With a stay at Drift Inn in Santa Cruz (Westside Santa Cruz), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. .This motel is 4.4 mi (7 km) from Capitola Beach and 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Ocean Street.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles
Pacific Avenue - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles
Santa Cruz Wharf - 13 min walk - 0.7 miles
Getting around
Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 29 min drive
Restaurants
四姐 Special Noodle - 8 min walk
Cruzin’ Crepes - 9 min walk
Boardwalk Bowl - 10 min walk
Coaster's Lounge - 10 min walk
Craft Beer at The Boardwalk - 10 min walk
About this property
Drift Inn
Motel with free parking, 8-minute walk to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Drift Inn offers 19 accommodations. Televisions come with cable channels.
Bathrooms include showers. This Santa Cruz motel provides complimentary wireless Internet access, with a speed of 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices). Housekeeping is offered daily and change of bedsheets can be requested.
Make yourself at home in one of the 19 guestrooms featuring microwaves. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms with showers are provided.
Take in the views from a garden.
Take advantage of the motel's room service (during limited hours).
Free self parking is available onsite.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
In-room WiFi speed: 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices)
Parking and transportation
Free self parking on site
Family friendly
In-room microwave
Mini-fridge
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
Guest services
Change of bedsheets (on request)
Housekeeping (daily)
Outdoors
Garden
Accessibility
No elevator
Room amenities
Bathroom
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Entertainment
Cable channels
Food and drink
Limited room service
Microwave
Mini-fridge
More
Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
Heating (climate-controlled)
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 21
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
If you are planning to arrive after 7:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Property payment types
Important information
Fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:
Deposit: USD 100 per accommodation, per stay
We have included all charges provided to us by the property.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Property Registration Number BL-109689
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Property is also known as
Drift Inn Motel
Drift Inn Santa Cruz
Drift Inn Motel Santa Cruz
Drift Inn Reviews
Reviews
8.4
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
I was pleasantly surprised by my stay at the Drift Inn. Because the price was so low and it was so conveniently located, I was expecting certain "downside" stuff when I got there. But it really was a good hotel. The check in was seamless and the customer service was quite pleasant and friendly. The room was big. It had a kitchen, in addition to the regular hotel room. There was also a front and a back balcony. It was very conveniently located, walking distance to the boardwalk and to downtown Santa Cruz, while also having plenty of parking. It was clean and I had no issues with the other customers.
The room was clean and near all the fun spots in Santa Cruz. Downtown shops restaurants and bar were all with in walking distance. To me that’s 30 mins. There was also a little kitchen area that had the microwave and refrigerator separate from the room with the two beds. The man doing our check in was training and did a great job helping me check in. I would highly recommend the Drift Inn. And would definitely book there again!
This hotel was clean. There is a kitchenette that has a refrigerator and microwave. Our kitchenette was a little run down with missing cabinet handles. It appears they are fixing up the rooms. Which I think will add great value.
The rooms are extremely clean and the staff is friendly. We enjoyed being within a short walk of both downtown and the boardwalk. This is a great place to stay if you would like to park your car and leave it while you explore town.
Older remodeled hotel, excellent staff, really close to Boardwalk. Allowed to park for free morning of check in day, plus was able to check into rooms by noon not 3.
Verified traveler
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
6/10 Okay
Raul
Traveled with family
Jul 21, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Very stiff but again it’s a hotel bigger can’t be choosers
I liked that it was walking distance from the boardwalk and customer service was good what I didn’t like was the room where a little older needed upgrade
Manuel
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
4/10 Poor
Meagan
Jul 12, 2025
Disliked: Cleanliness
There was no staff 24 hours. I tried to complain about the cockroaches in my room that ended up in my food but the front desk was locked and no way to reach out to staff