Where We Stay in San Diego with Kids: Homewood Suites Liberty Station
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After a lot of San Diego trips with four boys, we’ve found the hotel that just works for our family: Homewood Suites Liberty Station.
It is not the most glamorous hotel, and it may be aging a bit, but the space, the layout, and the location make our trips easier and more enjoyable. And, this is why we keep coming back!
Why We Keep Staying at the Homewood Suites at Liberty Station
- Space that fits a big family. The two-bedroom suites have two bathrooms with a living area and kitchen in between. Even the one-bedroom works for us if it has two queens in the bedroom plus the living area with a pull-out couch and a full kitchen.
- Location that saves our sanity. Close to a variety of restaurants at Liberty Station, and in normal traffic most major attractions are about 30 minutes or less from the hotel.
- Easy Airport Access. About a 5-minute drive to SAN with a complimentary shuttle during set hours. Double-check the hotel’s shuttle schedule before your trip.
- Walkable evenings at Liberty Station. We love Liberty Station. From the hotel, we can walk to multiple restaurants and even a couple of grocery stores. Being able to come back in the late afternoon and not get in the car again for dinner makes everyone happier and dinner goes smoother.
- Feels safe with kids. The Liberty Station area feels very safe for families with kids. We’ve felt comfortable walking between the hotel and Liberty Station restaurants as a family, including after sunset.
- Complimentary breakfast. It makes our first meal of the day a no-brainer so we can get out the door faster.
- Amenities that let mom exhale. Sometimes the little conveniences of a hotel make me feel like I’m on vacation too. 💛
Room Setups That Work for a Family of Six
- What we book first: a two-bedroom suite so we have two bathrooms and the living room/kitchen in the middle.
- Our backup plan: a one-bedroom suite with two queens plus the living area with pull-out couch and a full kitchen.
- Why the kitchen matters: Nice to have a full refrigerator to keep plenty of drinks cold, have snacks ready after a busy day out, and keep food if we want to pack a lunch.
Liberty Station with Kids: What We Like
We like places where we can walk. From this hotel we can walk to dinner, grab groceries, and unwind without more driving. On tired kid nights, the short walk to food is everything.
What the Homewood Suites Isn’t
This is not a trendy or luxury hotel. It may be aging a little. For us, space and location beat “fancy,” and this hotel delivers on the parts that matter to our family.
How We Plan Days from Here
💡First-timer Tip: If this is your first time in San Diego, take a ride on the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour. It’s an easy way to get around and get a feel for the area, and our kids love it!
- USS Midway and Harbor morning (USS Midway tickets) with lunch at Seaport Village, then walkable dinner at Liberty Station.
- Balboa Park museum day with an afternoon break in the suite and an easy walk to dinner.
- Old Town history stroll with dinner plus a quiet evening back at the hotel.
- San Diego Zoo big day (San Diego Zoo tickets) with an early start and a late-afternoon reset back at the suite. Walk to dinner at Liberty Station so no one has to get back in the car.
- La Jolla coast day with a morning beach or coast walk, time to explore tide pools if timing works, and a relaxed lunch in La Jolla. Optional: Book a La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour. Head back for a low-key evening and an easy walk to dinner at Liberty Station.
How Long It Takes From Homewood Suites Liberty Station
Our typical drive times in normal to light traffic. Add 10-20 minutes during rush hour or busy weekends. Plan to build in some extra time for parking.
- Airport (SAN): about 5-7 minutes
- USS Midway/Embarcadero: about 10-15 minutes
- Balboa Park (Fleet Science Center, San Diego Natural History Museum): about 15-17 minutes
- San Diego Zoo: about 18-20 minutes
- Old Town: about 10-12 minutes
- SeaWorld: about 12-15 minutes
- Mission Beach/Belmont Park: about 15-20 minutes
- La Jolla Cove: about 20-30 minutes
- Cabrillo National Monument: about 15-20 minutes
- Coronado Beach (bridge): about 20-25 minutes
- Sunset Cliffs: about 12-15 minutes
🚶Walkable: Liberty Station restaurants and groceries in about 5-10 minutes
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Our Family’s Pick: Homewood Suites Liberty Station
We keep coming back for the space, the kitchen, complimentary breakfast, and the easy, walkable evenings at Liberty Station.
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Quick FAQs
Is it the fanciest hotel? No. For us, space and location matter more than fancy.
Can it fit a family of six? Yes, the two-bedroom suite fits us best, but the one-bedroom with two queens plus the pull-out has also worked for us.
How close is it to the airport? About a 5-minute drive to San Diego International. Starting and ending the trip without a long commute is a huge win for us!
Is there an airport shuttle? Yes. The hotel runs a complimentary shuttle to SAN during set hours (early morning through evening). Confirm current times with the front desk.
Do you need a car every evening? We often walk to dinner and groceries in Liberty Station, which is why we love this location. There are plenty of restaurants within a short walk.
What kind of breakfast does the Homewood Suites have? Complimentary hot-and-cold breakfast. We’ve seen things like a build-your-own taco bar, pastries, yogurt, cereal, and more.
Does the Homewood Suites have free dinner? Some evenings there’s a light dinner with drinks. On nights it isn’t offered, we just walk across the parking lot to Oggi’s for an easy pizza night. 🍕
Does this fit your family?
Where you stay needs to be right for your family. We all have different needs and priorities.
For our family, space, walkability, convenience, and a clean room matter most.
That’s why we keep choosing Homewood Suites Liberty Station as our base.
If that sounds like your checklist too, it might be a great fit. 💕
✨If you want to compare prices across other San Diego hotels, check current deals here.
💛 Or, if a San Diego vacation rental suits your family better, browse top VRBO rentals.
Ready to plan the fun part? Start with my 4-day San Diego itinerary and check out these San Diego Family Vacation Tips.
Plan Your San Diego Days the Easy Way
Grab my Free Family Trip Itinerary Planner so you can plug in one of the day plans from this post and head out the door without stress.
May you LOVE your adventure! KW
