Race Weekend · Where to Stay
Where to stay for the Berkeley Omnium: a racer's guide to Berkeley, Orinda and the East Bay
If you're racing the whole Omnium, we'd rather make Saturday a short trip than turn Sunday morning into another travel day.
Where to start looking
- Racing both days?
- Downtown Berkeley
- BHRR only?
- Lafayette or Walnut Creek, east of the hills
- Berkeley Streets only?
- Berkeley
- No car?
- Downtown Berkeley, near BART
- Bringing family?
- Berkeley
The short answer
For racers competing in the full Berkeley Omnium, Downtown Berkeley is a practical lodging base: Sunday's Berkeley Streets Criterium takes place in Berkeley, while Saturday's Berkeley Hills Road Race uses race headquarters and staging at Orinda BART, a trip over the hills. Racers focused on Saturday's road race may prefer Lafayette or elsewhere east of the Berkeley Hills. Choose lodging for both venues, and for bike security, parking, food and space for your gear, not just distance to one race.
For most racers: stay in Berkeley
Saturday's Berkeley Hills Road Race is run from Orinda, but Sunday's Berkeley Streets Criterium is in Berkeley. Staying in Berkeley also puts you close to:
- Sunday's criterium.
- Restaurants, coffee and groceries.
- BART.
- Bike shops.
- Places for family or teammates to explore.
You head to the road race on Saturday morning. Afterward you come back to Berkeley, recover, eat, get the bike ready, and wake up on Sunday already close to the race.
One Omnium. Two race venues.
Saturday: the Berkeley Hills Road Race. Race headquarters and staging are at Orinda BART, north end parking lot, 11 Camino Pablo, Orinda, CA 94563. Racers stage there and ride a neutral rollout to the actual race start.
BHRR start, staging and rollout guide →
Sunday: the Berkeley Streets Criterium, with registration at Hearst Avenue and McGee Avenue, beside Ohlone Park in Berkeley.
The Berkeley Streets Criterium →
- Berkeley MarinaOn the bay, west of town.
- University Avenue
- Downtown BerkeleySunday's criterium, BART, food and most of the hotels.
- Over the Berkeley Hills: Highway 24 or BART
- OrindaSaturday's Race HQ at Orinda BART.
- East on Highway 24 and BART
- Lafayette, then Walnut CreekOne and two BART stops east of Orinda.
See it on a map:
Best for most Omnium racers: Downtown Berkeley
Downtown Berkeley is our default recommendation. It's walkable, close to restaurants, coffee and groceries, near Sunday's race, and next to Downtown Berkeley BART, which matters if you fly in and don't want every part of the weekend to need a car. And once you're back from the road race, there's less driving left.
Residence Inn by Marriott Berkeley
Downtown Berkeley · 2121 Center Street, Berkeley
- Best for
- Racers doing the full Omnium who want to cook familiar food
- BART
- A short walk to Downtown Berkeley BART
- Parking
- Ask the hotel
- Kitchen
- Suite-style rooms with kitchens
- Bike storage
- Contact the hotel to confirm
Hotel Shattuck Plaza
Downtown Berkeley · 2086 Allston Way, Berkeley
- Best for
- A central base for the weekend, close to food and coffee
- BART
- A short walk to Downtown Berkeley BART
- Parking
- Ask the hotel
- Kitchen
- Not listed
- Bike storage
- Contact the hotel to confirm
For racers, the best hotel isn't necessarily the fanciest one. It's the one where you can sleep, eat, park if you need to, and know your bike is secure.
Staying with a car?
If you're driving and care more about easy vehicle access than being in the middle of downtown, University Avenue has options. Don't assume parking is free: ask.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Berkeley
West Berkeley, University Avenue · 1175 University Avenue, Berkeley
- Best for
- Racers driving, who want straightforward vehicle access
- BART
- Not close to a station; plan on driving
- Parking
- On-site parking listed; confirm the cost
- Kitchen
- Not listed
- Bike storage
- Contact the hotel to confirm
Aiden by Best Western Berkeley
University Avenue · 1499 University Avenue, Berkeley
- Best for
- Racers with a car who still want to be in town
- BART
- Closest station: North Berkeley
- Parking
- Limited on-site parking and valet listed; confirm the cost
- Kitchen
- Not listed
- Bike storage
- Contact the hotel to confirm
Want somewhere quieter? The Berkeley Marina
The Marina is a different strategy, not a better one: a larger waterfront hotel, away from downtown. It suits "I want to race, eat, recover and sleep somewhere quiet." The tradeoff is that you're less connected to downtown Berkeley and will rely more on driving or rideshare.
DoubleTree by Hilton Berkeley Marina
Berkeley Marina · 200 Marina Boulevard, Berkeley
- Best for
- A quieter, larger hotel on the waterfront, with a car
- BART
- None nearby; drive or use rideshare
- Parking
- On-site self and valet parking listed, for a nightly fee
- Kitchen
- Not listed
- Bike storage
- Contact the hotel to confirm
Should I stay in Orinda or Lafayette?
Maybe, if Saturday's road race is your priority: BHRR-only racers, early Saturday starters, teams with vehicles, and anyone who wants the simplest possible Saturday morning. You'll make Saturday easier and Sunday less convenient: racing the whole Omnium, you'll still need to get to Berkeley for the criterium, and BART doesn't run early enough on Sunday for the first fields.
Orinda itself has very little hotel lodging: hotel searches for Orinda mostly turn up hotels in neighboring cities. Race headquarters and hotel headquarters don't have to be the same place. Look at Lafayette, one BART stop east of Orinda, or Walnut Creek, two stops east, which has more hotels and restaurants.
Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa
Lafayette · 3287 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
- Best for
- Racers putting Saturday first, or wanting a quieter, upscale stay
- BART
- Closest station: Lafayette, one stop east of Orinda
- Parking
- Ask the hotel
- Kitchen
- Not listed
- Bike storage
- Contact the hotel to confirm
Residence Inn Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek · 2050 North California Boulevard, Walnut Creek
- Best for
- Teams wanting suites and kitchens on the Orinda side of the hills
- BART
- Next to Walnut Creek BART, two stops east of Orinda
- Parking
- Ask the hotel
- Kitchen
- All-suite, with full kitchens
- Bike storage
- Contact the hotel to confirm
Who should stay where?
| Traveler | Where we'd start looking |
|---|---|
| Racing the full Omnium | Downtown Berkeley |
| Racing Berkeley Streets only | Berkeley |
| Racing BHRR only | Lafayette, or elsewhere east of the hills |
| Flying in without a car | Downtown Berkeley, near BART |
| Team with several vehicles | Berkeley, or Walnut Creek if Saturday matters most |
| Family coming to watch | Berkeley |
| Wants restaurants, coffee and walkability | Downtown Berkeley |
| Wants somewhere quieter | The Berkeley Marina or Lafayette |
| Saturday morning matters most | Lafayette, on the Orinda side |
| Sunday morning matters most | Berkeley |
A starting point, not a rule. Visit Berkeley's lodging directory lists more places to stay.
No rental car?
Downtown Berkeley gets more interesting. Berkeley has three BART stations, Downtown Berkeley, North Berkeley and Ashby, and Saturday's Race HQ is at Orinda BART, which makes a transit-based race weekend more possible than at most road races. Be realistic, though: you're also carrying a bike, helmet, shoes, a race bag, food and clothes. A solo racer packing light can make it work; a team with bikes, wheels, trainers and tents will want vehicles. And BART's Sunday service doesn't start until 8 a.m..
Bringing the whole team?
Teams have different priorities from solo racers. Think about:
- How many rooms, and how close together.
- Parking for every vehicle.
- Somewhere secure for the bikes.
- Shared meals, and a refrigerator or kitchen for food.
- Room to load vehicles in the morning.
- Several fields with different start times.
- Collegiate schedules.
Suite-style hotels can help with food storage and space. For a bigger group, contact hotels directly about a group block and about bike storage before you book.
Collegiate teams: don't wait until the last minute
Berkeley is a university town, and other weekend events can compete for rooms. Book early, and have one person coordinate rooms, drivers, bike transport, race schedules, registration and equipment.
Bringing family? Stay in Berkeley.
While you're racing, family in Berkeley are close to cafes, restaurants, the UC Berkeley campus, parks and shops, and on Sunday, the criterium, the kids skills clinic and the kids race. For many families, staying in Berkeley turns the trip into a weekend instead of two days of driving between races.
Berkeley Streets spectator guide →
Bringing kids?
Kids skills clinic and kids race →
What to do in Berkeley between races:
Where you stay changes Friday night
Staying in Berkeley, Friday can be simple: check in, build and check the bike, get food, fill bottles, charge electronics, review BHRR staging, sleep. You don't need a tourist itinerary before a road race. The best Friday night race plan is usually the boring one.
Saturday night: you're not done yet
You've finished the road race, and Sunday's criterium is waiting. Back in Berkeley: eat, drink, shower, check the bike, clean and lube the drivetrain if it needs it, check the tires, charge your electronic shifting, lay out Sunday's kit, check the criterium schedule, and sleep. Saturday night isn't the end of race day. It's the beginning of race two.
Five things to ask before booking
- Can I store my bike safely? Ask the hotel directly.
- Is there parking, and what does it cost?
- Can I store or prepare food? A refrigerator or kitchen can matter more than a fancy restaurant.
- Can I get to both race venues reasonably? Remember there are two.
- What's nearby? Coffee, breakfast, groceries, basic supplies and a bike shop: that's race-weekend luxury.
Our pick for most racers
Start your hotel search in Downtown Berkeley. Racing both days, it's a practical base for the whole weekend, and it's where Sunday's race and much of Berkeley's food and transit are. If Saturday's road race is your priority, look at Lafayette. If you want a quieter Berkeley stay and have a car, consider the Marina. Bringing a big team that needs more choices? Look in Berkeley first, then Walnut Creek. There's no perfect hotel for everyone.
Questions
Where to stay for the Berkeley Omnium: a racer's guide to Berkeley, Orinda and the East Bay: FAQ
Where should I stay for the Berkeley Omnium?
For most racers competing in both the Berkeley Hills Road Race and the Berkeley Streets Criterium, Downtown Berkeley: it has lodging, dining and BART, and Sunday's criterium is in Berkeley. Racers prioritizing Saturday's road race may prefer Lafayette or elsewhere east of the Berkeley Hills.
Should I stay in Berkeley or Orinda for BHRR?
Racing both days, stay in Berkeley and make Saturday the short trip. Orinda itself has very little hotel lodging; Lafayette and Walnut Creek, just east, have more.
Where should I stay if I'm only racing BHRR?
Lafayette or Walnut Creek, on the Orinda side of the hills, for a shorter Saturday morning.
Where should I stay if I'm only racing Berkeley Streets?
Berkeley, close to the criterium beside Ohlone Park.
Where should a collegiate team stay?
Berkeley if you're racing both days and want food and transit close by; Walnut Creek if you need more rooms, suites with kitchens, or Saturday matters most. Book early either way.
Can I stay near BART for the Berkeley Omnium?
Yes. Downtown Berkeley hotels are a short walk from Downtown Berkeley BART, and Saturday's Race HQ is at Orinda BART. BART doesn't start until 8 a.m. on Sunday, though.
Can I bring my race bike into my hotel room?
Hotel policies vary. Contact the hotel directly before booking to ask about bikes in rooms and secure bike storage.