Days Inn Thermopolis Hotel Review – Thermopolis, Wyoming

UPDATE: This hotel is no longer a Days Inn — it’s now the Hot Springs Hotel and Spa and is under renovation. I hope the new owners make a lot of improvements — this is a really great location and town! I will leave this post up so anyone who’s interested can see how this hotel used to be when I stayed in June 2020.

The Days Inn Thermopolis hotel has an amazing location right inside of Hot Springs State Park. I stayed at the Days Inn Thermopolis for one night during a road trip with my dog. Here is my review of the Days Inn Thermopolis hotel.

The Days Inn Thermopolis is true Wyoming. If you are offended by guns and dead animals, stay elsewhere. The lobby is filled to the brim with feats of taxidermy from hunters all over the world. Gun cabinets show off classic firearms. Walls are covered in framed photos of brawny, shirtless men proudly showing off their kill. You cannot get away from it; even the restaurant is decorated with hides, antlers and big game trophies. (The restaurant is called the Safari Club for crying out loud. If you walk in to a place called the SAFARI CLUB, you should know what you’re getting into!)

Related: Speaking of safaris, if you’re looking to plan a safari, check out my East Africa safari planning post!

Details

Location

115 E Park Street
Thermopolis, Wyoming

The Days Inn Thermopolis hotel is located in the Hot Springs State Park. The state park has free admission.

Price

I chose the Days Inn Thermopolis for a few reasons: Price (was cheaper than the Best Western across the street by a lot), they’re dog friendly and it was a good stopping point while en route to my destination – Grand Teton National Park. I paid just over $100 for a one night stay in June here – peak tourist season.

Nearby attractions

The main attraction is Hot Springs State Park, where you can swim and soak in a number of natural mineral waters. Additionally, you can view the hot spring thermal features in the park, walk over a suspension bridge, and take a drive up the hill to see some bison. I’ve visited Hot Springs State Park in Wyoming many times and I really love it.

Rooms

Rooms are in desperate need for an update. While the room was clean and the bed was comfy, it was dated. The bathroom was straight out of the early 90s, with ugly blue tiles and a wild west wallpaper border. Seriously – when was the last time you saw a wallpaper border?

Nothing was inherently wrong with the room. It was just old. I had a first floor room. The first floor rooms are motor-court style, so you can park right outside your door. If you’re on the second floor, be aware that there are no elevators in this hotel.

Amenities and Dining

The Days Inn Thermopolis has a pool and a hot tub – both are spring-fed. I was tempted to use it, but I was just too tired from my drive, so I skipped it. Honestly, it didn’t look very inviting. If you want to soak in a hot spring, the free state bathhouse just down the road is much, much better.

I ate dinner at the Safari Club and thought it was very good. They have a decent sized menu – I ordered a chicken wrap sandwich. Again, if you don’t like taxidermy, eat elsewhere because fish, fowl and antlers watch over you as you dine.

The fitness center is amazing. Not in the, “Wow! This is a state-of-the-art gym with all the amenities!” …..

…No, not quite. If you like ’90s nostalgia, you will love the Days Inn Thermopolis gym. The ancient fitness equipment had me awestruck. It was like a gym museum with fitness artifacts from days gone by.

The gym was pretty big. I was the only one using it so I tried out a bunch of equipment. All of the fitness center equipment was in working condition and I did get a decent workout.

Days Inn Thermopolis – Final Thoughts

Pros:
Great location, within walking distance to the hot springs area.
Dog friendly
Restaurant isn’t too bad

Cons:
Old, shabby and just plain worn out.
Fitness Center is decades old.

Would I stay here again? Probably not. I’m not a fan of the Wyndham brand/Days Inn motels at all. I would’ve preferred the Best Western across the street, as I use their reward program. However, it worked for one night and when you’re traveling with a dog, you have to take what you can get!