Finding a place to crash in Sioux Falls isn't hard, but finding one that actually puts you in the heartbeat of the city is another story. You’ve probably seen the signs for the Holiday Inn Sioux Falls City Center at 100 W 8th St while driving down Minnesota Avenue or walking near the Big Sioux River. It’s an imposing building. It feels like a permanent fixture of the skyline. Honestly, while newer boutique hotels are popping up like weeds, there’s a specific kind of reliability here that’s hard to beat if you’re actually trying to get stuff done or see the Falls without an Uber.
Location is everything. If you aren't familiar with the layout of downtown Sioux Falls, 8th Street is basically the vein that connects the historic East Bank with the main Phillips Avenue drag. Staying at 100 W 8th St means you are roughly three blocks from the SculptureWalk and about a ten-minute brisk walk from the actual Falls Park. That’s a big deal. Most people don't realize that if you stay out by the mall on 41st Street, you’re looking at a 15-minute drive just to see the water. Here? You just walk.
What’s Actually Inside 100 W 8th St?
It’s a massive hotel. We’re talking over 290 rooms. That size matters because it means they have the infrastructure that smaller "cool" hotels sometimes lack, like a massive atrium that feels like a time capsule in the best way possible. The lobby isn't just a desk; it’s a whole ecosystem.
The rooms have seen updates over the years. You get the standard Holiday Inn "soft" and "firm" pillow choices—which, let's be real, is a underrated flex in the hotel world. They’ve moved toward the modern IHG aesthetic: clean lines, neutral tones, and desks that actually have enough outlets for a laptop, a phone, and a tablet. Some of the upper-floor rooms facing north give you a killer view of the cathedral and the river. It's peaceful.
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You’ve got the Grille 100 and the Cascade Lounge right on-site. The food is... well, it’s hotel food, but it’s high-end hotel food. The breakfast buffet is usually the star of the show for business travelers. If you want something more "local," you're steps away from places like Josiah’s Coffeehouse or the Treasury at the Hotel on Phillips, but having a solid burger and a local Fernson beer without leaving the building is a luxury when it’s -10 degrees outside in January.
The Business Side of the Big Sioux
This place is a workhorse for conventions. With roughly 14,000 square feet of meeting space, it’s where the city’s actual business happens. I’ve seen everything from medical seminars to massive wedding receptions happening simultaneously in the Starlite Ballroom.
The internet is surprisingly snappy. In an era where some hotels still try to charge you for "premium" Wi-Fi that barely loads a YouTube video, the connectivity here handles Zoom calls without the jitter. That matters if you're one of the many people "work-cationing" through the Midwest.
Parking and the "One-Way" Struggle
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: driving downtown. 100 W 8th St is on a corner that can be a bit confusing for first-timers. Sioux Falls loves its one-way streets. If you miss the turn into the parking garage, you're going on a scenic tour of the city blocks whether you want to or not.
The hotel offers a parking garage, which is a literal lifesaver during a South Dakota blizzard. You don't want to be the person scraping ice off a rental car at 7:00 AM. They also have a shuttle service. It’s reliable. It’ll take you to the airport (FSD), which is only about 3 miles away. You could practically walk if you didn't have luggage and it wasn't windy, but it's always windy here.
Is it worth the price compared to the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center area?
Usually, yes.
People often get tricked into staying by the Arena or the Convention Center because they think it’s closer to the "action." It’s not. Those hotels are surrounded by parking lots and fast food. If you stay at the Holiday Inn Sioux Falls City Center, you are embedded in the culture. You can walk to a show at the Washington Pavilion. You can grab a late-night drink at The Carpenter Bar. You can stumble into a local boutique like Zandbroz and spend an hour looking at weird books and fountain pens.
- Proximity to Falls Park: 0.6 miles.
- Distance to Washington Pavilion: 0.4 miles.
- Airport Shuttle: Yes, and it's free.
- Pet Policy: They’re usually cool with pets, but there’s a fee. Check before you bring the Golden Retriever.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Spot
There's a misconception that "City Center" hotels are loud. Because 100 W 8th St is set back slightly from the busiest part of Phillips Avenue, it stays remarkably quiet. You aren't dealing with the bar-close noise that you might get at a hotel situated directly above a nightclub.
Also, the pool. It’s an indoor pool, which is standard, but the atrium layout makes it feel less like a basement dungeon and more like a courtyard. Kids love it. Business travelers usually ignore it, which means if you go at 9:00 PM, you’ll probably have the hot tub to yourself.
Actionable Tips for Your Stay
If you’re booking a stay at 100 W 8th St, don't just take the first room they give you. Ask for a high-floor room on the north side. The view of the Big Sioux River is significantly better than looking at the parking garage or the neighboring office buildings.
Sign up for the IHG One Rewards program before you check in. Even the base level usually gets you a later checkout time, and in a city like Sioux Falls where things move a bit slower on Sunday mornings, that extra hour is gold.
Pack comfortable walking shoes. Even if you have a car, you won't want to use it once you realize everything—from the Levitt at the Falls outdoor concert stage to the best sushi in the state—is within a six-block radius of your front door.
Check the local event calendar for the Washington Pavilion before you arrive. Often, there are Broadway tours or symphony performances that are literally a five-minute walk from the lobby. If you can snag a "Show and Stay" vibe, it turns a boring business trip into a legitimate weekend getaway.
Lastly, take advantage of the 8th Street bridge. It was recently renovated and features great lighting and pedestrian paths. It’s the most direct and scenic way to get to the East Bank shops like 8th & Railroad Center. Skip the main roads and take the river path; it's the version of Sioux Falls that locals actually enjoy.