---
title: "Drift Santa Barbara vs The Eagle Inn: which hotel is better?"
description: "Drift Santa Barbara or The Eagle Inn in Santa Barbara (CA)? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/drift-santa-barbara-santa-barbara-ca-vs-the-eagle-inn-santa-barbara-ca/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-13
---

# Drift Santa Barbara vs The Eagle Inn

Both are in Santa Barbara (CA), 810 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Hotel · ★★★½ · Santa Barbara
## [Drift Santa Barbara](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/drift-santa-barbara-santa-barbara-ca/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.8 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 8.7

- **Score by category:** 0 of 6

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1368072/agoda/?lang=en)

Hotel · ★★★ · Santa Barbara
## [The Eagle Inn](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-eagle-inn-santa-barbara-ca/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.2 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 8.6

- **Score by category:** 4 of 6

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2196226/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick The Eagle Inn

It leads in 4 of 6 categories. 810 m apart.

### Choose Drift Santa Barbara if you want

-   to walk to the sights (80 m / 880 m)
-   more restaurants on the doorstep (150 / 27)

### Choose The Eagle Inn if you want

-   to be closer to the beach (230 m / 900 m)
-   a spa and wellness
-   free parking

### Why is Drift Santa Barbara better than The Eagle Inn?

1.  720 m closer to the area centre (−720 m)
2.  Has a swimming pool
3.  Higher star rating (3.5★ vs 3★) (+0.5★)
4.  More guest reviews (90 vs 21), so the rating is more reliable (×4.3)
5.  123 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+123)
6.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 92 vs 67) (+25)
7.  4 more sights within 1 km (+4)

### Why is The Eagle Inn better than Drift Santa Barbara?

1.  Higher guest rating (9.2 vs 8.8) (+0.4)
2.  670 m closer to the beach (230 m vs 900 m) (−670 m)
3.  Has a spa
4.  Has free parking
5.  Earlier check-in (15:00 vs 16:00) (−1h)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Drift Santa Barbara | The Eagle Inn |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 8.8 | 9.2  (+0.4) |
| Location | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| Facilities | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Spa & wellness | 3.0 | 4.0  (+1.0) |
| Beach access | 7.3 | 9.6  (+2.3) |
| Public transport | 7.9 | 8.8  (+0.9) |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.7 | 8.8  (+0.1) |
| Guest rating | 8.8 | 9.2  (+0.4) |
| Number of reviews | 90  (+69) | 21 |
| Google rating | 4.2/5 | – |
| Google reviews | 298 | – |
| Rank in Santa Barbara (CA) | top 33% | top 26%  (+7%) |
| Location |
| Location score | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| Distance to Santa Barbara centre | 780 m  (−720 m) | 1.5 km |
| To the beach | 900 m | 230 m  (−670 m) |
| To public transport | 530 m | 370 m  (−160 m) |
| To the airport | 13 km | 14 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 150  (+123) | 27 |
| To the nearest food shop | 170 m  (−490 m) | 660 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 6  (+6) | 0 |
| Sights within 1 km | 15  (+4) | 11 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★½  (+0.5★) | ★★★ |
| Rooms | 44 | 27 |
| Floors | 3 | – |
| Newest building or renovation | 2023 | – |
| Listed amenities | 13 | 14 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 16:00 | 15:00  (−1h) |
| Check-out until | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – |
| Car hire | ✓ | – |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bar | ✓ | – |
| Swimming pool | ✓ | – |
| Gym | ✓ | – |
| Terrace | ✓ | ✓ |
| LGBTQ+ friendly | ✓ | – |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Balcony | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free parking | – | ✓ |
| Concierge | – | ✓ |
| Laundry | – | ✓ |
| Room service | – | ✓ |
| Spa | – | ✓ |
| Massage | – | ✓ |
| In-room safe | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Couples | – | ✓ |
| Beach holidays | – | ✓ |
| Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – |
| Business trips | ✓ | – |
| Spa & relaxation | – | ✓ |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

[Drift Santa Barbara prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/drift-santa-barbara-santa-barbara-ca/prices/)

## Location

810 m apart

Drift Santa Barbara: city centre: 80 m, nearest station Amtrak Station: 530 m, Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA): 13 km, beach: 900 m, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 15 sights within 1 km.

The Eagle Inn: city centre: 880 m, nearest station Amtrak Station: 370 m, Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA): 14 km, beach: 230 m, 27 places to eat within 500 m, 11 sights within 1 km.

## Drift Santa Barbara or The Eagle Inn: common questions

### Which is better, Drift Santa Barbara or The Eagle Inn?

The Eagle Inn leads in 4 of 6 categories, including guest rating, spa & wellness, beach access.

### Which is cheaper, Drift Santa Barbara or The Eagle Inn?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Drift Santa Barbara is closer: 780 m from the centre, against 1.5 km for The Eagle Inn.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

The Eagle Inn is 230 m from the nearest beach; Drift Santa Barbara is 900 m.

### How far apart are Drift Santa Barbara and The Eagle Inn?

The two hotels are 810 m apart in a straight line.

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

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Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/drift-santa-barbara-santa-barbara-ca-vs-the-eagle-inn-santa-barbara-ca/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/