---
title: "Hotels in Santa Cruz (CA): compare the best places to stay"
description: "Compare 61 hotels in Santa Cruz (CA), United States: guest ratings, areas, amenities and prices, and put any two head to head."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/santa-cruz-ca/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-10-14
---

# Where to stay in Santa Cruz (CA)

Santa Cruz (CA) has 61 places to stay in our index. 46 have enough guest reviews to rank. The average guest rating is 8.1.

- **places to stay:** 61

- **ranked by guests:** 46

- **average rating:** 8.1

- **5-star hotels:** 1

- [Hotels with a pool 17](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/santa-cruz-ca/pool/)
- [Spa hotels 5](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/santa-cruz-ca/spa/)
- [Beach hotels 16](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/santa-cruz-ca/beach/)
- [Hotels with free parking 23](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/santa-cruz-ca/free-parking/)
- [Central hotels 34](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/santa-cruz-ca/central/)
- [Top-rated budget stays 20](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/santa-cruz-ca/budget/)

## Good to know about hotels in Santa Cruz (CA)

- **Best-rated hotel:** [La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/la-quinta-inn-suites-by-wyndham-santa-cruz-santa-cruz-ca/)

- **Area with most hotels:** Santa Cruz

- **Average guest rating:** 8.1

- **Hotels with a pool:** 17

- **Average walk grade:** 60/100

- **5-star hotels:** 1

## Areas of Santa Cruz (CA)

Where the hotels are and how guests rate them.

-    [**Santa Cruz** 42 hotels, 8.0](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/santa-cruz-ca/?area=Santa+Cruz)

## All hotels in Santa Cruz (CA)

Ranked by StayVersus score: guest rating adjusted for the number of reviews.

[Next page](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/santa-cruz-ca/?page=2)

## Popular match-ups in Santa Cruz (CA)

-     [**Hotel Solares** *vs* **Ocean Gate Inn** Santa Cruz (CA), 7.3 / 7.4](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-solares-santa-cruz-ca-vs-ocean-gate-inn-santa-cruz-ca/)
-     [**Ocean Gate Inn** *vs* **Surf City Inn & Suites** Santa Cruz (CA), 7.4 / 8.2](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ocean-gate-inn-santa-cruz-ca-vs-surf-city-inn-suites-santa-cruz-ca/)
-     [**Ocean Gate Inn** *vs* **Torch Lite Inn at the Beach Boardwalk** Santa Cruz (CA), 7.4 / 7.4](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ocean-gate-inn-santa-cruz-ca-vs-torch-lite-inn-at-the-beach-boardwalk-santa-cruz-ca/)
-     [**Ocean Gate Inn** *vs* **Super 8 by Wyndham Santa Cruz Beach** Santa Cruz (CA), 7.4 / 7.8](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ocean-gate-inn-santa-cruz-ca-vs-super-8-by-wyndham-santa-cruz-beach-santa-cruz-ca/)
-     [**Comfort Inn Beach/Boardwalk Area** *vs* **Ocean Gate Inn** Santa Cruz (CA), 7.4 / 7.4](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/comfort-inn-beach-boardwalk-area-santa-cruz-ca-vs-ocean-gate-inn-santa-cruz-ca/)
-     [**Bay Front Inn - Downtown Santa Cruz** *vs* **Beachview Inn** Santa Cruz (CA), 7.1 / 8.7](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/bay-front-inn-downtown-santa-cruz-santa-cruz-ca-vs-beachview-inn-santa-cruz-ca/)
-     [**Ocean Gate Inn** *vs* **Riverside Inn & Suites** Santa Cruz (CA), 7.4 / 7.0](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ocean-gate-inn-santa-cruz-ca-vs-riverside-inn-suites-santa-cruz-ca/)
-     [**Capri Motel Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk** *vs* **Ocean Gate Inn** Santa Cruz (CA), 6.9 / 7.4](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/capri-motel-santa-cruz-beach-boardwalk-santa-cruz-ca-vs-ocean-gate-inn-santa-cruz-ca/)

## FAQ: Santa Cruz (CA)

### What is the best-rated hotel in Santa Cruz (CA)?

By StayVersus score, La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz is the best-rated hotel in Santa Cruz (CA), with a guest rating of 9.4 from 40 reviews.

### Which area of Santa Cruz (CA) has the most hotels?

Santa Cruz has the most, with 42 rated places to stay.

### How many 5-star hotels are there in Santa Cruz (CA)?

We list 1 5-star hotels in Santa Cruz (CA).

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/santa-cruz-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/