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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DLmEOGnwoqLyvnLLKRMxC7WlFw/j/rqn22i3cLZeA79qgI578le3ckZSeUykmPaD
 w3jv6ijdJIH0i9Cj6K0Swg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-015762.txt : 20040528
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-015762.hdr.sgml : 20040528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040528110957
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-015762
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040528

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:		04837052

	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"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-27</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>2004-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6711</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>.02</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>372671</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trustee of Cushman Family Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted under the La Quinta Corporation 2002 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.  Paired Shares are immediately vested and consist of one share of La Quinta Corporation common stock and one share of La Quinta Properties, Inc. Class B common stock, which are paired and traded as a single unit.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">25,000 shares are directly owned by Mr. Cushman, 346,445 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>2004-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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