Where to Stay San Diego: Picking the Best Location
San Diego County is huge, larger than some states. Key attractions can be 30 miles or more away from each other. This guide to where to stay in San Diego is designed to help visitors narrow their options when traveling to America’s Finest City.
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Overview
San Diego County is 4,256 square miles in area. If the area was a state it would rank number three in size between Delaware at 2,849 square miles and Connecticut at 5,543 square miles. (An interesting side note in terms of population, if San Diego was a state it would rank at number 30 just behind Connecticut).
Of course, much of San Diego County is mountains and desert. Most first-time visitors will be staying in the coastal area where most of the population resides. This guide focuses on the area that runs along the cost about 50 miles south/north from Imperial Beach at the Mexican border to Oceanside in the north.
This article is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of each area. Each of these regions have a more detailed guide that focus on specific attractions and lodging options.
The areas are presented in the order of how convenient they are to the downtown and airport area.
- Near Downtown/Airport
- Mission Valley
- Central San Diego Beaches and Mission Bay
- La Jolla
- Coronado and South Bay
- North County Coastal
- North County Inland and East County
Downtown and Airport
The San Diego International Airport is one of the most convenient in the country. The airport is small and it is an easy walk from terminal to baggage claim to parking. More importantly it has a prime location right next to downtown, the harbor and Balboa Park.
Downtown San Diego is bustling with activity and is located right on the waterfront. This is a hub of San Diego dining and nightlife. Some of San Diego’s most luxurious hotels are located in this area.
See more about downtown and the airport lodging here
Advantages
- Convenience
- Nightlife
- Dining
- Shopping
Disadvantages
- Price
- Not as kid-friendly
Key Neighborhoods
- Gaslamp/Ballpark
- Harbor Island
- Harbor Front
- Little Italy
- Old Town
- Point Loma (includes Shelter Island and Liberty Station)
- Hillcrest/North Park
Downtown San Diego Hotels in Booking.com
San Diego International Airport Hotels in Booking.com
Mission Valley
Mission Valley is one of the most convenient locations in San Diego. The area runs along the I-8 freeway about 3 miles north of downtown and the airport. The major freeways of San Diego, the I-15, the I-163 and the I-5 run through the valley. There is also a trolley line that connects to downtown.
Almost every major hotel chain has a location in Mission Valley. One of the major streets in the area is named Hotel Circle.
The downside is that the Mission Valley is a commercial area. It is close to the beach and all major attractions but there is no oceanfront view. It is an area similar to countless other suburban commercial districts throughout the U.S. There are even two large shopping malls less than a mile from each other.
See more about Mission Valley lodging here
Advantages
- Ease of Access to downtown and major attractions
- Shopping
- Price
Disadvantage
- Non-scenic setting on freeway
Central San Diego Coast/Mission Bay
Central San Diego Coast is a great option for a beach vacation. The area is near downtown, the airport and most major attractions.
However, the beach area is not for everyone. It can be crowded and noisy. There can also be panhandlers and some seedy activity.
There are surprisingly few big name hotel chains directly on the San Diego beach. However, there are many smaller hotels and alternative options like hostels and bed and breakfast lodging. This is also a prime spot to rent a beachfront property.
The larger hotels are generally in the Mission Bay area. This area can be a great option because it is near both the bay and the ocean. Several of San Diego’s premier resorts are on Mission Bay.
See more about about Central San Diego Beach and Mission Bay lodging here.
Mission Bay Hotels in Booking.com
Advantages
- Beach
- Convenience
- Nightlife
- Dining
- Resort Activities
Disadvantages
- Price
- Crowds
- Limited Options
Key Neighborhoods
- Mission Bay
- Pacific Beach
- Mission Beach
- Ocean Beach
La Jolla
The La Jolla area is located about 10 miles from downtown and the airport. La Jolla is part of the city of San Diego. However, this well-to-do area has its own zip code, postal address and sense of identity.
La Jolla can actually be divided into several distinct neighborhoods. The heart of La Jolla is along the coast in La Jolla Village. This has some of San Diego’s most scenic coastline and great dining and shopping. However, lodging options are somewhat limited.
Getting in and out of central La Jolla can be a challenge. There are only a few access points and they can get crowded.
Much of La Jolla is directly on the coast. However, east of the I-5 is the University Town Center (UTC) commercial district. Many larger La Jolla hotels are in UTC.
There is also the University of California-San Diego/Torrey Pines area which is situated on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean. These can be great areas to stay but they are quite a distance from the center of La Jolla.
See more about La Jolla lodging here
La Jolla Hotels in Booking.com
Advantages
- Scenery
- Shopping
- Dining
- Beach
Disadvantage
- Ease of Access
- High Price
Key Neighborhoods
- La Jolla Village
- La Jolla Shores
- Torrey Pines
- UTC
South Bay and Coronado
The independent city of Coronado is basically an island directly across from downtown San Diego. Technically it is a peninsula connected by the small strip of land, the Silver Strand. However, it feels miles away from urban San Diego.
Coronado is best known for San Diego’s oldest beachfront resort, the Hotel del Coronado. However, there are several other options in the charming downtown area. Coronado has some of the best beaches in San Diego.
The rest of the area south of downtown San Diego is commonly known as South Bay. Lodging here tends to be mainly focused on chain hotels and business travel. Most of the areas are inland on the east side of San Diego Bay. The one exception is the growing beach community of Imperial Beach on the Mexican border.
See more about Coronado and South Bay lodging here.
Coronado Hotels in Booking.com
Advantages
- Generally not as busy
- Great Coronado beaches
- Lower prices (if not in Coronado)
Disadvantage
- Price in Coronado
- Distance from main attractions
- Limited selection
Key Neighborhoods
- Downtown Coronado
- Coronado Silver Strand
- Imperial Beach
- Chula Vista
- National City
North Country Coastal
The term North County Coastal refers to the beachfront area of San Diego that runs about 20 miles from the north border of San Diego to Oceanside. This area includes the towns of Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside.
Each town has its own unique identity including a central beachfront shopping and dining area. These are located along the 101 Coast Highway. The I-5 interstate runs north/south about a mile inland. There are many chain hotel options and some resorts directly off the freeway.
Legoland in Carlsbad is a key attraction in the North County Coastal area. However, driving to downtown San Diego, the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and Sea World can take a long time on crowded San Diego freeways. Note that Del Mar is 20 miles closer to downtown San Diego than Oceanside.
See more about North County Coastal lodging here
Advantages
- Scenery
- Shopping
- Dining
- Beach
- Legoland
Disadvantage
- Far from Central San Diego
Key Neighborhoods
- Del Mar
- Sorrento Valley
- Solana Beach
- Encinitas
- Carlsbad
- Oceanside
If you want to be close to Legoland search with Carlsbad selected as the city
North Country Inland and East County
The inland portion of San Diego is very different than the beachfront areas. These areas are commonly known as North County and East County. These are where many of San Diego’s suburbs and neighboring cities start to bump up against the mountainous region of San Diego.
The city of Escondido, about 30 miles north of downtown is home to the San Diego Safari Park (technically at the north end of San Diego city limits). There are several resorts in the area and many chain locations throughout this suburban area.
Much of the East County area of San Diego runs along the I-8 freeway starting about 10 miles from downtown. This area is mainly about value lodging. However, several of the casino resorts are located in both East County and North County Inland.
See more about lodging options here
Advantages
- Price
- Outdoor Hiking
- Near Mountains
- Casinos
- San Diego Safari Park (North County Inland)
Disadvantage
- Far from Central San Diego
- Not Near Beach
Key Neighborhoods
- Escondido
- Poway
- El Cajon
- La Mesa
To get a hotel near the San Diego Safari Park look in Escondido
Booking.com
Links
Below are links to specific searches to narrow down hotel options by area. To further narrow down options we suggest looking in detail at an area. As always it is recommended to carefully look at pricing.
San Diego, CA Vacation Rentals
Downtown San Diego Hotels in Booking.com
San Diego International Airport Hotels in Booking.com
Hotels near San Diego International Airport and Downtown from HotelsCombined/Kayak
Coronado Hotels in Booking.com
Hotels in Coronado from HotelsCombined/Kayak
La Jolla Hotels in Booking.com
Hotels in La Jolla from HotelsCombined/Kayak
Hotels in Del Mar from HotelsCombined/Kayak
Mission Bay Hotels in Booking.com
Hotels in Mission Bay from HotelsCombined/Kayak
Stay in Sunny San Diego with these vacation rentals from Vrbo!
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