Places to Stay in Los Angeles
If you are flying into Los Angeles you may want to spend the first night in a hotel so you are fresh and rested before you pick up your RV rental. Some locations may require you to spend the first night in a hotel if you are flying into Los Angeles from an international location.
- Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles – 6161 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel – 9620 Airport Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Airport – 5985 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport – 6225 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Los Angeles International Airport North – 9801 Airport Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Holiday Inn Express Los Angeles LAX Airport – 8620 Airport Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- The Westin Los Angeles Airport – 5400 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Hilton Los Angeles Airport – 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Super 8 Los Angeles Airport – 9250 Airport Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Holiday Inn Los Angeles LAX Airport – 9901 S Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel LAX – 1985 E Grand Ave, El Segundo California.
- Extended Stay America Los Angeles LAX Airport – 6531 S Sepulveda, Los Angeles California.
- Travelodge Hotel LAX Los Angeles Intl – 5547 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- La Quinta Inn & Suites LAX – 5249 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles LAX – 6161 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Radisson Hotel Ontario Airport – 2200 E Holt Blvd, Ontario California.
- Holiday Inn Ontario Airport – 2155 E Convention Center Way, Ontario California.
- Residence Inn by Marriott Ontario Airport – 2025 E Convention Center Way, Ontario California.
- Red Roof Inn Ontario Airport – 1818 E Holt Blvd, Ontario California.
- Sheraton Ontario Airport Hotel – 429 N Vineyard Ave, Ontario California.
Places to Rent an RV in Los Angeles
There are lots of great choices of RV rental companies in Los Angeles. With so many amazing companies to choose from you are sure to find an RV that suits your needs and your budget.
- Escape Campervan Rentals – 4858 West Century Blvd, Inglewood Los Angeles California.
- Britz RV Rentals – 28404 Roadside Dr, Agoura Hills Los Angeles, California.
- Corona Motorhome Rentals – 17600 Collier Ave #107, Lake Elsinore Los Angeles, California.
- Sunshine RV Rentals – 12818 Firestone Blvd, Santa Fe Springs Los Angeles, California.
- El Monte RV Rentals – 12061 E Valley Blvd, El Monte Los Angeles, California.
- STI RV Rentals – 12370 San Fernando Rd, Sylmar Los Angeles, California.
- El Monte RV Rentals – 12818 Firestone Blvd, Santa Fe Springs Los Angeles, California.
- Lost Camper Rentals – 8820 Aviation Blvd, Inglewood Los Angeles, California.
- Roadbear RV Rentals – 28404 Roadside Blvd, Agoura Hills Los Angeles, California.
- Jucy Camper Van Rentals – 15318 Hawthorne Blvd, Lawndale Los Angeles, California.
- Cruise America RV Rentals – 2233 East 223rd Street, Carson Los Angeles, California.
Places to Camp Around Los Angeles
- Leo Carillo State Park – located just off the Pacific Coast Highway, this campground has 130 campsites and is right across the street from the beach. Explore the tide pools, caves, and reefs or swim in the ocean or hike the nearby trails. 35000 PCH, Malibu California.
- Refugio State Beach – this beautiful beach is great for swimming, kayaking, and surfing. Kayak lessons are available during the summer. 35 Refugio Beach Rd, Goleta California.
- Los Padres National Park – close to LA but far enough that you feel like you are in the middle of the mountains. There is a great hiking trail nearby that takes you to Willett Hot Springs for a relaxing swim. Goleta California.
- Idyllwild – a great location for rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, or exploring the nearby villages. 24400 Canyon Trail, Idyllwild California.
- Buckhorn Campground – in the Angeles National Forest at about 6300 feet. There is lots of tent camping here and small RV’s are allowed, but you can’t make a reservation, it is a first come first serve basis. Angeles Crest Hwy, La Canada Flintridge.
- Sycamore Canyon Campground – a great campground with beach access and close to hiking trails. There are washrooms, showers, and a dump station right on site too. 9000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu California.
- Malibu Creek Campground – each site has a fire ring and a picnic table. This campsite is a couple of mile hike from the location where the TV series M*A*S*H* was filmed. There you can still find some leftover set paraphernalia and some informational signs. There is also a rock pool close by for a little swim and cliff diving. 1925 Las Virgenes Rd, Calabasas California.
More Places to Camp Around Los Angeles
- Manker Flats Campground – this campground is close to many hiking trails for any skill level. From the 12 mile Bear Canyon Trail to the 1.4 mile San Antonio Falls trail. San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, Mt Baldy California.
- Los Angeles KOA – only 30 minutes from downtown Los Angeles this is a great place to stay with your rental RV if you are planning on taking in all the attractions of LA. 2200 North White Ave, Pomona California.
- Castaic Lake RV Park – 35 minutes from Hollywood. This RV park has a general store that has RV supplies and propane. 31540 Ridge Route Rd, Castaic California.
- Anaheim RV Park – sit by your campfire and watch the fireworks from Disneyland. There is also a shuttle that will pick you up from the RV park and bring you to see Mickey. 20 W Midway Dr, Anaheim California.
- Orangeland RV Park – within walking distance to theatres and restaurants. You can pick oranges right from the tree in your RV campsite. 1600 W Struck Ave, Orange California.
- Dockweiler RV Park – this RV park is really just a big parking lot, but you are right on the beach. Literally steps from your RV is the sandy beach. This is a location that can’t be matched by any other RV park. 12001 Vista Del Mar, Playa Del Rey California.
- Emma Wood State Beach – this is a great spot to go fishing, surfing, and swimming. There are no amenities here, so come prepared and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Hwy 101, Ventura California.
- Sunrise RV Park – nice large lots with grass and full hookups. 516 S Salinas St, Santa Barbara California.
So Many Great Places to Camp Around Los Angeles
- Flying Flags RV Resort – a great place for kids, with a pool, splash zone, and playground. There are six vintage Airstreams that have been fully redone that are available to rent. 180 Avenue of Flags, Buellton California.
- The Californian RV Park – this park is surrounded by ranches and the Angeles National Forest. There are hundreds of hiking trails within minutes of this RV park. 1535 W Sierra Hwy, Acton California.
- Camp Williams Resort – located in the San Gabriel Mountains, this little resort has places to swim, fish, hike as well as try your luck at gold panning. 24210 East Fork Rd, Azusa California.
- Saddleback Butte State Park – located on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. This is a rustic campground, but it does have water and flush toilets. 43230 172nd St E, Lancaster California.
- Ventura Ranch KOA – something to accommodate everyone from rustic to deluxe camping. You can stay in a tent, an RV, and Indian teepee, a cabin, or even stay in the glamour tent. 7400 Pine Grove Rd, Santa Paula California.
- Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area – a great fishing spot for trout, bass, catfish, and bluegill. There are picnic tables and fire rings at every campsite, there are also restrooms, running water and showers. 14651 Cedar Circle, Hesperia California.
- Indian Oaks Trailer Ranch – located right in the heart of wine country, there is a little lake stocked with fish, perfect for swimming and paddle boating. 38129 East Benton Rd, Temecula California.
- Sam’s Family Spa and Resort – camping and enjoying the three mineral hot pools, it’s the making of a great weekend. 875 Dillon Rd, Desert Hot Springs.
Places to Camp Around California
There are lots of great camping areas around California to take your RV rental. From rustic places high up in the mountains to deluxe resorts on the beach, there is a campground for any taste in California.
- Yosemite West KOA – this campground is on the YARTS shuttle route so that you can leave your rental RV at the campground and catch a ride to Yosemite for a day of hiking. This KOA has a pizza restaurant, a gift store, pool, and a bright clean laundromat. 6323 Highway 140, Midpines California.
- Santa Cruz Monterey Bay KOA – brand new pool and hot tub will be opening June 2017. Just a short walk from the beach this campground has themed weekends and special activities for those who want to get involved. 1186 San Andreas Rd, Watsonville California.
- San Diego Metro KOA – located about 20 minutes from most San Diego attractions. Stop by the front desk for discounted tickets to Seaworld, the San Diego Zoo, Legoland and more. 111 N 2nd Ave, Chula Vista California.
- Moss Landing KOA – located in the quiet harbor of Monterey Bay. This little fishing village was founded in the early 1800s, and now has antique stores and art galleries. The perfect little getaway for your next RV rental vacation. 7905 Sandholdt Rd, Moss Landing California.
- San Francisco North KOA – close to the Golden Gate Bridge, and many local breweries and wineries. 20 Rainsville Rd, Petaluma California.
- Angels Camp RV Resort – volleyball courts and horseshoe pits, there is even a resident emu to visit. 3069 CA-49, Angels Camp California.
- Santa Margarita Campground – Santa Margarita Lake is a half-mile away where you can enjoy fishing, hiking, biking, boating, and horse trails. 4765 Santa Margarita Lake Rd, Santa Margarita California.
Places to Fly in and out of in Los Angeles
If you are flying into Los Angeles to pick up your RV rental you will have a few options for airports. If you are looking to get picked up at the airport by the RV rental company you will want to make sure that they will pick you up from the airport that you are flying into. Not all RV rental companies will pick you up at all airports. Some RV rental companies will only pick you up from certain airport hotels, so do your homework before you book your RV rental and your plane tickets.
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – the most popular airport in the Los Angeles area. LAX is located in the west part of Los Angeles. Most people are going to fly into this airport and if an RV rental company is going to do airport pickups it is most likely going to be from LAX. 1 World Way, Los Angeles California.
- Ontario International Airport (ONT) – this is the second most popular airport in the Los Angeles area and is located east of the city. 2334 E Airport Drive, Ontario California.
- John Wayne Airport (SNA) – this airport is located in the south-east part of the city and offers some international flights. 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana California.
- Bob Hope Airport (BUR) – this airport is located north of downtown Los Angeles. This airport is served by a few passenger airlines only. 2627 North Hollywood Way, Burbank California.
- Long Beach Airport (LGB) – located south of Los Angeles. 4100 Donald Douglas Dr, Long Beach California.
Places to Eat in Los Angeles
There are so many great places to eat in Los Angeles and just not enough time. This list is really a bucket list from Spoon Universities of great places to eat in LA.
- Diddy Riese – cookies, brownies, cookie sundaes, and shaved ice. A must-try is the Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich. 926 Broxton Ave Los Angeles California.
- Daikokuya – ramen noodles and rice bowls that people line up for. 327 E 1St St Los Angeles California.
- Bru’s Wiffle – the best waffle joint in town. Try the chocolate waffle party, a chocolate Belgian waffle stuffed with homemade buttercream, and topped with Oreo’s, chocolate sauce and whip cream. 2408 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica California.
- MILK – milkshakes, ice cream bars, sorbet, and drumsticks. 7290 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Ricky’s Fish Tacos – the best fish taco’s north of the border. This restaurant combines an old family recipe with his own special touch and in a food truck to boot. Ricky’s fresh salsas are the best. 3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles California.
- Original Tommy’s Hamburgers – it surprised me that this restaurant made it onto anyone’s top favorites list as it is a chain restaurant. In my experience chain restaurants are good, but they are usually not write home to mom fabulous, this one is. Tommy’s has 30 locations across California. Tommy’s tops everything with their marvelous chili, which keeps customers coming back for more. 2575 W Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles California.
Before You Run Out of Time You Need to Eat Here Too
- Pink’s Hot Dogs – Pink’s is a landmark in Hollywood, first opening its doors in 1946. Pink’s has served many celebrities over the years, this can be seen by the signed celeb pictures adorning the walls. Many of the famous hot dogs have even been named after the famous person who ordered them. 709 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles California.
- Philipp’s – this deli-style dinner is like stepping back in time from the sign out front to the pictures on the walls. You get an amazing French Dip sandwich with your choice of meat and bread, and it comes pre dipped, definitely worth the stop. 1001 Alameda St, Los Angeles California.
- The Pie Hole – whether you are in the mood for a sweet pie like the Earl Grey Pie or something savory like the Chicken and Waffle pie, this is a great stop. 714 Traction Ave, Los Angeles California.
- Katsuya Hollywood – the restaurant floor is open so it is a great place to look for local celebrities. The place has a real romantic vibe. If you go make sure that you order the crispy rice, the baked crab handroll, and the creamy rock shrimp and you will not be disappointed. 6300 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles – with 7 locations around the Los Angeles area and amazing food this is a must stop. 1514 N Gower St, Los Angeles California.
- Gloria’s Cafe – authentic Mexican and Latin food. Gloria’s has been featured on Diner’s, Drive In’s, and Dive’s. 10227 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- The Factory Kitchen – located in an old reclaimed factory, they serve authentic Italian cuisine and homemade pasta. 1300 Factory Pl, Los Angeles California.
Where to Pick Up the Essentials in Los Angeles
Once you pick up your rental RV you will want to go load up with some groceries. Here is a list of large chain supermarkets as well as some small specialty shops.
- FIGat7th – an open-air market nestled between 2 skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles. The market host some major box stores, restaurants, and it also has weekly events such as farmers’ markets and art exhibits. 735 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles California.
- Smart & Final Extra – this store combines the freshness of a farmers market, with the low prices of a discount store with the large-sized products of a club store. 845 S Figueroa St #100, Los Angeles California.
- Galleria Market – first opened in 1975 this market offer alcohol, seafood, fresh produce along with a large selection of Korean and Pan-Asian products. 3250 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Zion Market – an open-air market featuring Asian groceries, with prepared foods, perfect for reheating on your RV trip. 3500 W 6th St, Los Angeles California.
- Nijiya Market – a Japanese market with fresh fish, seafood, sushi, and a bakery. 2130 Sawtelle Blvd #105, Los Angeles California.
- Whole Food Market 365 – this chain specializes in foods with no artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners, or hydrogenated fats. 2520 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Fresco Community Market – the vision for this store is to provide fresh produce, hot meals, and quality foods from people who genuinely care. 5914 Monterey Rd, Los Angeles California.
- Elat Kosher Market – a Kosher grocery store with an in-store bakery and butcher. 8730 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Bangkok Market – a supermarket specializing in Thai products. Including Thai produce, spices, and chili pastes. 4757 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles California.
Things to Do in Los Angeles
There are so many things to do in the Los Angeles area that you could spend your whole RV rental adventure there. Leave your RV rental at the campground and use transit to visit every location on your list.
- Venice Beach – walk, skate, or bike along the one and a half-mile boardwalk that is Venice Beach. Take in the buskers, singing, dancing, juggling, walking on broken glass, the entertainment is endless. There are hundreds of street vendors selling everything from lunch, temporary tattoos, and crystals to fortune-telling and t-shirts. Oceanside, Venice Beach California.
- The Hollywood Museum – the official museum of Hollywood. This museum has 100 years of Hollywood history from the silent movies to Marilyn Monroe’s million-dollar dress. There are four floors of authentic show biz treasures. 1600 Highland Ave, Hollywood California.
- Rodeo Drive – though most of us can’t afford to do actual shopping on Rodeo Drive we can all do a little window shopping. Beverly Hills California.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame – started in 1960 there are over 2000 stars of the Walk of Fame. Hollywood Blvd and Vine St, Hollywood California.
- Santa Monica Pier – enjoy the amusement park right on the Pacific Ocean. 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica California.
- Runyon Canyon – get out of the city and hike the trails of Runyon Canyon. These trails provide brilliant views of the city and the Hollywood sign. 2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles California.
- The Queen Mary – a retired ocean liner that set sail in 1936. Stepping aboard this ship is like taking a step back in time. You can even take a ghost tour and maybe meet some of the crew that sailed the ship 80 years ago. 1126 Queens Hwy, Los Angeles California.
- Griffith Park – the largest urban park in the Los Angeles area, with activities for nature lovers and sightseers. 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles California.
Things to do with Kids in Los Angeles
There are so many things to do in Los Angeles with kids that do not involve Disneyland. Don’t get me wrong Disneyland is great and everyone should spend a couple of days there, but don’t make it your whole trip, check out these other local attractions. Check the websites out before you go and see what the parking will be like if you bring your RV rental. It may be better to leave the RV rental at the campsite and take the local transit to your next destination. Check out Go Card Los Angeles to get discounts on all your favorite attractions.
- Kidspace Children’s Museum – this is a great place for kids to burn off some energy while learning about the world around them. Expect kids to get muddy, sandy, and wet while they explore nature, science, and technology. You will be happy that you have that shower in your RV rental to clean the kids off in. 480 N Arroyo Blvd, Pasadena California.
- Griffith Observatory – look to the stars through the telescopes and explore the exhibits. 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles California.
- The Last Bookstore – The Last Bookstore is the largest new and secondhand book and record store in Los Angeles. It has been called one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. Walkthrough through the labyrinth of books on the second floor that are all arranged by color and even walk through the book tunnel. 453 S Spring St, Los Angeles California.
- La Brea Tar Pits – the museum features sabre tooth tigers, mastodons, and dire wolves that have all been found in the tar beneath the city of Los Angeles. 5801 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles California.
Places to Shop in Los Angeles
Los Angeles may be the shopping capital of the US. It is the home to many of the top designers and lots of outlet stores to save a little money on your favorite brands.
- The Grove – has stores like Apple. Michael Kors, and Nordstroms. The old fashion trolley rides and dancing fountains make this a must-stop location. 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles California.
- Melrose Avenue – at one end of this avenue is high-end couture types of stores such as Marc Jacobs and Fred Segal and as you walk down the store turns into more trendy affordable finds. Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles California.
- Necromance – a tribute to bones, vintage, and all things spooky. If you are looking for the perfect gift for your not so normal friend this store may have the perfect thing. 7220 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles California.
- Whimsic Alley – walk through the front doors and be transported to another time. Whether you are a fan of Harry Potter, Games of Thrones, Outlander, Downton Abbey, or really any fantasy or historic show you will love strolling through this old world store. 5464 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Los Angeles Sock Market – this is a store dedicated entirely to socks. Sock in all colors, sizes, materials, styles, and patterns imaginable. 1000 Universal Blvd #140, Universal City Los Angeles, California.
- It’s a Wrap – this store offers the public real TV and movie wardrobe and props. One of the best secondhand stores in Los Angeles. 3315 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank Los Angeles, California.
- Secret Headquarters – one of the last great comic book stores around. 3817 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles California.
Annual Events in Los Angeles
Some of the biggest parties have become yearly events. From music festivals to parades there are so many fantastic annual events going on in and around Los Angeles. Lots of these events are family-friendly so pack your bags and bring the kids.
- LA Film Festival – it only makes sense that Los Angeles would be the premiere city to take in the annual film festival. The LA Film Festival will make all guests feel like they are on the red carpet mingling with the stars. So rent an RV and take the movie buff in your life on a vacation of a lifetime. The event takes place in various locations in Culver City, California.
- Abbot Kinney Festival – the festival takes place on the last Sunday of September and host dozens of food trucks, hundreds of vendors selling unique handmade wares, 4 music stages, and 3 beer gardens. There are lots of kid rides and games and even a kid’s music stage. Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice California.
- Hollywood Halloween Carnival – this street party attracts 500,000 people. Expect music on the street party’s stages, street entertainers, and lots of crazy people watching. Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood California.
- Hollywood Christmas Parade – join the stars to kick off the Christmas season with a parade and a concert stage with lots of big-name stars. The parade starts on Hollywood Blvd at Orange Drive, Los Angeles California.
- Tournament of Roses Parade – this parade is over a 100 years old New Year’s Day tradition. This five-mile route features floral floats, enthusiastic marching bands, and the majestic equestrians. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena California.
- Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire – see the queen and her royal court, a fully armored joust, arts, craft, foods, music, dancing, a parade, rides, and games. 15501 E Arrow Highway, Irwindale California.
- Coachella – a two-day, alternative, hip hop, and electronic music and arts festival in a desert setting; located 127 miles east of Los Angeles, in Indio, California.
What to Expect Weather Wise in Los Angeles
Since Los Angeles is located right on the Pacific Ocean it does not get as hot as some other major cities as there is the cool breeze always coming off of the ocean. The hottest month is July with an average temperature of 72℉ (22℃). The coolest month is January with average temperatures of 55℉ (13℃). Los Angeles has dry summers and wet winter with the average rainfall in January of about 3 inches.
Think about picking up an RV in Los Angeles in the late fall or winter months. The temperature in California in the winter has an average daytime high of 68℉ (20℃). With weather like that, Los Angeles is still a great vacation spot in the winter and it still allows for cheap RV rental pricing.
Places to Leave your Pet in Los Angeles
Many of us would like to bring out pets on our vacation but it isn’t always feasible. If you need a place to leave Spot for your whole RV rental trip or just for the day, there are so many great doggie daycares in Los Angeles.
- South Park Doggie Daycare – all day cage-free with activities and webcams. 1320 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles California.
- The Wags Club – 12,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor play areas, fully equipped with grass, pools, cabanas, and play equipment. 11860 Mississippi Ave, Los Angeles California.
- Citydog Club – an indoor play park that has a special area just for your toy breed. 1815 Pontius Ave, Los Angeles California.
- Eco Dog Care LA – a place that cares about your dog as well as the environment. They use their own products which are pet and environmentally friendly. 5751 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- Dogwood Daycare – prides itself on being a quiet kennel, a very large feat in itself with all those dogs. 8652 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles California.
- LA Dogworks – open 24 hours a day 365, days a year, and all employees are certified in first aid. 1014 Highland Ave, Los Angeles California.
- The Kennel Club LAX – offers a choice of either having your pet frolic with all the other pets or have their own private kennel with private playtime provided. 5325 W 102nd St, Los Angeles California.
- Go Dog LA – located 6 miles north of Los Angeles International Airport, it’s a convenient place to drop off your furry friend. 1728 Maple Ave, Los Angeles California.
- D Pet Hotels Hollywood – if you do not have time to drop off Fido, let the pet chauffeur pick him up. 1041 Highland Ave, Los Angeles California.
Places to Rent a Bicycle in Los Angeles
If you are flying into Los Angeles and renting an RV you may want to look at renting a couple of bikes. Whether you are looking to rent a bike for the day or for your whole trip you can find a bike at one of the places below.
- Synaptic Cycle Bicycle Rentals – bikes are delivered directly to you at a time and location that is convenient for you. Anywhere in Los Angeles California.
- Just Ride LA – along with some high-quality street bikes they carry Bromptons, the world’s smallest folding bike. This would be a great option if you are renting an RV as you could fit the bikes in the storage compartments of the RV. 1626 S Hill St, Los Angeles California.
- DTLA Bikes – as part of their mission to provide green transportation they have some great prices on bike rentals, including tandem bikes. 425 S Broadway, Los Angeles California.
- Bike Curious Rentals – great price on Beach Cruiser bike rentals. 34 Windward Ave, Venice California.