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Nov 20 - Nov 22
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Nov 27 - Nov 29
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Dec 11 - Dec 13
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Jan 8 - Jan 10

Our top choices for Santa Cruz motels

A reception area with two sofas, a plant, a map display, and a view of the outside.

1. Ocean Pacific Lodge

Ocean Pacific Lodge
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
8.8 out of 10, Excellent, (1,554 reviews)
"Lovely, spacious , well appointed, clean rooms, professional friendly staff, nice pool and hot tubs, and fantastic location; will definitely be back!"
United States
Tasia
Ocean Pacific Lodge
A hotel room with a bed, a bedside table with a phone, a vase of flowers, a nightstand with a lamp, a mirror, and a painting of a beach scene.

2. Mission Inn

Mission Inn
2.5 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, (1,012 reviews)
"I will stay there again"
United States
Judy
Mission Inn
A hotel room with two beds, a striped carpet, and a wooden headboard.

3. Beachview Inn

Beachview Inn
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
8.4 out of 10, Very good, (1,003 reviews)
"This is one of my favorite places to stay at Santa Cruz very clean and quiet in the front desk gal is very kind and friendly"
United States
WILLIAM
Beachview Inn
A lobby with a brick wall, a reception desk, a black rug, and a framed picture on the wall.

4. National 9 Santa Cruz

National 9 Santa Cruz
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
8.4 out of 10, Very good, (288 reviews)
"Great budget hotel. Clean and friendly/honest and good parking situation too"
United States
Guenn
National 9 Santa Cruz
A street view with a building featuring a pink fence, a tree, and parked cars.

5. Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz

Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
8.6 out of 10, Excellent, (1,005 reviews)
"Decent place to stay. Good location."
United States
ben
Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz
A landscaped garden with palm trees, flowering shrubs, and a gravel path.

6. Hitching Post Studios Inn

Hitching Post Studios Inn
2.0 star property
Eastside Santa Cruz
8.6 out of 10, Excellent, (498 reviews)
"Easy parking"
United States
Christian
Hitching Post Studios Inn
A hotel room with a bed, bedside tables, a chair, and a desk.

7. Islander Motel Santa Cruz

Islander Motel Santa Cruz
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
8.4 out of 10, Very good, (1,032 reviews)
"Great place to staying!"
United States
LI
Islander Motel Santa Cruz
A hotel room with two beds, a kitchenette, a sliding glass door to a balcony, and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.

8. Torch Lite Inn

Torch Lite Inn
2.5 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
7.8 out of 10, Good, (1,005 reviews)
"great stay"
United States
Holly
Torch Lite Inn
Room

9. Salt Air Lodge

Salt Air Lodge
2.5 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
8.2 out of 10, Very good, (163 reviews)
"Clean , and close to Santa Cruz boardwalk"
United States
Julio
Salt Air Lodge
A hotel room with three beds, a desk, and a chair.

10. Surf City Inn and Suites

Surf City Inn and Suites
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
7.6 out of 10, Good, (1,281 reviews)
"Always an incredible stay"
United States
Amra
Surf City Inn and Suites
A modern kitchen with a built-in island, a window with a view of the street, and a bench by the window.

11. Super 8 by Wyndham Santa Cruz Beach

Super 8 by Wyndham Santa Cruz Beach
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
7.6 out of 10, Good, (1,000 reviews)
"Wonderful staff!! Great Location in relation to boardwalk!!"
United States
jennifer
Super 8 by Wyndham Santa Cruz Beach
A room with a television mounted on the wall, a window with blinds, a heater, a wooden dresser, and a door.

12. Drift Inn

Drift Inn
2.5 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
8.0 out of 10, Very good, (171 reviews)
"Clean, good location, friendly staff !"
United States
dawn
Drift Inn
A parking lot with several cars and people walking.

13. Fireside Inn Santa Cruz

Fireside Inn Santa Cruz
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
7.2 out of 10, Good, (1,004 reviews)
"This was a modest, but comfortable stay in Santa Cruz, extremely close to the boardwalk! Staff was very friendly. It seems like their bathrooms were recently remodeled, which was nice"
United States
Ximena
Fireside Inn Santa Cruz
A balcony with a table and chairs, overlooking a street with palm trees and buildings.

14. Howard Johnson by Wyndham Santa Cruz

Howard Johnson by Wyndham Santa Cruz
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
7.2 out of 10, Good, (1,001 reviews)
"great ocean view"
United States
Nicholas
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Santa Cruz
A hotel room with two beds, a nightstand, a lamp, and a window with curtains.

15. Aqua Breeze Inn

Aqua Breeze Inn
2.5 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
8.2 out of 10, Very good, (1,002 reviews)
"Location location location"
United States
Marianne
Aqua Breeze Inn
A poolside area with a lounge chair, a table, and a large umbrella.

16. Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz

Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz
2.5 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
7.4 out of 10, Good, (1,003 reviews)
"Great location, good for the price basic, a bit modest but perfect for beach and boardwalk accessibility"
United States
Margot
Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz
A multi-tiered stone fountain with flowers in front of a building with balconies and an office sign.

17. Motel Santa Cruz

Motel Santa Cruz
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
5.2 out of 10, (1,002 reviews)
"Friendly nice accommodating staff. Convenient parking. Location worked well."
United States
Roxanne
Motel Santa Cruz
A reception area with a framed floral artwork, a bulletin board with various advertisements, a potted orchid, and a sign thanking guests.

18. Capri Motel

Capri Motel
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
6.6 out of 10, (660 reviews)
"Amazing staff,very helpfull and accommodating! Room was really clean with freshly restored bathroom. Walking distance from boardwalk and convenient stores. Extremely quiet and peacefull We will definitely come back"
United States
Karim
Capri Motel
A hotel room with two beds, a desk, a lamp, and a mirror.

19. Motel 6 Santa Cruz, CA

Motel 6 Santa Cruz, CA
2.0 star property
Westside Santa Cruz
6.2 out of 10, (725 reviews)
"Good location"
United States
Vicki
Motel 6 Santa Cruz, CA
A lobby with wicker furniture, a fireplace, and a painting.

20. Rio Sands Vacation Rentals

Rio Sands Vacation Rentals
2.0 star property
Rio del Mar
8.6 out of 10, Excellent, (1,001 reviews)
"I was upgraded to a two room with a kitchenette. It was on the first floor for convenience and easy to access. It is a secured location and an easy walk to the beach."
United States
Christy
Rio Sands Vacation Rentals
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.
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Santa Cruz and related destinations

Surfers catch perfect waves at Steamer Lane while sea lions bark along the wooden boardwalk of the historic Beach Boardwalk. Redwoods tower over hiking trails in nearby state parks, offering cool shade before you head back for sunset bonfires.

See all hotels in Santa Cruz
A beach with a Ferris wheel and amusement park rides in the background.

Top reviews in Santa Cruz

A hotel room with a bed, a bedside table with a phone, a vase of flowers, a nightstand with a lamp, a mirror, and a painting of a beach scene.
Mission Inn

Mission Inn

Mission Inn
Westside Santa Cruz

10/10 Excellent

Great stay! The staff are wonderful - accommodating and professional.
United States
Rachel
Reviewed January 28, 2025
Mission Inn

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You can select from 23 economical motels in Santa Cruz.

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

When you save on your room price, you can enjoy more of what Santa Cruz has to offer. Top sights include Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay.

What are motels like?

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 examples today can still be seen along historic U.S. Route 66.

What can I do in Santa Cruz?

In this walkable area, you can enjoy the entertainment choices and scenic seaside while you're sightseeing. Must-see local attractions include Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay. These are some of the parks and outdoorsy places: Santa Cruz Main Beach, Cowell's Beach, and University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum. You'll find these family-friendly attractions: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, Boardwalk Bowl, and Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. Some historical places you might want to see include Williams-Reynolds House, Lighthouse Point Park, and Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.

What's the seasonal weather like in Santa Cruz?

Weather can make or break a roadtrip, so we've gathered some data about year-round temperatures in Santa Cruz to help you plan yours. The hottest months are usually September and August with an average temp of 63°F, while the coldest months are February and March with an average of 52°F. Average annual precipitation for Santa Cruz is 27 inches.

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

We’ve gathered some information about getting around Santa Cruz to help you navigate your stay: Fly into Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal), which is located 13.4 mi (21.6 km) from the city center. You can also search for flights into Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC), which is 27.6 mi (44.3 km) away. If you'd like to explore around the area, you may want a rental car for your journey.

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