Where to Stay in Los Angeles with Kids: A Mom’s Guide to Choosing the Right Area

When I first started planning our Los Angeles family vacation, I made the same mistake I think a lot of families make.

I immediately started searching for the best hotels in Los Angeles for families.

Then I compared reviews. Looked at prices. Pulled up maps to see how far each hotel was from Universal Studios, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and every other place on our list.

Instead of making the decision easier, I just became more overwhelmed.

It finally clicked that I was asking the wrong question.

Before you choose a hotel, you need to decide what you want your Los Angeles trip to look like.

The attractions and neighborhoods are spread out, and where you stay can have a huge impact on how much time you spend sitting in traffic instead of making memories with your family.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to choose the best area to stay based on your family’s priorities, share why we chose Glendale, and help you decide which part of Los Angeles is the right fit for your trip.

Before You Book a Hotel or Vacation Rental

One of the biggest things I learned while planning our Los Angeles trip is that you shouldn’t choose your hotel or vacation rental first.

Instead, start by deciding which attractions and areas are the highest priority for your family.

Los Angeles is enormous, and many of its most popular attractions are spread throughout the city.

While it may look like everything is close together on a map, traffic can quickly turn what seems like a short drive into an hour or more.

Before you start comparing places to stay, make a simple list of your family’s must-do attractions. Ask yourself questions like:

• Is Universal Studios the main reason we’re visiting?
• Do we want to spend time at the beach?
• Is Hollywood a must-see?
• Are we planning to visit Disneyland too?
• Do we want to experience several different areas of Los Angeles?

Once you know your priorities, choosing where to stay becomes much easier.

Instead of searching for the “best” hotel, you can focus on finding the area that best fits your itinerary, helping you spend less time sitting in traffic and more time enjoying your vacation.

Don’t Forget About Your Airport

One thing that’s easy to overlook when deciding where to stay is which airport you’re flying into.

If you’re arriving late at night or have an early morning flight home, staying closer to your airport can make your travel days much less stressful.

For our trip, we flew into and out of Hollywood Burbank Airport, so staying in Glendale made perfect sense.

We were only about 15 minutes from the airport, which meant we could get settled quickly after landing and didn’t have a long drive before our flight home.

If you’re flying into and out of LAX instead, that may influence which area makes the most sense for your family.

The Best Area to Stay Depends on Your Family’s Priorities

There isn’t one “best” area to stay in Los Angeles for families. The right choice depends on what you want to do during your trip.

If you’re spending most of your time at Universal Studios, you’ll probably want to stay much closer to the park than someone whose dream vacation includes beach days in Santa Monica.

Likewise, if Disneyland is the main focus of your trip, staying in Anaheim will make much more sense than staying in Hollywood or downtown Los Angeles.

Here’s a quick guide to help you narrow down the best area based on your family’s vacation priorities.

Your Priority	Recommended Area to Stay	Airport to Consider	Why It Makes Sense
Universal Studios	Universal City, Burbank, or Glendale	Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)	Stay close to the park, making early entry and a full day at Universal much easier.
Hollywood attractions	Hollywood, West Hollywood, or Glendale	Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)	Enjoy easier access to attractions like the Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, and Hollywood Sign viewpoints.
Beach days	Santa Monica	Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)	Stay close to the beach, Santa Monica Pier, and other oceanfront activities.
Disneyland	Anaheim	John Wayne Airport (SNA) or LAX	Avoid spending hours driving between Disneyland and Los Angeles each day.
A little bit of everything	Glendale (where we stayed)	Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)	A great home base for Universal Studios, Hollywood, and several different parts of Los Angeles without staying in the middle of the city.

Why We Chose Glendale (And We’d Stay There Again)

After deciding what we wanted to do on our Los Angeles vacation, Glendale quickly became the clear choice.

Our itinerary included Universal Studios Hollywood, Hollywood, The Grove, and one day in Santa Monica.

We wanted a home base that made it easy to explore several different parts of Los Angeles without spending our entire vacation in the car.

Another factor in our decision was our flights. We flew into and out of Hollywood Burbank Airport, which is only about a 15-minute drive from Glendale.

Since we weren’t flying through LAX, staying in Glendale made even more sense.

If we had been flying into LAX or planned to spend more time at the beach, we probably would have chosen a different area.

One thing that surprised us was how close Glendale was to Universal Studios Hollywood.

Google Maps estimated the drive at about 15 minutes, and we often made it there even a little faster. It was close enough to enjoy an early start at the park without feeling like we had to stay right next to it.

The biggest tradeoff was our beach day. Santa Monica was the longest drive of our trip, but since we only planned one day there, it was a tradeoff we were happy to make.

My Favorite Areas to Stay in Los Angeles with Kids

Before our trip, I found myself comparing hotels, neighborhoods, and driving times, trying to figure out where our family should stay in Los Angeles.

After planning our itinerary and experiencing the city for ourselves, these are the three areas I’d personally recommend based on the type of vacation you’re planning.

Glendale

If your family plans to visit several different parts of Los Angeles, Glendale is the area I’d recommend first.

We found it to be an excellent home base for our trip.

Universal Studios Hollywood was only about a 15-minute drive away, Hollywood was nearby, and we also spent a day in Santa Monica.

While the beach was our longest drive, it was a tradeoff we were happy to make because we only planned one beach day.

One of my favorite things about Glendale was how family-friendly it felt.

There were plenty of restaurants nearby, Target was just a few minutes away, and we enjoyed spending our evenings at The Americana at Brand.

Choose Glendale if you…

• Want to explore several different parts of Los Angeles.
• Are flying into Hollywood Burbank Airport.
• Prefer a quieter, family-friendly area.
• Don’t mind driving a little farther for a beach day.

Santa Monica

If your family wants to spend time at the beach, Santa Monica is one of my favorite areas to stay in Los Angeles.

With easy access to the beach, the Santa Monica Pier, walkable restaurants, shopping, and beautiful ocean views, it’s a fun place to base your vacation.

One thing to consider is that you’ll have a slightly longer drive on the days you visit attractions like Universal Studios Hollywood or Hollywood.

If your itinerary includes several beach days, though, that extra driving is often worth it.

Choose Santa Monica if you…

• Plan to spend multiple days at the beach.
• Want a walkable area with restaurants and shopping.
• Plan to explore nearby beaches like Venice Beach or Malibu.
• Don’t mind driving a little farther on the days you visit other parts of Los Angeles.

Don’t Feel Like You Have To Do it All

One thing I’ve learned after years of traveling with kids is that you don’t have to see everything on one vacation.

It’s tempting to try to squeeze in every major attraction, especially when you’ve traveled all the way to Southern California. I felt that way too. We seriously considered adding Disneyland to our Los Angeles itinerary simply because we were already there.

In the end, though, we decided this trip was about exploring Los Angeles. Instead of rushing through both destinations, we chose to save Disneyland for a future vacation. Looking back, I’m really glad we made that decision because we were able to enjoy Los Angeles without feeling rushed.

As you decide where to stay, think about where you’ll spend the majority of your time. That answer will usually make your decision much easier.

Anaheim

If Disneyland is the main focus of your vacation, Anaheim is one of the best places to stay. You’ll find a wide variety of family-friendly hotels, plenty of restaurants, and the convenience of being just minutes from the parks.

One thing to consider is how much time you plan to spend in each destination.

If you’re visiting Disneyland for two or more days and only planning one day in Los Angeles, I’d recommend making Anaheim your home base.

On the other hand, if your trip is primarily about exploring Los Angeles and you’re only planning one day at Disneyland, I’d stay in Los Angeles and simply drive to Disneyland for the day.

Choose Anaheim if you…

• Plan to spend two or more days at Disneyland.
• Want to stay close to the parks.
• Prefer a wide selection of family-friendly hotels and restaurants.
• Are only planning a day or two in Los Angeles.

If you’re traveling with a larger family like ours, one thing I always check before booking a hotel is how many people the room actually sleeps. Not every hotel room is designed for families of five or six.

If you’re looking for hotel brands that consistently offer larger rooms and family-friendly layouts, be sure to read my Our Favorite Hotel Brands for Large Families (Tested by a Family of 6!) guide before booking your stay.

Recommended Family Hotels in Glendale

Before booking your hotel, remember that every family’s experience can be a little different. Factors like the time of year, room type, staffing, renovations, and even the day of the week can all influence your stay.

The recommendations below are based on a combination of our firsthand experience, extensive trip planning, and careful planning and research.

I’ll always tell you when we’ve personally stayed at a hotel, and when we haven’t, I’m sharing the properties I’d genuinely consider booking for my own family based on location, amenities, and reviews.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Glendale Downtown (Where We Stayed)

For our family, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Glendale Downtown was an excellent choice.

We booked a room with two queen beds and a pull-out sofa, giving our family of six enough sleeping space without needing to book a second room.

The complimentary breakfast was a huge plus each morning, helping us save both time and money before heading out to explore.

Parking was easy with both an underground garage and additional parking behind the hotel.

We also appreciated having several restaurants nearby, and The Americana at Brand and Glendale Galleria were just a short drive away.

We loved spending our evenings there enjoying dinner, shopping, and the fountain show before heading back to the hotel.

One thing we especially liked was the overall feel of Glendale.

Compared to some of the busier areas we visited, it felt a little more relaxed while still giving us easy access to the attractions on our itinerary.

If your itinerary is similar to ours and includes places like Universal Studios Hollywood, Hollywood, and The Grove, I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.

Hampton Inn & Suites Los Angeles – Glendale

This hotel is in an excellent location, directly across from The Americana at Brand and Glendale Galleria. The biggest downside for larger families is that most rooms sleep up to four guests, making it a better option for smaller families.

Residence Inn Los Angeles Glendale

If your family would benefit from extra space, this is one of the hotels I’d look at first. Residence Inn properties are known for their spacious suites and complimentary breakfast, making them a great option for longer stays. Guest reviews also frequently mention the roomy accommodations and convenient location.

Hyatt Place Glendale / Los Angeles

Hyatt Place Glendale / Los Angeles is another excellent option in downtown Glendale. The hotel offers complimentary breakfast and is conveniently located near restaurants, shopping, The Americana at Brand, and Glendale Galleria.

One thing to keep in mind is that parking is valet only, and several guests mention that it can be expensive. If complimentary breakfast and a central location are priorities for your family, though, this hotel is definitely worth considering.

Recommended Family Hotels in Santa Monica

After comparing dozens of hotels, these are the ones I’d personally consider for my own family.

There are certainly other great hotels in Santa Monica, but these are the ones that best fit the balance of location, amenities, value, and family-friendliness that I look for when planning a trip.

Hilton Santa Monica

Hilton Santa Monica is one of the first hotels I’d consider if your family is planning a beach-focused vacation.

Its location makes it easy to enjoy the Santa Monica Pier, nearby restaurants, shopping, and the beach.

This hotel is likely a better fit for smaller families, as most rooms accommodate four or five guests. It also features a nice outdoor pool, which can be a great place to relax after a day of exploring.

One thing to keep in mind is that breakfast is not included, and parking is valet only, which many families may find to be expensive.

Hampton Inn & Suites Santa Monica

Hampton Inn & Suites Santa Monica is another hotel I’d consider for a beach-focused vacation.

The location makes it easy to walk to the Santa Monica Pier, the beach, restaurants, and shopping.

The hotel also includes a complimentary hot breakfast, which is always a nice perk for families.

This hotel is generally a better fit for families of four, as most rooms don’t accommodate larger families without booking multiple rooms.

One thing to keep in mind is that parking can be expensive.

Since this hotel is located in the heart of Santa Monica, you’ll also experience more of the activity that comes with staying in a busy urban beach destination.

If you’re looking for a quieter atmosphere, an area like Glendale may be a better fit for your family.

Recommended Family Hotels in Anaheim

Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance

If your family is looking for a hotel that feels like an extension of the Disney experience, Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is one I’d seriously consider.

The hotel was recently renovated and offers spacious rooms, with some featuring bunk beds that kids will love.

One of the biggest highlights is Surfside Waterpark, which is exclusively for hotel guests.

It’s a fun way to unwind after a day at Disneyland and adds extra value to your stay.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort – Convention Center

If you’re looking for a hotel that offers plenty of space without stretching your budget, Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort – Convention Center is one I’d definitely consider.

The one- and two-bedroom suites are a great option for larger families, and having a full kitchen can help save money on meals during your trip.

The complimentary breakfast is another big advantage, especially before heading to Disneyland.

While the hotel is about one mile from the parks, many families find the extra space, included amenities, and overall value well worth the slightly longer distance.

Residence Inn by Marriott at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center

Residence Inn by Marriott at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center is another hotel I’d seriously consider, especially for larger families.

The hotel offers one- and two-bedroom suites, complimentary breakfast, and a convenient location about one mile from Disneyland.

One of the biggest highlights is the spacious two-bedroom suite with two queen beds, two bunk beds, and a sofa bed, allowing up to eight guests to stay together in one room.

Families will also appreciate the pool area and splash pad, making it a fun place to relax after a day at the parks.

So…Where Should You Stay?

There isn’t one perfect place to stay in Los Angeles with kids. The best area depends on what you want your vacation to look like.

If your itinerary is similar to ours and includes places like Universal Studios Hollywood, Hollywood, and The Grove, I’d happily stay in Glendale again.

If your trip is centered around the beach, Santa Monica is a fantastic choice.

And if Disneyland is your main priority, I’d make Anaheim my home base.

No matter which area you choose, I hope this guide helps you feel more confident booking a hotel that fits your family’s vacation instead of trying to fit your vacation around your hotel.

If you’re still planning your trip, be sure to check out my 5-Day Los Angeles Itinerary with Kids, Universal Studios Hollywood Family Guide, and Hollywood with Kids guides to help you make the most of your time in Southern California.

May you love your adventure. KW