-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 J35fcpdWBxLX9XuVeLodgh2BC3yFo8pQF/x5umeWxin+a/V+dhHrqKVOXMXkGzpE
 VPSFvDI8XgBB5mzINKo6aw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-000063.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-000063.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105123544
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-000063
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CUSHMAN JOHN C III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216779

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08132
		FILM NUMBER:		04502869

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LA QUINTA CORP
		STREET 2:		909 HIDDEN RIDGE STE 600
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75038
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2144926720

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LA QUINTA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000313749
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOTELS & MOTELS [7011]
		IRS NUMBER:				953419438
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		909 HIDDEN RIDGE
		STREET 2:		STE 600
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75038
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2144926600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LA QUINTA CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		909 HIDDEN RIDGE
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75038

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MEDITRUST OPERATING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19971114

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SANTA ANITA OPERATING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000313749</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LA QUINTA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LQI</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216779</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CUSHMAN JOHN C III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>909 HIDDEN RIDGE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75038</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Paired Shares</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2004-01-02</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>2804</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>6.42</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>363197</value>
          <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>Trustee of Cushman Family Trust</value>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Paired Shares consist of one share of common stock, par value of $0.01 per share, of La Quinta Corporation and one share of Class B common stock, par value of $0.01 per share, of La Quinta Properties, Inc., which are paired and traded as a single unit</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Paired Shares issued in lieu of Director's Fees.  </footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">25,000 shares are directly owned by Mr. Cushman, 336,971 shares are owned indirectly by Mr. Cushman as the Trustee of the Cushman Family Trust and 1,226 shares are directly owned by Mr. Cushman through an IRA account.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/S/ John C. Cushman III</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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