If you’re deciding where to stay in Glendale, Arizona, start with what you plan to do most. A Cardinals game or stadium concert points you toward the Sports & Entertainment District, while hiking and a quieter setting favor north Glendale near Arrowhead. Historic Downtown works well for local shops and restaurants, and nearby Peoria can make sense when you want more hotel choices. The best hotel is usually the one that saves you the most driving while matching your needs for breakfast, a kitchen, a pool, meeting space, or extra room for family.
Quick Answer
For State Farm Stadium events, stay around Westgate and Glendale’s Sports & Entertainment District. Choose Arrowhead for a quieter base near shopping and desert trails, Historic Downtown for local character, or a suite-style hotel when you need a kitchen or extra space. Compare live rates and parking policies before booking.
Key Takeaways
- Westgate and the Sports & Entertainment District are the most convenient areas for State Farm Stadium, Desert Diamond Arena, restaurants, nightlife, and Tanger Outlets.
- Arrowhead and north Glendale suit travelers who want shopping, golf, hiking, and a quieter setting.
- Historic Downtown Glendale is best for local shops, restaurants, historic streets, and a more neighborhood-focused visit.
- Extended-stay hotels such as Home2 Suites, TownePlace Suites, Residence Inn, and Everhome Suites can be useful when you want more space or kitchen facilities.
- Hotel rates, review scores, parking charges, and some amenities can change, so compare your exact dates and total stay cost before booking.
Best Areas to Stay in Glendale, Arizona
Westgate and the Sports & Entertainment District: Best for Games and Concerts
If a Cardinals game, stadium concert, or major event is the main reason for your trip, this is usually the most convenient part of Glendale. State Farm Stadium is home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, while Westgate Entertainment District brings restaurants, bars, shopping, and entertainment into the same general area.
Hotel choices include Home2 Suites by Hilton Phoenix Glendale-Westgate, Aloft Glendale at Westgate, Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Conference Center, TownePlace Suites by Marriott Phoenix Glendale Sports & Entertainment District, and Residence Inn Phoenix Glendale Sports & Entertainment District. Exact walking distances differ, so check the route from your specific hotel to the entrance you plan to use rather than assuming every Sports & Entertainment District hotel is directly beside the stadium.
Tanger Outlets Westgate is also in this part of Glendale, making the area practical if outlet shopping is part of the trip.
Pro Tip: For a Cardinals game or major concert, compare a slightly higher room rate within walking distance against the cost and hassle of driving, event parking, and post-event traffic. A closer hotel can be better value even when its nightly rate is higher.
Arrowhead and North Glendale: Best for Hiking, Shopping, and a Quieter Stay
Arrowhead Ranch and the surrounding north Glendale area make a strong base when you want a calmer setting away from the biggest stadium crowds. Arrowhead Towne Center provides a large concentration of shopping and dining, while Thunderbird Conservation Park gives you access to desert scenery and hiking.
The Hotel Serene Glendale Peoria, SureStay Collection by Best Western is near Arrowhead Towne Center and offers another option in this part of Glendale. This area is also convenient for golfers visiting courses around Arrowhead.
Historic Downtown Glendale: Best for Local Character
If you prefer independent shops, restaurants, historic streets, and a slower pace, consider Historic Downtown Glendale. The district includes Old Towne and Historic Catlin Court, with a compact area that is easy to explore on foot once you arrive.
Downtown has a different feel from Westgate. It is a better fit for visitors interested in Glendale’s historic character than travelers whose main goal is attending an event at State Farm Stadium. Hotel inventory is also less concentrated here than around the Sports & Entertainment District, so compare the location of your accommodation carefully.
Park West and West Glendale: Good for Extended Stays
Travelers who want a kitchen or plan to stay for several nights can also look around Park West and west Glendale. Everhome Suites Glendale Sports Entertainment District offers apartment-style suites with full kitchens, a fitness center, and an outdoor pool. Choice Hotels announced the Glendale property as newly opened in October 2024.
Nearby Peoria: Useful When Glendale Hotels Are Full
Peoria is a separate city rather than a Glendale neighborhood, but it can still be practical for longer trips or when Glendale hotels are expensive or sold out. Areas near the Loop 101 provide access to north Glendale, Arrowhead, family attractions, shopping, and the wider West Valley. If State Farm Stadium is your main destination, compare drive time and event traffic before choosing a Peoria hotel.
Top Glendale Hotels by Trip Type
Best for Stadium Access: Home2 Suites by Hilton Phoenix Glendale-Westgate
Home2 Suites by Hilton Phoenix Glendale-Westgate is a useful choice for travelers who want suite-style rooms near Westgate and State Farm Stadium. Hilton lists complimentary breakfast and an outdoor pool, and the property also has laundry facilities. Its suite format can work especially well for families and longer stays.
Best for a Modern Westgate Stay: Aloft Glendale at Westgate
Aloft Glendale at Westgate suits travelers who want contemporary rooms, social spaces, a bar, and convenient access to Westgate nightlife and dining. Marriott describes the hotel as being within walking distance of State Farm Stadium. Rates vary significantly by date, so it is better to compare live prices than to treat Aloft as a permanently budget or premium option.
Best for Extended Stays: TownePlace Suites and Residence Inn
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Phoenix Glendale Sports & Entertainment District offers suites with kitchens, complimentary breakfast, and an outdoor pool. Residence Inn is another suite-style option in the area. These properties can make sense when you are staying several nights and value extra living space or the ability to prepare simple meals.
Best for Families Wanting More Room: Comfort Suites Glendale
Comfort Suites Glendale – State Farm Stadium Area is an all-suite hotel with free breakfast, an outdoor heated pool, microwaves, refrigerators, and sofa beds in its suites. Those features can be useful for families who want more room without moving to a full-service hotel.
Best Full-Service Hotel: Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Conference Center
Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Conference Center is the strongest fit when you want a full-service experience close to Westgate. Marriott currently promotes extensive conference and event facilities along with on-site dining, fitness facilities, and pools. It is particularly practical for conferences, business trips, weddings, and travelers who prefer more hotel services in one property.
Best Newer Extended-Stay Option: Everhome Suites Glendale
Everhome Suites Glendale Sports Entertainment District is one of Glendale’s newer verified hotel openings. Choice Hotels announced the property opening in October 2024. Its apartment-style suites include full kitchens, making it especially relevant for longer stays.
Best Near Arrowhead: The Hotel Serene Glendale Peoria
The Hotel Serene Glendale Peoria, SureStay Collection by Best Western is located by Arrowhead Towne Center in north Glendale. Best Western lists complimentary breakfast, an outdoor pool, refrigerators, microwaves, and free Wi-Fi. It is better positioned for Arrowhead shopping and north Glendale than for travelers who want to walk to Westgate.
How to Choose the Right Glendale Hotel
Instead of ranking hotels only by review score, compare the details that affect your actual trip:
- For a Cardinals game or stadium concert: prioritize distance to State Farm Stadium and check the walking route.
- For nightlife and restaurants: stay around Westgate.
- For hiking and golf: look around Arrowhead and north Glendale.
- For families: compare suite size, breakfast, pool access, refrigerators, microwaves, and sofa beds.
- For extended stays: prioritize a kitchen, laundry access, workspace, and parking.
- For meetings or conferences: compare Renaissance and other properties with dedicated event space.
- For local character: consider Historic Downtown, while checking how far your hotel is from the places you plan to visit.
Check Parking and Total Cost Before You Book
A hotel’s advertised nightly rate does not always tell you the full cost. Compare parking charges, pet fees, breakfast, Wi-Fi, cancellation terms, and any resort or destination fees before booking.
Warning: Parking procedures around Westgate can change during State Farm Stadium and Desert Diamond Arena events. Westgate uses special event-day parking operations, and rates can vary. If you are staying for a major event, verify your hotel’s guest-parking policy separately instead of assuming nearby public parking will be free.
You can review current Westgate parking information on the official Westgate parking page. State Farm Stadium also publishes official directions and parking information for visitors.
Note: Hotel review scores and nightly rates change frequently. Use ratings to compare recent guest experiences, but do not choose a hotel from the numeric score alone. Location, parking, room type, cancellation terms, and the amenities you will actually use usually matter more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Nicest Neighborhood in Glendale, Arizona?
There is no single nicest area for every visitor, but Arrowhead Ranch and north Glendale are strong choices if you want a quieter, more residential setting near golf, Arrowhead Towne Center, and Thunderbird Conservation Park. For entertainment and events, Westgate is usually more convenient.
Is Glendale, AZ a Good Place to Stay?
Yes. Glendale is especially convenient for State Farm Stadium events, Westgate dining and nightlife, Tanger Outlets, Historic Downtown, Arrowhead shopping, golf, and outdoor recreation. The best area depends on whether your trip is centered on stadium events, shopping, hiking, family activities, or exploring the wider Phoenix area.
What Is a Newer Hotel in Glendale, Arizona?
One of Glendale’s newer verified hotel openings is Everhome Suites Glendale Sports Entertainment District. Choice Hotels announced the property opening in October 2024. It focuses on extended stays and offers apartment-style suites with full kitchens. The Hotel Serene Glendale Peoria is another current north Glendale option, but it should not be described as Glendale’s newest hotel without a date-specific source.
What Are Some Luxury or Upscale Hotels in Glendale?
Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Conference Center is the clearest upscale full-service option in Glendale, particularly if you want on-site dining, pools, meeting facilities, and a Westgate location. JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn and Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix are upscale alternatives elsewhere in the metro area, but they are in Scottsdale and Phoenix rather than Glendale. Residence Inn and Staybridge-style properties are better described as suite or extended-stay hotels than luxury resorts.
Where Should I Stay for a Cardinals Game?
Stay around Westgate or Glendale’s Sports & Entertainment District if minimizing driving is your priority. Aloft, Home2 Suites, Renaissance, TownePlace Suites, and Residence Inn are among the hotels to compare. Check the exact walking route, hotel parking policy, and event-day rate before booking.
Is Westgate a Good Area to Stay Without Driving Much?
Westgate is one of Glendale’s better choices if you want restaurants, entertainment, shopping, and major sports venues concentrated in one area. You may still need a car or rideshare for Historic Downtown, Arrowhead, Thunderbird Conservation Park, and attractions elsewhere in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Conclusion
Whether you’re visiting for a Cardinals game, a concert, outlet shopping, hiking, golf, or a family getaway, Glendale has several distinct areas to consider. Westgate is the strongest choice for stadium access and nightlife, Arrowhead works well for shopping and outdoor recreation, and Historic Downtown offers a more local atmosphere. Choose the area first, then compare hotels by room type, parking, breakfast, kitchen facilities, cancellation terms, and total price for your actual dates.
Sources
- Experience Glendale: Places to Stay — current Glendale hotel and visitor information.
- State Farm Stadium: Directions & Parking — official stadium location and visitor parking information.
- Westgate Entertainment District: Parking — event-day and general parking procedures.
- City of Glendale: Thunderbird Conservation Park — official information about the north Glendale desert preserve.
- Choice Hotels: Everhome Suites Glendale Opening — confirms the October 2024 opening of the Glendale property.
- Experience Glendale: Historic Downtown — official visitor information for Old Towne and Historic Catlin Court.
