Santa Maria travel guide

Santa Maria Tourism | Santa Maria Guide

You're Going to Love Santa Maria

With a population of 99,553, Santa Maria is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Santa Maria deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

When to visit Santa Maria

Santa Maria in January
Estimated hotel price
$108
1 night at 3-star hotel
Santa Maria in January
Estimated hotel price
$108
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Santa Maria in July, when the average temperature is 62.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 73.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 39.2 °F, with an average temperature of 51.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in February, when precipitation is around 2.8″. In contrast, June is usually the driest month of the year in Santa Maria, with an average rainfall of 0″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Santa Maria

Plane

When flying to Santa Maria, you’ll arrive at Santa Maria Public (SMX), which is located 6 km from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Santa Maria departs from Seattle and takes around 6h 36m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Santa Maria.

Car

Another option to get to Santa Maria is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 218 km from Santa Maria. You’ll find branches of Ace and Kyte, among others, in Los Angeles.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Santa Maria Amtrak Bus Stop, located 1.8 km from downtown Santa Maria. Santa Maria Transit Center is also a commonly used station, and is 0.9 km from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Santa Maria, you’ll arrive at Santa Maria Public (SMX), which is located 6 km from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Santa Maria departs from Seattle and takes around 6h 36m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Santa Maria.

Car

Another option to get to Santa Maria is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 218 km from Santa Maria. You’ll find branches of Ace and Kyte, among others, in Los Angeles.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Santa Maria Amtrak Bus Stop, located 1.8 km from downtown Santa Maria. Santa Maria Transit Center is also a commonly used station, and is 0.9 km from the city center.

Airlines serving Santa Maria

Lufthansa
Good (4,644 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,599 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,556 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (477 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,935 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,126 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,480 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,770 reviews)
Finnair
Good (879 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,553 reviews)
Avianca
Good (1,321 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (770 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (5,789 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (308 reviews)
Southern / Mokulele
Okay (8 reviews)
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Where to stay in Santa Maria

Average rates range from around $111 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $204 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Travelodge by Wyndham Santa Maria and Days Inn by Wyndham Santa Maria.

Where to stay in popular areas of Santa Maria

Most booked hotels in Santa Maria

Hampton Inn & Suites Santa Maria
2 stars
Excellent (9, 506 reviews)
$162+
Kaleidoscope Inn & Gardens
2 stars
Excellent (9, 137 reviews)
$141+
Radisson Hotel Santa Maria, CA
3 stars
Good (7.9, 1074 reviews)
$116+
Historic Santa Maria Inn
3 stars
Good (7.8, 855 reviews)
$102+
Solaire Inn & Suites
2 stars
Good (7.4, 201 reviews)
$86+
Holiday Inn & Suites Santa Maria, An IHG Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.3, 694 reviews)
$104+

Renting a car in Santa Maria

Renting a car in Santa Maria costs $68 per day, on average, or $137 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 8% more expensive than at Santa Maria Public.

Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Santa Maria (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Santa Maria is Full-size (Ford Transit or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Mitsubishi i-Miev or similar) are, on average, 75% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Santa Maria costs $68 per day, on average, or $137 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 8% more expensive than at Santa Maria Public.

Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Santa Maria (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Santa Maria is Full-size (Ford Transit or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Mitsubishi i-Miev or similar) are, on average, 75% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.