Name: Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront by IHG
Address: 701 West First Street, Owensboro, Kentucky, United States of America, Owensboro, Kentucky, US
Price range: $115–$603 per night
Rating: 9.18

What guests think

Across reviews, Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront by IHG stands out for its scenic riverfront setting and walkable access to downtown and the convention center, frequently praised staff, and clean, comfortable rooms, with many guests highlighting balconies and relaxing views.

Amenities like the on-site restaurant/bar, pool, and outdoor firepits are appreciated. Several reviews note event-related noise and parking shortages, especially during concerts or festivals. Dining feedback is mixed: some enjoyed meals, but breakfast was often cold or limited, staffing stretched, and the restaurant occasionally closed or short on ingredients. Best for travelers who prioritize riverfront access and convenience over absolute quiet.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

On-site pool, bar/restaurant, and riverfront outdoor seating with firepits are appreciated. Parking can be difficult during busy events.

Related guest reviews

10

Billy

Mar 3, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

It was great had outside seating with firepit

10

Greg

May 16, 2023

·

Stayed 5 nights

The calming views of the barges on the river. The manicured lawn and walking path. Lots of seating around the two firepits. A nicely stocked bar. A short walk to the Convention Center and Blue Grass venue. And the staff is so willing to make our stay enjoyable!

4

John

Jul 23, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Nice hotel , but beware on Friday night they have a concert behind the hotel. It was extremely loud being under my windows. Also, attendees took up the entire parking lot. I came back from dinner with no where to park. Finally had to park in the lobby turnaround. Man at the front desk was rude and could have cared less even though I was a paying customer. Very unorganized. I will not stay there on a weekend again. Being sleep deprived I had to stop driving home and get a room and rest.

8

Marion

Jun 13, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Liked riverfront view, didn’t like lack of adequate parking during weekend events. Didn’t like no free breakfast

10

Greg

May 27, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The building and grounds are well kept and the staff is helpful and friendly.

10

Brittney

Mar 19, 2023

·

We stayed at the hotel for my daughter’s birthday, she had never stayed in a hotel and she was beyond thrilled. This was my first time staying in a Holiday Inn. We chose a double queen suite with a balcony facing the river which was a great view. Room was comfy and very clean, everything worked as it should. The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly our entire stay, even as busy as they were with a bluegrass convention and I believe also a cheerleading competition. Our group had dinner in the Burger Theory restaurant in the hotel. The food was great, the service was perfect even though they were extremely busy. With the Bluegrass musicians playing throughout the hotel it was a very festive vibe. Also our room was very soundproof, musicians playing throughout our floor could only be heard when we stepped into the hall so it felt very private when we were ready to unwind from the day. The heated pool was excellent, it was well maintained and plenty of clean towels. My daughter and her friend had a blast swimming. We also used the gym which was handy, and also very clean and well kept. Everyone had a really great time, and we are definitely planning to stay again in the future. One of the most positive hotel experiences I’ve had in a long time. Cannot speak highly enough for the staff here. Front desk, housekeeping, restaurant staff and everyone we interacted with were awesome. :)

8

Marianne

May 2, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Considering there was a convention going on it was really quiet at night. I enjoy the rooms. The breakfast wasn’t that great and the staff there didn’t even say hello or ask if I wanted water. They were often out of items on the buffet. The gym was dark and musty but I had it all to myself which I enjoyed. I love the River view and the impromptu music in the lounge.

10

Courtney

Apr 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We had a great stay, the room was really clean and looked nice. We loved the pool the kids had a great time.

8

John

Jun 5, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great hotel, really nice location, had a live band out back, super fun weekend. Only reason I'm not 100% satisfied is they didn't secure the parking lot and people that weren't staying at the hotel took up all of the parking spaces so I ended up having to park a few blocks away. I'm sure this isn't an issue when there aren't events happening.

2

Callie

Jul 19, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I stayed at this same hotel 2 years ago and loved it. That's why I was willing to pay more than surrounding hotels to stay again. The outside patio area on the riverfront was run down and dirty when it used to be pristine with cushioned lounge chairs and a wait staff to check on you. No lounge chairs or wait staff this time. There was just a very angry groundskeeper that was walking around cussing to himself. Very uncomfortable. It used to be a very peaceful comfortable place to enjoy your morning coffee. Not anymore. Also they say they have room service. Thats a lie. I called down to the restaurant to order breakfast to be brought to our room and was told they would call me when it was ready and i could come get it. I told them that the menu said they would bring it up. She laughed and said, "No, you can come down and get it". I went down and picked it up just to find out that the entire order was overcooked. For the money we paid to stay here, I found it to be a very disappointing experience. Ive had better experiences at cheap motels.

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Cleanliness

Many guests reported very clean rooms and public areas. Several noted lapses such as dirty carpets, missed spots, clogged drains, or leftover debris.

Related guest reviews

8

Daniel

Jan 27, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel is very nice and right next to convention center, which was great because it was the purpose for our stay. We arrived got our room quickly. Our first room the sheets were dirty with crumbs and hair, I called down to customer service and the lady was very kind and got me a new room right away. The hotel has a beautiful view of the water and bridge. I did choose a hotel because we wanted something that served breakfast. I should have looked closer at details and see that it was a restaurant only not like a free morning buffet. They were extremely busy and only had 2 people working. Even with that the ladies working were very hard working and kind. The hotel detail page says it has children’s menus but on dinner and breakfast I didn’t see one. We ordered chicken fingers room service the night before. It was fairly priced even with tip. They were the best chicken fingers I have ever had, hands down!! There is a pool, we didn’t use. A lot of people were walking around dripping water and not wearing shoes leaving pool going to room. I think they should have signs telling people to fully dry off and wear shoes. That way the floors and elevator would have water everywhere. Overall I am happy with my stay and will come back!

8

Sheila

Aug 19, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice river view, room had not been cleaned properly, there were candy wrappers and crumbs next to the bed. Nice to have noon check out, front desk staff very pleasant. Good location with nice walk way along the River. Nice bar area after returning from our show. Would stay here again.

8

Jose

Sep 3, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Beautiful balcony view, balcony floor could of used a wash down. AC filters very dirty, bathroom bathtub drain clogged with hair and room rug could used an upgrade. I cleaned AC filters and bathtub drain. Beds were excellent.

10

Wendy

Jul 21, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Staff were friendly, rooms were very clean and the bed was very comfortable.

6

Michael

Jan 30, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The biggest complaint for us was how clean the room was at check-in.... didn't look like whoever cleaned the room knew what a vacuum sweeper was for.... food, spiderwebs, and dead bugs..

10

Elizabeth

May 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel was clean and staff were friendly and helpful. It was a perfect location for our purpose of visit.

10

Mamie

Jul 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly staff, view of the river clean and well maintained.

2

Chriscinda

Jan 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The carpet was filthy and the bed was very uncomfortable

8

Charles

Sep 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It was nice and clean

10

Courtney

Apr 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We had a great stay, the room was really clean and looked nice. We loved the pool the kids had a great time.

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Rooms

Rooms are comfortable, with many praising river-view balconies and beds. Some note signs of age or minor maintenance issues, and a few found beds uncomfortable.

Related guest reviews

6

Laura

Oct 29, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

We got the River view room with the balcony option. It was very nice to be able to sit out there and overlook the river. They had a very nice and roomy outdoor seating area with fire pits. The room was very clean and the bathroom was very clean and I am a stickler. The only thing I did not care for was the thermostat is 3 year old accessible. So, children can reach the thermostat. Other than that, it was a nice stay!

8

Larry

Apr 9, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was a nice stay for the eclipse. We had 2 rooms. They were clean and cared for; showing a bit of age. Staff was very friendly and welcoming. One problem was the restaurant on site. First night they ran out of food and there is no place else close to eat. Next morning we had breakfast, but they were understaffed and delivery was slow and the food cold. If they are going to have a restaurant, it needs to get better.

8

Robbie

Mar 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel was very nice, close to everything down town within walking distance, had a good time for a one night stay. Only issue we had was the kitchen light did not work at all and the bed was kind of hard. Other than that everyone was extremely nice.

10

Frank

Mar 10, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

balcony viewing river

10

Debra

Jul 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Rooms could be updated

10

Stephanie

Mar 16, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Loved the balcony to sit on and look over the river.

10

Brittney

Mar 19, 2023

·

We stayed at the hotel for my daughter’s birthday, she had never stayed in a hotel and she was beyond thrilled. This was my first time staying in a Holiday Inn. We chose a double queen suite with a balcony facing the river which was a great view. Room was comfy and very clean, everything worked as it should. The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly our entire stay, even as busy as they were with a bluegrass convention and I believe also a cheerleading competition. Our group had dinner in the Burger Theory restaurant in the hotel. The food was great, the service was perfect even though they were extremely busy. With the Bluegrass musicians playing throughout the hotel it was a very festive vibe. Also our room was very soundproof, musicians playing throughout our floor could only be heard when we stepped into the hall so it felt very private when we were ready to unwind from the day. The heated pool was excellent, it was well maintained and plenty of clean towels. My daughter and her friend had a blast swimming. We also used the gym which was handy, and also very clean and well kept. Everyone had a really great time, and we are definitely planning to stay again in the future. One of the most positive hotel experiences I’ve had in a long time. Cannot speak highly enough for the staff here. Front desk, housekeeping, restaurant staff and everyone we interacted with were awesome. :)

2

Chriscinda

Jan 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The carpet was filthy and the bed was very uncomfortable

10

ENRIQUE

Oct 29, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Just stayed there for 2 days while visiting family. Great location. Nice and modern and very clean. A bit on the pricey side for a Holiday Inn. Rooms are very spaceous.

10

Robert

Aug 1, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Was probably the nicest hotel Ive stayed at. Extremely clean and everyone was very welcoming. Loved the fact there was a balcony with a beautiful view. Will definately be staying here again.

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Service

Staff are frequently described as friendly, helpful, and accommodating, including quick responses to issues and early check-in. A few guests encountered rudeness or indifferent service at the front desk or restaurant.

Related guest reviews

4

Danny

Jul 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff was rude and dining was too expensive..Room was over priced for it’s amenities..

10

Lisa

Jun 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Super helpful and friendly staff. Great location! Super easy and all the amenities one could want. Had a beautiful view!

10

James

May 16, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very nice and clean motel. We reserved a balcony room which was worth the extra money. The body wash was empty but was provided a new one upon request. The tv remote did not work but was fixed immediately when attention was brought to front desk. Would stay again. Walking distance to downtown.

10

Robin

Jul 31, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff at Holiday Inn was friendly and very helpful! Great place to stay!

4

John

Jul 23, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Nice hotel , but beware on Friday night they have a concert behind the hotel. It was extremely loud being under my windows. Also, attendees took up the entire parking lot. I came back from dinner with no where to park. Finally had to park in the lobby turnaround. Man at the front desk was rude and could have cared less even though I was a paying customer. Very unorganized. I will not stay there on a weekend again. Being sleep deprived I had to stop driving home and get a room and rest.

10

Elizabeth

May 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel was clean and staff were friendly and helpful. It was a perfect location for our purpose of visit.

10

marie

Dec 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff was wonderful

10

Greg

May 27, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The building and grounds are well kept and the staff is helpful and friendly.

4

Brooklynn

Feb 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

front desk seemed semi annoyed, not too welcoming. room did not appear to be clean upon entry. not comfortable sitting personal items down on furniture that did not appear clean. shower lacked toiletries. conditioner was completely empty. tv did not work as described. remote did not even open a guide for channels. pretty disappointed for the price point of this room vs the amenities provided.

10

Don

Sep 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff was friendly and attentive

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Location

Riverfront location next to the convention center and downtown attractions is a major highlight, with easy access to parks, restaurants, and the river walk. During concerts or city events, noise and limited parking can affect the experience.

Related guest reviews

10

amber

Apr 17, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

I like the location of the hotel, its within walking distance of restaurants and smothers park.

10

Michael

Oct 1, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

This hotel is perfectly located in downtown Owensboro right next to the convention center and just a few blocks from great restaurants and shops. We loved walking along the river walk and enjoying the river view. For folks with kids, there’s also a big park just a couple of blocks away.

10

BRENDA

Apr 28, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Close to everything downtown

10

Bob

Feb 23, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Close to convention center.

10

chris

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice Ohio River view. Beautiful river park and shops very close to the hotel.

4

John

Jul 23, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Nice hotel , but beware on Friday night they have a concert behind the hotel. It was extremely loud being under my windows. Also, attendees took up the entire parking lot. I came back from dinner with no where to park. Finally had to park in the lobby turnaround. Man at the front desk was rude and could have cared less even though I was a paying customer. Very unorganized. I will not stay there on a weekend again. Being sleep deprived I had to stop driving home and get a room and rest.

8

Marion

Jun 13, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Liked riverfront view, didn’t like lack of adequate parking during weekend events. Didn’t like no free breakfast

10

Mark

Jul 31, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very convenient for Friday after 5 events.

10

Nicholas

Sep 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

This is a great hotel along the river and our room had a balcony, which we really enjoyed. Behind the hotel is quick access to a sidewalk along the river and isn’t far from an amazing park with water fountains and swings.

8

John

Jun 5, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great hotel, really nice location, had a live band out back, super fun weekend. Only reason I'm not 100% satisfied is they didn't secure the parking lot and people that weren't staying at the hotel took up all of the parking spaces so I ended up having to park a few blocks away. I'm sure this isn't an issue when there aren't events happening.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

Burger Theory and the on-site bar earn praise for tasty meals and some special touches. Breakfast quality and temperature, staffing or ingredient shortages, occasional closures, and the lack of complimentary breakfast are recurring complaints.

Related guest reviews

10

Susan

Oct 6, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent for illuminating Owensboro. Only negative was that the food place was not open

8

Larry

Apr 9, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was a nice stay for the eclipse. We had 2 rooms. They were clean and cared for; showing a bit of age. Staff was very friendly and welcoming. One problem was the restaurant on site. First night they ran out of food and there is no place else close to eat. Next morning we had breakfast, but they were understaffed and delivery was slow and the food cold. If they are going to have a restaurant, it needs to get better.

10

Tammy

Jun 24, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Would like better breakfast. Was not very good!!

4

Joe

Mar 6, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Buffet breakfast is horrible. Scrambled eggs are pale, no bacon, cold sausage a 2 wrinkley oranges. We paid $20 for a cook to order breakfast and the hotel changed its breakfast to buffet style. I couldn’t eat this morning meal and went to a local restaurant for breakfast every morning.

10

Karen

Aug 3, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent hotel staff. The food at the restaurant was great and there was a live music group. View of the river was awesome.

10

Ashley

Apr 5, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We had an amazing stay at the Holiday Inn Owensboro! the on-site restaurant, burger theory was a huge plus and a pleasant surprise! We had dinner and breakfast there and loved it. They also made my son’s birthday breakfast special! Beds were super comfortable and we had everything we needed!

10

Greg

Jun 1, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Comfortable beds, pleasant view, exceptional crew. The restaurant and bar were short on ingredients pretty often. There was a dark stain on the carpet. Overall a great visit!

10

Tom

Mar 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Buffet was excellent except the food was very cold!

8

Marianne

May 2, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Considering there was a convention going on it was really quiet at night. I enjoy the rooms. The breakfast wasn’t that great and the staff there didn’t even say hello or ask if I wanted water. They were often out of items on the buffet. The gym was dark and musty but I had it all to myself which I enjoyed. I love the River view and the impromptu music in the lounge.

2

Callie

Jul 19, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I stayed at this same hotel 2 years ago and loved it. That's why I was willing to pay more than surrounding hotels to stay again. The outside patio area on the riverfront was run down and dirty when it used to be pristine with cushioned lounge chairs and a wait staff to check on you. No lounge chairs or wait staff this time. There was just a very angry groundskeeper that was walking around cussing to himself. Very uncomfortable. It used to be a very peaceful comfortable place to enjoy your morning coffee. Not anymore. Also they say they have room service. Thats a lie. I called down to the restaurant to order breakfast to be brought to our room and was told they would call me when it was ready and i could come get it. I told them that the menu said they would bring it up. She laughed and said, "No, you can come down and get it". I went down and picked it up just to find out that the entire order was overcooked. For the money we paid to stay here, I found it to be a very disappointing experience. Ive had better experiences at cheap motels.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$137
February	$159
March	$172
April	$139
May	$222
June	$164
July	$146
August	$147
September	$211
October	$167
November	$141
December	$130

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17 $278	18 $363	19 $163
20 $115	21 $131	22 $131	23 $321	24	25 $196	26 $203
27 $118	28 $123	29 $150	30 $144

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $170	2 $170	3 $170
4 $134	5 $299	6 $145	7 $145	8 $136	9 $196	10 $175
11 $118	12 $145	13 $354	14 $603	15 $492	16 $140	17 $143
18 $151	19 $151	20 $172	21 $354	22 $324	23 $303	24 $305
25 $131	26 $130	27 $130	28 $129	29 $129	30 $140	31 $135

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Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, City View

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony

Standard Room

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, River View

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Balcony (Communications)

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Accessible (Mobility, Accessible Tub)

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Accessible (Communications, Accessible Tub)

Suite, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Accessible, River View (Communications)

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible (Communications, Roll-In Shower)

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Balcony

Suite, 1 Bedroom

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, River View

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Accessible (Communications)

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible (Communications)

Guest reviews

Superb

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

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Optional extras

FAQs about Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront by IHG

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