Los Angeles with kids

Where to Stay in Los Angeles with Kids: the Best Areas by Trip Type

Los Angeles is enormous and its traffic is famous, so where you stay decides how much of your trip you spend in the car. The rule with kids: stay near what you'll do most, and move hotels once if your plans span the theme parks and the beach.

By Play Your Trip · Updated · 3 min read

The Play Your Trip card for Los Angeles

Here's how the main areas compare. We don't recommend specific hotels; a suite or apartment with a pool goes a long way in LA.

Quick picks

  • Disneyland trip: Anaheim, within walking distance of the parks.
  • Beaches and sunshine: Santa Monica.
  • Universal and Hollywood sights: Universal City or Burbank.
  • A mix of everything: split the stay: Anaheim for the parks, then Santa Monica for the city and the beach.

The areas

  • Anaheim: next to the Disneyland Resort, about 45–90 minutes from LA's sights depending on traffic. Many hotels with pools and shuttles. Best for park days.
  • Santa Monica: the pier, the beach, bike paths and a walkable downtown. Pricier, cooler in summer, and the Metro E Line runs downtown.
  • Hollywood: central for the Walk of Fame and Griffith Park, but busy and gritty in places. Choose carefully, near the Metro B Line.
  • Universal City and Burbank: quieter, close to Universal Studios and the Warner Bros. tour, with easy freeway access.
  • Downtown LA: near the museums of Exposition Park and the Metro hub. Fine for a short city visit, quiet in the evenings in places.
  • Long Beach: the Aquarium of the Pacific, calm bay beaches and a relaxed waterfront, between LA and Anaheim.

Tips

  • Plan around traffic: avoid long drives at rush hour (roughly 7–10am and 3–7pm on weekdays).
  • Parking adds up: many hotels charge for it; factor it in when you compare.
  • Pools matter: an afternoon swim is the easiest reset for tired kids in the LA sun.

Make it a game

A Play Your Trip book turns your plan into an adventure: every stop a quest with a coin to collect, every place one tap from the map. Los Angeles books are coming soon; see how it works.

Questions

What's the best area to stay in Los Angeles with kids?

It depends on your plans: Anaheim for Disneyland, Santa Monica for the beach, Universal City for Universal and Hollywood. For a mixed trip, split your stay between two areas.

Should we stay in Anaheim or Los Angeles?

Stay in Anaheim for Disneyland days and in LA (like Santa Monica) for the city and beaches. Driving between them can take 45–90 minutes each way.

Do you need a car in LA with kids?

Usually yes, though Metro rail reaches Santa Monica, Hollywood, Universal City, Downtown and Exposition Park. Staying near a station helps.