The Best Hotels Closest to Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History in Santa Cruz for 2026

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Our top choices for Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History hotels

A bedroom with a large bed, a desk, a dresser, and a view of the outdoors through a sliding door.

A kitchen counter with a stainless steel container, a white appliance, and wicker baskets.

A modern kitchen with a dining table, chairs, a microwave, and a coffee maker.

A multi-story hotel with a central entrance, balconies, and outdoor seating areas.

1. Bella Notte, a ZenStay Hotel

Eastside Santa Cruz, 1.6 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Julia

SAR 315

SAR 596 total

includes taxes & fees

2 Nov - 3 Nov

A garden with hydrangea flowers, a wooden bench, and a view of the ocean.

A hotel room with a bed, a bathroom, a dining area, and a TV.

A house with a wooden front door, a mailbox, and a driveway leading to a street.

A modern interior with a wooden ceiling, a blue sofa, a wooden coffee table, a kitchen area, and a dining table with chairs.

2. Edgewater Beach Inn

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.3 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Elizabeth

SAR 322

SAR 373 total

includes taxes & fees

29 Oct - 30 Oct

A wooden interior with large windows overlooking a beach.

A row of colorful houses along a waterfront.

A dining area with a long table set for a meal, large windows offering a view, and a modern ceiling design.

A modern interior with a view of an outdoor patio area.

3. La Bahia Hotel and Spa

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.1 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Josh

SAR 1,213

SAR 1,571 total

includes taxes & fees

29 Oct - 30 Oct

A spacious indoor area with wicker furniture, large windows offering a view of the beach and ocean, and a surf shop sign.

A hotel room with a large bed, a desk, a chair, a nightstand, and a view of the ocean.

A balcony with a sofa, armchairs, and a table with drinks, overlooking a pool and umbrellas.

A balcony with a view of the beach, a sofa with cushions, a glass table with a tray of food and drinks, and a potted plant.

4. Dream Inn Santa Cruz

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.4 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Jiexin

SAR 860

SAR 980 total

includes taxes & fees

29 Oct - 30 Oct

A beach with palm trees, waves, and a distant shoreline with buildings.

A view from a balcony overlooking a street with palm trees, a parking lot, and a building with a balcony.

A modern cafe with wicker pendant lights, a mural of mountains, and large windows offering a view of palm trees.

A modern bedroom with a bed, a bench, a TV, and a window.

5. Seaway Inn

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.4 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Roxanna

SAR 468

SAR 541 total

includes taxes & fees

20 Oct - 21 Oct

A modern lobby with a wooden floor, seating area, large windows, and a plant.

A spacious lobby with a wooden reception desk, a large wall mural, and a modern chandelier.

A hotel room with two beds, a stone wall, a mural of a pier, and a window.

A modern reception area with a wooden log wall, a beverage refrigerator, and a view of the sea.

6. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz

Beach Hill - Beach Flats, 1.3 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Frank

SAR 501

SAR 746 total

includes taxes & fees

18 Oct - 19 Oct

A beach view with a sign for Marea Sol Hotel, palm trees, and a pier with boats.

A modern living room with a grey sectional sofa, a round coffee table, and a blue ottoman. There is a desk with a chair, a framed picture on the wall, and a large window with curtains.

A desk with a telephone and a lamp, a chair, and a window with a view of a bridge and a body of water.

A hotel room with a bed, a desk, a chair, a TV, and a painting on the wall.

7. Marea Sol Hotel

Westside Santa Cruz, 1 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Sherlyn

SAR 436

SAR 505 total

includes taxes & fees

29 Oct - 30 Oct

A balcony with two chairs, a small table with a vase of flowers, and a view of a parking lot and amusement park.

A hotel room with two beds, a balcony, and large colorful wall art.

A red popcorn machine with a large container of popcorn, a pot, and a phone receiver.

A restaurant with a wooden dining table, chairs, and a vase of flowers.

8. Carousel Beach Inn

Westside Santa Cruz, 0.7 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Nova

SAR 309

SAR 364 total

includes taxes & fees

3 Nov - 4 Nov

A bar area with wooden beams, hanging pendant lights, a wine display, and bar stools.

A modern lounge area with sofas, a coffee table, surfboards on the wall, and a fireplace.

A Hyatt Place hotel entrance with a covered walkway, a clear sky, and a well-lit facade.

9. Hyatt Place Santa Cruz

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.3 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Grester

SAR 447

SAR 517 total

includes taxes & fees

9 Nov - 10 Nov

A wooden bench and a small table in a courtyard with potted plants and a building in the background.

A multi-story hotel with a blue and white exterior, balconies, and a sign indicating it is a Blue Inn.

A modern living room with a fireplace, a mounted TV, and a wooden dining table with a chair.

A room with a wooden floor, a black leather chair, a small table with a laptop, and a window with blinds.

10. Pacific Blue Inn

Downtown Santa Cruz, 1.4 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Sharon

SAR 334

SAR 400 total

includes taxes & fees

22 Oct - 23 Oct

The Ocean Pacific Lodge building with a clear blue sky.

A building with a blue and yellow facade, a sign indicating no vacancies, and the name "Ocean Pacific Lodge".

A hotel room with a large bed, bedside tables, a desk, and a bathroom visible through an open door.

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

11. Ocean Pacific Lodge

Downtown, 1.5 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

James

SAR 278

SAR 370 total

includes taxes & fees

15 Nov - 16 Nov

An outdoor seating area with round tables and chairs, string lights overhead, and a large tree in the center.

A building entrance with a large illuminated sign reading "SOLAIR".

A modern bar area with a marble counter, hanging lights, and green patterned walls.

A hotel room with a bed, a seating area with a table, a desk, and a mirror.

12. Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.7 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Brooke

SAR 496

SAR 572 total

includes taxes & fees

15 Nov - 16 Nov

A hotel room with a large bed, a fireplace, a television, and a view of the city.

A table with a book, two glasses of wine, a plate of fruit, and a straw hat.

A beach with people walking and swimming, a lifeguard tower, and houses in the background.

A room with a bay window, two armchairs, a round rug, and a small table with a lamp.

13. West Cliff Inn - A Four Sisters Inn

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.4 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Molly

SAR 657

SAR 752 total

includes taxes & fees

15 Nov - 16 Nov

A beach with rocky cliffs and a clear view of the ocean.

An outdoor patio with a table set for two, a white fence, and a view of the ocean.

A blue building with a sign reading "Ocean Echo Inn & Beach Cottages."

A modern kitchen with white cabinets, a sink, and a stove. There is a dining table with chairs and a clock on the wall.

14. Ocean Echo Inn and Beach Cottages

Eastside Santa Cruz, 1.8 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Richard

SAR 681

SAR 778 total

includes taxes & fees

22 Oct - 23 Oct

A modern hotel room with a kitchenette, a bed, a desk, and a view of the outdoors.

A hotel lobby with a reception desk, seating area, and a patterned carpet.

A modern living room with a blue sofa, a floor lamp, a large window with a view of trees, and a radiator.

A modern hotel room with a blue sofa, a painting, a floor lamp, a wooden cabinet, and a built-in sink.

15. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Santa Cruz by IHG

Westside Santa Cruz, 2.5 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Jacob

SAR 477

SAR 551 total

includes taxes & fees

9 Nov - 10 Nov

A Courtyard by Marriott hotel with outdoor seating, a fire pit, and potted plants.

A modern office space with cubicles, seating areas, and a large TV screen.

A modern hotel lobby with a bar area, seating arrangements, and a counter with coffee machines.

A modern lounge area with a sectional sofa, a glass coffee table, and a bar with stools.

16. Courtyard by Marriott Santa Cruz

Beach Hill - Beach Flats, 0.8 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

jessika

SAR 475

SAR 549 total

includes taxes & fees

1 Nov - 2 Nov

A landscaped garden with palm trees, flowering shrubs, and a gravel path.

A hotel entrance with a sign for 'Hitching Post Studios Inn' indicating availability and amenities like daily kitchen studios and free Wi-Fi.

A glass door with a poster board displaying various travel brochures.

A hotel room with a bed, a desk, a chair, a nightstand, and a lamp.

17. Hitching Post Studios Inn

Eastside Santa Cruz, 2 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

vincent

SAR 301

SAR 348 total

includes taxes & fees

29 Oct - 30 Oct

An outdoor deck with wicker furniture and a large umbrella, overlooking a beach and pier.

A room with a bed, a window, and a view of the beach.

A beachfront hotel with multiple balconies, beach umbrellas, and a sandy beach area.

A beach view from a window with palm trees, a pier, and beach umbrellas.

18. Casablanca On The Beach

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.1 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Johnnie

SAR 328

SAR 531 total

includes taxes & fees

2 Nov - 3 Nov

A modern bedroom with a four-poster bed, a walk-in shower, and a large mirror.

A reception desk with a sign reading "Rio Vista Suites." There is a clock on the wall and a window with blinds.

A grand staircase with intricate woodwork, leading to a second floor. A cozy seating area with a sofa and armchairs is visible on the first floor.

A modern living room with a fireplace, wooden flooring, a black leather sofa, and a small round table.

19. Rio Vista Suites

Beach Hill - Beach Flats, 1 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Shawna

SAR 409

SAR 530 total

includes taxes & fees

25 Oct - 26 Oct

A hotel room with a large bed, bedside tables, a desk, and a chair.

A conference room with round tables and chairs, a mounted TV, and a bulletin board with pamphlets.

A row of motel buildings with orange doors and railings, featuring a central staircase and a parking lot.

A reception area with a counter, a desk, and a chair. There are framed pictures on the wall and a small shelf with magazines.

20. Beachview Inn

Westside Santa Cruz, 1.3 km from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Aleksandr

SAR 251

SAR 329 total

includes taxes & fees

2 Nov - 3 Nov

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Compare popular hotels close to Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Property	Property class	Guest rating
Bella Notte, a ZenStay Hotel	9.8 Exceptional 17 reviews	View
Edgewater Beach Inn	9.4 Exceptional 57 reviews	View
La Bahia Hotel and Spa	9.6 Exceptional 566 reviews	View
Dream Inn Santa Cruz	9.4 Exceptional 1,041 reviews	View
Seaway Inn	9.2 Wonderful 308 reviews	View

Top Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History Hotel Reviews

Marea Sol Hotel

10/10 Excellent

"i liked how clean the whole property and rooms were"

Surf City Inn and Suites

8/10 Good

"Enjoy indoor hot tub, location ok too!"

Carousel Beach Inn

8/10 Good

"I stayed for one night and it met my needs. You can't beat the location across the street from the Boardwalk. I appreciated the breakfast room, parking, and air conditioner. Bed was comfy. I think this is a good, affordable option for families."

Hyatt Place Santa Cruz

10/10 Excellent

"10 min walk to the boardwalk or to the downtown area. Clean rooms friendly staff"

La Bahia Hotel and Spa

10/10 Excellent

"This hotel is highly recommended."

Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz

10/10 Excellent

"Staff was friendly and check in was easy. The motel is cute and our room was clean, comfortable and spacious enough for two. The bathroom was also clean and spacious. Definitely walkable to the boardwalk. Parking was a little tight but had plenty of spaces. Would recommend and would stay here again."

Seaside Inn & Suites

10/10 Excellent

"Me and my family decided to have a last minute beach visit we had no idea we were going to want to stay the night and once we figured we would I called everywhere (it was 7pm) and only this hotel answered there was always someone to help at the desk and it was fast and easy to book and it was a great price and me and my family would definitely recommend my only complaint would be you can hear the trash people early in the morning but everything else was just what we wanted"

Ocean Pacific Lodge

8/10 Good

"Pretty convenient location and a decent price compared with the astronomical price of many other options. Adequate parking and walkable distance to the downtown and plenty of dining options. I would stay again but would make sure my room was not immediately adjacent to the ice machine ( foot traffic of people getting ice) and the pool ( kids birthday parties etc not great if you’re trying to rest). Air conditioning was a bit loud tbh at least in my room - but on the plus side their wasn’t any drama at night or noise and I think they keep a close eye on the place- it’s a motor court arrangement with rooms facing out so could be vulnerable to randoms wandering through but there was no problem."

Adorable Seabright Bungalow - Steps to the Beach!

10/10 Excellent

"My husband cannot stop raving about this place, saying, “It’s about as sweet a property as you could find.” It’s close to the beach and the boardwalk, plus several nearby restaurants and a first-class neighborhood market. The five adults in our group shared the cozy cottage comfortably. We had everything we needed for cooking, including a grill. Host Laurie gave us all the information we needed for a thoroughly enjoyable stay. We can’t wait to return."

Other attractions near Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

A beachside amusement park with a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and a building with a red roof.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

8.8/10 (6,089 reviews)

Enjoy the thrills at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and find out why people love this theme park in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area, or seek out the biking trails.

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A tall white lighthouse with a green top, surrounded by large rocks and a clear blue sky.

Seabright Beach

Why not spend a lazy afternoon at Seabright Beach during your trip to Santa Cruz? While you're in the area, stroll along the beautiful beaches.

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A pier extending into the ocean with a roller coaster in the background.

Santa Cruz Wharf

9.0/10 (2,069 reviews)

After visiting Santa Cruz Wharf, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area, or seek out the surfing spots.

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Santa Cruz Main Beach

9.0/10 (19 reviews)

Why not spend a lazy afternoon at Santa Cruz Main Beach during your trip to Santa Cruz? Attend a sporting event in this walkable area, or seek out the biking trails.

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Sky Glider

Enjoy an outing to Sky Glider during your stay in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area, or seek out the surfing spots.

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Harbor Beach

Why not spend a lazy afternoon at Harbor Beach during your trip to Lower Seabright? While you're in the area, stroll along the beautiful beaches.

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Cocoanut Grove

Cocoanut Grove is just one of the places to see in Santa Cruz, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Attend a sporting event in this walkable area, or seek out the surfing spots.

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Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center

8.0/10 (4 reviews)

You can spend an afternoon studying the exhibits at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center during your travels in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area, or seek out the surfing spots.

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Frequently asked questions

What's the area like around Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History?

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is located in a walkable area of Lower Seabright known for its beautiful beaches and sporting events. If you're looking for a convenient place to stay, check out the 239 hotels and other accommodations you'll find within a mile.

What's the best place to stay near Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History?

La Bahia Hotel and Spa is one of the top choices for your stay based on our traveler data, and this hotel offers a full-service spa and 3 restaurants. It's located just a short 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Other good choices within a short distance include La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz and Marea Sol Hotel.

How many hotels should I expect to find close to Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History?

Expedia has 239 hotels and other accommodations within a mile from Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.

If I need to cancel the hotel reservation for my stay near Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, will I receive a refund?

Yes! The majority of hotel bookings are refundable if you cancel before the hotel's cancellation deadline, which is often 24 or 48 hours before the scheduled arrival. If you have a non-refundable reservation, you might be able to cancel it and receive a refund within 24 hours of booking. Put your dates in and click on "Search", then you can filter by "fully refundable" to get top deals close to Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.

Where can I learn more about changing or cancelling my trip in the area near Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History?

To find more details about changing or cancelling your stay near Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, go to https://www.expedia.com/service/.

What can I see and do near Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History?

Study the collections at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, Lighthouse Point Park, or Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. Williams-Reynolds House, Mark Abbot Memorial Lighthouse, and Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park are notable landmarks to explore if you're in the area. Get outside and spend some time strolling around University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum, Pleasure Point Park, and Mimi De Marta Dog Park.

Find hotels near Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz from SAR 329

Change your mind

Treat yourself

Be picky

Check prices for these dates

Filter by

Star rating

Guest rating

Our top choices for Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History hotels

1. Bella Notte, a ZenStay Hotel

2. Edgewater Beach Inn

3. La Bahia Hotel and Spa

4. Dream Inn Santa Cruz

5. Seaway Inn

6. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz

7. Marea Sol Hotel

8. Carousel Beach Inn

9. Hyatt Place Santa Cruz

10. Pacific Blue Inn

11. Ocean Pacific Lodge

12. Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection

13. West Cliff Inn - A Four Sisters Inn

14. Ocean Echo Inn and Beach Cottages

15. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Santa Cruz by IHG

16. Courtyard by Marriott Santa Cruz

17. Hitching Post Studios Inn

18. Casablanca On The Beach

19. Rio Vista Suites

20. Beachview Inn

Compare popular hotels close to Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Top Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History Hotel Reviews

Marea Sol Hotel

Surf City Inn and Suites

Carousel Beach Inn

Hyatt Place Santa Cruz

La Bahia Hotel and Spa

Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz

Seaside Inn & Suites

Ocean Pacific Lodge

Adorable Seabright Bungalow - Steps to the Beach!

Other attractions near Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Seabright Beach

Santa Cruz Wharf

Santa Cruz Main Beach

Sky Glider

Harbor Beach

Cocoanut Grove

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center

Frequently asked questions