Where to Stay Near Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Compare hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals on the map above — live availability from Booking.com, Vrbo and Expedia. In-park lodges book out furthest ahead. Gateway towns usually have more inventory and more price movement, especially in May, the park's busiest month.

Lodging tracks crowds. December is the quietest month at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (0.8× the average month) and is usually the cheapest window. December is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

For a May visit (1.3× average crowds), treat six months out as normal and a year out as safe for in-park lodging. In December you can often book inside a few weeks.

In-park lodges put you closest to trailheads and rarely discount. Gateway towns have far more rooms and are usually 20–60 minutes from the entrance. If you are visiting in May, a gateway town is often the only inventory still available.