The Ameswell Hotel

The Ameswell Hotel is an independent hotel on 10 acres at the north end of Moffett Boulevard in Mountain View, right next to NASA Ames Research Center. It has 255 rooms, a large lawn, a heated saltwater pool and three places to eat and drink. Its name nods to its neighbor. The hotel says the research center's spirit of innovation inspires its approach. For Palo Alto visitors it is a short drive south on Highway 101, with easy access to Shoreline Amphitheatre, Google's North Bayshore campus and the Stevens Creek Trail.

This profile is based on the hotel's official website. We do not publish prices, star ratings or reviews. For live rates, check The Ameswell on Booking.com or book with the hotel, which says its best rates are on its own site.

Location and neighborhood

The address is 800 Moffett Boulevard, Mountain View, CA 94043. Moffett Boulevard runs north from downtown Mountain View toward the main gate of Moffett Field. The hotel sits near that northern end. The hotel calls downtown Mountain View walking distance. In practice the top of Castro Street and the train station are about a mile away in a straight line, so many guests ride a bike or take a short rideshare. Our guide to Castro Street covers the restaurant strip at the other end.

The hotel publishes these approximate distances:

The hotel paid for a pedestrian bridge over Stevens Creek and gave it to the City of Mountain View. It links the property to the Stevens Creek Trail, a paved path that runs north to Shoreline and the bay. For more on the town itself, see our Mountain View guide.

Getting there from Caltrain and the airports

The nearest Caltrain stop is Mountain View station, about a mile from the hotel in a straight line. It is a bigger stop than most on the line: express trains call there and it is the end of the VTA Orange Line light rail. From the station, a rideshare takes a few minutes. The hotel's free guest bikes are another way to cover the distance during your stay.

The hotel also points guests to the free Mountain View Community Shuttle and the MVgo shuttle, along with VTA buses. Check each operator's current routes before you rely on them.

• From SFO: take BART to Millbrae and Caltrain south to Mountain View, then a short ride to the hotel. By car it is roughly 30 to 45 minutes outside rush hour. Our SFO guide compares the options.
• From SJC: San Jose airport is the closer of the two. Take the free VTA Route 60 to Santa Clara Transit Center and Caltrain north to Mountain View, or drive in about 15 to 25 minutes. See our SJC guide.

The hotel says it does not run a free airport shuttle. It lists cabs, Uber and Lyft, private shuttles and Enterprise car rental as alternatives.

Rooms and suites

The hotel has 255 guest rooms. Its rooms page groups them into these categories:

Rooms come with Sealy mattresses and Italian linens, a 65-inch Samsung smart TV in many categories, a mini fridge with a complimentary bottle of water, an in-room safe, robes and blackout drapes. Views vary by room: the Ameswell lawn, the NASA Ames side or a southeastern outlook. The Wellness King adds a Lululemon Mirror fitness screen, adjustable weights, resistance bands and a training mat.

Air is a selling point here. The hotel says a dedicated outside air system runs around the clock through MERV 13 filters and that no guest room shares air with another room or a public space.

Accessible rooms include a Two Queens Accessible room of 475 square feet with a roll-in shower and a fold-down seat. Several other categories come in hearing-accessible or mobility-accessible versions. The hotel does not offer rollaway beds and has a limited number of Pack-n-Plays, so request one when you book. Connecting rooms are available on request and depend on availability at check-in.

Pool, fitness and spa

• Pool. An outdoor heated saltwater pool, open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. with room key access. A chair lift is available.
• Fitness center. A 1,600-square-foot gym with floor-to-ceiling windows, free weights, cardio machines and Peloton bikes, open 24 hours for guests.
• Spa treatments. Massages and facials in a private treatment room with its own bath and shower. Day guests who book a treatment can use the pool.
• Yoga. An outdoor Sunday morning class on the lawn in the warmer months, weather permitting.
• Bikes. Free guest bikes with a helmet and lock, booked through the front desk.
• Work. Free high-speed Wi-Fi. Copy, print and scan services through the front desk, which may carry a small charge.
• Meetings and weddings. Indoor meeting rooms, outdoor event lawns and wedding packages.

The hotel is cashless. It takes major credit cards and mobile wallets.

Dining on site

The hotel has a restaurant, a cafe and seasonal outdoor bars:

• ROGER Bar & Restaurant serves California food for dinner every night and brunch on weekends, with a daily happy hour and a wing bar menu later in the evening. Fridays and some other nights have live music.
• The Flyby is the casual cafe, with a coffee bar and made-to-order breakfast. On weekdays it also serves lunch. On weekends the hot breakfast window is shorter and the cafe switches to coffee and pastries for the rest of the day.
• 7 Paintings is a ticketed seven-course dinner with table-top projections and sound, hosted at the hotel. It runs about 2.5 hours.
• ROGER at the Pool and the Airstream Bar are seasonal outdoor spots that open on Memorial Day weekend.

There is no room service. You can order from ROGER or The Flyby online and pick up the food. Hours change by season, so check the hotel's dining page before you plan around a meal. For more choice, our Mountain View food guide covers Castro Street and beyond.

Parking and policies

• Parking. A large on-site garage near the hotel entrance, for a daily fee. EV spaces cost the same as regular ones. There are 12 EV charging stations. Restaurant guests get three free hours.
• Resort fee. None, according to the hotel.
• Check-in and checkout. 3 p.m. and noon. Contactless check-in works through the OpenKey app.
• Pets. Up to two dogs per room, each up to 75 pounds, for a fee per stay. Dogs stay in designated pet-friendly rooms.
• Smoking. The whole property is non-smoking, including e-cigarettes and marijuana. Breaking the rule brings a cleaning fee.
• ID. A valid government-issued ID is required at check-in.

Policies change, so check the hotel's FAQ page before you book.

Who The Ameswell suits

• Business travelers with meetings at NASA Ames, Google or other North Bayshore offices.
• Concertgoers at Shoreline Amphitheatre, which the hotel says you can reach by bike on the Stevens Creek Trail.
• Dog owners with dogs up to 75 pounds.
• Runners and cyclists who want a trail right outside the door.
• Wedding parties who want lawn space and room blocks in one place.

It is less suited to visitors who want to walk to Stanford or downtown Palo Alto, to families who need rollaway beds and to anyone who wants room service. If Stanford is the main reason for your trip, start with our Menlo Park and Mountain View overview to compare locations.

What is nearby

The Computer History Museum is about 2 miles away on Shoreline Boulevard and makes a good rainy-day stop. The Google Visitor Experience at Gradient Canopy is a similar distance, with a public cafe and store but no guided tours. Shoreline Park and its lake sit at the north end of the Stevens Creek Trail. Concert nights at Shoreline and big games at Levi's Stadium push up rates in this part of Mountain View, so compare Mountain View hotels on Expedia if your dates line up with a show.

Booking tips

1. Ask for the view you want. Room descriptions list lawn, NASA Ames or southeastern views. Some categories offer only one or two of those.
2. Book a Wellness King if you work out. It brings the Mirror screen and gear into the room.
3. Bring your own crib plan. There are no rollaways and Pack-n-Plays are limited.
4. Skip the car if you can. Between bikes, Caltrain and rideshare you can avoid the daily garage fee. The hotel has run packages with rideshare credits.
5. Check the events calendar. The hotel hosts live music and themed dinners. Shoreline concerts can fill rooms in summer.

Frequently asked questions