
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
Best for history, romantic or wedding weekends, destination dining and an on-site full-service spa in downtown Riverside.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is a National Historic Landmark in downtown Riverside with landmark dining, a full-service spa, and event spaces — good for travelers who want history and a distinctive Riverside stay. Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino is a mainstream 3-star Hilton-family hotel in San Bernardino (Valley View) for travelers who want predictable chain comforts and meeting facilities.
Updated · about 22 km / 14 miles apart (Riverside to San Bernardino)

Best for history, romantic or wedding weekends, destination dining and an on-site full-service spa in downtown Riverside.

Best for reliable chain comfort, meeting space and easy access to San Bernardino-area businesses and the local golf course.
When The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa wins: choose it if you want a hotel that’s also a historic destination — detailed architecture, museum tours, multiple distinctive restaurants (including an AAA Four-Diamond steakhouse), and a full-service spa make it a stay for culture, dining, weddings and spa-focused getaways.
When Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino wins: pick the Hilton when you prioritize consistent chain standards, straightforward business amenities (complimentary wired internet, 24-hour business center, meeting rooms and conference space) and an affordable, predictable base near San Bernardino institutions.
Bottom line: Both work well for regional business travelers, but The Mission Inn is a destination property with character, food and spa offerings; Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino is the practical, no-surprises choice for meetings and chain-brand travelers.
| Category | The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa | Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Historic, landmark property with ornate architecture and museum elements. | Mainstream, Hilton-brand business hotel with functional public spaces. |
| Location | Downtown Riverside — walkable to museums, Fox Performing Arts Center and convention center. | San Bernardino (Valley View) — near San Bernardino Golf Club and local shopping/venues. |
| Size | 238 rooms across 5 floors; large event and meeting capacity (≈20,000 sq ft). | 115 rooms; roughly 3,000 sq ft of meeting/conference space (listed at 279 m²). |
| Ages / policy | All-ages, family-friendly; children can stay free with existing bedding (policy details available). | All-ages; not adults-only. |
| Pools | Heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, open daily; pool access included with resort amenities. | Outdoor pool (one) available; hours and accessibility noted in property listing. |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple on-site restaurants & lounges (Mission Inn Restaurant, Duane’s Steakhouse, Bella Trattoria, Las Campanas, California Lounge, Presidential Lounge, etc.). | On-site Great American Grill restaurant and a bar/lounge; cooked-to-order breakfast available for a fee. |
| Spa / wellness | Kelly’s Spa — full-service Tuscan-inspired spa with 12 treatment rooms, signature bathing rituals and spa packages. | Fitness center on-site; no full-service spa listed in supplier facts. |
| Known for | Historic architecture, museum tours, wedding chapels and destination dining. | Hilton-brand consistency, meeting space and convenient business amenities. |
| Event & meeting space | About 20,000 sq ft of event space with multiple ballrooms and two historic chapels; wedding capacities from intimate up to several hundred guests. | About 3,000 sq ft (279 m²) of conference/meeting space and multiple meeting rooms for business events. |
| Distance | about 22 km / 14 miles apart (Riverside to San Bernardino) | |
The Mission Inn sits on a full block in downtown Riverside within walking distance of museums, the Fox Performing Arts Center and the convention center.
Pick The Mission Inn for a walkable cultural stay in historic downtown Riverside.
Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino is in the Valley View area of San Bernardino with straightforward car access to local venues.
Choose the Hilton for a convenient, car-friendly base near San Bernardino business and event sites.
Rooms at The Mission Inn are part of a historic landmark property with a variety of room and suite configurations across 238 rooms.
The Mission Inn’s rooms are varied and sit inside a historic property; expect character and some legacy policies such as a resort fee and incidental holds.
Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino offers standard Hilton-style rooms and suites in multiple accessible and suite configurations.
The Hilton provides predictable, accessible room types with basic in-room kitchen conveniences suitable for business and longer stays.
The Mission Inn is a dining destination with multiple restaurants and lounges covering steakhouse, Italian, Mexican and a signature dining room.
Choose The Mission Inn if on-site dining variety and a notable steakhouse or brunch are priorities.
Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino has one main on-site restaurant (Great American Grill) plus a bar/lounge and room service during limited hours.
The Hilton is a practical choice for simple, reliable meals and breakfasts—expect fewer on-site dining options than The Mission Inn.
The Mission Inn offers a heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi alongside a full-service spa experience that’s central to the property’s appeal.
The Mission Inn’s pool and Kelly’s Spa are core attractions — choose it for a full spa and relaxation program within a historic setting.
Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino provides an outdoor pool and a fitness center as part of its business-oriented amenity set.
The Hilton’s outdoor pool and fitness center serve travelers seeking straightforward recreation and business-ready facilities.
Wellness and nightlife at The Mission Inn combine Kelly’s Spa services with historic lounges and late-afternoon/evening cocktail options.
If spa treatments and distinctive hotel bars matter, The Mission Inn provides both within a walkable cultural district.
Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino focuses on business services, with a bar/lounge and 24-hour business center rather than a full-service spa or lively nightlife.
Pick the Hilton when you need meeting infrastructure and steady service rather than a destination spa or historic lounges.

The Mission Inn — a National Historic Landmark with guided museum tours, chapels and ornate architecture.

The Mission Inn — Kelly’s Spa with Roman baths, signature treatments and included spa-area amenities.

Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino — reliable Hilton standards, complimentary wired internet and a 24-hour business center.

Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino — explicit meeting and conference space (≈3,000 sq ft) and practical banquet facilities.
The Mission Inn — its historic rooms, presidential and California lounges, fine-dining steakhouse and Kelly’s Spa make it the stronger romantic pick.
Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino — it offers reliable Hilton-brand meeting rooms, a 24-hour business center and practical room amenities.
No — The Mission Inn has a full-service Kelly’s Spa; Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino lists a fitness center but no full-service spa in supplier facts.
Yes — both hotels welcome guests of all ages. The Mission Inn explicitly markets family-friendly policies and allows up to three children 11 and under to stay free with existing bedding.
Explore how The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·