Quality Inn Allen - Plano East
Indoor pool, sauna and breakfast half a mile from the old rail corridor
About this hotel
This is the closest hotel to the historic Allen station site on the list, which matters most for anyone planning to walk the old interurban corridor before driving on to McKinney or south into Dallas. The indoor pool and sauna give the property a wind-down option most highway-corridor hotels skip, useful after a day spent outdoors in North Texas heat. The continental breakfast runs well past the standard cutoff, and the 11am checkout leaves room for a slower morning rather than a rushed exit. Rooms are simple rather than stylish, but the combination of location, breakfast and a genuine sauna covers what most short Allen stays actually need. Rates here also tend to run below the newer Hilton and Marriott properties nearby, making it a genuine value pick for a corridor-focused visit.
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Free continental breakfast
- Free WiFi
Our take
I would pick Quality Inn Allen - Plano East when the historic Texas Electric Railway Allen Station site itself is the point, since it sits roughly half a mile away. A continental breakfast, an indoor pool and a sauna make a useful package for families on a budget, and Wi-Fi is free. It stays deliberately simple, with no full-service restaurant. Check-in runs from 4pm and checkout is by 11am.
- Book early for weekends tied to Allen Event Center concerts, this property fills fast given its price point and proximity.
- Use the sauna in the evening rather than after breakfast, it tends to be quieter once the morning rush has cleared out.
- Walk the half-mile to the historic station site before checkout if the morning schedule allows, it's the shortest such walk on this list.
Why we love it
- Closest hotel to the historic station site
- Indoor pool paired with a genuine sauna
- Continental breakfast runs past standard cutoff
- 11am checkout for an unhurried morning
Why guests love itAbout half a mile from the historic Texas Electric Railway Allen Station site, this Quality Inn is one of the closest simple options, and I would consider it for a short family stay. The indoor pool works in any weather, the sauna is a bonus for parents, and the continental breakfast and Wi-Fi are free. Note the hours: check-in from 4pm and checkout by 11am, both tighter than at most hotels nearby.