Holiday Inn Express Grants

The free hot breakfast is a meaningful selling point for road-trippers and the Grants location runs the standard Express Start menu: scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, cinnamon rolls, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal, cold cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit, juice, coffee, and hot chocolate. The hotel adds a make-your-own waffle station, a pancake machine, and a small selection of New Mexican items (green chile sauce, breakfast burritos, sometimes huevos rancheros components) reflecting the regional location. Breakfast runs 6am to 9:30am weekdays, slightly extended on weekends.

The indoor pool is heated and open from 6am to 10pm. The pool room is small but well-maintained; children must be supervised. The adjacent fitness room offers two treadmills, two ellipticals, a stationary bike, a multi-station weight machine, free weights, and yoga mats — adequate for travelers maintaining a workout routine. Both pool and gym are typically uncrowded except in the early evening.

Other amenities include a 24-hour business center (two computers, free printing, fax), a guest laundry room ($2 wash, $2 dry), a small lobby seating area with a fireplace, and a sundries shop with snacks, drinks, and travel essentials. The front desk is staffed 24 hours; check-in is 3pm, check-out is 11am, and the front desk is generous with early arrivals if rooms are available.

Rooms are clean, modern, and comfortable. Beds are firm-medium with quality linens; pillows are standard hypoallergenic. Sound insulation is decent — interior-facing rooms are quiet, street-facing rooms on the east side can catch some Route 66 and Interstate 40 noise depending on wind direction. Ask for a west-facing or interior room if you're a light sleeper. Air conditioning units are PTAC wall-mounted; they cycle audibly but cool effectively.

Bathrooms are tiled, well-lit, and have decent water pressure. Hot water is reliable. Towels are mid-grade hotel quality. Toiletries are bulk dispenser shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. The mini-fridge fits a 12-pack of soda or a small grocery bag; the microwave is full-size. Wi-Fi is free and adequate for streaming video and video calls.

Suites with a separate living area and pull-out sofa are available at slightly higher rates and work well for families of four. Connecting rooms can be requested at booking. Accessible rooms feature roll-in showers, grab bars, and lower fixtures; reserve in advance. Smoking is prohibited throughout the hotel; violation incurs a $250 cleaning fee.

Located at 1496 East Santa Fe Avenue, immediately south of Interstate 40 exit 85. From eastbound I-40, take exit 85 (Grants / Santa Fe Avenue), turn right at the bottom of the ramp, and the hotel is on the right within 200 yards. From westbound I-40, take exit 85, turn left, cross under the interstate, and turn right onto the access road. Free parking is plentiful in the hotel lot; pull-through spaces accommodate RVs with tow trailers.

Best season is year-round; Grants does not have significant high or low season because the local economy depends primarily on Interstate 40 transit traffic. Rates rise modestly during summer weekends and during the Mount Taylor Winter Quadrathlon in mid-February. Book directly through the IHG website for the best rates and to ensure IHG Rewards points; third-party sites sometimes offer marginal discounts but waive points eligibility.

Pair an overnight at Holiday Inn Express Grants with the New Mexico Mining Museum (10-minute drive west to downtown), El Malpais National Monument (visitor center 5 minutes away), Mount Taylor (45-minute drive to trailhead), and a Southwest Grill dinner (5 minutes east on Santa Fe Avenue). Walking distance to Denny's, a Phillips 66 gas station, and several fast-food options. If you arrive late and need only a clean, modern, reliable bed before continuing west, this is the answer.