Drury Plaza Hotel Mobile is now open in Alabama, replacing a former Drury Inn and Suites with a newly built 186 room property near Interstate 65. Drury Hotels announced the opening on July 9, giving travelers a current lodging option with free parking, included breakfast, evening food and drinks, an outdoor pool and on site dining.
The practical choice is less about novelty than location and included value. The hotel sits outside downtown, so guests should compare its airport and highway access against the ground transportation required for the convention center, cruise terminal, downtown attractions and the new Amtrak service before choosing a rate.
- Opening: Drury Hotels announced the Mobile property was open on July 9, 2026.
- Rooms: The new hotel has 186 king, queen and suite accommodations.
- Location: It is at 812 West I 65 Service Road South near Mobile Regional Airport.
- Included features: Guests receive hot breakfast, the evening 5:30 Kickback, WiFi and parking during the stay.
- Facilities: The property has an outdoor pool and spa, a fitness center, business center and on site restaurant.
- Meeting space: Two rooms provide more than 1,900 square feet and can accommodate up to 270 attendees.
- Best first check: Compare the total rate and cancellation terms with the transportation cost for the actual Mobile itinerary.
What opened at Drury Plaza Hotel Mobile
The official Drury Hotels opening announcement says the property is the company’s fifth hotel in Alabama. It was built on the site of a former Drury Inn and Suites that had operated there for almost four decades, making this a new building at a familiar lodging location rather than a simple brand conversion.
The room inventory includes king rooms, queen rooms and suites, while the public facilities add a fitness center, business center, outdoor pool and spa. Travelers should still select the exact room type from the booking page because capacity, bed configuration, accessibility features and the separation between sleeping and living areas vary by category.
Drury says the new hotel employs 50 full time and part time team members under General Manager Kevin Poehler. That operating confirmation matters because earlier property pages accepted future reservations, while the July announcement and the current hotel page now describe the building as open and welcoming guests.
The opening also expands Drury’s recent southern growth, following properties in markets including Miramar Beach, Tampa, Pigeon Forge and North Charleston. For a Mobile traveler, however, the relevant comparison remains local: whether this Interstate 65 base works better than a downtown hotel, an airport focused stay or a property closer to the cruise terminal.
The location favors drivers and airport access
The hotel is off Interstate 65 near the Shoppes at Bel Air and Mobile Regional Airport. Drury’s property page lists the regional airport at about seven miles, downtown Mobile at about seven miles, the Mobile Convention Center at about ten miles and the Mobile Cruise Terminal at about eleven miles.
Those listed distances show why a car can simplify the stay, but they should not be treated as guaranteed drive times. Traffic, construction, event arrivals and the route chosen by a navigation app can change the trip, so guests with a flight, cruise check in or fixed meeting should build margin rather than plan from mileage alone.
Drury also points to the future Mobile International Airport, which the company says is expected to open in fall 2026. Until an itinerary and airline specifically use that facility, travelers should book and navigate from the airport code printed on the ticket rather than assuming the new terminal is already the arrival point.
The location is not a walkable downtown base. Guests who want to move between waterfront attractions, restaurants, museums and evening events without driving should compare the total experience with downtown lodging, while travelers arriving by car may value the direct highway position and free parking more highly.
Included meals can change the real nightly cost
Drury includes a hot breakfast and its evening 5:30 Kickback with the stay, along with evening popcorn and soda. The Kickback offers a rotating selection of hot food and beverages, which can cover a simple dinner for some guests even though it should not be confused with a full restaurant menu or an all inclusive rate.
The Kitchen and Bar operates in the lobby for guests who want a later meal, quick bite or cocktail. The property page also lists a guest market and around the clock coffee service, giving late arrivals and work travelers more options without requiring an immediate drive after check in.
Included food has the most value when the timing matches the itinerary. A guest arriving after the evening service or leaving before breakfast may receive little benefit, so compare the live service hours with the flight, meeting, rail or cruise schedule before assigning a dollar value to the package.
Families and groups should also check whether every registered guest is covered and whether seating becomes busy at peak times. Saving on meals can make the hotel competitive with a lower advertised rate elsewhere, but only after taxes, room occupancy rules and the actual number of meals used are considered together.
Parking is free, but downtown trips still need a plan
The hotel currently lists free parking during the stay. That is a meaningful advantage for a road trip, a University of South Alabama visit or an itinerary that moves between several parts of Mobile, especially when compared with a downtown rate that may add a separate parking charge.
Free hotel parking does not automatically include cruise parking or permission to leave a vehicle after check out. Cruise travelers should ask the hotel and terminal separately about any package, transfer, storage period or vehicle access instead of assuming a normal room reservation covers the full sailing.
Visit Mobile’s official trip planning site highlights downtown dining, events, museums and waterfront stops, while also noting the city’s position at Interstates 10 and 65. Use that destination material to map the actual stops, then decide whether repeated drives from the hotel are acceptable for the pace of the trip.
Mobile’s Mardi Gras Service provides twice daily Amtrak trips between New Orleans and Mobile with Mississippi Gulf Coast stops, but the downtown station is not beside this hotel. A rail passenger choosing Drury Plaza should price a taxi or ride service for both arrival and departure, then compare that total with a walkable downtown property.
Meeting space makes the hotel a business travel option
The new building has two meeting rooms totaling more than 1,900 square feet, with capacity for as many as 270 attendees. Drury promotes complimentary WiFi for attendees, no food and beverage minimums and a cancellation structure that may allow part of a fee to move to a future event.
Those features can suit training sessions, small conferences, reunions and team gatherings that do not require a large convention hotel. Organizers should request the exact room dimensions, layout capacity, equipment, catering rules, service fees and cancellation language in writing because a headline maximum rarely applies to every seating arrangement.
Road travelers comparing lodging styles can also review Deep Arrival’s Mobile RV parks and campgrounds guide for outdoor bases around the same destination. The Drury opening adds a hotel option with included meals and free parking, while an RV stay serves a different trip built around campground facilities and a traveler’s own vehicle.
A group using the hotel meeting rooms may gain value from included breakfast, evening food and free parking, since those features simplify individual expense planning. A group meeting downtown may reach the opposite conclusion if repeated car trips, ride charges or schedule risk outweigh the savings attached to the room.
Pool, pet and room rules deserve a live check
The outdoor pool and whirlpool are listed with daytime and evening hours, while the fitness and business centers operate around the clock. Weather, maintenance and private circumstances can still affect availability, so a traveler booking specifically for the pool should confirm access close to arrival rather than treating a gallery image as a guarantee.
Dogs and cats are accepted under the current property policy for a daily charge of $50 per room plus tax. The hotel lists a maximum of two pets with a combined weight of 80 pounds, but guests should verify the current fee, room eligibility and any cleaning or behavior requirements before booking.
Standard check in begins at 3 p.m. and check out is at 11 a.m. The hotel lists early check in and late check out at $30 each when available, which means an early flight or late event should be planned with a luggage and timing backup rather than an assumption that a paid extension will be granted.
Cancellation terms vary by rate, dates and reservation conditions. Save the final room description, total price and deadline shown at checkout, particularly when an opening promotion or advance purchase rate looks cheaper than a flexible booking that better protects a changing Gulf Coast itinerary.
How to decide whether the new hotel fits
Drury Plaza Hotel Mobile is strongest for drivers, airport area stays, small meetings and travelers who will use the included food. It is a weaker automatic choice for someone seeking a car free downtown weekend, a guaranteed cruise parking package or a stay organized entirely around the waterfront.
The building is new, but the booking decision should still be conventional and disciplined. Compare the exact room, taxes, cancellation rules, food timing, pet charges and transportation plan against two or three alternatives, then choose the property whose location supports the trip rather than the one with the newest opening announcement.
Decision matrix
| Your Mobile trip | Why the new Drury may fit | Critical check before payment |
|---|---|---|
| Drive through or road trip | Interstate 65 access and free parking reduce arrival friction | Confirm the correct entrance and the cancellation deadline |
| Mobile Regional Airport stay | The property page lists the airport about seven miles away | Map the drive for the actual flight time and airport code |
| Small meeting or training | Two meeting rooms and included guest amenities can simplify costs | Get the exact layout, equipment, fees and cancellation terms |
| Downtown leisure weekend | A car provides access to downtown while preserving free hotel parking | Compare repeated drives with a walkable downtown hotel |
| Cruise departure | The terminal is within the wider Mobile area | Verify cruise parking, transfers and post checkout vehicle rules separately |
| Pet friendly stay | Dogs and cats are accepted under the current policy | Recheck the daily fee, pet limit and combined weight rule |
- Before choosing the hotel: Compare its Interstate 65 location with the downtown, airport, cruise and meeting stops on the itinerary.
- Before valuing the included food: Match breakfast and evening service hours to the arrival and departure schedule.
- Before relying on free parking: Confirm whether the vehicle stays only during the hotel reservation or under a separate cruise package.
- Before booking a group: Request the exact meeting setup, capacity, technology, fees and cancellation language.
- Before payment: Save the room type, total price, pet terms and cancellation deadline from the final screen.
Is Drury Plaza Hotel Mobile open?
Yes. Drury Hotels announced on July 9, 2026, that the newly built 186 room property was open and welcoming guests.
Where is Drury Plaza Hotel Mobile?
The hotel is at 812 West I 65 Service Road South in Mobile, near the Shoppes at Bel Air and Mobile Regional Airport.
Does Drury Plaza Hotel Mobile offer free parking?
The property currently lists free parking during the stay. Cruise passengers should separately verify any extended parking or transfer package before leaving a vehicle beyond check out.
Are breakfast and evening food included?
Yes. Drury lists a hot breakfast and its evening 5:30 Kickback among the included guest amenities, though travelers should confirm current serving hours for their dates.
Does the hotel have meeting space?
Yes. The hotel has two meeting rooms totaling more than 1,900 square feet, with configurations that Drury says can accommodate up to 270 attendees.
