---
title: "Sonesta Essential Des Moines, Des Moines (IA)"
description: "Sonesta Essential Des Moines in Des Moines (IA): rated 7.6 by guests, 2-star. Amenities, location and nearby alternatives compared side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/sonesta-essential-des-moines-des-moines-ia/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-01
---

Hotel · ★★ · Sonesta
# Sonesta Essential Des Moines

Johnston, Des Moines (IA), United States

7.6 ·  Good 62 reviews ·  #29 #29 of 35 in Des Moines (IA) ·  3.5/5 on Google, 246 reviews ·  2.2 Location score
## About Sonesta Essential Des Moines

Sonesta Essential Des Moines is a hotel in Johnston, Des Moines (IA), United States. It holds a 2-star rating. Guests rate it 7.6 out of 10 across 62 reviews. Facilities include free breakfast, free parking, free wi-fi, pets allowed. It is 8.8 km from the centre of Des Moines (IA). The nearest airport, Des Moines International Airport (DSM), is 13 km away.

- **Type:** Hotel

- **Star rating:** ★★

- **Check-in from:** 15:00

- **Check-out until:** 11:00

- **Rooms:** 139

- **Chain:** Sonesta

- **Formerly:** Econo Lodge Inn & Suites

- **Pets:** Pets allowed

- **Other stays within 500 m:** 4

[Hotel prices in Des Moines (IA) by month](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/des-moines-ia/prices/)

4755 Merle Hay Rd [sonesta.com](https://www.sonesta.com/sonesta-essential/ia/des-moines/sonesta-essential-des-moines)

## Live prices around Sonesta Essential Des Moines

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## How Sonesta Essential Des Moines scores

Better rated than 17% of hotels in Des Moines (IA)

-   Guest rating **7.6**
-   Location **2.2**

Des Moines (IA) average

## Rating on Google

3.5/5

246 Google reviews

From the property’s public Google Maps listing. It is shown for reference and is not part of the StayVersus score.

## Amenities

Free breakfastFree parkingFree Wi-FiPets allowed

### Food & drink

-   Free breakfast

### Internet

-   Free Wi-Fi

### Parking & transport

-   Free parking

### Services

-   Laundry

### In the rooms

-   Air conditioning

### Policies

-   Pets allowed

### Business

-   Meeting rooms

Based on the property listing at our booking partner.

## Location

- **Location score:** **2.2**/10

- **Walk grade:** **35**/100 Car recommended

- **Restaurants & cafés within 500 m:** **11**

- **Sights within 1 km:** **0**

<table class="dist" data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7=""><tbody data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7=""><tr data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7=""><th scope="row" data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">Nearest airport<span data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">Des Moines International Airport (DSM)</span></th><td class="num" data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7=""><b data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">13 km</b><span data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">29 min drive</span></td></tr><tr data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7=""><th scope="row" data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">Distance to the centre<span data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">Des Moines (IA)</span></th><td class="num" data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7=""><b data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">8.8 km</b><span data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">20 min drive</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

### Everyday places nearby

<table class="dist" data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7=""><tbody data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7=""><tr data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7=""><th scope="row" data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">Food shop<span data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">Price Chopper</span></th><td class="num" data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7=""><b data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">1.1 km</b><span data-astro-cid-s3y4nmt7="">17 min walk</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Lists this hotel is on

-   [Hotels with free parking in Des Moines (IA)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/des-moines-ia/free-parking/)
-   [Hotels with free breakfast in Des Moines (IA)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/des-moines-ia/breakfast/)

### Compare

## Compare Sonesta Essential Des Moines with nearby hotels

Similar hotels within 3 km. Open a match-up to see where each one wins.

-   [Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Des Moines-Northwest By IHG](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/holiday-inn-hotel-suites-des-moines-northwest-by-ihg-des-moines-ia/) Hotel ★★★ 310 m away
    
    7.0 ·  [Compare](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/holiday-inn-hotel-suites-des-moines-northwest-by-ihg-des-moines-ia-vs-sonesta-essential-des-moines-des-moines-ia/)
-   [Quality Inn & Suites Des Moines - Merle Hay Road](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/quality-inn-suites-des-moines-merle-hay-road-des-moines-ia/) Hotel ★★½ 410 m away
    
    8.7 ·  [Compare](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/quality-inn-suites-des-moines-merle-hay-road-des-moines-ia-vs-sonesta-essential-des-moines-des-moines-ia/)
-   [Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ramada-tropics-resort-conf-center-by-wyndham-des-moines-des-moines-ia/) Hotel ★★★ 450 m away
    
    7.2 ·  [Compare](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ramada-tropics-resort-conf-center-by-wyndham-des-moines-des-moines-ia-vs-sonesta-essential-des-moines-des-moines-ia/)
-   [AmericInn by Wyndham Johnston Des Moines](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/americinn-by-wyndham-johnston-des-moines-des-moines-ia/) Hotel ★★½ 770 m away
    
    8.5 ·  [Compare](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/americinn-by-wyndham-johnston-des-moines-des-moines-ia-vs-sonesta-essential-des-moines-des-moines-ia/)

## Questions about Sonesta Essential Des Moines

### How do guests rate Sonesta Essential Des Moines?

Sonesta Essential Des Moines has a guest rating of 7.6 out of 10 from 62 reviews, which is better than 17% of rated hotels in Des Moines (IA).

### What are the check-in and check-out times at Sonesta Essential Des Moines?

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out is until 11:00.

### Does Sonesta Essential Des Moines include breakfast?

The listing mentions free breakfast. Check the room you book to confirm it is included.

### Is there parking at Sonesta Essential Des Moines?

Yes, the listing mentions free parking.

### How far is Sonesta Essential Des Moines from the airport?

The nearest airport, Des Moines International Airport (DSM), is 13 km away in a straight line.

### What was Sonesta Essential Des Moines called before?

Sonesta Essential Des Moines was previously known as Econo Lodge Inn & Suites.

### How many rooms does Sonesta Essential Des Moines have?

Sonesta Essential Des Moines has 139 rooms.

### Are pets allowed at Sonesta Essential Des Moines?

The listing says pets are allowed. Contact the property for size limits and fees.

### Is there a supermarket or food shop near Sonesta Essential Des Moines?

Yes: Price Chopper, about 1.1 km away (17 min walk).

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/sonesta-essential-des-moines-des-moines-ia/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/