Sonoran Desert Inn & Conference Center

Location: 55 S Orilla Avenue, Ajo, Arizona, 85321, Ajo, US

Star Rating: 2 Stars

Property Type: Hotels

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 03:00 PM - 05:30 AM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Instructions: Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.

Amenities & Facilities

• Free WiFi
• 24-hour front desk
• Garden
• Luggage storage
• Designated smoking area
• Picnic area
• Gift shops or newsstand
• Television in common areas
• Library
• Multilingual staff
• Free self parking
• Shared microwave
• Shared refrigerator
• Stair-free path to entrance
• Accessible shuttle
• No accessible shuttle

Rooms Available

• Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds, Refrigerator & Microwave

  2 Queen Beds

  Overlooking the desert

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Food & Drink - Refrigerator, microwave, and coffee/tea maker

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, free toiletries, and a hair dryer (on request)

  Practical - Desk, iron/ironing board (on request), and local maps

  Comfort - Fresh bed sheets (on request), fresh towels (on request), and air conditioning

  Eco-friendly - Recycling bin

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Air conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Microwave
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Free WiFi
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Local maps
  • Change of towels (on request)
  • Change of bed sheets (on request)

• Gallery Suite, 2 Bedrooms

  1 King Bed and 2 Queen Beds

  Layout - 2 bedrooms and living room

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, free toiletries, and a hair dryer (on request)

  Practical - Desk, iron/ironing board (on request), and local maps

  Comfort - Fresh bed sheets (on request), fresh towels (on request), and air conditioning

  Eco-friendly - Recycling bin

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 7 (6 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Free WiFi
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Local maps
  • Change of towels (on request)
  • Change of bed sheets (on request)

• Deluxe Room, Refrigerator & Microwave

  1 King Bed OR 1 Queen Bed

  Overlooking the desert

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Food & Drink - Refrigerator, microwave, and coffee/tea maker

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, free toiletries, and a hair dryer (on request)

  Practical - Desk, iron/ironing board (on request), and local maps

  Comfort - Fresh bed sheets (on request), fresh towels (on request), and air conditioning

  Eco-friendly - Recycling bin

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Air conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Microwave
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Free WiFi
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Local maps
  • Change of towels (on request)
  • Change of bed sheets (on request)

• Room, 1 King Bed, Kitchenette

  1 King Bed

  Overlooking the desert

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Food & Drink - Kitchenette with refrigerator, stovetop, microwave, and cookware/dishware

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, free toiletries, and a hair dryer (on request)

  Practical - Desk, iron/ironing board (on request), and local maps

  Comfort - Fresh bed sheets (on request), fresh towels (on request), and air conditioning

  Eco-friendly - Recycling bin

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchenette
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Microwave
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Stovetop
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Free WiFi
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Local maps
  • Change of towels (on request)
  • Change of bed sheets (on request)

• Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Refrigerator & Microwave

  1 Queen Bed

  Overlooking the desert

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Food & Drink - Refrigerator, microwave, and coffee/tea maker

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, free toiletries, and a hair dryer (on request)

  Practical - Desk, iron/ironing board (on request), and local maps

  Comfort - Fresh bed sheets (on request), fresh towels (on request), and air conditioning

  Accessibility - Wheelchair accessible

  Eco-friendly - Recycling bin

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Air conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Microwave
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Free WiFi
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Local maps
  • Change of towels (on request)
  • Change of bed sheets (on request)

Guest Reviews

• Erin (10/5): - Great rw
• Kelly (10/5): - Very spacious and quiet room! Charming staff who graciously moved us to another room when I discoveted the lights weren't working.
• Delia (2/5): - No answer, was calling
• Christopher J (10/5): - Highly recommend. Beautiful and comfortable stay.
• Rosa (10/5): - First time staying here. Great staff, very friendly and helpful.The rooms were great and the beds were very comfortable. Really clean rooms with great coffee. I loved the courtyard and the little desert animals that visit. Would definitely recommend this place especially to big groups looking to stay together. Will be back soon. courtyard
• Melissa (10/5): - Ok
• Matthew (8/5): - This is a high quality hotel. Only discomfort came because the AC system in our room was unable to cool room enough for it to be comfortable.
• alisa (10/5): - Great
• Verified traveler (10/5): Hidden Gem - Beautiful hidden gem in Ajo. We will definitely be back! ☺
• Thomas (6/5): - Parking was an issue;not close for handicspped
• Brandon (10/5): - Although I did spot a few hairs and tiny black stains on the bed linens, those minor (and fairly common) imperfections weren't enough to dock a star from otherwise very clean, comfy, quiet place to spend night.
• Cecilyn (2/5): - Cockroaches in our room
• Tim (6/5): - For Ajo it’s nice. Very clean.
• Mark (8/5): Small town America - Was a pleasant stay. Like supporting the small town. Historical place. Chill vibe. They need to post their WiFi code in the rooms. The town does not use T-Mobile just a heads up.
• Joel (10/5): - Quaint and perfect.
• DAVID (4/5): - Old school made into hotel. Shower leaked on cement floor flooding bathroom. Floor was slick had to use all towels. NO staff present to get new towels. Dishes were dirty. Cement floor
• Rim (10/5): - The room was super cute and clean. We absolutely loved staying here and we will return in the future!
• Martin (10/5): - This was a unique location in an old school. We slept in a large classroom. The location was perfect for our trip the next morning. It also seems like a great locatio for a conference.
• Omar (10/5): - Quiet and comfy.
• Patricia (10/5): - This hotel is a charming renovation of an old mission-style school
• Nissi Myles (10/5): - Hidden Gem.
• Martin (6/5): Nice place but… - So, my wife and I recently spent a night at this hotel, which is also a convention center. And let me tell you, it’s a real treat—if you like sharing a beautiful desert garden with a ton of not-so-quiet convention-goers! The garden itself is gorgeous, perfect for a little tranquility. Just don’t expect to keep it peaceful, because you might end up immersed in some deep conversations about spreadsheets or the never-ending battle for the last donut at breakfast. Now, let’s talk about the bistro tables outside. They’re inviting, but those chairs? Yikes! They could definitely use some TLC. You’ll be balancing your drink, hoping it doesn’t topple over while you’re trying to enjoy your conversation (good luck finding a private one!)—or worse, sharing the gossip with everyone else seated nearby. It’s like an unintentional group chat but with actual people! So, if you’re looking for a night of eavesdropping in a lovely desert garden, just keep in mind it’s half convention hall and half "let’s all chat about how the AV equipment is malfunctioning." Honestly, it’s great for a quick stay, but if you want a quiet getaway, you might need to bring earplugs and a lawn chair!
• Harold (10/5): - Nice room. Grounds are nice- coffee and coffee shop very nice.
• Denise (10/5): - The adaptative reuse of this building was a joy to see
• Maria (10/5): Spacious rooms, great place on way to Organ Pipe - Loved our stay at the Sonoran Desert Inn and Conference center in Ajo! We came on our way to Organ Pipe National Monument. Everyone staying there and the staff were super friendly. There was coffee in the Coyote room. The rooms were spacious and a welcome luxury on our trip hiking in the southwest. Even though it was cold outside, there was heat in the rooms. The whole place was charming and community-oriented. Tip for city goers: My husband had espresso around the corner at Curley’s coffee and a yummy sticky bun.
• James (10/5): - What a pleasant stay . The Gallery 1 room was super nice. Five of us fit in there easily. And the shower had plenty of hot water for all of us.
• Daniel (10/5): Excellent - Excellent accommodations
• Donald (10/5): Unique and quiet - I would not hesitate to stay here again. After reading reviews of the places to stay in Ajo I chose the Sonoran Desert Inn for its uniqueness. It was very quiet and peaceful.
• Michael (10/5): - Weve been staying
• Arden (10/5): - Great room.
• JANICE (10/5): - A lovely experience in Ajo, Az. Room was very spaceous, exceptionally decorated, very clean, quiet, comfortable beds, great gift shop. We will stay here again....no doubt!
• Eloise (10/5): - Excellent
• Debra (8/5): - Beautiful building. Would have been nice to have dining options on site.
• Rebecca Rae (8/5): - The property was hard to maneuver around by car and some of the things were dated. Like some plumbing and the door lock. All of these things are fixable the most important thing was how welcoming the staff was and the quietness of the surrounding area. Everyone was respectful and friendly.
• Kathryn (10/5): - Fabulous historic property, with modern touches. We stayed in an old school room, with modern updated. New bathrooms. Ajo was a fun town, great pizza place in town, fun center square and great visitor center. Nice 1-2 day visit.
• Forrest (10/5): - We really enjoyed the Inn, from the room to the beautiful courtyards. Loved the Plaza and the Elks Club. We will be back.
• DeForest (10/5): - Beautiful property in a wonderful town!
• Malcolm (10/5): - This is an interesting and unique property. It is an artful restoration of a historic building.
• Robert (8/5): - Former school converted into a conference center and hotel. Quite large rooms have a unique character. Clean. Easy parking. Nice common area gardens and pleasant staff. No tv. Good wifi signal. Food availability minimal and no amenities. In-room fresh ground coffee a very nice touch and nice gift shop. Overall, an enjoyable, comfortable room and place and easily the best hotel in Ajo, albeit a high price for the area. Would stay here again.
• Victoria (10/5): Very Unique Stay - Amazing renovated school. Our room I think was a former classroom and it was HUGE, with high ceilings and very large windows. Plenty of space. Great courtyard where I strolled and watched hummingbirds. Nice gift shop with free coffee. This is really such a unique place. Would definitely stay here again.
• Kathi (8/5): - Clean quiet facility. Only complaint was where my room was. At end of walkway, and was advertised as view of desert courtyards. All I saw was a wall.
• Joe (10/5): - Very beautiful courtyard, relaxed environment!
• Scott (10/5): Nice getaway - Awesome place. Grounds and rooms were well kept and staff was super nice.
• ROMMY (4/5): - It’s a nice building, clean rooms but super noisy rooms ,
• Michael (10/5): - Excellent room, spacious and comfortable. Beautiful and peaceful haven.
• Dennis (10/5): PEACE AND QUIET - Very peaceful setting.
• James (10/5): - If you're staying in Ajo, you know there's not much there. SDICC is an unexpected bit of desert charm. Unique, very comfortable, and lots of character (in a good way). Easy walk to the Plaza, with the only coffee shop in town, and a wonderful art gallery. Hotel gift shop is awesome, too.
• Sandra (10/5): - Very Nice , Quiet location, not a whole lot to do but its great if your looking for relaxation
• MaryBeth (10/5): - This is our third time staying here and it’s always a great experience! We stayed in Gallery 1 and the space and price plus the beautiful scenery is why we keep returning here.
• Nicholas (10/5): Gem in the desert - Fantastic stay, very quiet, rooms are spacious and modern, has a great celling fan, bathroom is fantastic with a great shower. Served as a great basecamp for Organ Pipe National Monument.
• Inga (8/5): - Beautiful artwork!
• Donald (10/5): - This was a wonderful stay. Quiet, clean rooms, attentive staff.
• Desislava (10/5): - Great place! Definitely recommend!
• Cheryl (10/5): - The property was very charming. It is a repurposed old elementary school. The room was very large and laid out nicely, lighting was unique. I especially enjoyed the courtyard with seating areas and lovely landscaping. Ajo is a small community, a former copper mining town (the mine closed in 1985). We ate at Agave Grill, food was good and staff very friendly.
• Susan (10/5): Best place in Arizona! - Unexpected great. So unique. Tranquil and Calm. Will spread the word to everyone. Highly recommended.
• Arthur (10/5): - A nice surprise, totally enjoyed our stay.
• Mary Jo (10/5): - beautiful southwestern atmosphere with colorful sitting areas in the common outdoor landscape
• Angie (10/5): - The place was very quiet and serene. It’s a 10 minute walk to their center/Plaza. There is a coffee shop close by which can be convenient during summertime. We did enjoy our stay and will definitely stay again. The outdoor space was really nice to use and they have an office/small store that promote local sellers. I did some research and found out that the building used to be a school and thought that was pretty cool.
• Paul (10/5): - Some what hard to find but a real gem in Ajo. Peace and quite just right.
• Lisa (10/5): Overnight stay - My husband and I stay here on our way to Puerto Penasco, Mexico. The self check in is always easy, the place is dog friendly and the room is extremely comfortable. We love this place!
• Alan (10/5): - Key code check in was great. Converted historic elementary school.
• shannon (10/5): - We really enjoyed our stay the property was in perfect shape.we koved the gardens with all the native plants and trees
• Todd (8/5): - This is a very unique place. An oasis in the desert, in a very interesting little town.
• John (10/5): - Quiet. Easy self-checkin. Centrally located
• Joel (4/5): - Not what expected
• Steve (10/5): - Very nice location. Easy to find and no hassle check in. Would definitely stay here again!😁
• Paul (10/5): Loved Ajo - Excellent choice for Ajo! Help support a non profit group and the local community facing economic headwinds by supporting the SDICC. Nice spacious rooms, quiet, with access to sitting area outside and an interesting story of the conversion of an old school to a motel. Would definitely stay here again when visiting the area. We visited Organ PipeCactus NM which is about 20- 30 min easy drive south.
• Fiona (8/5): - Was difficult to find the reception when we arrived after dark pulling cases. Room was lovely. Could do with offering breakfast even if it costs extra as no where around.
• Verified traveler (10/5): Best place to stay in Ajo - Our stay was excellent the staff was very attentive to our needs. We would diffinitely stay there again.
• Gwenneth (8/5): - Website and notices in room about microwaveable frozen meals available are wrong, nothing available. When restaurant options are limited and they, as well as IGA, close earlier than most are used to, it’s disappointing and frustrating. Phone communication unreliable. Beautiful facility and town, more professional management here is called for.
• Thomas (10/5): - The room is spacious and beautifully decorated. I especially enjoyed their book on Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument because I was going there the next day. It greatly enhanced my park experience.
• Maria (8/5): Wonderful Stay - Came for one night trip. Very quiet no staff or other guests noise. Only issue was ac would not kick on. Ceiling fan did the job.
• Francis (10/5): - Very pleasant and comfortable room. There's a nice sitting area and a small kitchen with microwave, fridge, toaster, coffee maker and sink. The bathroom was on the small side, but nicely appointed. Shower was great with good water pressure and spray width from shower head. Clearly the best choice to stay if you're visiting the area.
• Verified traveler (8/5): Best place in town - Overall very quiet and clean, would stay again. The grounds are nice. There were a couple of maintenance items that should have been caught by the cleaning staff.
• Irene (10/5): - This property is perhaps unique in that the hotel is cleverly transformed from a school building. Very comfortable and attractive rooms with large bathroom. Lovely central plaza with well kept garden. Simple breakfast available. Great option for breakfast is the Oasis Bakery on the city Plaza. The friendly town welcomes seniors.
• k r (10/5): - The facility is a converted old school, very sensitively done. With high ceilings generous rooms it feèls like something from another century. Ajo is a very small, poor community it lacks much in the way of restaurants it does have a combo grocery, Ace hardware - a couple of gas stations and a Laundromat be forwarned come prepared - power failed for 16 hours one day of our stay for the whole town, actually from Gila Bend all the way thru Ajo and Organ Pipes park to the Mexican border! No cards accepted being some cash.... Gas stations couldn't pump - everything shut down until the next day
• Vicky (10/5): - We really enjoyed the quiet and peaceful atmosphere. The rooms were lovely and we had had a great time.
• Fay (10/5): - The property was well maintained and the room was nice and comfortable.
• Sally (10/5): - The rooms are huge and close to plaza
• Verified traveler (8/5): - Stay far exceeded our expectations. There are almost no places to eat in the town. We were there on a Tuesday when a lady does come and offer prepared meals. Had we been aware that she was definitely appearing we would not have purchased frozen meals from Circle K. Better communication needed.
• Amanda (10/5): Cute Little Inn - Cute little inn - clean and comfortable. I arrived late and left early in the morning so I didn’t get a chance to use the courtyard or try the breakfast. There is no TV, if that’s important to you.
• Jane (10/5): - It is probably the only property worth staying at in Ajo, Az. The room was spacious. We had to request a coffee maker. It had a fridge and microwave. No TV or library as notes on one webpage. Desert garden area lovely and inviting. It is a quiet and serene spot. A nice little shop filled with local artisans work is with the main office. Dining experiences in Ajo are dismal. The SDCC doesn’t have a restaurant or cafe associated with it. There are frozen meals that can be purchased. They are ok. Meal planning requires some thought before you even arrive in Ajo.
• Dianne (10/5): - We liked the natural setting of the property. Loved the courtyard and the night bats and owls. Beautiful location!!! The room was perfect..but for the noisy at night ceiling fan and maybe instructions for the a/c could be better explained. Overall...we loved the room!!!! Loved the hosts!! And would recommend to all!!!!!!
• Ken (10/5): - Not fancy, just everything that you need.
• Janrt (10/5): - We could hear coyotes at night. Just a relaxed stay
• Teressa (10/5): - This is an absolutely lovely place to stay. I felt so comfortable and it is obvious that the operators care very much about the property and its guests. The women working in the office/gift shop during our stay were very kind and the shop has an array of wonderful products. I will absolutely stay here again. P.S. the bed was so comfy!!
• Peter (10/5): - Unusual quiet peaceful lodging in a former school. High ceiling.. all the basics . How rare. No TVs. Time for soul searching. Just a walk from the Spanish style square. Ajo — a mix of Anglo retirees., Mexican-Americans and Native Americans —is welcoming!
• Brook (10/5): - Delightful stay at this adorable inn. Enjoyed the unique room, the central courtyard garden, the breakfast burritos, coffee and local goods available at the gift shop/office, and the staff was extremely friendly. Will stay again!
• Andrea (10/5): Beautiful introduction to the desert - Beautiful building, garden and surroundings. Very quiet.
• Joe (10/5): - Nice pool
• Laura (10/5): - I love the setting in Ajo, with a large common area (with fire pit) a new gift shop, coffee shop next door, and just two blocks from the charming Ajo plaza. Rooms are spacious and the contact-free entry (in which your room number and door code are emailed to you) is hard to beat. No more lost key cards or getting locked out.
• Ruth (10/5): - We loved our stay at the Sonoran Desert Inn and Conference Center. We felt like finding this place was such a gift in our cross- country trip. People were very friendly. We loved finding this artist community in the middle of the Sonoran desert. Our only regret is that we couldn’t stay longer. The gift shop was wonderful. The vibe was fabulous. We hope to be back soon.
• Jaime (8/5): - No tv in room. Nice courtyard with desert landscaping. Confusing thermostat instructions. Thin walls, could hear neighbors in adjoining room.
• Matt (8/5): - Pretty nice property. Bit noisy with thinner walls, but overall the property is nice.
• Ryan (10/5): Peaceful and spacious, loved my stay! - I loved my stay at this peaceful, quiet, beautiful place. The grounds are beautiful, it's an interesting historical building, and the town of Ajo is simply amazing. Walk to the historic town square and get a coffee in the AM... can't beat it.
• James (10/5): Great Stay - Had two rooms for the fam. Stayed here prior to visit to Organ Pipe Cactus NM.They sent erroneous door lock codes to us, so the check in was delayed like 20 mins (we showed up after office hours). Minor hiccup. We LOVED the premises and ambiance. Old school repurposed as a hotel. We loved seeing all the birds and the plants and flowers. Made for such a lovely morning. Loved the style of the rooms. Would seek this place out if in the area again.
• Michael (10/5): - The property was beautiful! very clean and well taken care of!! Will definitely visit again!
• Nancy (10/5): Great hotel - This is a great hotel. It is a converted schoolhouse. Very nice and clean. Please note there is no TV and restaurants are very few. We did eat at Jody's lunchinette.
• Michael (10/5): - it's a non-profit, a former school. All the people were great. No TV and they expect people to be quiet after 9 so that was really nice.
• Tina M. (10/5): - All was good and seemed clean. I did detect a slight urine odor, I had to light a Candle.

Photos