The Trail Inn
4712 220th Trail
Amana, IA
A spruced-up roadside inn right in the heart of the Amana Colonies
This property is an Honorable Mention. It has been vetted and approved for our highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and operational excellence. While it is still evolving toward our full design-led designation, it is a proven, reliable anchor for any road trip. We recommend it with confidence.
About The Trail Inn
The property was long known as the Guest House Motel before new owners took it over and renamed it The Trail Inn. They have been actively restoring and upgrading it, and recent guests describe the results in plain terms: extremely clean, newly refreshed rooms, tidy grounds. It is an honest small motel getting real care, right in the middle of the Amana Colonies.
What The Trail Inn Is Known For
New owners took a plain roadside motel and are restoring it with real care, and guests keep saying the same thing: it is spotless and welcoming. Its spot in the heart of the Amana Colonies means the whole place is yours to explore on foot.
Amenities
- Pets Welcome
- WiFi
- Private exterior-entrance rooms
- In-room Keurig coffee
- Welcome gift in the room
- Mini fridge and microwave
- Smart TVs
- Dog treats in the lobby
- Contactless self check-in
- Free WiFi
- Pet-friendly
What Guests Love
- Freshly restored by new owners, with guests praising how clean it is
- Private exterior-entrance rooms with park-at-your-door ease
- Walking distance to the shops and restaurants of the Amana Colonies
- Pet-friendly, with in-room Keurig coffee and a welcome gift
Worth Knowing
- Check-in is contactless and self-service, so there is no staffed front desk, though owner support is responsive
- This is a small, owner-run motel that is still being restored room by room
- The Amana Colonies are a compact historic area, so plan on a walkable, small-village pace
The Room
Rooms have private exterior entrances, so you park at the door and step straight in. Each is clean and comfortable, with Keurig coffee, a mini fridge and microwave, and a smart TV, plus a small welcome gift set out for arriving guests. Dogs are welcome, with treats waiting in the lobby.
The Grounds
The inn sits right among the villages of the Amana Colonies, within walking distance of shops, craft stores, and family-style restaurants. The setting is quiet and easy, the kind of small property where you can leave the car parked and explore on foot. Recent guests note how tidy and cared-for the grounds are.
The Experience
The Amana Colonies are seven historic villages founded by German Pietist settlers, known for their communal heritage, hand-craft shops, wineries, and generous family-style restaurants. The Amana Heritage Museum tells the story of the communal era, and the whole cluster of villages is made for slow wandering. The Trail Inn puts you right in the middle of it, on foot.
Details
Amana, IA 52203
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Trail Inn pet friendly?
Yes, The Trail Inn is pet friendly.
Does The Trail Inn serve breakfast?
No, The Trail Inn does not serve breakfast.
Does The Trail Inn have WiFi?
Yes, The Trail Inn has WiFi.
What is there to do near The Trail Inn?
Amana Heritage Museum: 0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Amana Colonies craft and wine shops: 0.3 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Amana Colonies family-style restaurants: 0.4 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is The Trail Inn from Amana Heritage Museum?
0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is The Trail Inn from Amana Colonies craft and wine shops?
0.3 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is The Trail Inn from Amana Colonies family-style restaurants?
0.4 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
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Things to Do Near The Amana Colonies
Amana Heritage Museum
0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
The museum that tells the story of the colonies' communal era, set in historic village buildings.
Amana Colonies craft and wine shops
0.3 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
The villages' woolen mill, furniture makers, wineries, and craft shops, all within an easy walk.
Amana Colonies family-style restaurants
0.4 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
The hearty, pass-the-platter German-heritage meals the colonies are famous for.