Holiday Inn Express & Suites Red Wing By Ihg

I once pulled into Red Wing with a soggy duffel bag, a half-eaten gas-station sandwich, and the vague belief that a river town should feel like a Mark Twain novel.

What I got was a Holiday Inn Express sign glowing against the Minnesota dusk. Not exactly romantic, I thought. But my back hurt, my phone was dying, and a predictable bed suddenly felt like poetry.

That’s the thing about Holiday Inn Express & Suites Red Wing by IHG. It doesn’t pretend to be a boutique hideaway. It just quietly does the hotel stuff you actually need.

A Chain Hotel With a River-Town Address

The hotel sits on Old West Main Street, easy to reach from Highway 61 and close enough to the Mississippi that you can smell the river when the wind cooperates.

Downtown Red Wing is a short drive away. So are Barn Bluff, the Red Wing Shoe Store & Museum, and enough antique shops to test your patience for decorative ducks.

Is it the most scenic address in town? No. Is it convenient? Yes, and convenience has a beauty all its own when you’re hauling kids, bikes, or unresolved ambition.

Rooms That Understand Tired Humans

The rooms follow the Holiday Inn Express playbook: clean, modern, and unfussy. You’ll find king rooms, two-queen setups, and suites with extra space if you need a sofa bed or a little distance from your travel companions.

Expect a microwave, mini-fridge, coffee maker, flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi. It’s not glamorous, but it is functional—the kind that makes you forgive the lack of a four-poster bed.

The beds are generally comfortable, the showers have decent pressure, and the blackout curtains do their job. If you’ve slept in a hotel where the curtains were purely decorative, you know why that matters.

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The Breakfast Situation

Let’s talk about the cinnamon rolls. Holiday Inn Express has turned them into a brand mascot, and honestly, they earn the hype.

The free breakfast usually includes eggs, sausage or bacon, pancakes, yogurt, cereal, fruit, and coffee. Is it gourmet? No. Is it free and fast? Absolutely.

Fuel up before hiking Barn Bluff or driving along the river. It beats paying twenty dollars for sad avocado toast downtown.

Amenities for Real Life

There’s an indoor pool and hot tub, which matters if you’re traveling with kids or want to soak away a long drive.

Free parking and Wi-Fi are included, and the front desk can help with local tips. Call ahead about pet-friendly or accessible rooms, since policies can change.

Why Red Wing Works as a Basecamp

Red Wing is not just boots and pottery, though yes, there are boots and pottery. The town sits on the Mississippi, with bluffs, trails, and a walkable downtown that rewards slow wandering.

You can hike Barn Bluff, bike the Cannon Valley Trail, visit the Anderson Center, or catch a show at the Sheldon Theatre. In fall, the river valley turns into a postcard that makes your phone camera feel inadequate.

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The Holiday Inn Express isn’t in the middle of that charm, but it’s close enough to use as a launchpad. Think of it as the sensible friend who holds your jacket while you do something adventurous.

Who Should Stay Here—and Who Shouldn’t

This hotel is great for families, business travelers, road-trippers, and couples who prioritize a clean room and free breakfast over antique furniture and a lobby cat.

If you want a romantic boutique inn with hand-thrown mugs and a four-poster bed, book elsewhere. Then buy a hand-thrown mug downtown and put your coffee in it anyway.

If you want reliable, affordable, and predictable, this is your spot. Predictable is not an insult here. It’s a promise.

The Morning After

I woke up to the smell of coffee and the sound of someone’s kids racing down the hall. Not a Twain novel, exactly.

But after a cinnamon roll and a walk up Barn Bluff, I got it. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Red Wing by IHG isn’t trying to be the main character of your trip.

It’s the reliable basecamp, the hot shower, the free breakfast, the bed that lets you rest before another day on the river. And sometimes, that’s the best kind of travel story.