The main place to stay in National City, CA, the next town along the Pacific coast south of San Diego, is the 180 room Holiday Inn, a substantial, 9 floor hotel occupying one block between 7th/8th St and Roosevelt/National City Blvd. I-5 runs by just to the west, reaching downtown San Diego after 4 miles; many places are within range of the hotel's complimentary 5 mile area shuttle. Most rooms have access to a balcony, with good views over National City or San Diego Bay. Full service amenities at the Holiday Inn include a restaurant (for breakfast & dinner), a large heated outdoor pool, whirlpool, fitness center, convenience store, florist, and nearly 3,000 sq ft of meetings space. The staff have a reputation for friendliness and good service.

A brand new Best Western hotel in National City opened summer 2009 right next to I-5 (exit 10) along Bay Marina Drive, which leads to San Diego Bay half a mile west. The Marina Gateway Hotel is quite a large property of 4 floors and 172 rooms/suites, all smartly decorated and offering a refrigerator, free internet access, executive desk & coffee/tea maker. Some rooms have a private balcony, with views either of the Bay or the inland mountains. Also on the premises is a restaurant/sports bar (room service available), an outdoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, and various facilities for business, meetings and events.

Comfort Inn Southbay lies a few blocks east of the center of National City, and is right next to the Plaza Blvd exit of the 805 Freeway which puts it within an easy drive of Tijuana (Mexico), Chula Vista, and the many attractions of San Diego. The immediate surroundings are residential and relatively quiet, but the hotel is a short walk away from a good selection of shops and restaurants. Inside, the 91 rooms are nice and clean, each with a refrigerator, coffee maker & ironing facilities. The Comfort Inn offers the expected amenities of free continental breakfast, outdoor pool and hot tub.

Formerly a Ramada hotel, the Quality Inn at 3878 Dalbergia Court lies a few blocks north of the center of National City, 4 miles from downtown San Diego. It is right next to interstate 5 (exit 12), opposite the large US Naval Base on San Diego Bay. Although close to the highway, the inn is surrounded by grass and palm trees, giving it a pleasant aspect; inside, rooms are medium sized, equipped with a microwave and a refrigerator. For leisure there is an exercise room but no pool.