Hotel offers
A Santa Barbara deal works best when its location saves the bus ride or parking charge you would otherwise pay each day.
from $86/night318 hotels compared
28% below the highest price324 West Mason Street
8.9Fabulous1,343 reviews
from
$275/night
compared on 4 sites
87% below the highest price1327 Bath Street
9.1Superb33 reviews
from
$340/night
compared on 4 sites
84% below the highest price1295 Coast Village Road
8.0Very Good125 reviews
from
$224/night
compared on 4 sites
80% below the highest price306 West Cabrillo Boulevard
8.9Fabulous497 reviews
from
$253/night
compared on 4 sites
75% below the highest price800 Alvarado Place
8.9Fabulous78 reviews
from
$752/night
compared on 4 sites
70% below the highest price2819 State Street
7.9Good1,964 reviews
from
$137/night
compared on 5 sites
318 hotels compared
Santa Barbara sits between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific. Lower State Street runs from downtown to the waterfront. For a short visit, the main choices are the Funk Zone, East Beach and the harbor.
State Street is downtown’s main street, with shops and restaurants running down to the beach. The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is a few blocks uphill. From a hotel on lower State Street you can walk to the Amtrak station, Stearns Wharf and the Funk Zone. From upper State Street they are farther.
The Funk Zone sits between lower State Street and the waterfront: old industrial blocks with tasting rooms, galleries and restaurants. West Beach and the harbor are close to the train station. East Beach, across from Cabrillo Boulevard, has room for longer beach walks, and its evenings are quieter than lower State Street’s.
Mission Santa Barbara is uphill from downtown. The Mesa sits above the coast west of the harbor. Montecito, to the east, is a separate community with quieter resorts. Goleta and the University of California campus are west, near the airport. Check which of these a hotel is actually in before you plan a beach trip without a car.
The coast is mild most of the year. Winter is the wettest season; summer days are usually dry and cooler than in the inland valleys. Santa Barbara Airport is west of downtown, and MTD Line 11 runs from there to State Street. Amtrak trains stop near lower State Street.
State Street runs past shops, theaters and restaurants down to the waterfront. The County Courthouse is on the uphill side of downtown; the Amtrak station and Stearns Wharf are at the lower end. If you plan to walk to the beach, check how far up State Street the hotel is.
Around here: State Street, Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Granada Theatre
Former warehouse blocks near the train station hold tasting rooms, galleries and restaurants. Stearns Wharf and West Beach are a short walk away. Evenings are busier here than in the residential areas farther uphill.
Around here: Funk Zone, Santa Barbara station, Stearns Wharf
West Beach hotels are near Cabrillo Boulevard and the harbor, a walk from Stearns Wharf. Stay here for boat trips and beach mornings. The restaurants and shops on upper State Street are a longer walk or a bus ride.
Around here: West Beach, Santa Barbara Harbor, Cabrillo Boulevard
East Beach is a wide stretch of sand with a path along the waterfront. Inland, Milpas Street has local restaurants. The Funk Zone and the train station are farther west, so check the walk or bus route before you book this quieter end.
Around here: East Beach, Milpas Street, Chase Palm Park
The residential streets around Mission Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History are uphill from State Street. Stay here for quiet nights and the gardens. The beach and the Amtrak station are a ride or a long walk away.
Around here: Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden
Late spring to early autumn is the dry season for beach days. The coast stays mild even when inland California is hot. Winter has cooler evenings and most of Santa Barbara’s rain, so watch the forecast if your plans are outdoors.
Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is west of the city. MTD Line 11 runs from the airport to State Street and the downtown Transit Center. Amtrak trains stop at Santa Barbara station near lower State Street. US 101 runs south to Los Angeles and north up the Central Coast.
8 mi from downtown
MTD Line 11 runs between the airport and downtown. For hotels on the coast or in the hills, take a taxi, rideshare or rental car.
Add parking to the room rate, then look at the trip to the beach or State Street. A room on lower State Street puts dinner and the waterfront within walking distance.
Yes, if you are flying from SBA or visiting UCSB. If you will head to the waterfront most days, count the Line 11 ride or the drive.
The Funk Zone and lower State Street are near Santa Barbara station. Upper State Street and the Mission area are farther uphill.
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