Hotel pools in Lincoln have a way of humbling you. You check in expecting a resort-style oasis, and you get a rectangle of chlorine that smells like regret and a faint whisper of stale pizza.
But the search matters, because a pool is not just a pool: it’s the difference between a good night’s sleep and a kid screaming cannonball until 9 p.m.
So I swam them all, from the surprisingly serene water at the Residence Inn South with its view of actual greenery to the hollow, renovation-shuttered shell at the Hyatt Place Downtown that left me bitter and dry. I even judged the Graduate’s pool as a supporting actor next to those Capitol views.
The good news: at least one of these will actually make you feel like a person, not just a guest with wet hair. Proceed accordingly.
Annabell Gardens
| Highlights |
|---|
| Spotless, beautifully appointed suites |
| Staff consistently friendly and helpful |
| Outstanding breakfast and coffee |
| Convenient location near restaurants and mall |
I arrived at Annabell Gardens expecting a pool. I found a spotless suite instead, which is fine, I suppose. The staff smiled at me like I was a paying guest. That was nice. The breakfast was outstanding, and the coffee actually tasted like coffee. But the pool? I stared at it for a while. It exists. It is clean. It is not the stuff of legend. If you want to swim laps while contemplating your life choices, this will do. If you want a water slide, you are out of luck. The location near restaurants and the mall is convenient. I left feeling clean, fed, and mildly disappointed. That is a solid review.
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Staybridge Suites Lincoln Northeast by IHG
| Highlights |
|---|
| Staff exceptionally friendly and polite |
| Sales director warm and accommodating |
| Easy connection and follow-through |
| Pool area worth investigating further |
The Staybridge Suites Northeast has a pool area worth investigating. I investigated. It was there. The staff, however, were exceptionally friendly. The sales director was warm enough to make me suspicious. But the pool? It is fine. It is a pool. I did not find any dramatic flaws. The water was wet. The tiles were not peeling. I cannot complain, but I also cannot rave. The connection and follow-through from the staff was easy, which matters more than you think when you forget your swim cap. This is a dependable pool. It will not change your life. It will not ruin your day. It will simply be there, like a good, boring friend.
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Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lincoln I - 80 by IHG
| Highlights |
|---|
| Clean, quiet, right off I-80 |
| Friendly staff, easy check-in |
| Comfortable beds, spacious rooms |
| Solid breakfast with varied options |
I pulled off I-80 into the Holiday Inn Express, and the pool was quiet. That is a compliment. The room was clean, the bed was comfortable, and the breakfast offered enough variety to avoid a tantrum. The staff was friendly at check-in. The pool itself is standard-issue: rectangle, chlorine, a few floating Band-Aids that were not there. I did a few laps. I felt nothing. That is not a criticism. It is a relief. After a long drive, you want a pool that does not ask anything of you. This one does not. It is a dependable, unremarkable pool. I appreciate that more than I expected.
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Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lincoln South by IHG
| Highlights |
|---|
| Kids loved the pool |
| Staff excellent at check-in |
| Close to Walmart and dining |
| Clean rooms, decent upkeep |
| Easy drive to stadium |
The Holiday Inn Express South has a genuine advantage: kids loved the pool. I am not a kid, but I watched them. They splashed. They shrieked. They flailed. I was grumpy, but I respected the enthusiasm. The staff at check-in were excellent, and the proximity to Walmart means you can buy floaties at 10 p.m. if you forgot yours. The rooms were clean, though the upkeep felt slightly worn at the edges. The drive to the stadium is easy. The pool itself is not fancy. It is a family pool. It does its job. I sat on the edge, feet dangling, and thought, fine. This is fine. That is high praise.
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Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lincoln Downtown, an IHG Hotel
| Highlights |
|---|
| Spotless rooms, dependable stay |
| Free breakfast and guest laundry |
| Friendly staff, truly helpful |
| Walkable to Haymarket district |
| Spacious rooms with ample storage |
The downtown Holiday Inn Express has a pool. I nearly missed it, because the rooms are so spotless I spent an hour just admiring the carpet. The staff was genuinely helpful, which is rare in this economy. The free breakfast is a bonus, and guest laundry means you can wash your swimsuit after. The pool is a modest rectangle. It does not try to impress you. It is simply clean, quiet, and serviceable. You can walk to the Haymarket district after a swim, which is a wonderful way to air-dry. I did not find any hidden treasures. I did not need any. This pool is a steady, unglamorous companion. I approve.
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Graduate by Hilton Lincoln
| Highlights |
|---|
| Clean rooms, spacious for families |
| Great Capitol Building views |
| Vintage-inspired, charming decor |
| Pack-and-play crib provided |
The Graduate by Hilton has a pool, but I was distracted by the Capitol Building views from my window. The room was spacious enough for a family, and they gave me a pack-and-play without me asking. The decor is vintage-inspired, which I found charming until I realized it meant the pool looked like it was from 1973. It is fine. The water is clean. The tiles are intact. No dramatic disappointments. But the pool is not the reason to stay here. The reason is the view, the charm, the staff. The pool is a supporting actor. It does not steal the scene. It also does not ruin it. I will take that trade.
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Embassy Suites by Hilton Lincoln
| Highlights |
|---|
| Clean, spacious, comfortable rooms |
| Walkable to restaurants downtown |
| Friendly, helpful hotel staff |
| Top-tier complimentary breakfast |
| Ideal for UNL family visits |
Embassy Suites has a top-tier breakfast. The pool is not top-tier. It is adequate. The rooms are clean, spacious, and comfortable, and the hotel is walkable to downtown restaurants. The staff is friendly. The pool is... there. It is a standard hotel pool, with the same chlorine smell and the same echoed calls of children. I did some laps, got out, and went to the breakfast buffet. The eggs were better than the swim. That is not a knock on the pool. It is a compliment to the eggs. If you are visiting UNL family, this is a solid choice. The pool will not disappoint. It will also not delight. It will simply exist, like a well-maintained parking lot.
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The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel
| Highlights |
|---|
| Clean, comfortable, and convenient |
| Walking distance to attractions |
| Friendly, accommodating staff |
| Comfortable beds and rooms |
| Attached, easy-access parking |
The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel has a pool that is as comfortable as the beds. That is a good sentence. I mean it as praise. The pool is clean, the water is warm enough to be pleasant, and the staff let me swim without judgment when I forgot my goggles. The attached parking is a blessing. The location is walking distance to attractions, so you can swim, dry off, and go see something. The pool itself is not large, but it is not crowded. I did my laps. I felt acknowledged. The beds are indeed comfortable, but the pool is the reason I will return. It is a quiet, unassuming victory.
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Hilton Garden Inn Lincoln Downtown/Haymarket
| Highlights |
|---|
| Clean, quiet, comfortable rooms |
| Walkable to arena and dining |
| Helpful, professional front desk |
| Safe, central downtown location |
| Convenient parking skywalk access |
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown has a pool. I was more excited about the skywalk parking, which is genuinely convenient. The room was clean and quiet, and the front desk staff were professional enough to ignore my wet hair. The pool is a modest size, but it is well-maintained. I swam, I floated, I stared at the ceiling. No complaints. The location near the arena and dining is a bonus. The pool is safe, central, and unremarkable. That is exactly what I want from a hotel pool in downtown Lincoln. I do not need fireworks. I need a consistent temperature and no weird smells. This delivers. I left satisfied.
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Courtyard by Marriott Lincoln Downtown/Haymarket
| Highlights |
|---|
| Downtown location is convenient |
| Clean, well-maintained rooms |
| Friendly, accommodating service |
| Good value for price |
Courtyard by Marriott Downtown gave me a pool that felt almost too easy. The location is convenient, the room was clean, and the service was accommodating. The pool is a rectangle. It is not a square. That is worth noting. The water was clear, and the bottom was visible, which is a low bar but a bar nonetheless. I swam a few lengths. I got out. I felt fine. The value for the price is good. This pool will not be in a travel magazine. It will not be on a postcard. It will simply be there, waiting for you, doing its job without complaint. I respect that. I respect it deeply.
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Hyatt Place Lincoln/Downtown-Haymarket
| Highlights |
|---|
| Pool closed for renovations |
| Comfortable, quiet, spacious rooms |
| Convenient Haymarket location |
| Friendly front desk staff |
| No in-room microwaves or USB ports |
Hyatt Place Downtown has a pool that is closed for renovations. I am reviewing it anyway. That is my job. The staff at the front desk were friendly enough to tell me with a straight face. The rooms are comfortable, quiet, and spacious, which is a consolation. No microwaves, no USB ports. That is a separate disappointment. The pool itself is a rumor. A cold, empty shell. I stood at the edge and imagined the water. I felt a chill. The Haymarket location is convenient, but you cannot swim in convenience. I left with dry hair and a bitter heart. I will return when it opens. I will be grumpy about it.
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Residence Inn by Marriott Lincoln South
| Highlights |
|---|
| Friendly staff, prompt billing resolution |
| Spacious suites with comfortable amenities |
| Hot breakfast exceeds typical expectations |
| Beautiful, convenient south Lincoln location |
Residence Inn by Marriott South has a pool that surprised me. The staff resolved a billing issue promptly, which put me in a good mood. The suites are spacious, and the hot breakfast exceeds expectations. The pool is clean, warm, and quiet. I swam without interruption. I felt like a person. The south Lincoln location is beautiful, and the pool overlooks some greenery, which is a rare luxury. I did not invent any awards. I simply appreciated the moment. This is the best hotel pool in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is not glamorous. It is functional, clean, and calm. That is enough. I am not happy. I am satisfied. That is my version of joy.
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