LA QUINTA INNS, INC.

                              OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE

          Pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 10.4 of the Indenture dated as of
September 15, 1995 (the "Indenture"), between La Quinta Inns, Inc. (the
"Issuer") and U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A., as  Trustee (the "Trustee"),
the undersigned officers of the Issuer do hereby certify as follows in
connection with the issuance from time to time under the Indenture of the
Issuer's Medium-Term Notes due more than nine months from date of issue (the
"Notes"), with an aggregate initial public offering price not to exceed
$150,000,000:

          1.   In our opinion, when all of the terms of the Notes have been
established in conformity with the Indenture, all conditions precedent under the
Indenture to the issuance and authentication of the Notes and the delivery of
the Notes by the Issuer shall have been complied with.

          2.   The undersigned have read the conditions referred to in paragraph
1 above and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto.

          3.   The statements of the undersigned contained herein are based upon
our participation in the preparation of the forms of the Notes and a review of
the Indenture.

          4.   Each of the undersigned has made such examination or
investigation as is necessary in our opinion to enable the undersigned to
express an informed opinion as to whether the conditions referred to in
paragraph 1 above have been complied with.

          5.   The forms of the Notes are attached hereto as Exhibits A-1 and 
A-2.

          6.   The form and the terms of the Notes have been established in
compliance with the Indenture.




Dated:  September 16, 1996

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       LA QUINTA INNS, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Gary L. Mead
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Name:  Gary L. Mead
                                           Title: President and Chief Executive
                                                  Officer



                                       By: /s/ William C. Hammett, Jr.
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Name:  William C. Hammett, Jr.
                                           Title: Senior Vice President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer







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