Griffith Observatory sits at 1,134 feet on the south slope of Mount Hollywood, inside Griffith Park above the Los Feliz neighborhood. Most visitors drive up via Vermont Canyon Road or catch the LADOT Dash Observatory shuttle (line 96) from the Vermont and Sunset area. The five hotels below are within one mile of the park's Los Feliz Boulevard entrance, putting you close to the shuttle stop, the Greek Theatre, and the Vermont Avenue dining strip, without the premium pricing of West Hollywood or downtown.
How we selected these hotels
The observatory itself is only reachable by car or shuttle, so distance to the Griffith Park entrance on Los Feliz Boulevard set the order. We ranked in two steps.
- 1. Distance to the Griffith Park entrance on Los Feliz Boulevard.
- 2. Star rating, among hotels at similar distances.
We left out hotels beyond one mile from the park entrance unless no closer bookable option existed in the inventory we work with, along with short-term rental units and hostels regardless of distance.
Quick comparison: hotels near Griffith Observatory
| Hotel | Stars | Miles to park entrance | Walk to park entrance | Guest score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rosemary Silverlake | 3 | 0.31 mi | 6 min | 8.8 / 10 |
| Hotel Covell | 5 | 0.48 mi | 10 min | 10 / 10 |
| Silver Lake Pool & Inn | 4 | 0.51 mi | 10 min | 9.2 / 10 |
| Boutique Hollywood | 3 | 0.63 mi | 13 min | 8.0 / 10 |
| The Steady | Unrated | 0.68 mi | 14 min | 8.0 / 10 |
Getting to the observatory from these hotels
- The LADOT Dash Observatory shuttle (line 96) runs seasonally from the Vermont and Sunset Metro B Line station up to the observatory building. Check ladottransit.com for current schedules before your visit.
- Driving via Vermont Canyon Road takes roughly 10 minutes from Los Feliz Boulevard on a clear day. Parking at the observatory is free but fills by mid-morning on weekends.
- The hike from the park's main Los Feliz entrance to the observatory building gains about 500 feet of elevation over roughly 1.5 miles. Budget 45 to 60 minutes on foot and wear proper shoes.
- The Greek Theatre shares a parking area at the base of Vermont Canyon Road. On concert nights, observatory parking closes early, so plan to arrive before 5 p.m. or use the shuttle.
What to do once you're near Griffith Observatory
The Samuel Oschin Planetarium inside the observatory runs ticketed shows throughout the day, and the rooftop public telescopes open on clear evenings at no charge. 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 most properties here, making it easy to eat well without getting back in the car.
The hotels
The Rosemary Silverlake
4514 Fountain Avenue
8.869 reviews
6.2 min walk to Vermont/Sunset (Metro B Line) (Metro B Line/LADOT Dash Observatory Line 96)0.31 miles from the park entrance, the closest address here and a solid three-star pick.
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Hotel Covell
4626 Hollywood Boulevard
10.012 reviews
9.6 min walk to Vermont/Sunset (Metro B Line) (Metro B Line/LADOT Dash Observatory Line 96)0.48 miles from the Griffith Park entrance on Los Feliz Boulevard, a boutique stay on Hollywood Boulevard.
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Silver Lake Pool & Inn
4141 Santa Monica Boulevard
9.2388 reviews
10.2 min walk to Vermont/Sunset (Metro B Line) (Metro B Line/LADOT Dash Observatory Line 96)0.51 miles from the park entrance, with a pool and quick access to the Greek Theatre and Vermont Avenue restaurants.
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Boutique Hollywood
5128 DeLongPre Avenue
8.05 reviews
8 min walk to Vermont/Hollywood (Metro B Line)0.63 miles from the park entrance on quiet, residential DeLongpre Avenue, with easy access north to Los Feliz Boulevard.
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The Steady
4302 Melrose Ave
8.01,118 reviews
13.6 min walk to Vermont/Sunset (Metro B Line) (Metro B Line/LADOT Dash Observatory Line 96)0.68 miles from the park entrance on Melrose Avenue, the budget pick, with direct northbound access to Los Feliz Boulevard and the shuttle stop.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you walk from these hotels to Griffith Observatory?＋
You can walk to the Griffith Park entrance from all five hotels in under 15 minutes. The observatory building itself is 500 feet above the park base, so most visitors drive up Vermont Canyon Road or take the LADOT Dash Observatory shuttle (line 96) from the Los Feliz Boulevard entrance rather than hiking the full trail.
Which hotel is closest to the Griffith Park entrance?＋
The Rosemary Silverlake on Fountain Avenue is 0.31 miles from the Los Feliz Boulevard park entrance, making it the closest property on this list to the shuttle stop and the park's main access point.
Is there a Metro rail stop near Griffith Observatory?＋
Metro rail does not reach the observatory or the Los Feliz neighborhood at park level. The nearest Metro B Line stations are Vermont/Sunset and Vermont/Hollywood, both roughly a 10-minute walk from the hotels on this list. From Vermont/Sunset, the LADOT Dash Observatory shuttle (line 96) runs seasonally up to the observatory building.
Are the rooftop telescopes at Griffith Observatory free?＋
Yes. The public telescopes on the observatory's roof are open on clear evenings at no charge. Planetarium shows inside the Samuel Oschin Planetarium require a ticket, which you can buy at the observatory or in advance online.
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 Observatory shuttle ride from the entrance on Los Feliz Boulevard. Silver Lake offers more restaurant and coffee options but adds ten to fifteen minutes each way to the park. Neither neighborhood puts you within walking distance of the observatory building itself.
