8 Best Mission Beach Hotels and Mission Bay Hotels in San Diego

Basing a San Diego vacation at one of our Mission Beach hotels or Mission Bay hotels has many benefits, but it’s important to understand the location you’re booking into clearly. These adjacent neighborhoods are referred to interchangeably, despite their different beach experiences, which I find tends to confuse travelers.

We’ll discuss the two different beaches here — bay and ocean — and go over which hotels provide access to one or both. I’ll also where why people stay here (or don’t) so that you are fully informed when you book.

Where Is Mission Beach?

Mission Beach is a coastal San Diego neighborhood bordered by Mission Bay to the east, Ocean Beach to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and Pacific Beach to the north.

When researching Mission Beach San Diego hotels, you may also generate search results that include Pacific Beach hotels.

This is because the dividing line between Mission Beach and Pacific Beach is not well marked on maps. Not many San Diegans can tell you exactly where it is either because both neighborhoods share the same zip code.

For this reason, I included a few south Pacific Beach hotels on this list near the action in Mission Beach or border Mission bay.

Where Is Mission Bay?

Mission Bay is a human-made saltwater bay or aquatic park that the largest of its kind in the United States.

It’s bordered by Mission Beach to the west, Pacific Beach to the north, the I-5 freeway to the east, and various San Diego neighborhoods to the south. Mission Bay’s roughly 4325 acres are half land and half water with 19 miles of bay beach surrounding the water.

West Mission Bay is mostly in Mission Beach, but east Mission Bay might be Pacific Beach, for example. (If your family is looking for hotels near SeaWorld San Diego, this famous attraction is located on Mission Bay, too.)

See also: Best Beachfront Hotels in San Diego

Reasons to Stay in Mission Beach and Mission Bay Hotels

Let’s talk about why you would stay in this part of San Diego, California.

Convenient Location

Most Mission Beach hotels and Mission Bay hotels are less than 5 miles from the San Diego International Airport.

This means that they are fairly easy to get to. These hotels and resorts are good for travelers who want beach time while remaining close to downtown.

Lower Prices

This area is more casual and usually prices lower than the Del Mar or La Jolla beach hotels. There are also some great family resorts that I’ve also featured on my list of best kid-friendly San Diego hotels.

One important thing to note is that these hotels do not usually suit luxury travelers. If you are looking for a truly five-star experience, read best San Diego luxury hotels.

Two Different Beaches

This part of town offers two different beach experiences. The beaches of Mission Beach have beautiful white sand with great waves to surf and a fun boardwalk full of restaurants, shops and even a beachside amusement park (Belmont Park) with casual Mission Beach restaurants.

The other beach surrounds waveless Mission Bay. The calm waters here are good for young kids (it can be murky in spots though) and water sports enthusiasts who want to do everything from waterski to ride aqua cycles.

Some hotels on this list are not walkable to the ocean beach while others are. Without further ado, here are my favorite Mission Beach hotels and Mission Bay hotels in San Diego. If you book hotels using my links, I may be compensated.

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Families love this hotel as it’s the only one in San Diego with multiple water slides. Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina is four walkable blocks to Belmont Park and Mission Beach. Rooms and common areas have just been renovated.

Good to Know: It takes two minutes to drive over to SeaWorld San Diego. They do not have a Regency Club level.

Reservations: If you stay two nights or longer, you can receive a room upgrade at the time of booking (subject to availability), a $100 Property Credit, daily breakfast for two, and more. If you are staying two nights or longer, send me your dates for a Hyatt Prive rate.

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The new San Diego Mission Bay Resort was recently renovated and entered into the Noble House Hotels and Resorts portfolio. It was formerly the Hilton San Diego Resort. I have high hopes for an elevated experience and am a fan of the new, lighter coastal room decor.

It’s a great option for families who intend to explore Mission Beach and other parts of San Diego as the resort is next to the freeway. The Mission Bay boardwalk is right in front of the hotel as is a nice sandy bay beach. Some rooms have outdoor fire pits for cozy nights and s’mores (I’d recommend these).

Beach Amenities

• The Sandbox rents bikes (surreys, beach cruisers, kids bikes and trailers) to ride on the boardwalk and sand toys for use on the beach
• Action Sports Rental at the resort marina rents aqua cycles, Segways, stand-up paddleboards, pontoons and more
• There is a beach volleyball net (balls are available from the front desk)

Hotel Amenities

• Choose between guest rooms, studios and suites (some have bay views) all with luxury bedding, small refrigerators and private balconies or patios
• Waterfront pool and wading pool for young kids
• Poolside cabana rentals and menu service
• Two dogs up to 75 lbs are welcome (additional fees apply)
• A nice market and boutique with plenty of grab-and-go food and wine for the room
• Fire pits in some rooms (s’mores kits are available in the market)
• Waterfront dining at Acqua California Bistro
• Full-service spa
• Championship tennis courts
• Seasonal kids’ club
• Seasonal dive-in movies
• Game check-out at the front desk

Good to Know: Like Paradise Point, the San Diego Mission Bay Resort is on the opposite side of Mission Bay from the sand at Mission Beach. It is about a 4-mile scenic car ride around the bay. The upshot is freeway access is easy here. You may also buy a pool day pass through ResortPass.

Awards: TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and GreenLeaders Silver Level (for eco-friendly practices)

Reservations: I can book you in with the Noble House VIP Package that includes a 15% discount, waived resort fee, and upgrade at check-in subject to availability. It’s a great deal.

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The Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa offers the most amenities of any Mission Bay hotels (though technically located in Pacific Beach) from a fantastic spa loved by locals to a picturesque and perfect bay location. 

The Pacific Ocean beach is also a few minutes’ walk across the street. It’s easy to explore the area by bike which you can also rent at the resort.

The resort is tropical in style so it almost feels like stepping into Hawaii. Dining is excellent especially at the signature restaurant, Oceana, and there are a number of on-property activities to take advantage of ranging from seasonal sunset luaus to chatting with the resort’s resident macaws.

Good to Know: This is a very popular choice for families. It’s an awesome location for taking advantage of both bay and ocean beaches while also being within walking distance of Pacific Beach restaurants.

These are not fancy accommodations by any means. The buildings look a bit run down on the exterior but rooms have recently been refreshed with new Keurigs, beds, and decor.

Awards: TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

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Bahia Resort Hotel was the very first Mission Bay hotel. The Mediterranean-themed resort is located on a secluded 14-acre peninsula that juts out into the bay and has its own private bay beach.

To get to the ocean at Mission Beach, guests need to walk an easy 10 minutes. The walk passes Belmont Park, San Diego’s beachfront theme park, and drops you at the beach and boardwalk. It’s a sister property to The Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa which means there is transportation between the two properties.

Good to Know: The hotel has a reputation for fantastic service and is popular for those looking for a more wallet-friendly choice with good beach access. Guests here use the spa at The Catamaran.

Awards: TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

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The Dana on Mission Bay is a casual, low-key hotel that also welcomes guests with a tropical atmosphere. It is actually the closest hotel to SeaWorld San Diego and about a mile to the heart of the action in Mission Beach. The 10-acre resort has two main buildings: Marina Cove and Water’s Edge.

Good to Know: As mentioned above, the ocean beach at Mission Beach is about a mile away but you can walk or ride a bike there. It is an older property but also can be a great value for money. You can bundle your room with SeaWorld San Diego and other theme park tickets in a vacation package.

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This secluded tropical resort experience is great for families. Paradise Point Resort and Spa is a 462-room bungalow-style resort set on Mission Bay that was established in 1962 by famous Hollywood Director Jack Skirball. The 44-acre resort actually feels like a secluded tropical island. Over one mile of beach circles the resort with its five swimming pools, tranquil lagoons, and lush gardens.

The bay beach here is a fun San Diego beach for kids and they do swim here (water can be murky). The ocean beach at Mission Beach requires a 2-mile drive around the bay to get there.

Good to Know: This hotel is also transitioning to a Margaritaville property at some point in 2021 (date and further details are TBD). The resort is quite large so there can be a decent amount of walking, though golf cart rides are available.

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Blue Sea Beach Hotel is a good choice for people who want to be on the beach, in the middle of the action and in a moderately-priced (for beachfront) boutique hotel. Simply step over the boardwalk and you’ll be on the sand. It’s not the fanciest Mission Beach hotel but it’s comfortable, cute and considered good value for its location and amenities.

Good to Know: The beach is busy here and tends to skew a bit younger but guests report that noise is low in rooms that are away from the street.

Awards: TripAdvisor Hall of Fame

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