Griffith Observatory is 1,134 feet up the south slope of Mount Hollywood, above Los Feliz. Admission is free, and it is open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays. Most people get up there by car, using the paid lots, or on the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz shuttle, which runs daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from the Vermont/Sunset Metro B Line station.
We ordered the five stays below by how far you walk to that shuttle stop, from about 5 minutes to about 24.
How we selected these hotels
Most visitors reach the observatory by shuttle or by car, so we ordered these by the walk to Vermont/Sunset, where the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz shuttle starts. We ranked in two steps.
- 1. Walking distance to the Vermont/Sunset station.
- 2. Star rating, among stays at similar distances.
Two of the five, The Rosemary Silverlake and The Steady, are hostels, so check whether you are booking a private room or a bed in a shared dorm. The park entrance in the table is the corner of Vermont Avenue and Los Feliz Boulevard.
Quick comparison: hotels near Griffith Observatory
| Hotel | Stars | Walk to DASH stop (Vermont/Sunset) | Miles to DASH stop | Miles to park entrance | Guest score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Covell | 5 | 5 min | 0.26 mi | 0.83 mi | 10 / 10 |
| The Rosemary Silverlake | 3 | 9 min | 0.47 mi | 1.23 mi | 8.8 / 10 |
| Boutique Hollywood | 3 | 14 min | 0.70 mi | 1.50 mi | 8.0 / 10 |
| Silver Lake Pool & Inn | 4 | 17 min | 0.87 mi | 1.63 mi | 9.2 / 10 |
| The Steady | Unrated | 24 min | 1.20 mi | 2.06 mi | 8.0 / 10 |
Getting to the observatory from these hotels
- The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz shuttle runs daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., from the Vermont/Sunset Metro B Line station up to the observatory. Drivers cannot make change, so bring exact fare or a TAP card.
- Parking at the observatory is paid. The main lot, West Observatory Road and Western Canyon Road all charge from noon to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends, and the pay stations take credit cards only.
- If you can walk up to a mile uphill, you can park free around the Greek Theatre and walk up. On concert evenings that area closes to parking after 1 p.m., but the DASH shuttle still runs, though traffic can slow it.
- Hiking trails to the observatory start near the Greek Theatre and at Fern Dell, and both trailheads have public parking nearby. It is a steady climb the whole way, so wear proper shoes and carry water.
What to do once you're near Griffith Observatory
The Samuel Oschin Planetarium inside the observatory runs shows throughout the day (check the schedule before you go), and the free public telescopes are offered daily during opening hours. The Foucault pendulum and Tesla coil in the main hall are free to view. Hikers can pick up the trail above the observatory that leads to a direct sightline of the Hollywood Sign.
A short drive or rideshare from any hotel on this list puts you at the Autry Museum of the American West, which covers the full sweep of Western American history and is at the park's north end near the 134 freeway. The Los Feliz Village shops and restaurants along Vermont Avenue between Hollywood Boulevard and Prospect Avenue are within walking distance of Hotel Covell and The Rosemary Silverlake, making it easy to eat well without getting back in the car.
The hotels
Hotel Covell
4626 Hollywood Boulevard
10.012 reviews
5 min walk to Vermont/Sunset (Metro B Line, DASH Observatory/Los Feliz)A boutique stay on Hollywood Boulevard, 0.26 mi on foot from the stop where the DASH Observatory shuttle starts.
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The Rosemary Silverlake
4514 Fountain Avenue
8.869 reviews
9 min walk to Vermont/Sunset (Metro B Line, DASH Observatory/Los Feliz)A small hostel on Fountain Avenue, 0.47 mi from the shuttle stop. Check the room type before you book.
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Boutique Hollywood
5128 DeLongPre Avenue
8.05 reviews
14 min walk to Vermont/Sunset (Metro B Line, DASH Observatory/Los Feliz)On a quiet residential stretch of De Longpre Avenue, 0.70 mi on foot from the shuttle stop at Vermont/Sunset.
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Silver Lake Pool & Inn
4141 Santa Monica Boulevard
9.2388 reviews
12 min walk to Vermont/Santa Monica (Metro B Line)On Santa Monica Boulevard at Sunset Junction, with a pool, 0.87 mi on foot from the DASH shuttle at Vermont/Sunset.
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The Steady
4302 Melrose Ave
8.01,118 reviews
12 min walk to Vermont/Beverly (Metro B Line)A hostel on Melrose Avenue and the longest walk here, 1.20 mi to the shuttle stop, so ride the B Line two stops to Vermont/Sunset.
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Frequently asked questions
Where do you park to see Griffith Observatory?＋
The observatory has a paid lot, plus paid spaces along West Observatory Road and Western Canyon Road, charged from noon to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. Spaces fill fastest on evenings, weekends, holidays and in summer. Free parking around the Greek Theatre works if you can walk up to a mile uphill, except on concert evenings after 1 p.m. From these stays, the DASH shuttle at Vermont/Sunset skips the parking hunt.
Can you walk from these hotels to Griffith Observatory?＋
Not really. Hotel Covell, the closest stay here, is about 0.8 miles on foot from the park entrance at Vermont Avenue and Los Feliz Boulevard, and the observatory is a steep climb above that. Most guests walk to Vermont/Sunset and ride the DASH shuttle up, which is a 5 to 24 minute walk from the stays on this list.
Which hotel is closest to the Griffith Observatory shuttle?＋
Hotel Covell on Hollywood Boulevard, about a 5-minute walk (0.26 miles) from Vermont/Sunset, where the DASH shuttle starts. It is also the closest stay here to the Griffith Park entrance at Vermont Avenue and Los Feliz Boulevard, about 0.8 miles on foot.
Is there a Metro rail stop near Griffith Observatory?＋
Metro rail does not go up to the observatory. The nearest station is Vermont/Sunset on the B Line, and the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz shuttle runs from there to the observatory daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There is no parking at or near the Vermont/Sunset station, so arrive on foot or by train.
Is Griffith Observatory free, and are the telescopes free?＋
Yes. Admission to the observatory is free, and so are the public telescopes, which are offered daily during opening hours, weather permitting. Check the observatory's schedule for planetarium show times before you go.
What else can you visit near these hotels on the same day?＋
The Greek Theatre for summer concerts, the Autry Museum of the American West at the park's north end, and the Los Feliz Village shops and restaurants along Vermont Avenue between Hollywood Boulevard and Prospect Avenue are all within a short drive or rideshare from any hotel on this list.
Is it better to stay in Los Feliz or Silver Lake for visiting Griffith Observatory?＋
Los Feliz is the better base if the Observatory is the main reason for the trip. It borders the park directly, so you are a short drive or DASH shuttle ride from the park, with the shuttle starting at Vermont/Sunset. Silver Lake offers more restaurant and coffee options but is farther from the park. Neither neighborhood puts you within walking distance of the observatory building itself.
