Kingston Hotels With an Indoor Pool
Kingston winters run from December to March on the shore of Lake Ontario, so an indoor pool earns its place in the choice of hotel. Ten hotels on this page list one. Only two are near the water: the Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront, a five-minute walk from the 1000 Islands cruise docks and Slush Puppie Place, and the Residence Inn by Marriott Kingston Water's Edge, whose indoor pool is saltwater. The others are away from the water, several in the west end or near Highway 401, about 5 km from the historic centre, led by the Hampton Inn by Hilton Kingston and the Candlewood Suites Kingston West, both rated 8.8.
Kingston sits at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, where the lake meets the St. Lawrence River and the Rideau Canal. It was the first capital of the Province of Canada, and its limestone downtown, Fort Henry and the Royal Military College give it a strong historic character. Queen's University keeps the centre busy during the academic year, while Highway 401 runs along the northern edge of the city, where many of the hotels on this page stand.
Choosing between waterfront and Highway 401 pools
I would choose a Kingston pool hotel by where the days will be spent. For walks to City Hall, the market and the cruise docks, the two waterfront hotels avoid driving. For a road trip, a hockey tournament or a business stay in the west end, the Highway 401 hotels add free parking and breakfast, and some, such as the Candlewood Suites, accept pets and have kitchenettes.
The Residence Inn by Marriott Kingston Water's Edge is the pool hotel I would pick for a lakeside stay. It is an all-suite hotel on Lake Ontario, 850 metres from Queen's University, with a saltwater indoor pool, complimentary breakfast and a full kitchen in every suite. Guests rate it 8.6 from 447 reviews. The Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront is the other central option: a five-minute walk from the waterfront, Slush Puppie Place and the 1000 Islands cruises, with an indoor pool, a restaurant whose seasonal patio overlooks Lake Ontario, and a small fridge and microwave in the rooms. Its score is lower, 7.9 from 960 reviews.
Among the hotels away from the water, the Hampton Inn by Hilton Kingston is the most reviewed, with 1,835 reviews averaging 8.8. It combines an indoor pool with a fitness centre, a daily buffet breakfast and free on-site parking, which makes it a dependable base for a family on the road. The Holiday Inn Express - Kingston West scores 8.7 and offers the same mix: an indoor pool, a fitness centre, a buffet breakfast and free parking. The Holiday Inn Express Kingston Central, about 5 km from the historic centre, adds an outdoor patio and newly renovated rooms and suites, and scores 8.4.
For longer stays or travel with a dog, two west end hotels stand out. The Candlewood Suites Kingston West has spacious rooms with kitchenettes, an indoor pool and a fitness centre, accepts pets and scores 8.8, although from only 92 reviews. The Home2 Suites by Hilton Kingston is pet-friendly too, with an indoor pool, a fitness centre, a garden and on-site parking, and scores 8.5 from 434 reviews. The Days Inn by Wyndham Kingston, 4.5 km from Queen's University, also accepts pets and has an indoor pool, with a microwave and a refrigerator in each room, but a lower score of 7.7.
Two more options complete the list. The Courtyard by Marriott Kingston Highway 401, about 5 km from the city centre, scores 8.7 and has an indoor pool, a restaurant with a bar, a gym and a business centre, with a microwave and a refrigerator in every room, a good fit for a business trip with an evening swim. The Comfort Suites Kingston Central, 5 km from Slush Puppie Place, once called the K-Rock Centre, and from Queen's University, has an indoor pool and a fitness centre and scores 7.8. From all these hotels, downtown Kingston and Fort Henry are a short drive away.
A traveler's takeFor a winter weekend in Kingston, I recommend the Residence Inn by Marriott Kingston Water's Edge: a saltwater indoor pool, a full kitchen in each suite and Lake Ontario at the door, 850 metres from Queen's University. Kingston's waterfront path runs past City Hall, built in the 1840s when the city was capital of the Province of Canada, and makes an easy walk before a swim. For a road trip, I would book the Hampton Inn by Hilton Kingston.
4.4Hampton Inn By Hilton Kingston
Indoor Pool · 1835 reviewsComfortable rooms with an indoor pool and daily buffet breakfast in Kingston
Why guests love itHampton Inn Kingston keeps family stays simple: a buffet breakfast is served every day, so mornings start without a search for a café. The indoor swimming pool gives children a reliable activity in any season, and parents can use the fitness centre. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi, work desks and flat-screen TVs. Free on-site parking and an EV charging station suit families exploring Kingston and the Thousand Islands by car.
4.4Candlewood Suites - Kingston West by IHG
Indoor Pool · 92 reviewsSpacious rooms with kitchenettes and an indoor pool in Kingston
Why guests love itSpacious air-conditioned rooms with kitchenettes let a family handle breakfast and snacks alone, and an indoor swimming pool gives children an evening activity at Candlewood Suites Kingston West. A fitness centre is on site and pets are welcome. One caution: parking is paid and off site, so check the arrangement before arriving by car. Suites are built for longer stays.
4.4Holiday Inn Express - Kingston West by IHG
Indoor Pool · 468 reviewsPet-friendly hotel with an indoor pool and fitness centre in Kingston
Why guests love itA daily buffet breakfast and an indoor swimming pool are the two features I would underline for families at the Holiday Inn Express - Kingston West. Mornings start without a restaurant search, and the pool gives children an outlet after a day of sightseeing in Kingston. Free private parking suits a road trip, pets are welcome, and rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms. A fitness centre is available for parents. Guests rate the hotel 8.7 across 468 reviews.
4.4Courtyard by Marriott Kingston Highway 401
Indoor Pool · 288 reviewsIndoor pool and restaurant 5 km from Kingston city centre
Why guests love itFor families on the Toronto to Montreal drive, this Courtyard is a calm overnight stop 5 km from central Kingston. Every room has a microwave and refrigerator, so breakfast and bedtime snacks are easy, and the indoor swimming pool gives children a reward after hours in the car. The restaurant and bar save a trip out for dinner. Downtown Kingston, with its waterfront and Fort Henry across the harbour, is a short drive away for a morning of sightseeing.
4.3Residence Inn by Marriott Kingston Water's Edge
Indoor Pool · 447 reviewsLakefront suites with full kitchens and a saltwater indoor pool
Why guests love itEvery suite at the Residence Inn by Marriott Kingston Water's Edge has a full kitchen, which I find the most useful feature for families staying several nights. The hotel sits on Lake Ontario, 850 metres from Queen's University, and a complimentary breakfast is served daily. The saltwater indoor pool gives children a year-round swim, and parents can use the fitness centre. It suits longer family trips to Kingston well. Guests rate it 8.6 across 447 reviews.
4.3Home2 Suites By Hilton Kingston
Indoor Pool · 434 reviewsPet-friendly hotel with an indoor pool and fitness centre near Kingston's attractions
Why guests love itHome2 Suites by Hilton Kingston gives families an indoor swimming pool for downtime and a garden for some fresh air between outings. Fort Henry, one of Kingston's best-known family visits, is a short drive away, as is Queen's University for families visiting a student. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi, pets are welcome, and private parking is on site. With an 8.5 rating across 434 reviews, I would book it as a calm, practical base for a Kingston family weekend.
4.2Holiday Inn Express Kingston Central by IHG
Indoor Pool · 651 reviewsRenovated rooms with an indoor pool and complimentary breakfast near downtown Kingston
Why guests love itFor a family road trip through Kingston, I would pick this Holiday Inn Express for its practical details. The deluxe breakfast is included, parking is free, and every room has a refrigerator, a microwave and a Keurig coffee station, which simplifies meals with children. The indoor pool and the outdoor patio give everyone room to relax after a day out. The historic downtown is about 5 km away, so a car makes visits to the waterfront and Fort Henry much easier.
4.0Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront by IHG
Indoor Pool · 960 reviewsWaterfront access, indoor pool, and a seasonal patio overlooking Lake Ontario
Why guests love itI like this Holiday Inn for families who want to explore Kingston on foot. The waterfront, Slush Puppie Place and the 1000 Island Cruises departures are all about a five-minute walk away, so a harbour stroll or a boat trip needs no car. Back at the hotel, the indoor pool works in any season, and rooms with a small fridge and microwave make simple breakfasts and snacks easy. In summer, the restaurant patio looks out over Lake Ontario.
3.9Comfort Suites Kingston Central
Indoor Pool · 325 reviewsComfortable stays with an indoor pool near Kingston's attractions
Why guests love itComfort Suites Kingston Central gives families an indoor pool, which is a dependable evening activity whatever the season, and air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen TVs. A fitness centre is on site and pets are accepted. The hotel is about 5 km from the K-Rock Centre and Queen's University, so it suits families visiting students or attending events, with a short drive into town. I would choose it for a practical stay rather than a downtown experience.
3.9Days Inn by Wyndham Kingston
Indoor Pool · 1357 reviewsPet-friendly hotel with an indoor pool near Queen's University
Why guests love itDays Inn by Wyndham Kingston is a three-star hotel in Kingston, Ontario, with an indoor pool and a pet-friendly policy, so I would recommend it to families who travel with a dog all year. Rooms have free WiFi, a microwave, a refrigerator and coffee facilities, which helps with children. An on-site lounge is available. Queen's University is 4.5 km away, so I would use it as a car-based stay.
Local tips
- 1Book the Residence Inn Water's Edge for a saltwater indoor pool on Lake Ontario and a full kitchen in every suite.
- 2For a walk to the 1000 Islands cruises, the Holiday Inn Kingston - Waterfront is the central pool hotel.
- 3The Hampton Inn by Hilton Kingston and the Holiday Inn Express - Kingston West both include breakfast and free parking.
- 4Travelling with a dog? The Candlewood Suites, the Home2 Suites and the Days Inn accept pets and have indoor pools.
- 5Most pool hotels here are about 5 km from the historic centre: plan on a car or a taxi for downtown evenings.
- 6The Courtyard Highway 401 adds a restaurant and bar to its pool, useful after a late arrival.