Where to Stay San Diego: La Jolla
The San Diego area is huge and getting around can be a challenge. Choosing a general location to stay is essential for maximizing the enjoyment of a visit to San Diego. Fun Diego Family has created a detailed guide to each of San Diego’s major areas. This is our guide to staying in the La Jolla area.
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Overview
La Jolla is located about 10 miles from downtown and the airport. Officially La Jolla is part of the city of San Diego, but it has its own post office address and is known as San Diego’s most exclusive area.
La Jolla is actually made up of several distinct areas. When most people think of La Jolla they think of the La Jolla village area. However, several miles away, La Jolla is also home to the University of California San Diego (UCSD) which has several lodging options.
Nearby Attractions and Activities
La Jolla is a prime location. The UTC area is right off the I-5 freeway with easy access to downtown San Diego and the airport 10 miles to the south.
The other sections of La Jolla are not as easy to access but have their own built in attractions. Allow half an hour to get to the downtown/airport area and major attractions including the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park.
Key things to do in La Jolla include:
- La Jolla Shores, one of the best family beaches
- Torrey Pines, a beautiful state park with wonderful hikes, beaches and scenic views
- Downtown La Jolla village with shopping and dining
- The rocky beaches of La Jolla which include incredible views, sea lions and seals, snorkeling and scuba diving.
- Classic Southern California surfing scene near Windansea and the Bird Rock area.
- It is important to note that La Jolla consists of several areas that are very different. Picking a more specific location is important for maximizing a visit to La Jolla.
Key Locations and Hotels
La Jolla is a fairly large area. The mountains and canyons surrounding the town means access can be limited. It is generally a 10 to 15 minute drive from one area of La Jolla to another. Therefore, determining where in La Jolla you want to stay is important.
La Jolla Village
La Jolla Village has a small town feel right on the ocean by La Jolla Cove. This is a prime spot with prices to match.
There are some nice boutique style-lodging options in the village. All these places are near prime shopping and diving.
They are also near La Jolla Cove which has some great snorkeling and scuba diving. However, rocky conditions are not as ideal for swimmers and surfers.
The historic La Valencia Hotel stands out for its prime view overlooking La Jolla Cove. The hotel was built in 1926. With its 11-story Spanish tower and pink exterior the La Valencia is a key landmark of La Jolla Village.
A block down the street is the Grande Colonial. This classic hotel was built in 1913 and also overlooks the ocean.
- Check Prices for the Grande Colonial on Booking.com
- Check Prices for the Grande Colonial on HotelsCombined
The Empress Hotel is a block inland and features easy access to shopping and dining.
La Jolla Cove & Suites is a more casual location right on La Jolla Cove in front of the La Valencia. The suites are well-suited for larger groups. Overall, this is a more family-friendly option than the surrounding boutique hotels which are more upscale.
- Check Prices for La Jolla Cove & Suites on Booking.com
- Check Prices for La Jolla Cove & Suites on HotelsCombined
Another low-key option is The Shoal, a former Travelodge motel that has been converted to a nice boutique a block from Windansea Beach. This is a 15-minute walk from the core of the village. However, the beach scene in this area is classic Southern California surf culture.
La Jolla Shores
La Jolla Shores is a beach area about a mile down a steep hill from the village. This is one of the best family beaches in San Diego and there are two beachfront resorts.
La Jolla Shores Hotel and the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club are both right on the beach by all the action. They feature semi-private beaches, which is a rarity in California. Both resorts have the same location and look fairly similar. If we were picking one it would be based on price. However, overall, we prefer the La Jolla Shores Hotel.
If you don’t mind being a block from the beach the La Jolla Riviera Inn is a very nice option that should be significantly less expensive than the beachfront resorts.
- Check Prices for La Jolla Riviera Inn on Booking.com
- Check Prices for La Jolla Riviera Inn on HotelsCombined
Further inland is the high-rise Hotel La Jolla, operated by Hilton. This is a more traditional luxury style hotel that is about a 10-minute walk to the beach.
Torrey Pines
The west end of UCSD is the Torrey Pines area which sits on bluffs several hundred feet above the Pacific Ocean. This is home to Torrey Pines State Preserve and the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course. There are several resort/luxury hotels overlooking the ocean.
The resorts are popular with business travelers (Torrey Pines is a key biotech center) and golfers heading for the famed Torrey Pines Golf Course. Note these lodgings are on a bluff about 300 feet above the ocean so they are great for viewing the ocean from a distance.
Main resorts at Torrey Pines include:
The Lodge at Torrey Pines which is right on the golf course
- Check Prices for the Lodge at Torrey Pines on Booking.com
- Check Prices for the Lodge at Torrey Pines on HotelsCombined
Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa across from UCSD and next to the Salk Institute
- Check Prices for Estancia La Jolla on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Estancia La Jolla on HotelsCombined
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, a resort style hotel next to the golf course
- Check Prices for Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines on HotelsCombined
UTC
East of UCSD is the area known as University Two Center or UTC for short. This is a business district with some high-rise buildings that many mistake for downtown San Diego. There are several luxury hotels, brand name hotels and plenty of shopping (UTC mall) and dining. However, the beach is a few miles away. A trolley line to connect the area to downtown San Diego is in the process of being built and expected to be finished by 2022.
Major high-rise hotels in the UTC area include the Sheraton La Jolla, Hyatt Regency La Jolla, Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego La Jolla.
Conclusion
La Jolla is one of only many great areas to stay in San Diego.
San Diego is our home so we don’t stay in too many hotels in the area. However, we love to travel and have all kinds of experience with maximizing lodging choices.
A starting point is our San Diego Hotel Guide and Tips. This guide applies to travel in general, but has some more San Diego specific advice.
The Where to Stay in San Diego post is designed to help visitors pick a specific area of San Diego.
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