Where to Stay San Diego: Mission Valley
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 Mission Valley area.
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Overview
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 even 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.
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Nearby Attractions and Activities
Being located on the freeway Mission Valley is within easy driving distance of most major attractions. Most all these attractions are a short car drive away. Downtown can be reached by the trolley line which runs from multiple points in Mission Valley, all the way to the Mexican border.
There is also a bike path that runs through the valley and connects to the ocean and Mission Bay. The dedicated bike path is way from traffic but there is a significant ongoing freeway construction. The bike path ends at Ocean Beach, but, assuming no construction closures it is easy to cross the San Diego River to reach Mission Bay and Sea World.
Other attractions:
- Balboa Park which features the San Diego Zoo and many museums is on a mesa above Mission Valley. It is only a 5-10 minute drive by car but not convenient for walking.
- Downtown San Diego and the airport can be reached in about 10 minutes by car. Downtown, but not the airport is reached by the trolley line running through Mission Valley
- Sea World and Mission Bay is located at the west end of Mission Valley
- Pacific Beach and La Jolla are about 10-15 minutes by car
- Two major shopping malls, Fashion Valley and Mission Valley are located a mile apart, across the freeway from most of the hotels.
- The Riverwalk Golf Club is in Mission Valley
- Indoor attractions in Mission Valley include Dave & Buster’s arcade/sports bar/restaurant, iFLY indoor sky diving, and the Mesa Rim Climbing Center
Key Hotels
Most major hotel chains have a location in Mission Valley including La Quinta, Days Inn, Best Western, SpringHill Suites, Motel 6, Comfort Inn, Howard Johnson, DoubleTree, Candlewood Suites, SureStay, Hampton Inn, Courtyard, Holiday Inn Express. These hotels are generally located off Hotel Circle right along the I-8 freeway.
There is a Hilton and Sheraton directly across the freeway from Mission Valley Mall. A large DoubleTree is in the center of action by a small shopping center and near both malls (note there are actually two DoubleTree locations in Mission Valley).
- Check Prices for Hilton Mission Valley on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Hilton Mission Valley on HotelsCombined
- Check Prices for Sheraton Mission Valley on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Sheraton Mission Valley on HotelsCombined
Near the upscale Fashion Valley there is the newly renovated Town and Country Resort. The Town and Country features a convention center and a pool with a large water slide.
- Check Prices for Town and Country Resort on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Town and Country Resort on HotelsCombined
Next door to Town and Country is the Handlery Hotel Mission Valley. This location is also right by Fashion Valley and on the golf course. The Crowne Plaza Mission Valley is also on the golf course near the bike path that runs to the ocean.
- Check Prices for Handlery Hotel Mission Valley on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Handlery Hotel Mission Valley on HotelsCombined
- Check Prices for Crowne Plaza Mission Valley on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Crowne Plaza Mission Valley on HotelsCombined
For visitors interested in a more classic 20th century experience the Kings Inn is a San Diego classic that gets great reviews.
- Check Prices for Kings Inn Mission Valley on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Kings Inn Mission Valley on HotelsCombined
Conclusion
Mission Valley is hard to beat when it comes to value and convenience. When my family first visited San Diego in 1976 we stayed in Mission Valley at the Holiday Inn. This was a perfect location for getting to the San Diego Zoo, Old Town and Sea World, our key reasons for visiting San Diego.
Of course, if you are looking for scenery, an ocean front location or nightlife other neighborhoods of San Diego may be a better fit. There are many nice hotels in Mission Valley. Personally, if I was coming with my family to San Diego, I would pick Mission Valley if there was a significant price difference. For a more romantic getaway I would be more likely to splurge for a place downtown or in the beach area.
San Diego Hotel Guides
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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