Members-only rates
4.1 / 5 Great

Drift Inn

Drift Inn
Drift Inn – Santa Cruz, CA
Drift Inn – Santa Cruz, CA
Check in 3:00 PM
Check out 11:00 AM

About Drift Inn

This central Santa Cruz hotel is just an 8-minute walk from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It features guest rooms with free Wi-Fi access and a cable TV. A microwave and mini-fridge are furnished in all rooms at Drift Inn, LLC. A telephone and wake-up service are also available. The University of California Santa Cruz and Lighthouse Field State Beach are each within 3 miles of Santa Cruz Budget Inn. Cooper Street Plaza Shopping Center is just a 3-minute drive away.

Amenities

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Meeting space
  • Family friendly
  • Smoke-free property

Reviews

4.1 / 5
Great 1258 reviews
  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    Staff was good for the check-in but after that there was nobody around in the office. Parking space was quite full. The bedding was old and dusty. Bathroom and shower were good and there was a small kitchen separate from the sleeping area.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    At approximately 1:30am we were rudely awakened by the sound of the door opening and then a group of people entered our room who then apologized and said they were given the same room number with matching faub key. I then received a phone call from somebody at the front desk who was extremely apologetic about the incident. I can understand honest mistakes but this was an unforgivable mistake as we had a hard time returning to sleep, especially my wife, who basically spent the entire rest of the night awake.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    Me gustó la ubicación y lo tranquilo para descansar

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    It's a budget motel. Looks better inside. We liked the roomy shower and kitchen areas.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    This place has a lot of character. Will be staying here again.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    Good

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    For the price is a good hotel I'll stay there again

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    There are no desk staff on site, you call them in from home when you need something. The shower towel rack was broken/half missing.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    The room was clean. It was a quiet area. Great place to stay if you’re planning to go to the Pier/beach. You can walk to the beach. It was affordable for how close it is to the beach.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    Bathroom had a bucket under lav sink, some crumbling drywall and flakey paint. No complimentary shampoo and uncomfortable bed and bedding. Wi-fi worked ok. I wished I had spent another $40 and been more comfortable.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    the litle kitchen was very helpfull. (even do they forgot to clean it mind u). the people was very understanding and friendly. However i recomend the place.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    We booked this room based on the reviews and I will tell you the reviews I read are the furthest from the truth. Upon checking in the staff was clearly dealing with an issue. After we settled we figured out the issue was the staff trying to evict drug addicts with no vehicle and a parking lot full of luggage. That was our first bad experience, the second was the room smelled like chemicals and the floor was so uneven that when lying in the bed your feet were above your head. After complaining and asking to be moved the office manager and her manager were extremely rude. After our altercation they told me they would refund our second night of our stay in which they did not and lied about Expedia relocating us. This did not happen and after calling Expedia they explained that is not their practice and they would investigate. I have now received a message from Expedia that we would not be getting a refund because we were given a relocation we never received. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE DRIFT INN and will never use Expedia again.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    Clean and quiet and inexpensive

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    Great basic hotel to stay for a short term. Very friendly staff.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    Cleaning training for any new maids is recommended. The front desk staff was very kind and helpful.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    Check in was easy and staff was pleasant. No complaints other than there wasn’t shampoo or even soap to wash our hands.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    Our stay was fabulous. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The room was updated and perfect, although the bed could use a pillow top cover. It was a nice walk to the boardwalk too.

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    Great rooms and very close to the boardwalk!!

  • Engine customer Jul 2026

    Un lugar tranquilo,limpio y amplio

  • Engine customer Jun 2026

    Charged for a stay - arrived and the office was closed. No response to attempts to contact even when office was open.

Frequently asked questions about Drift Inn

Does Drift Inn have free Wi-Fi?
Yes, Drift Inn offers free Wi-Fi for all guests.
Does Drift Inn offer parking?
Yes, Drift Inn offers free parking on-site.
Does Drift Inn have meeting spaces, conference centers, or conference rooms?
Yes. Drift Inn offers meeting spaces for business and group use.
Does Drift Inn have a fitness center?
Drift Inn does not list an on-site fitness center. Some properties partner with nearby gyms — check directly with the hotel.
Where is Drift Inn located, and how walkable is the area?
Drift Inn is located at 110 San Lorenzo Blvd, Santa Cruz, CA CA 95060. With a Walk Score of 85, the area is rated Very Walkable. Most errands can be completed on foot, with public transit and rideshare easily accessible.

What's nearby

Map of points of interest near Drift Inn
  • University of California, Santa Cruz 2.8 mi
  • 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake 9.2 mi

Why no public rates?

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