Where to Stay San Diego: North County Inland and East County
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 in the inland areas of San Diego.
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Overview
The inland areas of San Diego are very different than the beachfront areas. These areas are commonly known as North County and East County. These are suburban areas that bump up against the mountainous region of San Diego.
Once you get into the mountains the area becomes isolated with a focus on camping and outdoor activities. The small town of Julian is San Diego’s mountain retreat.
To the east, beyond the mountains, the land drops again to sea level at the start of the massive Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Desert occupies the southeast corner or California, a large portion of Arizona (including Phoenix and Tucson) and a large portion of Mexico in the state of Sonora and Baja California.
This particular area focuses on the area before the mountains, within 10-miles of San Diego city limits.
Nearby Attractions and Activities
The inland area of San Diego is noted primarily for its suburbs and is not visited by many tourists. The one big ticket attraction is the San Diego Safari Park, on the border of the cities of Escondido and San Diego about 30 miles from downtown.
There are several resorts spread out through this large area. San Diego is popular with retirees and snowbirds from cold states so there are plenty of options for golf and camping.
This area is also home to several San Diego Indian reservations. Gambling is allowed and most of these reservations have built large resorts in the wilds of San Diego.
Note that many lodging choices are far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Much of the charm is having a scenic, fairly rural location with all kinds of activities within a day’s drive.
Key Locations and Notable Lodging
North County
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.
However, there are very few places to stay right by the Safari Park. A great deal of the park’s charm is its isolated nature that can make visitors feel they are actually on a safari. The nearest hotel will be a 15-minute drive from the park.
Most hotels along the I-15 corridor that runs through North County are value chain brands that cater to business travelers to the many office parks in the area. These hotels will be found in Escondido or the Rancho Bernardo neighborhood. Rancho Bernardo is in the far northeast corner of the city of San Diego and is popular both as a retirement community and a prime location for high-tech companies.
One exception to the standard corporate is the luxury Rancho Bernardo Inn which features a very peaceful setting on a golf course.
- Check prices for the Rancho Bernardo Inn on Booking.com
- Check prices for the Rancho Bernardo Inn on HotelsCombined
A few miles north of Escondido is the large Welk Resorts, named after band leader Lawrence Welk. This is a massive complex with its own shopping village. Lodging choices include rooms, suits and villas.
Closer to the ocean is the wealthy neighborhood of Rancho Santa Fe. This is home to some very exclusive high-end lodging options. These places are designed for people that want to away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This includes the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe and the Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa. They are great for romantic getaways.
- Check prices for the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe on Booking.com
- Check prices for the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe on HotelsCombined
- Check prices for the Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa on Booking.com
- Check prices for the Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa on HotelsCombined
East County and Casinos
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.
Honestly we do not know a great deal about the individual casino resorts. Our general impression is that they can be quite luxurious and in many cases they have beautiful rural settings. In some cases they have Las Vegas style swimming pools and buffet dining.
The largest casino properties include:
Viejas Casino in Alpine: This large resort is in Alpine, CA at the foot of the mountains about 35 miles from downtown San Diego.
Sycuan Casino: This is a newly expanded luxury resort about 20 miles from downtown San Diego near the city of El Cajon
Harrah’s Resort Valley Center: A luxury resort north of Escondido near the small town of Valley Center. About an hour drive from downtown San Diego.
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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