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2-star hotel Check-in 15:00 · Check-out 11:00

Surf City Inn & Suites

Simple 3-star hotel with free Wi-Fi, outdoor pool, hot tub, and pet-friendly rooms. Just a 9-minute walk to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

619 Riverside Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States View on map
6/10
Average Based on 816 recent guest reviews
Free Wi-Fi Free parking Accessible Indoor pool Air-conditioned
What recent guests emphasize

Comfortable, convenient, and value-focused stay near the beach

Guests highlight friendly service, a great location close to Santa Cruz attractions, and well-maintained, clean rooms offering good value. Some note practical limitations in kitchen equipment and the older style of the property.

Guests often praise

  • Friendly and accommodating staff providing helpful customer service
  • Clean, comfortable rooms with modern updates and good Wi-Fi
  • Convenient location within walking distance to the beach, boardwalk, and downtown
  • Indoor pool and hot tub appreciated as relaxing extras
  • Pet-friendly policy and free parking enhance convenience

Worth knowing

  • Rooms include kitchens but lack cooking utensils and basic cookware
  • The hotel is older with some dated furnishings and linens, though kept clean
  • Breakfast and on-site restaurant are not available
  • No airport shuttle or fitness center on the premises
  • Housekeeping quality varies and could be improved in detail

Best for

  • Visitors seeking affordable, simple accommodation near Santa Cruz beaches
  • Families and groups wanting spacious rooms with separate sleeping areas
  • Travelers who value location and amenities like pool and hot tub over luxury
  • Guests traveling with pets looking for a welcoming, budget-friendly option
  • Anyone planning to explore nearby outdoor attractions without needing on-site dining
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About this property

Welcome to Surf City Inn & Suites

Surf City Inn & Suites offers a straightforward and practical stay in Santa Cruz, with easy access to the local beaches and boardwalk. Located on Riverside Avenue, it’s within walking distance of popular attractions such as the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Main Beach, making it a convenient choice for visitors interested in exploring the coast. Surrounded by palm trees, the setting provides a relaxed, coastal atmosphere without the frills of a luxury resort.

The property features simple accommodations equipped with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and in some rooms, kitchens that guests can use, though cooking utensils are not provided. Guests can also enjoy amenities like a hot tub and an indoor pool, which add value for families and travelers seeking a comfortable place to unwind. Parking is free, and the hotel welcomes pets, making it a practical option for a variety of guests.

Reviews highlight the cleanliness of the rooms and the helpfulness of the staff, though some note older furnishings and limited in-room entertainment options. The hotel’s modest style aligns with its three-star rating, offering good value for those prioritizing location and basic conveniences over luxury. Family groups and budget-conscious travelers often find the property appealing, especially given its proximity to local attractions.

Nearby the hotel, guests will find notable spots like Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz Wharf, and the lively beachside amusement park. The property’s location also provides reasonable access to several regional airports, including San Jose Mineta International Airport about 40 minutes away by car. For travelers seeking a simple, accessible base near the Santa Cruz coast, Surf City Inn & Suites fits the bill without unnecessary extras.

Summary compiled by GoHotelly editors from verified guest reviews, partner descriptions and editorial notes.
Facilities & essentials

What's on-site and what you should know before you arrive

The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.

Most popular facilities

Free Wi-Fi
Free parking
Accessible
Indoor pool
Air-conditioned
Pet-friendly
Kid-friendly
Kitchens in some rooms
Hot tub
Golf course
Smoke-free

Not available at this property

Breakfast
Restaurant
Airport shuttle
Fitness center
Verified guest reviews

What recent guests are actually saying

Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.

KJ
Kari Johnson Apr 02, 2026
10

We had booked four rooms for a family trip. Checked in and the person at the front was so kind and accommodating to our needs, making sure we were all close together. Clean, remodeled rooms and I love having the beds in separate rooms with tv’s! Definitely would stay again!

CM
Cory McMurray Apr 01, 2026
10

This property is an awesome value, they have exemplary customer service and go the extra mile for their clients. It is Clean, close to all the fun, and a great value !

APP
Arpana P P Mar 31, 2026
10

We enjoyed the stay. Besides the shampoo and body shower gel being the same thing in different packaging. The service and rooms were clean and reasonably priced. Although the delta stay website does not do it justice. They need to update their pics in that website. Otherwise people like me will think it’s 4/19

DV
Devangi. Vashi. Mar 10, 2026
10

I recently stayed at Surf City Inn & Suites and had a fantastic experience. The location is super convenient—just a short walk to the beach, boardwalk, and some great local restaurants. The staff was friendly and check-in was quick and easy. Our room was clean, comfortable, and surprisingly spacious. I especially appreciated the modern updates and amenities like the mini fridge, microwave, and good Wi-Fi. The indoor pool and hot tub were a great bonus after a day of exploring the town! This place is a great value for the price. I’d definitely stay here again on my next trip to Santa Cruz.

SH
Shakarri Haynes Feb 12, 2026
8.0

Rooms have full kitchens, but no cooking utensils, no pots, pans, no forks, spoons, no plates, no cup, no nothing but a bed, a bathroom, a stove, a fridge, empty cabinets and a TV that dosent get any channels. We made the best of our stay. We brought all of our own cooking utensils from home because it wasn't clear on Booking.com if the room had all the essentials for cooking. We cooked , we ate, we slept, we showered, we had a good night's rest. The pool and got tub are indoors, building was stuffy, smelled like lots of chlorine. It was kind of sketchy at night when the Crack monsters come out, there was definitely a presence of them in the area.

PB
Philip Baker Feb 03, 2026
10

The room was very clean, and there were plenty of towels. The customer service was very good from check-in to check out. By no means a luxury hotel, but it is a perfect place to get a night away by yourself or with your family by the beach for a very reasonable price.

TA
TheOne Anjel Jan 09, 2026
8.0

It's one of those older hotels near the beach that is run economically enough to give you an economic place to stay near the beach. The people are nice and we had everything we needed but it's an old hotel with old stuff. My grandson loved the pool and hot tub, the sheets and towels were old but clean. The housekeeping could stand to pay a little more attention to detail. But we didn't see any homeless or sketchy people and had no trouble with parking. We did stay during the week though. They let us check in early and it's about a 5-minute walk to the beach, probably more if you have small kids and a bunch of stuff. The parking is kind of private because you pull in to the driveway into a secluded area. It's my first time staying at Surf City inn even though I go to Santa Cruz all the time. And it's actually in line with or a little above some of the other ones I've been to that are right on the ocean such as fireside inn or aqua breeze.

LK
lacey krebs Jan 06, 2026
10

The front desk was so wonderful and helpful. The rooms were great. There were rooms with 3 beds and rooms with 2 beds one in the front room and one in a separate bedroom. The pool and spa were nice and the location was perfect, about 5 min walk to downtown and a 10 minute walk to the boardwalk. We will absolutely stay here next time! And they allowed dogs for a smallish fee.

Location & neighborhood

Where you'll find Surf City Inn & Suites

Santa Cruz, California, USA

Surrounded by palm trees, this simple hotel is 9 minutes' walk from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and a 10-minute walk from Main Beach.

  • Broadway & Clay 6 min Walk
  • Front & Spruce (Kaiser Arena) 9 min Walk
  • Soquel Ave & Ocean 11 min Walk
  • San Francisco International Airport 1 hr 8 Car · 2 hr 55 Transit
  • San Jose Mineta International Airport 42 min Car · 1 hr 26 Transit
  • Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport 1 hr 14 Car · 2 hr 53 Transit
Things to do nearby

Worth the walk or a quick ride

Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in California. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 49,424 reviews

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States

4.6 · Amusement Park
Natural Bridges State Beach 2,326 reviews

Natural Bridges State Beach

2531 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States

4.7 · Park
Santa Cruz Wharf 15,294 reviews

Santa Cruz Wharf

21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States

4.6 · Fishing Pier
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