The Best Cheap Hotels in California

Budget-Friendly and Affordable Places to Stay in California

Big Sur, California Big Sur, California

California is a vibrant destination with plenty of fun activities and attractions. If you're traveling on a budget, finding an affordable place to stay might be a challenge, though. But does California have cheap hotel rooms? Absolutely. With so many budget-friendly hotels and motels available, there is no need to break the bank for a comfortable and relaxing stay here. So, if you're looking for where to stay on a budget, or trying to figure out how to find cheap rooms in California, we've figured it out for you already. When looking for affordable places to stay, everyone should consider a variety of factors, including the price, but also the location, amenities, level of service, and guest ratings. While low prices are important, travelers should also consider the comfort and relaxation of the rooms, as well as the location of the hotel, which can greatly impact their experience in California. Some of the best budget-friendly hotels in California offer amenities such as pools, providing guests with a great place to cool off and unwind after a long day of exploring the city. When considering guest ratings, travelers should look for hotels with a proven track record of providing comfortable stays, while also being easy on the wallet. We've analyzed the best budget-friendly hotels and motels in California based not just on the prices, but also the locations, guest ratings, amenities, and nearby activities as described. So, below you'll see the results of our research, which includes the best values and great bargain hotels in California. Whether you're traveling solo or with a group, there are plenty of cheap stays available in California that will meet your needs and your budget. So, let's get to it: here's where to sleep cheap in California.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

La Quinta Inn & Suites Dublin - Pleasanton

Dublin, California
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $138 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Very Affordable Hotel
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool

Located at 6275 Dublin Blvd, La Quinta Inn & Suites Dublin - Pleasanton has great rooms from $138 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a water park, a restaurant, a fitness center, and parking. It has a terrific 8.50 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 122.4 miles from the city center, budget travelers will especially love a kid-friendly buffet, breakfast, hiking, laundry services, and golf at this affordable hotel. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing. The price of this hotel is less than average for budget hotels, which makes it a great value.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Free breakfast
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Breakfast included
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


BEST WESTERN PLUS Las Brisas Hotel

Palm Springs, California
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $127 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Terrific Cheap Hotel
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool

A great place to stay is BEST WESTERN PLUS Las Brisas Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $127. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.50 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 222 South Indian Canyon Drive. This relaxing hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, a hot tub, a spa, free parking, and laundry facilities which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 297.6 miles from the city center. Getting room service delivered is always a nice luxury. It's also less than the average price for budget hotels, so it's a great value.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Free parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Family-Friendly


Holiday Inn Express & Suites Rancho Mirage

Rancho Mirage, California
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $105 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Nice Budget Stay
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool

We found Holiday Inn Express & Suites Rancho Mirage to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $105. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a casino, a fitness center, hiking, and child care, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 71-730 Highway 111. You'll also find golf, a free breakfast, a hot tub, bowling, and free parking which travelers will love. And this comfortable hotel is just 306.6 miles from the center of town. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, too. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for budget hotels.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Free breakfast
  • Free parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Fitness center
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hotel Zico

Mountain View, California
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $94 (before taxes) - See All Prices
One of the Best Deals in California
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

With terrific rooms from $94, Hotel Zico, at 200 E El Camino Real provides room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, laundry services, and free parking. Its terrific guest rating is 8.40 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. Budget travelers will really like this budget-friendly hotel which also offers kids meals, laundry facilities, family rooms, a multi-lingual staff, and air-conditioning. It's located just 127.6 miles from the city center, too. Having the delicious restaurant in the hotel is an added bonus. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for budget hotels.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Free parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Family-Friendly


Bella Capri Inn and Suites

Camarillo, California
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $133 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Fantastic Bargain in California
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

Bella Capri Inn and Suites has a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10, and offers room service, a casino, a restaurant, a fitness center, and mountain views. The great rooms here start at $133 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 2050 East Ventura Blvd. Furthermore, it also offers rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms, which is nice for visitors. Just 213.3 miles from the city center, this low-cost hotel is a terrific choice. And with the ability to cook your own meals in the kitchen, you can save money and time. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for budget hotels.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Free parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly


Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Oceanside

Oceanside, California
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $144 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Values in California
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool

The great guest rating of Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Oceanside is 8.70 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $144, and it's located at 3501 Seagate Way. We also love the child care, laundry services, a hot tub, free parking, and kids meals which are great for travelers. And since it's just 311.5 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for budget hotels, which makes it a great value.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Free parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly


La Quinta Inn & Suites Fresno Riverpark

Fresno, California
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $143 (before taxes) - See All Prices
One of the Best Inexpensive Hotels in California
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Outdoor pool

A cool place is La Quinta Inn & Suites Fresno Riverpark because it has great rooms that start at $143. It has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, breakfast, child care, and a free breakfast, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 330 E. Fir Avenue. Only 28.4 miles from the city center, budget travelers will especially love pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, free parking, laundry facilities, and air-conditioning at this affordable hotel. It's also less than the average price for budget hotels, so it's a great value.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Free breakfast
  • Free parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Breakfast included
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Ace Hotel and Swim Club Palm Springs

Palm Springs, California
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $163 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Great Low Cost Hotel
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool

Ace Hotel and Swim Club Palm Springs offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and hiking which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $163 (before taxes). It's located at 701 East Palm Canyon Dr and has earned a guest rating of 8.40/10. This relaxing hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, and a spa which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 298.9 miles from the city center. We love a fun pool bar, and this one is a nice spot to chill and relax by the pool. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for budget hotels.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Free parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Air-conditioned
  • Family-Friendly


The Plaza Suites Hotel

Santa Clara, California
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $205 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Very Affordable Hotel
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool

Located at 3100 Lakeside Drive, The Plaza Suites Hotel has great rooms from $205 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a bar, parking, breakfast, hiking, and laundry services which travelers will love. And this comfortable hotel is just 122.9 miles from the center of town. You'll love relaxing in the heated pool after a busy day exploring. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for budget hotels.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Breakfast included
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Air-conditioned
  • Refrigerator
  • Airport shuttle


La Bellasera Hotel & Suites

Paso Robles, California
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $170 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Terrific Cheap Hotel
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool

A great place to stay is La Bellasera Hotel & Suites which has nice rooms starting at $170. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 206 Alexa Court. Budget travelers will really like this budget-friendly hotel which also offers rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, a hot tub, and a spa and wellness center. It's located just 126.3 miles from the city center, too. Being able to prepare food in the room is also very convenient. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for budget hotels.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Free parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly


For more terrific hotel ideas in California, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in California, Best Beach Hotels in California, Best Luxury Hotels in California, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in California, Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in California, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in California, Best Hotels for One Week in California, Best Hotels for One Night in California, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in California, Best Adults Only Hotels in California, Best Party Hotels in California, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in California, Best Hotels for Skiing in California, or Best Business Hotels in California.


Is it expensive to spend the night in California?

California Average Budget Hotel Price
$322

Travelers to California will have a large number of terrific budget accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of budget hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 200 budget hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $322. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in California.

The average prices of our suggested budget hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $801
  • 4-star hotels: $363
  • 3-star hotels: $223
  • 2-star hotels: $193


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