub and ski storage, which is the most complete set for a family that skis or hikes. Rooms have cable TV, free Wi-Fi and coffee makers, and the hotel sits nine miles from Kamloops Airport. That mix of a pool for children, a hot tub for adults and a place to leave gear makes it the best fit for the mountain-lodge idea on this page.
The Riverland Inn & Suites is the pick for a stay by the water. This waterfront property sits next to the South Thompson River and offers mountain views, an indoor pool and a hot tub. Rooms include a 32-inch flat-screen cable TV, free WiFi and a seating area, and barbecue facilities are open to guests, which suits a group that wants to cook outdoors. Guests give it 7.8 across 850 reviews. I would choose it for a summer or early autumn trip, when a riverside evening with a barbecue is part of the point.
The Vista Inn is the choice for families who want space and a balcony. Its family rooms have private bathrooms, air-conditioning, balconies and mountain views, and the listing mentions an on-site restaurant serving Indian cuisine, a sun terrace and a seasonal outdoor swimming pool. It stands 11 km from Kamloops Airport and a short walk from Thompson Rivers University. Guests give it 7.9 across 1,357 reviews, the largest sample on this page. The outdoor pool is seasonal, so I would not count on it in winter, and I would ask about the sun terrace in colder months.
The Holiday Inn Express Kamloops by IHG is the simplest base, off Highway 1, and it earns its place through the basics done well. It has an indoor pool, a hot tub and a fitness centre, and each room has free WiFi, cable TV, a mini-refrigerator and a coffee machine. A daily buffet breakfast is provided and the hotel is pet-friendly. Guests give it 8.3 across 204 reviews, a smaller sample than the others. I would pick it for a road-trip night where easy highway access matters more than a view.
A traveler's takeIf I were choosing for a family, I would book the Hampton Inn by Hilton Kamloops for its mountain views, indoor pool with a water slide, hot tub and ski storage. For a quieter stay by the river, I would pick the Riverland Inn & Suites, next to the South Thompson River with an indoor pool, a hot tub and barbecue facilities. I would use the Holiday Inn Express only as a simple highway stop, and I would not expect a log lodge from any of the four.
4.2Hampton Inn by Hilton Kamloops
Mountain Lodge · 777 reviewsMountain views, indoor pool with water slide, and ski storage in Kamloops
Why guests love itHampton Inn by Hilton Kamloops gives children an indoor pool with a water slide and gives parents a hot tub and mountain views. In winter, the ski storage is handy for a family heading to the slopes, and in summer the pool still earns its keep after a hot day. Rooms have cable TV, free Wi-Fi and a coffee maker. Kamloops Airport is nine miles away. With an 8.4 rating across 777 reviews, I would book it as a dependable year-round family base.
4.2Holiday Inn Express Kamloops by IHG
Mountain Lodge · 204 reviewsHighway 1 access with an indoor pool, hot tub, and pet-friendly rooms
Why guests love itRight off Highway 1, this Holiday Inn Express in Kamloops is easy to reach at the end of a long day in the car. The indoor pool and hot tub give children a way to burn off energy, every room has a mini-refrigerator and a coffee machine, and the daily buffet breakfast is included. Pets are accepted. I would choose it for a road-trip night rather than a stay in downtown Kamloops.
4.0The Vista Inn
Mountain Lodge · 1357 reviewsFamily rooms with mountain views, a seasonal pool, and Indian dining
Why guests love itThe Vista Inn in Kamloops is a three-star hotel with family rooms, and I would recommend it to families who want space and a seasonal pool. Rooms have private bathrooms, air-conditioning, balconies and mountain views. The seasonal outdoor swimming pool and the sun terrace suit summer visits, and the on-site restaurant serves Indian cuisine. Thompson Rivers University is a short walk away, and the airport is 11 km.
3.9Riverland Inn & Suites
Mountain Lodge · 850 reviewsWaterfront Kamloops stay with mountain views and an indoor pool
Why guests love itRiverland Inn & Suites sits on the South Thompson River in Kamloops, with mountain views that make the setting feel more relaxed than a highway stop. The indoor pool and hot tub give children an easy evening activity, and the barbecue facilities let families cook dinner outside in good weather. Rooms have a seating area, a 32-inch flat-screen cable TV and free WiFi. A guest score of 7.8 from 850 reviews suggests a pleasant, if simple, stay.
Local tips
- 1Choose the Hampton Inn by Hilton Kamloops for a ski or hiking trip: it lists ski storage, mountain views, an indoor pool with a water slide and a hot tub.
- 2Book the Riverland Inn & Suites for a summer evening: it sits next to the South Thompson River and offers barbecue facilities to guests.
- 3Do not count on the Vista Inn's outdoor pool in winter, because it is described as seasonal; the other three hotels list indoor pools.
- 4Use the Holiday Inn Express Kamloops for a simple highway night: it sits off Highway 1 and serves a daily buffet breakfast.
- 5Ask for a room with mountain views when you book: the Vista Inn, the Riverland Inn & Suites and the Hampton Inn by Hilton all list them.
- 6Read the Holiday Inn Express score of 8.3 as less certain than the others, since it rests on 204 reviews against 777 to 1,357 elsewhere.