What can I expect from a motel trip to Santa Barbara?

If you're having difficulty finding a motel in Santa Barbara, expand your search to find motels in the surrounding area or let us help you find a similar property from more than 774 hotels and other accommodations. Simply use our search tools to filter by price per night or money-saving amenities such as free parking and free breakfast.

What's it like to stay in a motel?

When you stay at a motel, you're likely to find a free parking spot and an outdoor pool. With a stay at a motel, you'll often have access to your room directly from the parking lot. Starting in the early 1950s, customized neon signs often lit up the roadside motels, and you can see these today along the historic U.S. Route 66.

How many motels should I expect to find in Santa Barbara?

Expedia has 14 low-priced motels in Santa Barbara.

What's the seasonal weather like in Santa Barbara?

Weather can make or break a roadtrip, so here's some data about year-round temperatures in Santa Barbara to help you plan yours: The hottest months are usually August and September with an average temp of 64°F, while the coldest months are January and December with an average of 54°F. Average annual precipitation for Santa Barbara is 17 inches.

What are my options for getting around Santa Barbara when staying in a motel?

We’ve gathered some information about getting around Santa Barbara to help you navigate your stay: Fly into Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA), which is located 7.8 mi (12.6 km) from the heart of the city. Otherwise, you can search for flights to Oxnard, CA (OXR), which is 31.9 mi (51.4 km) away. To venture out into the surrounding area, hop on a train at Santa Barbara Station.

Find Motels in Santa Barbara

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Other property types in Santa Barbara

Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

633 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA

4/5Very Good! (1,114 reviews)

"Rooms were clean and staff was friendly"

Reviewed on Sep 21, 2021

Hyatt Place Santa Barbara

4111 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

4/5Very Good! (440 reviews)

"Pet friendly"

Reviewed on Sep 19, 2021

Hotel Milo Santa Barbara

202 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA

4/5Very Good! (969 reviews)

"Great location. Comfortable room, but floor was a little "dusty". Staff was super nice. When we needed extra towels, etc, they brought them right away. Loved the tables outside, and enjoyed the fire pits in the evenings. We'd stay there again."

Reviewed on Sep 13, 2021

Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Price trends for Motels in Santa Barbara

Less expensive	More expensive	Next month
November	June	$130

Month	Price
January	$132
February	$128
March	$140
April	$146
May	$150
June	$180
July	$180
August	$180
September	$131
October	$130
November	$120
December	$122

Price trend information excludes taxes and fees and is based on base rates for a nightly stay for 2 adults found in the last 7 days on our site and averaged for commonly viewed Motels in Santa Barbara. Select dates and complete search for nightly totals inclusive of taxes and fees.

Santa Barbara Motels for the Frugal Traveler

There are 39 inexpensive motels in Santa Barbara among the more than 447 hotels and other lodging choices. When you pick one of these budget accommodations, there might not be abundant amenities like you'd find at a traditional hotel but you'll save more cash to use on your vacation.

When you save on your room price, you can make the most of what Santa Barbara has to offer. Not-to-be-missed sights include Presidio Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and Santa Barbara County Courthouse.

Fun fact: In the U.S., motels became more commonplace after World War II with the appeal of road trip vacations, peaking in the mid-1960s with more than 60,000 properties. When you stay at a motel property, you'll usually access your room directly from the parking lot.

Below are a few of our customers’ favorite Santa Barbara motels available to book:

Royal Copenhagen Inn

Stay within a short 9-minute drive of Los Padres National Forest.
Enjoy access to the outdoor pool, and freebies including breakfast, WiFi, and parking.

Avania Inn of Santa Barbara

An outdoor pool along with freebies like breakfast, WiFi, and parking are available during your stay.
You'll be located within a 5-minute drive of Santa Barbara Museum of Art and Presidio Santa Barbara.

The Inn at East Beach

Enjoy access to the outdoor pool, and freebies including breakfast and WiFi.
Stay within a 5-minute drive of Santa Barbara Zoo and Presidio Santa Barbara.

Sandpiper Lodge

You'll be located within a 5-minute drive of Mission Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
An outdoor pool along with freebies like breakfast, WiFi, and parking are available during your stay.

Solvang Inn and Cottages

Stay within a short 9-minute drive of Los Padres National Forest.
Enjoy access to the outdoor pool, and freebies including breakfast, WiFi, and parking.

Things to Do in Santa Barbara

Enjoy the charming cafés and top-notch restaurants in this walkable area while you're sightseeing. People who visit Santa Barbara love its shops, seaside, and wineries.

Here are some popular places:

Presidio Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Santa Barbara County Courthouse

These are some of the parks and outdoorsy places:

Santa Barbara Botanical Garden
Lotusland
Los Padres National Forest

You'll find these family-friendly attractions:

Santa Barbara Zoo
OstrichLand USA
Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens

Santa Barbara is also notable for its:

Historical sites
Biking

Best Time to Visit Santa Barbara

Decide when you'd like to visit Santa Barbara by reviewing the seasonal weather details below:

The hottest months are typically September and August, while January and December are the coldest months
January-March: Daytime temperatures average 66° F and nighttime temperatures average 40° F
April-June: 72° F is the daytime average and 46° F is the nighttime average
July-September: Daytime averages are around 75° F and nighttime averages are around 54° F
October-December: The average temperatures are 73° F during the day and 40° F at night
Average rainfall is 17.09 inches in a year

How to Get to Santa Barbara and Around the Area

Santa Barbara Transportation
Name	Type	Distance
Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal)	Airport	7.8 mi (12.6 km)
Santa Ynez, CA (SQA)	Airport	25 mi (40.3 km)
Oxnard, CA (OXR)	Airport	31.9 mi (51.4 km)
Santa Barbara Station	Train Station	0.6 mi (0.9 km)
Goleta Station	Train Station	8.3 mi (13.3 km)
Carpinteria Station	Train Station	10.2 mi (16.4 km)

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Frequently asked questions

Avania Inn of Santa Barbara: Enjoy access to the outdoor pool, and freebies including breakfast, WiFi, and parking. Oasis Inn & Suites: An outdoor pool, free WiFi, and free parking are available during your stay. Motel 6 Santa Barbara, CA - Beach: Enjoy access to the terrace, and freebies including WiFi and parking. Ala Mar by the Sea: A 24-hour front desk along with freebies like breakfast, WiFi, and parking are available during your stay. Sandpiper Lodge: Enjoy access to the outdoor pool, and freebies including breakfast and WiFi.

In this historical area, enjoy its popular beaches and charming cafés while you’re sightseeing. Those visiting Santa Barbara love its shops, restaurants, and wineries. These are some of the parks and outdoorsy places: De la Guerra Plaza, El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, and Moreton Bay Fig Tree. You’ll find these family-friendly attractions: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Some historical places you might want to see include Casa de la Guerra, Presidio Santa Barbara, and Hill-Carrillo Adobe.

More trip options

Flights to Solvang Flights to Los Olivos

Car rentals in Carpinteria

Things to do in Carpinteria Things to do in Los Olivos

Trip to Carpinteria

Rentals in Carpinteria

Find Motels in Santa Barbara

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