Where to Stay in Ballard and Fremont: Hotels, Hostels, and More
The best places to stay in Ballard and Fremont are Hotel Ballard for top ratings, Ballard Inn for value and Hotel Hotel Hostel in Fremont for budget, with dorm beds listed from about $30. Neither neighborhood has light rail yet, so plan on buses or rideshare to reach downtown.
In this article
Ballard and Fremont have a handful of well-rated hotels and inns, one hostel, a few kitchen stays and some motels, but no light rail yet. The best places to stay depend on whether you want Ballard Avenue's brewery scene, Fremont's quirky streets or a lower price. Ratings and prices below are as of October 21, 2026.
The best places to stay in Ballard and Fremont are Hotel Ballard for top ratings, Ballard Inn for value and Hotel Hotel Hostel in Fremont for budget, with dorm beds listed from about $30. Neither neighborhood has light rail yet, so plan on buses or rideshare to reach downtown.
If you are searching for where to stay in Ballard and Fremont, Seattle, or for a Ballard Fremont hostel, hotel or inn, the choices are smaller than downtown but more characterful. You trade a short walk to a rail station for a brewery on the corner, a bakery down the block and a neighborhood that feels like a place rather than a business district. To plan your days, read our guides to one day in Ballard and one day in Fremont.
We combined the two neighborhoods because they are neighbors, not far apart, and share most of the same transit. Each type of stay lists up to three of the highest-rated places and three budget picks where we could confirm them. Ratings come from several booking and review sites that use different scales, so we name the source for every score. All ratings and prices are as of October 21, 2026, and they will change. Prices are "from" rates for sample dates, not quotes.
By the Numbers: 0 light rail stations in either neighborhood today, 1 confirmed hostel, 2 main hotel streets (Ballard Ave and Fremont Ave) and dorm beds from about $30.
Quick Picks
| If you want... | Pick | Why (ratings and prices as of October 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| The best-rated hotel | Hotel Ballard | 9.6 out of 10 on Expedia from 608 reviews; 4.6 out of 5 on Tripadvisor |
| A good-value inn | Ballard Inn | 8.0 out of 10 on Expedia from 592 reviews; about $117 on sample dates |
| The cheapest bed | Hotel Hotel Hostel (Fremont) | Dorm beds as little as $30 per Time Out |
| A kitchen for a longer stay | Staybridge Suites Seattle - Fremont | Kitchenettes and breakfast; 4.0 out of 5 on Tripadvisor |
| Fremont on foot | Hotel Hotel Hostel | Walk to Fremont's bars, breweries and cafes |
| Ballard on foot | Hotel Ballard or Ballard Inn | Both on Ballard Avenue NW |
| A stay close to a grocery chain | Hotel Ballard or Hotel Hotel Hostel | Trader Joe's and PCC at the Ballard Blocks; PCC Community Markets, 600 N 34th St, in Fremont |
| A hotel close to a landmark | Hotel Hotel Hostel (Fremont) | The Fremont Troll, the Rocket and the Sunday Market are in the neighborhood; Hotel Ballard sits in the Ballard Avenue historic district |
| Near nightlife | Hotel Ballard | Tractor Tavern (5213 Ballard Ave NW), King's Hardware and Bad Albert's on the same street |
| Near a park | Hotel Ballard or Staybridge Suites Fremont | Ballard Commons Park; Gas Works Park is about a 20-minute walk from Fremont, per one guide |
Neighborhood Vibes
Ballard has deep Scandinavian roots, and you can still see them in the brick storefronts of Ballard Avenue, the National Nordic Museum and the working marinas. The Ballard Locks, a free working lock between Puget Sound and the lakes, set the tone: this is a neighborhood about boats, fish and the people who work with them. It is also one of Seattle's best areas for craft beer, with about a dozen breweries within walking distance of each other, according to Daily Hive. Evenings are lively on Ballard Avenue, where the breweries and bars cluster.
Fremont sits on the north side of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, across a drawbridge from Queen Anne, and it has always done its own thing. It is known for free public art, including the 18-foot Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge (installed in 1990), a 20-foot Lenin statue and a rocket on a storefront. It also has a Sunday market with about 150 to 200 vendors, per Daily Hive, plus Theo Chocolate and a good craft beer scene. It is small enough to cover on foot.
Living or staying here means trading a rail station for character. Neither neighborhood has light rail yet, so you will rely on buses or rideshare to reach downtown. Expect lively streets on weekend evenings near the breweries and bars on Ballard Ave and Fremont Ave, and ask for a room away from the street if you sleep lightly. Ballard is the better pick for a beer-and-boats base, and Fremont suits travelers who want quirky sights close to the hostel.
Light Rail and Bus Access
There is no Link light rail station in Ballard or Fremont today. Sound Transit's Ballard extension could reach Market Street as early as 2042 if funding is secured by 2033, and it could slip to about 2060 if not, according to Seattle's City Council. For now, you reach both neighborhoods by bus, rideshare or car.
- Fremont: a travel guide lists King County Metro routes 5, 26 and 28, with routes 26 and 28 running to Westlake Center downtown in about 20 minutes. Confirm routes in the trip planner.
- Ballard: the RapidRide D Line is the main bus to downtown, but we did not confirm stops near each hotel, so check the trip planner for your address.
- Link: from downtown, ride Link to the airport. See our guide to getting from SeaTac to downtown Seattle.
Hotels and Inns
Top rated hotels
Hotel Ballard: 9.6/10 on Expedia (608 reviews), 4.6/5 on Tripadvisor (420 reviews). At 5216 Ballard Ave NW, it has a rooftop deck and is on the main dining street. It is also the priciest on this list, with Expedia showing about $257 on one sample date and Kayak showing $499 or more on another.
- Near nightlife: Tractor Tavern (5213 Ballard Ave NW), King's Hardware (5225) and Bad Albert's (5100) are on the same street, by address.
- Near a landmark: Ballard Avenue's historic district; the Ballard Locks and Nordic Museum are elsewhere in the neighborhood, so check the map.
Staybridge Suites Seattle - Fremont: 4.0/5 on Tripadvisor (214 reviews). At 3926 Aurora Ave N, it offers kitchenettes, complimentary breakfast and waterfront views, according to one local guide. Tripadvisor lists it about 0.3 miles from Fremont.
- Near: Fremont's landmarks and PCC Community Markets (600 N 34th St); check the map for the walk from Aurora Ave.
Ballard Inn: 8.0/10 on Expedia (592 reviews) and Kayak (287 reviews), 3.5/5 on Tripadvisor (131 reviews). At 5300 Ballard Ave NW, it offers breakfast and is near craft breweries and boutiques.
- Near nightlife: The Sunset (5433 Ballard Ave NW) and Tractor Tavern (5213) are on the same street, by address.
Budget pick hotels
Prices are "from" nightly rates on Expedia for sample dates, before taxes and fees unless noted.
- Ballard Inn (8.0/10 on Expedia, 592 reviews): about $117 per night ($135 with taxes and fees) on Expedia's sample dates, and the cheapest of the Ballard Avenue hotels we could confirm with a strong review count.
- Marco Polo Motel (Fremont): Tripadvisor rates it 3.1/5 from 139 reviews, and Expedia's cheap-hotel list gives it 8.0/10. Tripadvisor puts it about 0.3 miles from Fremont. The price was not shown, and ratings disagree, so read recent reviews first.
- Best Motel: 9.0/10 on Expedia from 1,109 reviews, from about $86 a night. Expedia's Ballard cheap-hotels page lists it in Bitter Lake, which is farther north and not in Ballard or Fremont. Choose it only if price matters more than walking distance, and check the map and bus options first.
Hostels
Hotel Hotel Hostel (Fremont)
Despite the name, it is a hostel, and it is the one we could confirm in either neighborhood.
- Address: 3515 Fremont Ave N, at N 36th St
- Ratings (as of October 21, 2026): 9.9 out of 10 on Hostelworld from 1,855 reviews; 4.3 out of 5 on Tripadvisor from 142 reviews; 8.4 out of 10 on Expedia
- Price: dorm beds as little as $30 per night according to Time Out; private room prices were not listed
- Rooms: dorm beds, private rooms with shared baths, private rooms with private baths and family rooms. Frommer's says the hostel has 18 units, 3 with private baths.
- Extras: breakfast included, a full kitchen, free linens, free dorm lockers (bring a lock) and an on-site cafe serving beer and pizza, according to Frommer's and Hostelworld
- Nearby: bars, breweries, restaurants and cafes in Fremont, per Time Out
- Bus: Time Out says a short bus ride reaches Woodland Park Zoo. Specific routes were not listed.
- Check-in: one recent reviewer says check-in is handled remotely with no front desk. Confirm before you book.
- Near a grocery chain: PCC Community Markets, 600 N 34th St (by address, a short walk; confirm on a map)
- Near a landmark: the Fremont Troll, the Rocket and the Sunday Market are in the neighborhood
- Near nightlife: bars, breweries and cafes on Fremont Ave, per Time Out; Fremont Brewing is on N 34th St
- Near a park: Gas Works Park is about a 20-minute walk east along the canal, per one guide, and Woodland Park Zoo is a short bus ride, per Time Out
We did not confirm a hostel in Ballard. Tripadvisor lists a "Hostel Seattle" about 0.9 miles from Ballard with only 3 reviews, so we left it out.
Apartments and Kitchen Stays for Longer Visits
Ballard has more short-term rentals than traditional apartment hotels. Review counts are small, so read recent guest reviews carefully.
Top rated apartments
Scores are out of 10 on Expedia unless named otherwise.
- The Sweetest Suite (Ballard): 9.2/10 on Expedia from 25 reviews, about $243 per night on sample dates.
- Modern Sustainable Design in Ballard: 9.2/10 on Expedia from 11 reviews and 8.5/10 on Kayak from 21 reviews, about $268 to $319 or more.
- Staybridge Suites Seattle - Fremont: 4.0/5 on Tripadvisor (214 reviews), with kitchenettes. Ask about weekly rates, which sites often hide.
Budget picks apartments
Prices are per-night rates on Expedia for sample dates.
- Ballard's Sweet Suites: about $101 per night ($109 total) on Expedia, rated 8.8/10 from 391 reviews there. Tripadvisor lists it at 1.0 out of 5 from only 3 reviews, so the scores conflict. Read the latest reviews before booking.
- Pingu's Sweet Suite, a micro studio in Ballard: 9.4/10 on Expedia from 20 reviews, about $131 a night. It is a micro studio, so confirm the kitchen setup.
- Ballard Bliss Studio: 7.8/10 on Kayak from 31 reviews, about $194 or more on sample dates. It is a studio and not confirmed to have a full kitchen.
We also saw a three-bedroom townhome with a balcony listed from about $347 on Kayak and a Ballard townhome with a rooftop on Expedia at about $276. These suit groups and longer stays.
Other Types of Stays
- Motels: Marco Polo Motel in Fremont (see above). Other motels listed near Ballard are about 2 miles away and rated lower, so we did not include them.
- University District hotels: the Staypineapple Watertown (4.5/5 on Tripadvisor from 2,039 reviews) and University Inn (4.3/5 from 1,566 reviews) are listed about 1.7 miles from Fremont. They are a bus ride away, not walkable. Check the trip planner for rail and bus connections.
- Vacation rentals: Airbnb and similar sites list rooms and townhomes in both neighborhoods. Check the host's reviews and any cleaning fees.
What Is Near Each Pick
All distances are approximate and based on addresses and the sources named here. Confirm walking times on a map.
| Pick | Grocery chain | Landmark | Nightlife | Park | Bus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Ballard (5216 Ballard Ave NW) | Trader Joe's and PCC are at the Ballard Blocks, and Fred Meyer is nearby (no distances listed) | Ballard Avenue historic district | Tractor Tavern, King's Hardware, Bad Albert's | Ballard Commons Park (skate bowl, lawns, water feature) | RapidRide D Line (confirm stop) |
| Ballard Inn (5300 Ballard Ave NW) | Same Ballard stores; Town and Country Market is north of PCC | Ballard Avenue and its breweries | The Sunset, Tractor Tavern | Ballard Commons Park | RapidRide D Line (confirm stop) |
| Hotel Hotel Hostel (3515 Fremont Ave N) | PCC Community Markets, 600 N 34th St | Fremont Troll, Rocket, Sunday Market | Fremont Ave bars and breweries | Gas Works Park (about 20 min walk), Woodland Park Zoo (bus) | Routes 5, 26, 28 serve Fremont (confirm stop) |
| Staybridge Suites Fremont (3926 Aurora Ave N) | PCC Fremont, a short ride or walk (confirm) | Fremont Troll nearby | Fremont bars and breweries | Gas Works Park | Routes 5, 26, 28 serve Fremont (confirm stop) |
| Ballard's Sweet Suites and other rentals | Check the listing's map | Varies | Varies | Varies | Check the listing's map |
Ballard's grocery information comes from a local news report on the Ballard Blocks development, which names Trader Joe's, a PCC lot just south, a Fred Meyer about two blocks from the PCC site and Town and Country Ballard Market several blocks north. We did not find Walmart or Safeway locations near either neighborhood, so we do not list them.
What Is Near Where You Stay
- Ballard: Ballard Avenue is the main dining and brewery street, and both Hotel Ballard and Ballard Inn sit on it. The Ballard Locks and the National Nordic Museum are in the neighborhood. Our one-day guide gives the full route.
- Fremont: Hotel Hotel Hostel is steps from Fremont Avenue's shops, bars and cafes. The Fremont Troll, the Rocket and the Sunday Market (Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) are in walking distance.
- Groceries: Ballard has Trader Joe's, PCC and Fred Meyer, and Fremont has PCC Community Markets at 600 N 34th St. The Sunday markets also sell produce.
- Malls: we did not confirm a large mall in either neighborhood. For shopping, Ballard Avenue and Fremont Avenue have independent shops.
- Landmarks: Ballard Locks, Gas Works Park, Woodland Park Zoo, the Fremont Troll and Golden Gardens are all nearby by bus or car.
Which Neighborhood and Type Should You Choose?
- Budget solo travelers: Hotel Hotel Hostel in Fremont, with dorm beds from about $30.
- Couples who like beer and food: Hotel Ballard or Ballard Inn on Ballard Avenue.
- Families or longer stays: a Staybridge Suites kitchenette or a Ballard townhome.
- Photo and art fans: Fremont, near the Troll, the Rocket and the market.
- If you need rail: stay downtown or in Pioneer Square, near Link. See our guide to where to stay in the International District, and our Seattle neighborhood guide to compare every area.
Parks Near Where You Stay
Ballard Commons Park is part of the Ballard Municipal Center and has a skate bowl, a water feature, art, seating and lawns, according to Seattle Parks. Golden Gardens is a beach park farther west, and our Ballard itinerary covers it. In Fremont, Gas Works Park is the best known, and Woodland Park Zoo is a short bus ride from the hostel. We did not confirm exact walking times from each property, so check a map.
Tips Before You Book
- Check dates: prices swing a lot, and Hotel Ballard showed a very wide range.
- Compare sites: scores and prices differ by site, so check at least two.
- Read recent reviews: especially for properties with fewer than 50 reviews.
- Confirm parking: we did not confirm parking at these properties, so ask if you are driving.
- Plan your transit: with no light rail, decide on buses or rideshare before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ballard a good place to stay in Seattle? Yes, if you like brewery streets and a neighborhood feel and do not mind a bus ride to downtown. Ballard has no light rail yet.
Is Fremont a good area to stay in? It suits travelers who want quirky art, cafes and a Sunday market. A short bus ride reaches downtown.
What is the cheapest place to stay in Ballard or Fremont? Hotel Hotel Hostel in Fremont, with dorm beds from about $30, and Ballard Inn, from about $117 on sample dates.
Is there light rail in Ballard or Fremont? No. The Ballard extension could open as early as 2042.
Is there a hostel in Ballard? We did not confirm one. The hostel we could confirm is Hotel Hotel Hostel in Fremont.
Conclusion
For hotels in Fremont, Seattle, and Ballard alike, pick Hotel Ballard or Ballard Inn for Ballard Avenue, Hotel Hotel Hostel for Fremont on a budget, and a kitchen stay for a longer visit. Check current ratings, prices and bus routes before you book.
Seattle on a Budget may earn a commission if you book through some links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
References
- Cheap Hotels in Ballard, Expedia: https://www.expedia.com/Ballard-Seattle-Hotels-Cheap-Hotels.0-n506257-0-tCheapHotels.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels
- Aparthotels in Ballard, Expedia: https://www.expedia.com/es/Ballard-Seattle-Hoteles-Aparthotel.0-n506257-0-tAparthotel.Guia-Viajes-Filter-Hoteles
- 7 Fun Things to Do in Seattle's Ballard Neighborhood, Daily Hive: https://dailyhive.com/seattle/seattle-things-to-do-ballard
- Fremont Street Market, Daily Hive: https://dailyhive.com/seattle/fremont-street-market-seattle
- Cheap Hotels in Ballard, Kayak: https://www.kayak.com/Seattle-Hotels_Ballard.N208493.7054.hotel.ksp
- The 10 Closest Hotels to Ballard, Tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/HotelsNear-g60878-d12103320-Ballard-Seattle_Washington.html
- The 10 Closest Hotels to Fremont, Tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/HotelsNear-g60878-d143563-Fremont-Seattle_Washington.html
- Guide to Best Hotels in Ballard Seattle, Seattle Secrets: https://seattlesecrets.org/best-hotels-in-ballard-seattle
- Hotel Hotel Hostel, Time Out: https://www.timeout.com/seattle/hotels/hotel-hotel-hostel
- Hotel Hotel Hostel, Frommer's: https://www.frommers.com/destinations/seattle/hotels/hotel-hotel-hostel
- Hotel Hotel Hostel, Hostelworld: https://www.hostelworld.com/hostels/p/53155/hotelhotel-hostel/
- Sound Transit announces timeline for building light rail to Ballard, Seattle City Council: https://council.seattle.gov/2026/07/31/sound-transit-announces-timeline-for-building-light-rail-to-ballard/
