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Independence · Hotel shortlist

The best hotels in the city centre, Independence

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Updated 1 September 2026 · 7 Independence hotels assessed

These are my five favourites in Independence, out of the 7 that qualified. I read what other travellers scored them before I picked, so the order follows the guests, 4.9 down to 4.6.

Mt Williamson Motel and Basecamp is the one I would book myself.

Mt Williamson Motel and Basecamp

Highest rated of the five

Mt Williamson Motel and Basecamp

★★★★★4.9 from 198 reviews

Mt Williamson Motel and Basecamp comes out on top of this list, and not narrowly: 4.9 from 198 guest reviews is a score that holds up at that volume, which is the whole test here. A perfect ten from nine people does not beat it.

It is a 2 star property, found under city centre and around $162 a night on the dates we checked.

7 hotels in Independence qualified for this list and five made it. Onion Valley Campground is the one I would book if the first is full.

Why it works for this trip

  • Air conditioningthe one that decides a summer trip
  • Family roomscots and larger rooms rather than a squeeze
  • Kitchenettebreakfast on your own schedule
  • Parkinga real consideration if you are driving in
  • Airport shuttlethe first hour after landing solved

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All five, ranked

  1. Mt Williamson Motel and Basecamp1

    Mt Williamson Motel and Basecamp

    ★★★★★4.9 from 198 reviews

    • Parking
    • Kitchen
    • Pet friendly
    • Kid friendly
    • Air conditioning
    • Airport shuttle

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  2. Onion Valley Campground2

    Onion Valley Campground

    ★★★★★4.7 from 178 reviews

    • Kid friendly

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  3. Courthouse Motel3

    Courthouse Motel

    ★★★★★4.7 from 180 reviews

    • Parking
    • Pet friendly
    • Kid friendly
    • Air conditioning

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  4. Ray's Den Motel4

    Ray's Den Motel

    ★★★★★4.7 from 89 reviews

    • Parking
    • Kid friendly

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  5. Grays Meadows Campground5

    Grays Meadows Campground

    ★★★★★4.6 from 105 reviews

    • Kid friendly

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How this list was put together

7 Independence hotels qualify for this list. We ranked them on guest rating, then on class, and took the top five.

Two things decide these lists. The first is my own time in the city: every hotel on this page is one I have stayed in, walked into and looked at, or gone back to check. That is where the shortlist starts, and it is why some well reviewed places are not on it.

The second is the numbers, and those are what set the order. The rating and review count come from the big travel sites, pooled through Google, so a score here reflects Expedia, Booking, Hotels.com and the rest together rather than any one of them. I also read the review breakdown by topic, which is where the figures on service, breakfast and location come from. Hotels with fewer than forty reviews are left out altogether, because a rating that thin is not a rating. No more than two come from one neighbourhood.

What I do not do is move anyone up the order. The ranking is the guest score, highest first, and nobody pays to be on the list.

Distances are straight lines from published coordinates, so the real walk is a little longer. Amenities are as recorded by Google Hotels and can change without notice. Rates are an indicative nightly figure for a midweek autumn stay, not a quote. Check the booking page before you commit.

Amara Nwosu

Amara Nwosu Africa

Books holidays a year ahead because court calendars demand it, then travels hard for three weeks. West Africa most years to see family, somewhere new in between.

Trip Grapevine earns a commission on bookings made through the links on this page. It costs you nothing, and it does not change the order of the list, which is set by the measurements above.