Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car
United States
USD

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.

Article

When to visit Santa Maria

Santa Maria in January
Estimated hotel price
$119
1 night at 3-star hotel
Santa Maria in January
Estimated hotel price
$119
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 18h.

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 Economy Rent a Car, among others, in Los Angeles.

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 18h.

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 Economy Rent a Car, among others, in Los Angeles.

Airlines serving Santa Maria

Lufthansa
Good (8,266 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,580 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,088 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,633 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,649 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (979 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,726 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,672 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,301 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,729 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,428 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (13,031 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,560 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,217 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (1,546 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (12,129 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (670 reviews)
Porter Airlines
Excellent (467 reviews)
Southwest
Good (4,214 reviews)
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Where to stay in Santa Maria

Average rates range from around $126 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $180 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Candlewood Suites Santa Maria By IHG and Quality Inn And Suites Santa Maria.

Where to stay in popular areas of Santa Maria

Most booked hotels in Santa Maria

Hampton Inn & Suites Santa Maria
3 stars
Excellent (9, 510 reviews)
$152+
Best Western Plus Big America
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 2057 reviews)
$124+
Quality Inn And Suites Santa Maria
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1332 reviews)
$93+
Kaleidoscope Inn & Gardens
3 stars
Excellent (8, 152 reviews)
$151+
Historic Santa Maria Inn
3 stars
Good (7.6, 2272 reviews)
$110+
Solaire Inn & Suites
2 stars
Good (7.5, 569 reviews)
$64+

Renting a car in Santa Maria

Renting a car in Santa Maria costs $74 per day, on average, or $149 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, 4% more expensive than at Santa Maria Public.

Expect to pay $4.81 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 $57.69 and $76.92. The most frequently booked car type in Santa Maria is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Class Intermediate Car or similar) are, on average, 61% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Santa Maria costs $74 per day, on average, or $149 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, 4% more expensive than at Santa Maria Public.

Expect to pay $4.81 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 $57.69 and $76.92. The most frequently booked car type in Santa Maria is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Class Intermediate Car or similar) are, on average, 61% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.