Where to stay

Question

We are flying into LA at 6pm on Wednesday in a couple of weeks. We are flying out of LGB the next morning. My son and hubs want to catch the dodgers game. Not knowing anything about the area where would you recommend staying. Near LGB, somewhere in between, or downtown LA? How bad is traffic from LA at 6 AM to LGB?

Answer

For a very short overnight trip flying into LA at 6pm and out of LGB the next morning, location choice should prioritize convenience, minimal traffic, and access to your planned activities. Since your son and husband want to see the Dodgers game, you’ll need to balance proximity to the stadium with ease of getting to Long Beach Airport early the next day.

Traffic considerations:

Driving from central or downtown LA to Long Beach Airport around 6 AM is generally not too bad. Morning rush hour traffic in LA usually starts building around 7–8 AM, so a 6 AM drive should be fairly smooth, likely taking 25–40 minutes depending on the exact starting point.

Hotel location options:

Near LGB: Staying in Long Beach near the airport is the easiest for the early flight and luggage drop-off. Hotels in this area are convenient and often quieter at night, but it is farther from Dodger Stadium (~25–30 min drive) for your Dodgers game.
Downtown Los Angeles or Hollywood: Staying near downtown or Hollywood puts you closer to Dodger Stadium (~10–15 min drive) and central LA attractions, but you’ll need an early start to LGB in the morning, adding ~35–45 min for the drive at 6 AM.
Somewhere in between (Mid-City, Culver City, or West LA): This balances driving distances, roughly 20–25 min to Dodgers Stadium and 25–30 min to LGB in early morning hours. It may also provide more dining options for dinner or late-night snacks.

Recommendations:

If the primary goal is stress-free airport access, book a hotel near Long Beach Airport and accept a slightly longer morning drive to the Dodgers game.
If the priority is the Dodgers game experience and you don’t mind waking up early for a 6 AM airport transfer, staying closer to downtown LA or near Dodger Stadium is reasonable.
Consider a hotel with parking options, as you may want to drive to the stadium or the airport, and check if they offer shuttle service to LGB.

In summary, for one night, convenience often outweighs all else. A Long Beach airport hotel is likely the least stressful option, especially given an early morning departure, while staying somewhere mid-way or near downtown LA is preferable only if catching the Dodgers game takes top priority.

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