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
- 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 welcomes pets. Contact the property to confirm current pet fees and any restrictions before you book.
Does The Trail Inn serve breakfast?
No, breakfast is not included at The Trail Inn.
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?
Amana Heritage Museum is about 0.5 miles from The Trail Inn, close enough to walk (roughly a 5 minute drive).
How far is The Trail Inn from Amana Colonies craft and wine shops?
Amana Colonies craft and wine shops is about 0.3 miles from The Trail Inn, close enough to walk (roughly a 5 minute drive).
How far is The Trail Inn from Amana Colonies family-style restaurants?
Amana Colonies family-style restaurants is about 0.4 miles from The Trail Inn, close enough to walk (roughly a 5 minute drive).
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Things to Do Near The Amana Colonies
Amana Colonies
0.0 miles away
The Amana Colonies are seven historic villages on the Iowa River west of Iowa City, founded in the 1850s by a German religious group that lived communally for nearly 80 years.
Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway
11 miles away
Iowa's stretch of the Lincoln Highway, America's first coast-to-coast road, laid out in 1913 and now a marked heritage byway.
National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library
15 miles away
The National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library anchors the Czech Village district of Cedar Rapids, telling the story of the Czech and Slovak immigrants who shaped this city.
The Iowa Children's Museum
15 miles away
The Iowa Childrens Museum sits inside the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville, which makes it a reliable stop in any weather.
Lake Macbride State Park
17 miles away
Iowa's largest state park wraps a quiet 900-acre lake in wooded creek valleys just north of Solon, between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.
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.