A university town, Santa Cruz is a popular weekend spot with students taking a well-deserved break here, but the laid-back locals also make it a memorable destination. Several nearby beaches have often been referred to as the finest in the Western Hemisphere — how's that for a reason to visit? Book your Santa Cruz vacation rental for a date in paradise!
Top 15 most Recommended Vacation Rentals in Santa Cruz
Discover your ideal Santa Cruz vacation rental with real-time comparisons of 1,125 properties, featuring recommended options based on the property location, value for money, and verified guest reviews.
Vacation Rentals With Fireplaces
Vacation rentals and apartments with air conditioning
Vacation houses with Balconies or Patios
Budget-friendly rental options
Enjoy affordable vacation rentals in Santa Cruz offering exceptional value for money
Top-Rated Vacation rentals in Santa Cruz
Book the highest-rated Santa Cruz vacation rentals, rated by real guests for comfort, location, cleanliness, services and value for money
Why choose HomeToGo?
Securely pay and stay your way
Choose local, trusted payment methods, plus trip insurance and add-on services.
Award-winning customer service
Experience seamless, hands-on support for any booking questions or concerns.
Verified reviews
Trust in the quality and comfort of your stay with verified guest reviews.
Price clarity, no surprises
Spend your budget exactly as planned by comparing thousands of providers.
Smart search made simple
Transform vacation planning into a joy with advanced, AI-powered search tools.
Find your dream stay
Explore 15 million+ rentals, the world’s biggest selection of vacation homes.
Popular Features & Amenities in Santa Cruz
Many users spend more time comparing vacation rentals offering pools. Nearly half of the properties have a pool for guests. In addition, more hotel room offer a pool than motel. Usually, hotel room with pools in Santa Cruz can welcome 8 vacationers and cost $414 per night. nearly half of Santa Cruz's rentals offering a pool are located within two miles of water, divide your time between the pool and the waterfront
Oceanfront Vacation Rentals in Santa Cruz
The Best Beaches Near Santa Cruz
1. Lighthouse Field State Beach: Also known as ‘dog beach,’ as it a pet-friendly area, this beach is one of California's urban area's last open headlands.
2. Natural Bridges State Beach: A fabulous place to whale watch and catch a glimpse of Monarch butterflies.
3. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: With its world-class surfing amenities and beautiful landscape, Santa Cruz Beach is a favorite with both locals and visitors.
4. Seabright State Beach: Charming, grass-covered hills and the lighthouse that make this beach an alluring place to explore.
5. Wilder Ranch State Park: With nearly 7,000 acres, 34 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian paths woven through seaside gardens and channels, the beach at this state park is a can't-miss.
Things to Do and See
The pedestrian-friendly downtown strip enjoys its proximity to the beach, and is perfect for a family stroll after dusk. Downtown Santa Cruz regales with its people-watching opportunities, restaurants with global cuisine, cool indie shops and clubs. The city's star attraction is the Beach Boardwalk, which is the only original boardwalk amusement park still in use on the West Coast. Municipal Wharf meanwhile is a great viewing point for the sea lions and pelicans. During winter, stop by Steamers Lane and watch the surfers and sea lions doing their bit to impress cheering onlookers.
Popular with tourists, the Mystery Spot is a visual illusion–based attraction that calls itself a 'gravitational anomaly' for the strange phenomena that take place here. See for yourselves and decide! A hike up to the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) will fetch you stunning bay views, redwood forests and the UCSC Arboretum. Rejuvenate at the clothing-optional family spa Kiva Retreat House, and unwind in your Santa Cruz vacation homes.
Excursion Destinations
The kids will love the Delaveaga Disk Golf Course, which offers free entry and superb views. Next is the oldest state park in California, Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Año Nuevo State Park is home to one of the highest populations of elephant seals. The Natural Bridges State Beach thrills with its monarch butterflies and windsurfing opportunities, while the heavily-forested Henry Cowell State Park boasts the San Lorenzo River that flows through it.
Watersports enthusiasts should definitely indulge in some surfing, sailing, kayaking and paddle boarding in Santa Cruz. Mountain biking is a popular activity in the Santa Cruz mountains — note that some inclines can get steep.
Creating Memories in Santa Cruz
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
Overlooking the ocean, this hyper-modern building houses an exciting interactive marine animal sanctuary. Exploring the exhibits and marine inhabitants is rewarding for the whole family.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Make friends with a shark, learn about what scientists do, and enjoy views of the famous Monterey Bay at this center which is part of the University of California.
Mystery Spot
A supposed gravitational anomaly, this area has seen strange things happening ever since there have been people to observe them. Visit for quirky visual illusions and lots of fun.
Santa Cruz Wharf
Head to this lively wharf for great shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. It's also the starting point for various water sports and boat tours.
Natural Bridges State Beach
Monarch butterflies flood this stunning beach from the end of October until January. It's a natural wonder that the family won't forget in a hurry.
Information about vacation rentals in Santa Cruz
| 🏡 Vacation rentals available | 1,125 rentals |
|---|---|
| 🌙 Nightly prices starting at | $114 |
| ⭐ Popular amenities | Pets allowed, Pool and Hot tub |
| 🐾 Pet friendly homes | 281 homes |
| 🏊 Vacation rentals with pools | 551 homes |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per night for a vacation rental in Santa Cruz?
The price of a night's stay in Santa Cruz starts at $114. $945 is the average nightly price for house rentals in Santa Cruz. Bed and breakfast rentals in Santa Cruz cost on average $420 per night.
How many vacation rentals are available to book in Santa Cruz?
There are 1,125 rentals in Santa Cruz to choose from and rent for your trip.
What amenities are most popular for vacation rentals in Santa Cruz?
If you're looking to book a vacation rental in Santa Cruz, travelers search for vacation homes with these amenities: Pets allowed, Pool and Hot tub.
How many vacation homes with pools are there in Santa Cruz?
There are 551 vacation homes from 10 providers in Santa Cruz.
Are pets allowed in vacation rentals in Santa Cruz?
Sure, currently there are 281 vacation homes in Santa Cruz that allow pets , with an average nightly rate of $523.
Top cities to visit
- San Francisco
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Monterey
- Half Moon Bay
- Los Gatos
- San Jose
- Stockton
- Pacific Grove
- Concord, CA
- Capitola
- Modesto
- Livermore
- Stinson Beach
- Carmel Valley
- Palo Alto
- Salinas
- Lodi
- Sausalito
- Berkeley
- Pajaro Dunes
- Merced
- Fremont
- Walnut Creek
- Oakland
- Gilroy
- Turlock
- Alameda
- Point Reyes Station
- Mill Valley
- Aptos
- Santa Clara
- Daly City
- Pacifica
- Antioch
- San Rafael
- Vallejo
- San Mateo
- Watsonville
- Danville
- Sunnyvale
- Redwood City
- San Ramon
- South San Francisco
- Fairfield
- Discovery Bay
- Menlo Park
- Rio del Mar
- Hayward
Most Popular Destinations
- Vacation rentals in the Outer Banks (OBX)
- Vacation rentals in Gatlinburg, TN
- Cabin rentals in Hocking Hills, OH
- Vacation rentals in Broken Bow, OK
- Vacation rentals in Myrtle Beach
- Vacation rentals in Pigeon Forge
- Vacation rentals in Gulf Shores
- Vacation rentals in Tybee Island
- Vacation rentals in Vancouver
- Vacation rentals in Scottsdale
- Vacation rentals in North Myrtle Beach
- Vacation rentals in Destin
- Vacation rentals in Panama City Beach
- Vacation rentals in Emerald Isle
- Vacation rentals near Lake Tahoe
- Vacation rentals in Door County
- Vacation rentals in Yellowstone
- Vacation rentals in Cape Cod
- Vacation rentals in Branson
- Vacation rentals in Key West
- Vacation rentals in Rosemary Beach
- Cabin rentals in the Smoky Mountains, NC
- Vacation rentals in Yosemite
- Vacation rentals in Orlando
- Vacation rentals in Anna Maria Island
- Vacation rentals in Hilton Head Island
- Vacation rentals in Oak Island
- Vacation rentals in Cape Coral
- Vacation rentals & cabins in Logan
- Vacation rentals in Big Bear Lake
- Vacation rentals in Siesta Key
- Vacation rentals in Miami
- Vacation rentals in the Great Smoky Mountains
- Vacation rentals in Nashville
- Vacation rentals in San Diego
- Vacation rentals in Ocean City
- Vacation rentals in Charleston
- Vacation rentals in Orange Beach
- Vacation rentals in Estes Park
- Vacation rentals in Nashville
- Vacation rentals in Kauai
- Vacation rentals in Las Vegas
- Vacation rentals in New York City
- Vacation rentals in Sedona
- Vacation rentals in New Orleans
- Vacation rentals in Glacier National Park
- Vacation rentals in Florida
- Vacation rentals in South Padre Island
- Vacation rentals on Mackinac Island
- Vacation rentals in Colorado
- Vacation rentals in Maui
- Vacation rentals in New York
- Vacation rentals in Chicago
- Vacation rentals in Palm Springs
- Vacation rentals in Virginia Beach
- Vacation rentals in the Isle of Palms
- Vacation rentals in Tennessee
- Vacation rentals in Lake Ozark
- Vacation rentals in Ruidoso
- Vacation rentals & cabins in Zion National Park