One block north of the Best Western, the slightly larger Holiday Inn Express Calexico has 73 rooms, an outdoor pool and a health/fitness center. The hotel is on the west side of CA 111 along the frontage road (2501 Scaroni Rd), a mile north of downtown Calexico. The two closest restaurants are an Applebee's adjacent and a Denny's one block south. Although the immediate surroundings are farmland, various recreation sites in the desert are a short drive away including Jacumba Outstanding Natural Area to the west and the Algodones Dunes to the northeast.

The Best Western John Jay Inn of Calexico is at the north edge of town, close to the flat, low elevation farmland that characterizes this part of southeast California. The border with Mexico is just 3 miles south. The hotel has 58 rooms on 3 floors, located just off highway 111 (Cole Blvd exit) between Calexico and exit 118 of I-8 - opposite a Wal-Mart and close to a good selection of restaurants. The main amenities are free continental breakfast, outdoor pool and exercise room.

Quality Inn Calexico is a good choice for budget lodging in town; renovated in 2009, the two storey, exterior corridor, pet friendly motel provides free deluxe continental breakfast, free internet access and an outdoor pool. Some of the 41 rooms feature a microwave, refrigerator and flat screen TV. Also on site is a restaurant/bar, and there are many more places to eat nearby along the main road (Imperial Avenue), which leads to the Mexican border 0.7 miles south.