POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN F. SCHMUTZ, IRENE C.
PRIMERA AND WILLIAM C. HAMMETT, JR., and each of them his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him in his name, place and stead, in any and capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 of La Quinta
Inns, Inc. and any or all amendments thereto and to file same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes that they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                              /s/ THOMAS M. TAYLOR
                                       --------------------------------------
                                                  Thomas M. Taylor

Dated:  February 21, 1996




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN F. SCHMUTZ, IRENE C.
PRIMERA AND WILLIAM C. HAMMETT, JR., and each of them his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him in his name, place and stead, in any and capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 of La Quinta
Inns, Inc. and any or all amendments thereto and to file same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes that they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                            /s/ WILLIAM C. CUNNINGHAM
                                       --------------------------------------
                                                William C. Cunningham

Dated:  February 21, 1996




                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN F. SCHMUTZ, IRENE C.
PRIMERA AND WILLIAM C. HAMMETT, JR., and each of them his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him in his name, place and stead, in any and capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 of La Quinta
Inns, Inc. and any or all amendments thereto and to file same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes that they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                             /s/ KENNETH T. STEVENS
                                       --------------------------------------
                                                 Kenneth T. Stevens

Dated:  February 21, 1996




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN F. SCHMUTZ, IRENE C.
PRIMERA AND WILLIAM C. HAMMETT, JR., and each of them his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him in his name, place and stead, in any and capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 of La Quinta
Inns, Inc. and any or all amendments thereto and to file same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes that they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                                /s/ PETER STERLING
                                       --------------------------------------
                                                    Peter Sterling

Dated:  February 21, 1996




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN F. SCHMUTZ, IRENE C.
PRIMERA AND WILLIAM C. HAMMETT, JR., and each of them his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him in his name, place and stead, in any and capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 of La Quinta
Inns, Inc. and any or all amendments thereto and to file same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes that they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                                  /s/ GARY L. MEAD
                                       --------------------------------------
                                                      Gary L. Mead

Dated:  February 21, 1996