The Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Santa Barbara

Where to Stay for a Family Vacation with Kids in Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara Courthouse The Santa Barbara Courthouse

Santa Barbara, California is a great family-oriented vacation destination, so if you're looking for kid friendly hotels, we've got plenty of suggestions. After comparing many of the hotels in the area, below is our list of the best family-friendly hotels in Santa Barbara for your next vacation based on amenities, previous guest ratings, location, activities, and price. So, even if you're traveling as a family of 4, a family of 5, or even a large family, you can find the best hotel that meets your needs. After all, when traveling with children, you're probably looking for kid-friendly features such as swimming pools, game rooms, kid's activities, and extra space. Of course, it also helps to have a kitchen so you can cook some family friendly meals, and extra bedrooms if you have a larger family. Many of the top family friendly hotels and resorts in Santa Barbara will offer some of these features, so you're in luck. If you're looking for where to stay as a family in Santa Barbara, here are the best family hotels.

The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

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

The Milo

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $318 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Terrific for a Family Vacation to Santa Barbara
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool

Located at 202 West Cabrillo Boulevard, The Milo has great rooms from $318 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, snorkeling, parking, and hiking. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.8 miles from the city center, families will especially love child care, laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, and a hot tub at this family-friendly hotel. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in.

Family-Friendly Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry facilities
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Tennis


View hotels on the map:

Harbor View Inn

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $365 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Kid-Friendly Hotel in Santa Barbara
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Harbor View Inn which has nice rooms starting at $365. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 28 West Cabrillo Boulevard. This kid-friendly hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, parking, laundry services, city views, and a hot tub which families with kids will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.8 miles from the city center. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

Family-Friendly Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry facilities
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Room service
  • Restaurant
  • Parking
  • Child pool


Kimpton Canary Hotel By IHG

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $425 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Top Family-Friendly Hotel
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool

We found Kimpton Canary Hotel By IHG to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $425. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 31 West Carrillo Street. You'll also find snorkeling, a bar, parking, child care, and laundry services which visitors with kids will love. And this family hotel is just 0.3 miles from the center of town. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun.

Family-Friendly Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry facilities
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Room service
  • Restaurant
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking


El Encanto Santa Barbara

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $836 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Terrific Place to Stay with Kids in Santa Barbara
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $836, El Encanto Santa Barbara, at 800 Alvarado Place provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Its terrific guest rating is 9.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. Travelers will really like this fun hotel which also offers parking, hiking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and laundry services. It's located just 1.3 miles from the city center, too. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

Family-Friendly Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Saltwater pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Room service
  • Restaurant
  • Parking
  • Microwave


Brisas Del Mar Inn at the Beach

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $286 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Recommended for Families
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for family-friendly hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool

Brisas Del Mar Inn at the Beach has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and laundry services. The great rooms here start at $286 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 223 Castillo Street. Furthermore, it also offers a hot tub, free parking, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, and a heated pool, which is nice for families. Just 0.7 miles from the city center, this relaxing hotel is a terrific choice. You'll enjoy unwinding in the hot tub, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for family-friendly hotels.

Family-Friendly Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry facilities
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Microwave


Marina Beach Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $301 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Great Hotel for Family Fun
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Family rooms

The great guest rating of Marina Beach Hotel is 9.30 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and pet-friendly rooms. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $301, and it's located at 21 Bath Street. We also love the a hot tub, free parking, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, and family rooms which are great for families with kids. And since it's just 0.8 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. Having a kitchenette is a nice way for you to have some meals in the room, too.

Family-Friendly Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry facilities
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Room service
  • Microwave


The Eagle Inn

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $350 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for a Family Getaway to Santa Barbara
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family rooms

A cool place is The Eagle Inn because it has great rooms that start at $350. It has room service, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, and rooms with kitchenettes, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 232 Natoma Avenue. Only 0.7 miles from the city center, visitors with kids will especially love laundry services, a hot tub, free parking, horse riding, and bicycle rental at this family-friendly hotel.

Family-Friendly Hotel Amenities
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Microwave


Lemon Tree Inn

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $159 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Hotels for a Family Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool

Lemon Tree Inn offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and laundry services which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $159 (before taxes). It's located at 2819 State Street and has earned a guest rating of 7.90/10. This kid-friendly hotel is also nice because it offers a hot tub, free parking, family rooms, a heated pool, and a private pool which travelers will enjoy. Also, it's just 2 miles from the city center. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for family-friendly hotels.

Family-Friendly Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Room service
  • Restaurant


Harbor House Inn

Inn with prices starting at $269 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Perfect Hotel for a Trip with Kids to Santa Barbara
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for family-friendly hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 104 Bath Street, Harbor House Inn has great rooms from $269 (before taxes). It offers room service, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, and rooms with kitchens. It has a terrific 9.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find golf, free parking, horse riding, bicycle rental, and air-conditioning which families will love. And this family hotel is just 0.8 miles from the center of town. Don't forget that there's a kitchen in the room to cook your meals, too. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for family-friendly hotels.

Family-Friendly Hotel Amenities
  • Kitchen
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Microwave


Inn By The Harbor

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $258 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Great Hotel for Children
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Family rooms

A great place to stay is Inn By The Harbor which has nice rooms starting at $258. Offering an outdoor pool, a fitness center, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and laundry services, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 433 West Montecito Street. Families with kids will really like this fun hotel which also offers a hot tub, free parking, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, and family rooms. It's located just 0.8 miles from the city center, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for family-friendly hotels.

Family-Friendly Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry facilities
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Microwave


Also, take a look at the family-friendly hotels in nearby destinations: Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, Solvang, and Ojai.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Santa Barbara, make sure you also see Best Luxury Hotels in Santa Barbara, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Santa Barbara, Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Santa Barbara, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Santa Barbara, Best Hotels for One Week in Santa Barbara, Best Hotels for One Night in Santa Barbara, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Santa Barbara, or Best Business Hotels in Santa Barbara.


How much do family-friendly hotels cost in Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara Average Family-Friendly Hotel Price
$299

After analyzing 24 family-friendly hotels in Santa Barbara, California, we found the average family-friendly hotel price to be a remarkably economical $299. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic family-friendly accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Santa Barbara.

The average prices of our suggested family-friendly hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $836
  • 4-star hotels: $325
  • 3-star hotels: $265


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