Prairie Inn

Hotels
8 (804 reviews)
264 Bear River Drive , Evanston , us

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Business center
Heating
Family rooms
Pets allowed
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Clean rooms
Helpful staff
Large rooms
Good price
Cons:
Outdated furnishings
Missing amenities
Disappointing breakfast

Categories

Cleanliness
8.08
Guests have noted the cleanliness of the rooms but experienced issues with the heater.
Service
8.55
Staff was respectful and communicative, with helpful service noted in some reviews.
Location
8.59
Close to highway location was appreciated, with ease of access mentioned.
Room Quality
8.04
Rooms were large and comfortable, but some reviews cited outdated furnishings.
Amenities
7.57
Amenities noted as lacking, with missing items like coffee pots and a disappointing breakfast.
Value for Money
8.03
Guests felt they received good value considering the price paid.
Food and Beverage
7.08
Breakfast options were minimal and not satisfactory for some guests.
Overall Experience
8.05
Overall positive experience despite some drawbacks; guests would return.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-10 00:53

Property Description

Convenient Location
Situated just 1 mile from the charming Evanston town center, Prairie Inn offers easy access to local attractions and dining options.

Comfortable Amenities
Each spacious guest room comes equipped with a microwave, small fridge, and a cable TV with HBO, ensuring a comfortable stay for all guests.

Convenience at Your Fingertips
Enjoy the convenience of free Wi-Fi, daily continental breakfast, and a guest launderette during your stay at Evanston Prairie Inn.

Experience comfort and convenience at Prairie Inn during your visit to Evanston. Book now to secure your stay!

Important information:

You must show a valid photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all special requests cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability upon check-in. Additional charges may apply.

Front desk is only open from 8:30 am to 11 pm every day.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 804 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.08
Service: 8.55
Location: 8.59
Room Quality: 8.04
Amenities: 7.57
Value for Money: 8.03
Food and Beverage: 7.08
Overall Experience: 8.05
B
Bella couple us
9
Pros:

Staff was very friendly and helpful! Kevin is a rockstar! The room was clean and comfortable. It was so quiet and we hope to return soon!

Cons:

I wish there was a way to get change for the laundry as well as like a vending machine or something for laundry supplies. The food was okay, but the milk was expired and the vending machine ate our money.

2026-09-08 via Nuitee
M
Michael couple us
6
Pros:

Spacious rooms and reasonable price.

Cons:

Sticky, old carpet and dog hair in the sink.

2026-09-08 via Nuitee
C
CARNEY extended_group us
9
Pros:

room

2026-09-07 via Nuitee
S
sherry solo_traveller us
9
Cons:

Could not adjust the temperature. It was too cold.

2026-09-07 via Nuitee
J
Jayson couple us
10
2026-09-07 via Nuitee
J
Jim couple us
10
Pros:

Large well kept room. Older property that was well maintained.

2026-09-07 via Nuitee
K
Kollin family_with_children us
7
It was cheap, safe and clean, but not much else going for it.
Pros:

It was clean and affordable.

Cons:

It’s an old building that could use some touch ups. Healthier breakfast options would be nice as well.

2026-09-06 via Nuitee
L
Lyndal couple nz
7
Everything we needed for our 1 night stop over. Loved the location right next to the Jody's Diner
Pros:

Location, size of room, everything we needed, air con

Cons:

Lighting

2026-08-30 via Nuitee
M
Matthijs Westera solo_traveller nl
1
Do not stay here
Pros:

The location was convienent

Cons:

The desk closed an hour early, so we arrived to a closed hotel. Our phones were being difficult but a step father of an employee arrived with us so he came out to tell us our keys were under the mat. So far, so good. After roughly half an hour we, my brother in another room found a lot of hair on the matrass and all pillows AND 4 bottles of heavy alcohol underneath the matrass and I, in my room, on two of my pillows and matrass also found a lot of black hair. We were disgusted. After calling booking.com, given the time and our phones being difficult + high phone costs, we moved to a different hotel. Booking reinsured us that they got it and let us know we didn't have to pay for this hotel. The next morning, Prairie Inn made us a no show (later rectified it claiming that because we arrived early they didn't have our creditcard info, so we were a automatic no show according to booking but in the mail from booking it said the Prairie Inn told booking we didn't show up), the hotel claimed we didn't check in but yet they had footage of us being in the rooms and leaving, trying to make us pay (but we hadn't yet and won't) via that no show notification. The unfriendly tone in the private chat about the extra costs (price difference with the new hotel plus phone costs to booking.com, in total around €90), which they refuse to pay, made this an experience we rather forget. The hotel blamed us for not calling them (but with a flight the next morning we didn't want to deal with that and we had no confidence in this hotel anymore), yet calling it a joke that we claim phone costs. We are very, very angry and even more disappointed. Do not stay here. Hopefully booking.com will do something about this, but the hotel is not going to do anything besides claiming I have to deal with this through booking (and booking tells me the hotel does not want to settle to anything).

2026-08-29 via Nuitee
E
Elisabetta Sitzia family_with_children it
9
Un buon punto di appoggio
Pros:

La stanza è enorme e pulita.

Cons:

Dovrebbe essere più illuminata. Non abbiamo potuto fare colazione perché inizia troppo tardi se devi ripartire.

2026-08-25 via Nuitee
B
Brook couple us
5
Overall, I would recommend staying here if you on a budget.
Pros:

Standard room and amenities. Cleanliness was a solid B. there were a few shreds of paper scattered throughout the room not a big deal for me. Breakfast was also standard for what you pay for. Prepackaged pastries and cereal, hot coffee, orange and apple juice. Also, it is a single business and not a chain. I like that "down home" feeling.

Cons:

When we checked in the man behind the counter was somewhat rude. They say their rooms have air conditioning, but it was a little complicated to operate and did not blow very good at all. They had a rotating fan in front of the air to help circulate the air. The remote for the TV only worked half the time. ALWAYS TAKE YOUR KEY. Do not get locked out of your room. both doors lock when you shut your door. the bottom doorknob automatically locks when you shut your door and if you get locked out, they say you will get an extra $ charge. Also, the vending machines did not work.

2026-08-24 via Nuitee
G
Giulia couple it
8
2026-08-18 via Nuitee
C
Curtis couple us
5
2026-08-18 via Nuitee
V
Virginie couple fr
7
Parfait
2026-08-16 via Nuitee
J
Jose couple us
10
Very professional staff
Pros:

Everything

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-13 via Nuitee
W
Wiesław family_with_children pl
9
2026-08-11 via Nuitee
E
Ed couple us
10
2026-08-10 via Nuitee
D
Dan solo_traveller us
8
Very clean, plenty of hot water. Comfortable bed. Could barely see in the room. TV didn’t work.
Pros:

Clean

Cons:

Dark, lighting in room was poor. TV didn’t work.

2026-08-10 via Nuitee
S
Susanne couple nl
8
2026-07-25 via Nuitee
R
Rowen solo_traveller us
5
Don't stay here!
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Everything else. The place is a dump. Doesn't even have a coffee pot in the room. Shower drain was VERY slow. TV didnt work. If I thought I could I'd ask for my money back.

2026-07-24 via Nuitee