When thinking about hubs for collegiate athletic excellence, Los Angeles always comes to mind. The city has a reputation for creating top-tier athletes that often move on to the professional level. As a high school athlete, this may seem like a daunting legacy to live up to, but one aspect of this process to help you find the right fit is college visits. Los Angeles can seem like a chaotic city that is scary to navigate, but it is undeniably home to some of the best college athletic programs in the world. So, we have created this guide to help high school athletes have a great experience during college visits, on and off campus. We have the best hotels to stay in for each university, information on the area, food options, driving and walking distances, and even a few attractions.

Because of the sheer amount of colleges in the greater Los Angeles area, we have chosen to focus on the 5 primary Division 1 sports colleges in or near the city: UCLA, USC, Cal State Northridge, Loyola Marymount University, and Pepperdine. We also include distances from each hotel to the 4 other colleges in case you are looking to visit multiple colleges in a single stay. 

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1. Kimpton Hotel Palomar LA – Beverly Hills (Best for UCLA Visit)

Located in West Hollywood, the Kimpton Hotel is our recommendation for the best hotel to stay in for high school athletes visiting UCLA, either alone or with family. It's a modernized boutique-style hotel that offers a quiet, calm environment in the midst of a busy city setting. With rooms starting at $247 per night, this is a relatively good deal considering its location. It is less than a mile from the UCLA campus, which is either around a 15-minute walk or less than a 5-minute drive. However, having been to this campus multiple times, I would definitely advise walking, both to campus and for eating, as parking can be a nightmare everywhere in the city. Overall, out of all the hotels in the Westwood area that are in close proximity to UCLA, we recommend the Kimpton Los Angeles Beverly Hills as a good balance of value, luxury, and location. 

Cost: $247 per night (single queen-sized bed, other options available at higher prices)
Distance to UCLA Campus: 0.8 miles
Amenities: Pool, Free Internet, Business Center, Concierge, Restaurant, Fitness Center, Pets Allowed
Distance to Other Prominent Sports Colleges in Driving Distance:

• USC – 12.3 miles
• Cal State University at Northridge – 17.9 miles
• Loyola Marymount University – 10.3 miles
• Pepperdine University – 20.1 miles

Food Recommendations:

• Fat Sal's Deli (0.8 miles) – Fat Sal's serves American-style sandwiches stacked to the brim with fixings. I recommend the Fat Texas: bbq pastrami brisket, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, crispy bacon, grilled onions, cheddar & mozzarella, fries, mayo, and honey bbq sauce all on a garlic hero. Just make sure to hit the hotel's fitness center afterwards!
• Gushi (0.8 miles) – Korean style BBQ and teriyaki with large portions can be found in styles ranging from plates and bowls to street food and fried rice at Gushi. Favorites include the Kalbi Plate (Korean BBQ ribs), sweet and spicy pork, ramen, and spicy rice cakes. 
• Bella Pita UCLA (0.7 miles) – Here you'll find a casual, Middle Eastern restaurant that specializes in homemade pita sandwiches you can customize with a condiment bar.

Nearby Attractions: The location of the Kimpton makes it close to the Santa Monica Beach and Pier, Getty Museum, and Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. If time permits, we definitely recommend you visit as many of these places as possible to get a feel of the surrounding environment of the campus in case you end up going to school there. 

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2. Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown (Best for USC Visit)

Surprisingly, there aren't that many quality hotels in close proximity to the USC campus. Luckily, however, there are a plethora to choose from only a few miles away, in downtown Los Angeles. Our favorite is the Hotel Indigo's flagship location in downtown L.A. Located in a centralized urban hotspot, this hotel offers a ridiculously high value given where it is, at a solid price of $204 per night. Although it is not in close walking distance to the campus of USC, it is located on the edge of downtown closest to its campus, giving it an edge in distance and traffic compared to other hotels in the area. In fact, it only takes about a 10-minutes drive to get to campus. 

Cost: $204 per night
Distance to USC Campus: 2.7 miles
Amenities: Pool, Restaurant, Fitness Center, Business Center, Pets Allowed, Concierge, Refrigerator in Room
Distance to Other Prominent Sports Colleges in Driving Distance: 

• UCLA – 12.6 miles
• Cal State University at Northridge – 29.8 miles
• Loyola Marymount University – 17.7 miles
• Pepperdine University – 28.0 miles

Food Recommendations: 

• CAVA (2.6 miles, right next to USC Campus) – Mediterranean cuisine for those looking for a healthier option that won't break the bank. Their main menu items are a build-your-own bowl, with different greens and grains, including arugula, baby spinach, saffron rice, and black lentils, as well as hummus, feta, and roasted tomato with harissa.
• Thai by Trio (2.0 miles, close to USC) – A Thai and pan-Asian restaurant serving soups, noodles, and stir-fry in a bright, modern setting. Menu favorites include fried tofu, tom yum soup, spicy noodle soup, and thai milk tea boba. This is the perfect place to enjoy a hot meal and sweet drinks afterwards. 

Nearby Attractions: Being in downtown L.A., there are infinitely many things to do while staying at Hotel Indigo. Just in walking distance, there is a place to book downtown LA walking tours, the GRAMMY Museum, L.A. Live, Staples Center, and the Los Angeles Convention Center, to name a few. Even if your visit of USC takes up only a small portion of your trip, you're guaranteed to never have a dull moment during your stay. Also, USC is the closest college out of the ones on this list to the Griffith Observatory, which will give you the best view of Los Angeles you can find!

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3. Courtyard Los Angeles LAX/Century Boulevard (Best for LMU Visit) 

Since Loyola Marymount University is in close distance to LAX, one of the busiest airports in the world, there are an ample amount of hotels in its proximity. Our pick for the best combination of value and quality is Courtyard's LAX location. Being less than two miles from LMU's campus, it can either be an extremely short drive or a moderately long walk. If you're coming into the Southern California area by plane, the hotel offers a free shuttle to and from LAX. Despite being directly adjacent to an airport, the soundproof rooms allow for peaceful and quiet nights, giving you enough rest for your visit at a very reasonable price of $143 per night. 

Cost: $143 per night
Distance to LMU: 1.8 miles 
Amenities: Breakfast, Free Wifi, Fitness Center, Meeting Rooms, Airport Transportation, Restaurant, Shuttle Bus Service

Distance to Other Prominent Sports Colleges in Driving Distance: 

• UCLA – 10.7 miles
• Cal State University at Northridge – 26.4 miles
• USC – 11.1 miles
• Pepperdine University – 24.6 miles

Food Recommendations: 

• In-N-Out (0.5 miles) – a California staple for those coming to visit from out of the state, In-N-Out offers a simple menu featuring hamburgers, fries, and shakes. I recommend trying animal fries – crispy fries smothered with grilled onions, cheese, and special creamy sauce, as well as the neopolitan shake, which combines their chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors.
• The Original Rinaldi's Deli and Cafe (0.1 miles) – Rinaldi's is an Italian deli serving hot and cold sandwiches, pasta, breakfast items, and salads. They also serve pescatarian and vegetarian friendly options, as well as smoothies for a sweet finish. Favorites include the Italian Combo sandwich, made with Boar's Head Pepperoni, salami, ham, lettuce, tomato, provolone, and Italian dressing, and the Ripcurl Riley, made with mayo, spicy peanut sauce, pineapple chunks, sesame teriyaki, and provolone. 
• Aliki's Greek Taverna (0.6 miles) – Greek cuisine with original, fresh ingredients, many of which are imported directly from Greece. Popular dishes include the gyro plate, greek salad, baklava, and mousaka (layers of potatoes, eggplant, ground beef, and feta, topped with bechamel sauce). 

Nearby Attractions: LAX is a stone's throw from the Pacific Ocean, meaning Courtyard at LAX has many attractions nearby centered around the beach. This includes the Manhattan Beach Pier and California Dream Tours, which include boat rides and whale watching. There are also other nearby attractions, including the LAX Theme Building, Automobile Driving Museum, and The Forum. Most importantly, LMU is only a few miles away from downtown LA, which on its own has a multitude of family-friendly attractions. If you have a full day's time, definitely go to Universal Studios Hollywood if you can!

Related: Top 5 Places to Stay During a Campus Visit in Louisville

4. Best Western Canoga Park Motor Inn (Best for CSUN Visit)

Cal State Northridge isn't in an urban area like the colleges we've looked at so far; it's north of downtown Los Angeles and in a more suburban location. Therefore, there are not many hotels to choose from in a close proximity to campus, but a good selection is available within short driving distance. Our recommendation is Best Western's Canoga Park location, about six miles from CSUN's campus. Furthermore, it's a cheaper option compared to the other hotels we've recommended because it is further away from the epicenter of Los Angeles, at less than $140 per night.

Cost: $134 per night
Distance to CSUN Campus: 5.6 miles
Amenities: Heated Pool, Free Parking, Free Wifi, Hot Tub, Self-Serve Laundry, Breakfast Included, Microwave and Refrigerator in Room

Distance to Other Prominent Sports Colleges in Driving Distance: 

• UCLA – 14.9 miles
• Loyola Marymount University – 25.0 miles
• USC – 27.0 miles
• Pepperdine University – 18.6 miles

Food Recommendations:

• Daglas Drive-In (0.1 miles) – An old-fashioned American drive-in with large portions, specializing in burgers, fries, and ice cream floats.
• D'amore's Pizza Connection, WInnetka location (0.5 miles) – Italian eatery dishing out Neapolitan pizzas, subs, pasta, and other classic Italian entrees. Specialty items include garlic knots, margarita pizza, baked ziti, and chicken parmigiana. 
• Johnny Pacific (1.1 miles) – Johnny Pacific serves California-inspired cuisine. Menu standouts range from chicken skewers to meat empanadas, where you can choose from beef, chicken, beef tinga, ham and cheese, kailua pig, cajun sausage, chicken al pastor, bbq pulled pork, and chorizo with potato. 

Nearby Attractions: Since it's not in an urban hotspot, there aren't as many attractions near CSU Northridge and the Best Western in Canoga Park as there are with other colleges we've looked at. However, it is a good place for family fun, with a nearby bowling alley Winnetka Bowl, Calabasas Commons, Architect Escape Rooms, and several locations for helicopter tours of the greater Los Angeles area. Also, if you're willing to make the drive, this is the closest college in LA to Six Flags Magic Mountain.

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5. The Anza Hotel (Best for Pepperdine Visit)

With Pepperdine University being beachside in one of the most expensive places to live in California, we decided not to go with one of the few hotels in Malibu in closest proximity to campus, as not many people can afford to stay in those locations. However, there are many more affordable options nearby in Calabasas, the best of which being the Anza Hotel. A little less than 10 miles from campus, it may seem like a long distance, but there shouldn't be much traffic at all because of how far Pepperdine is from the hotspots of LA. Starting at slightly more than $160 per night in a premium location, the Anza provides high value while maintaining a luxurious environment. 

Cost: $169 per night
Distance to Pepperdine Campus: 9.2 miles (about a 15 minute drive)
Amenities: Heated Pool, Free WiFi, Restaurant, Business Center, Fitness Center, Pet-Friendly, Microwave and Refrigerator in Room

Distance to Other Prominent Sports Colleges in Driving Distance: 

• UCLA – 17.9 miles
• Cal State Northridge – 11.9 miles
• USC – 30.0 miles
• Loyola Marymount University – 28.0 miles

Food Recommendations: 

• Shibuya (0.2 miles) – Shibuya is a high-quality sushi restaurant near the Anza Hotel. Some of the popular items on the menu include seared bluefin tuna, jalapeno pepper tuna, salmon roe, sweet shrimp, baked crabs, and even sea urchin!
• Pedalers Fork (0.2 miles) – Pedalers Fork is a rustic restaurant specializing in modern American meals using only the freshest, locally-sourced, organic ingredients. Favorites include truffle pizza, rock shrimp ceviche, and the hot chicken sandwich.
• King's Fish House (0.1 miles) – An upscale seafood establishment. King's Fish House serves a multitude of seafood options as well as some American dishes. With more than 10 types of oysters, 6 types of chilled shellfish, Maryland soft shell crabs, wild Alaskan halibut, and even fried farmed Mississippi catfish, you're sure to find something unique you'll love at this fish house.

Nearby Attractions: Other than the previous attractions we have mentioned in or near Los Angeles, which require a fairly long drive to reach, there honestly isn't much to do in Calabasas and Malibu besides enjoy the beauty of the natural greenery and beaches surrounding you. This is truly a place to relax and escape from the noise and stress of city life. We recommend visiting some of the many beaches or parks in the area.

So, there you have it. Those are our picks for the best hotels to stay at for high school athletes visiting colleges in Los Angeles. If you are planning on visiting more than one of these schools, we advise you to pick one of the hotels we picked that is closer to the other college(s) you are visiting rather than trying to find another hotel that's in the middle of them. Los Angeles is an incredibly large city, so it won't do you much good in terms of decreasing total traveling time.

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* Originally published on February 17, 2022, by Nikhil Patel