diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage.assets.json b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage.assets.json
index db2c8968290bb..872628ace4441 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage.assets.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage.assets.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "version": "36.0.0",
   "files": {
-    "c92b6489cd9a42747721409b6cf36d4fd60f282aec41408e311e49349c6c6149": {
+    "3bd472ac3fdbd7c291e3c4ef13df0429da6c1e0717dde5b304790b77637a72c3": {
       "source": {
         "path": "integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage.template.json",
         "packaging": "file"
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
       "destinations": {
         "current_account-current_region": {
           "bucketName": "cdk-hnb659fds-assets-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}",
-          "objectKey": "c92b6489cd9a42747721409b6cf36d4fd60f282aec41408e311e49349c6c6149.json",
+          "objectKey": "3bd472ac3fdbd7c291e3c4ef13df0429da6c1e0717dde5b304790b77637a72c3.json",
           "assumeRoleArn": "arn:${AWS::Partition}:iam::${AWS::AccountId}:role/cdk-hnb659fds-file-publishing-role-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}"
         }
       }
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage.template.json b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage.template.json
index efbad12109245..8478cc7befcd1 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage.template.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage.template.json
@@ -6,30 +6,6 @@
     "Name": "my-api"
    }
   },
-  "myapiDeployment92F2CB4972a890db5063ec679071ba7eefc76f2a": {
-   "Type": "AWS::ApiGateway::Deployment",
-   "Properties": {
-    "Description": "Automatically created by the RestApi construct",
-    "RestApiId": {
-     "Ref": "myapi4C7BF186"
-    }
-   },
-   "DependsOn": [
-    "myapiGETF990CE3C"
-   ]
-  },
-  "myapiDeploymentStagedevB1704B15": {
-   "Type": "AWS::ApiGateway::Stage",
-   "Properties": {
-    "DeploymentId": {
-     "Ref": "myapiDeployment92F2CB4972a890db5063ec679071ba7eefc76f2a"
-    },
-    "RestApiId": {
-     "Ref": "myapi4C7BF186"
-    },
-    "StageName": "dev"
-   }
-  },
   "myapiGETF990CE3C": {
    "Type": "AWS::ApiGateway::Method",
    "Properties": {
@@ -49,46 +25,19 @@
     }
    }
   },
-  "MyDeployment74F2406B6f3141cef1e8fea8ab3b3b8bc90df36d": {
+  "MyManualDeployment92F2175C6f3141cef1e8fea8ab3b3b8bc90df36d": {
    "Type": "AWS::ApiGateway::Deployment",
    "Properties": {
     "RestApiId": {
      "Ref": "myapi4C7BF186"
-    }
+    },
+    "StageName": "myStage"
    },
    "DependsOn": [
     "myapiGETF990CE3C"
    ]
   }
  },
- "Outputs": {
-  "myapiEndpoint3628AFE3": {
-   "Value": {
-    "Fn::Join": [
-     "",
-     [
-      "https://",
-      {
-       "Ref": "myapi4C7BF186"
-      },
-      ".execute-api.",
-      {
-       "Ref": "AWS::Region"
-      },
-      ".",
-      {
-       "Ref": "AWS::URLSuffix"
-      },
-      "/",
-      {
-       "Ref": "myapiDeploymentStagedevB1704B15"
-      },
-      "/"
-     ]
-    ]
-   }
-  }
- },
  "Parameters": {
   "BootstrapVersion": {
    "Type": "AWS::SSM::Parameter::Value<String>",
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/manifest.json b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/manifest.json
index 5606d4145ec7e..0a20a38e77133 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/manifest.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/manifest.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
         "validateOnSynth": false,
         "assumeRoleArn": "arn:${AWS::Partition}:iam::${AWS::AccountId}:role/cdk-hnb659fds-deploy-role-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}",
         "cloudFormationExecutionRoleArn": "arn:${AWS::Partition}:iam::${AWS::AccountId}:role/cdk-hnb659fds-cfn-exec-role-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}",
-        "stackTemplateAssetObjectUrl": "s3://cdk-hnb659fds-assets-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}/c92b6489cd9a42747721409b6cf36d4fd60f282aec41408e311e49349c6c6149.json",
+        "stackTemplateAssetObjectUrl": "s3://cdk-hnb659fds-assets-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}/3bd472ac3fdbd7c291e3c4ef13df0429da6c1e0717dde5b304790b77637a72c3.json",
         "requiresBootstrapStackVersion": 6,
         "bootstrapStackVersionSsmParameter": "/cdk-bootstrap/hnb659fds/version",
         "additionalDependencies": [
@@ -40,34 +40,16 @@
             "data": "myapi4C7BF186"
           }
         ],
-        "/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/my-api/Deployment/Resource": [
-          {
-            "type": "aws:cdk:logicalId",
-            "data": "myapiDeployment92F2CB4972a890db5063ec679071ba7eefc76f2a"
-          }
-        ],
-        "/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/my-api/DeploymentStage.dev/Resource": [
-          {
-            "type": "aws:cdk:logicalId",
-            "data": "myapiDeploymentStagedevB1704B15"
-          }
-        ],
-        "/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/my-api/Endpoint": [
-          {
-            "type": "aws:cdk:logicalId",
-            "data": "myapiEndpoint3628AFE3"
-          }
-        ],
         "/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/my-api/Default/GET/Resource": [
           {
             "type": "aws:cdk:logicalId",
             "data": "myapiGETF990CE3C"
           }
         ],
-        "/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/MyDeployment/Resource": [
+        "/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/MyManualDeployment/Resource": [
           {
             "type": "aws:cdk:logicalId",
-            "data": "MyDeployment74F2406B6f3141cef1e8fea8ab3b3b8bc90df36d"
+            "data": "MyManualDeployment92F2175C6f3141cef1e8fea8ab3b3b8bc90df36d"
           }
         ],
         "/integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/BootstrapVersion": [
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/tree.json b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/tree.json
index ae815a75f23eb..59fa3c93fb757 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/tree.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.js.snapshot/tree.json
@@ -26,71 +26,6 @@
                   "version": "0.0.0"
                 }
               },
-              "Deployment": {
-                "id": "Deployment",
-                "path": "integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/my-api/Deployment",
-                "children": {
-                  "Resource": {
-                    "id": "Resource",
-                    "path": "integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/my-api/Deployment/Resource",
-                    "attributes": {
-                      "aws:cdk:cloudformation:type": "AWS::ApiGateway::Deployment",
-                      "aws:cdk:cloudformation:props": {
-                        "description": "Automatically created by the RestApi construct",
-                        "restApiId": {
-                          "Ref": "myapi4C7BF186"
-                        }
-                      }
-                    },
-                    "constructInfo": {
-                      "fqn": "aws-cdk-lib.aws_apigateway.CfnDeployment",
-                      "version": "0.0.0"
-                    }
-                  }
-                },
-                "constructInfo": {
-                  "fqn": "aws-cdk-lib.aws_apigateway.Deployment",
-                  "version": "0.0.0"
-                }
-              },
-              "DeploymentStage.dev": {
-                "id": "DeploymentStage.dev",
-                "path": "integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/my-api/DeploymentStage.dev",
-                "children": {
-                  "Resource": {
-                    "id": "Resource",
-                    "path": "integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/my-api/DeploymentStage.dev/Resource",
-                    "attributes": {
-                      "aws:cdk:cloudformation:type": "AWS::ApiGateway::Stage",
-                      "aws:cdk:cloudformation:props": {
-                        "deploymentId": {
-                          "Ref": "myapiDeployment92F2CB4972a890db5063ec679071ba7eefc76f2a"
-                        },
-                        "restApiId": {
-                          "Ref": "myapi4C7BF186"
-                        },
-                        "stageName": "dev"
-                      }
-                    },
-                    "constructInfo": {
-                      "fqn": "aws-cdk-lib.aws_apigateway.CfnStage",
-                      "version": "0.0.0"
-                    }
-                  }
-                },
-                "constructInfo": {
-                  "fqn": "aws-cdk-lib.aws_apigateway.Stage",
-                  "version": "0.0.0"
-                }
-              },
-              "Endpoint": {
-                "id": "Endpoint",
-                "path": "integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/my-api/Endpoint",
-                "constructInfo": {
-                  "fqn": "aws-cdk-lib.CfnOutput",
-                  "version": "0.0.0"
-                }
-              },
               "Default": {
                 "id": "Default",
                 "path": "integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/my-api/Default",
@@ -144,19 +79,20 @@
               "version": "0.0.0"
             }
           },
-          "MyDeployment": {
-            "id": "MyDeployment",
-            "path": "integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/MyDeployment",
+          "MyManualDeployment": {
+            "id": "MyManualDeployment",
+            "path": "integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/MyManualDeployment",
             "children": {
               "Resource": {
                 "id": "Resource",
-                "path": "integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/MyDeployment/Resource",
+                "path": "integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage/MyManualDeployment/Resource",
                 "attributes": {
                   "aws:cdk:cloudformation:type": "AWS::ApiGateway::Deployment",
                   "aws:cdk:cloudformation:props": {
                     "restApiId": {
                       "Ref": "myapi4C7BF186"
-                    }
+                    },
+                    "stageName": "myStage"
                   }
                 },
                 "constructInfo": {
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.ts
index 6902eb4f6bee7..94a819f1561bd 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-apigateway/test/integ.restapi.import-deploymentstage.ts
@@ -6,16 +6,14 @@ const app = new cdk.App();
 const stack = new cdk.Stack(app, 'integtest-restapi-import-deployment-stage');
 
 const api = new apigateway.RestApi(stack, 'my-api', {
-  deployOptions: {
-    stageName: 'dev',
-  },
+  deploy: false,
 });
 api.root.addMethod('GET');
 
 // Create a new deployment that uses existing stage
-new apigateway.Deployment(stack, 'MyDeployment', {
+new apigateway.Deployment(stack, 'MyManualDeployment', {
   api: api,
-  stageName: 'dev',
+  stageName: 'myStage',
 });
 
 new integ.IntegTest(app, 'restapi-import-deployment-stage', {
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/lib/deployment.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/lib/deployment.ts
index 4451a878da496..42670161e340f 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/lib/deployment.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/lib/deployment.ts
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ export interface DeploymentProps {
   readonly retainDeployments?: boolean;
 
   /**
-   * The stage of the API Gateway deployment.
+   * The name of the stage the API Gateway deployment deploys to.
    *
-   * @default - If `stageName` is not specified, a "prod" stage will be automatically created for the API Gateway deployment.
+   * @default - No stage name.
    */
   readonly stageName?: string;
 }