Inland Empire’s Best Hotels & Areas (My Guide for 2026)

5 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in the Inland Empire

The Inland Empire comprises nearly 40 cities in the eastern valley just outside of Los Angeles. This area hugs mountain bases, flourishes on either side of the Santa Ana River, extends all the way to the low California desert and rests in the belly of the Southern California basin. 

I’ll focus on five of the best areas to stay in the Inland Empire: Big Bear Lake, Riverside, Lake Arrowhead, Redlands, and Temecula.

Big Bear Lake

👉 Best Area For Family Entertainment | ✨ Best Big Bear Lake Hotels: Colorado Lodge • Bluegreen Vacations Big Bear Village • Lagonita Lodge

Big Bear Lake is easily one of the most visited cities in the Inland Empire. There’s something for everyone in Big Bear Lake including couples spas and downtown shopping. However, it’s also known for its outdoorsy activities like hiking, mountain biking, lake kayaking, skiing and snowboarding.

Big Bear is incredibly family-friendly, with tons of activities that will appeal to kids and adults. So naturally, there are a lot of family-friendly hotels here. Lagonita Lodge is one of the best for families with young kids because it has a pool, game room, and spacious apartments. 

Bluegreen Vacations Big Bear Village is also great for families because it’s close to many of the best attractions and within walking distance of restaurants and shops. There are tons of other options for this area, though. For more details, read my complete guide to where to stay in Big Bear.

Pros of Staying in Big Bear Lake:

• Plenty of outdoorsy activities are available
• Many restaurant and bar options
• Family-friendly accommodation

Cons of Staying in Big Bear Lake:

• Hotels can be pricey during peak season
• There can be traffic on the weekends
• Downtown can be noisy at night

Riverside

👉 Best Area For City Amenities | ✨ Best Riverside Hotels: The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa • Hyatt Place Riverside Downtown • Home2 Suites By Hilton Riverside Downtown

Riverside is the biggest city in the Inland Empire. This is the best place to stay if you like to be near major city amenities and entertainment. 

This popular Southern California city is home to a bounty of museums, restaurants, bars, and the like. Riverside is conveniently located near top Inland Empire activities like Castle Park, the UC Riverside Botanic Gardens, and Mount Rubidoux Park.

Riverside was industrialized during the California citrus industry era, and has a lot of historic sites and landmarks. History lovers can stay at The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa, a National Historic Landmark that originally opened as a boarding house in 1876. Today, it’s a highly-rated and sought after hotel with elegant rooms, a spa, and multiple restaurants.

Pros of Staying in Riverside:

• Near many entertaining activities
• Many historic sites and landmarks
• Plenty of accommodation options are available
• Public transportation is easy to navigate 

Cons of Staying in Riverside:

• The downtown area can be busy at night
• Rideshares can be pricey

Lake Arrowhead

👉 Best Area For Luxury and Solitude | ✨ Best Lake Arrowhead Hotels: Arrowhead Pine Rose Cabins • UCLA Lake Arrowhead Lodge • Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa

Lake Arrowhead is one of my personal favorite places to stay in the Inland Empire. Nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains, Lake Arrowhead offers adventurous travelers the luxurious yet solitary escape they didn’t know they needed.

The inviting downtown Lake Arrowhead Village hosts frequent live music performances on an outdoor stage during the summer. Summer is also the best time to get out on the lake, which visitors can do by booking a spot on the Arrowhead Queen Boat Tour.

I love to come during winter to settle down with a good book and a sharp glass of cabernet sauvignon. The Arrowhead Pine Rose Cabins is a good place to do just that because the cabins are warm and cozy, and most have a woodburning fireplace. However, there are plenty of other great options in the area, so check out my complete guide to where to stay in Lake Arrowhead for more.

Pros of Staying in Lake Arrowhead:

• Many cozy cabin rentals & luxurious hotels are available
• Live music weekly during summer in the downtown village
• A quiet atmosphere and a peaceful night’s rest

Cons of Staying in Lake Arrowhead:

• Restaurants and bars can be pricey, even compared to Big Bear
• Accommodation can be expensive
• You’ll need a rental car to get around

Redlands

👉 Best Area For Affordable Hotels & Varying Activities | ✨ Best Redlands Hotels: Ayres Hotel Redlands • Dynasty Suites Redlands • Citrus Suites Redlands Loma Linda Hotel

Redlands is a good place to stay for travelers who prefer a city experience. This IE city has plenty of fun activities like weekend farmers markets, the San Bernardino County Museum, the Redlands Bowl, and many craft breweries. Downtown Redland’s Orange Street Alley is also a popular place for photos.

Settled on the outskirts of San Bernardino, Redlands is the gateway city to many mountain towns like Crestline, Running Springs, and Lake Arrowhead. Redlands is a great place to stay if you prefer to day trip into the mountains rather than staying overnight in the forest environment.

Redlands also has affordable hotels for budget travelers. Both the Ayres Hotel Redlands and Citrus Suites Redlands Loma Linda Hotel are highly-rated and close to shops, restaurants, and entertainment in downtown Redlands.

Pros of Staying in Redlands:

• Close to mountain towns and hikes
• Affordable accommodation is available
• Many restaurants and bars in the area

Cons of Staying in Redlands:

• Not many attractions in town
• Not the greatest nightlife scene

Temecula

👉 Best Area For Wine Tasting | ✨ Best Temecula Hotels: Churon Inn Winery • South Coast Winery Resort & Spa • Temecula Creek Inn

Does your ideal trip involve relaxation and wine-tasting? Welcome to Temecula, Southern California’s wine country. Wineries in Temecula are comparable with top Napa Valley wineries, so visitors are in for a treat.

Temecula is a great place for couples. The rolling hills and sweeping vineyards set Temecula apart from most other towns on this list. Old Town Temecula has a Wild West theme that makes it fun to explore and taking a sunrise hot air balloon ride is a popular and romantic thing to do here. 

Splurge a bit to stay at a winery villa like South Coast Winery Resort & Spa. The hotel offers wine-tastings, plus there’s a wonderful spa onsite. Temecula Creek Inn is a comparable option that’s great for golfers. There are plenty of other excellent hotel options in Temecula, so make sure to read Jess’s full guide to where to stay in Temecula for the full run-down.

Pros of Staying in Temecula:

• Many opportunities to go wine tasting
• The town caters to couples
• Lavish accommodation for reasonable prices

Cons of Staying in Temecula:

• The town isn’t very kid-friendly
• There aren’t many entertainment options
• You will need a rental car to get around

Tips for Staying in the Inland Empire

Figure Out What Activities You Want to Do

Where you stay in the Inland Empire depends on your preferred Inland Empire activities. If you want cheaper accommodation but still want to be close to LA, I recommend staying in Riverside.

If your main priority is hiking and being immersed in nature while you’re in the IE, I recommend staying in either Big Bear Lake or Lake Arrowhead.

Rent a Car

It’s almost impossible to explore California without a rental car. Rent a car from Discover Cars to navigate through the Inland Empire with ease. 

This way, you don’t have to wait around for public transportation or rideshares, and you may end up saving money in the long run. 

Know Where to Go According to the Season

Although all of the Inland Empire cities are relatively close to each other, they still vary slightly in climate. During the summer, you may want to steer clear of the high desert areas like Apple Valley, as temperatures frequently surpass 100 degrees.

Similarly, the IE mountain areas experience below-freezing temperatures in the winter months. Unless you like colder temps, you may want to avoid these areas at this time.

For more, see our guide to when to visit California.

FAQs

What are the boundaries of the Inland Empire?

The Inland Empire is bordered by Los Angeles and Orange County on the west and San Diego to the south. The Inland Empire extends all the way to the high desert in the north.

Where are the best places to stay in the Inland Empire?

The best places to stay in the Inland Empire are the mountain areas of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. Bluegreen Vacations Big Bear Village in Big Bear and Arrowhead Pine Rose Cabins in Lake Arrowhead are good places to stay. The Mission Inn Historic Hotel in Riverside is also a highly-rated and sought after accommodation option in the IE.

What cities and towns are in the Inland Empire?

There are nearly 40 cities in the Inland Empire. The most notable are Riverside, Redlands, Upland, San Bernardino, Lake Arrowhead, Apple Valley, and Big Bear.

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You made it to the end of my complete guide on where to stay in the Inland Empire! For more insider tips on all things California, check out Laura’s best things to do in California guide before your upcoming trip.