Although Lancaster is a desert town, the city is home to Elizabeth Lake. You can fish, swim, boat, or pursue other water-based activities, and the area surrounding the lake offers beautiful views for hikers and photographers. It's also home to the Antelope Valley, which forms the far-western edge of the great Mojave Desert. Take a long walk among the Joshua trees and enjoy the sight of the goldfields. Lancaster is set against a backdrop of mountains, which makes it ideal for contemplation and animal sightings.
If you're considering a vacation in Lancaster, California, use the following information to make sure you have a successful visit.
Best Time to Visit Lancaster, California
As with most desert towns, the summer heat can prove unbearable, especially if you're not used to dry heat. However, the summer attracts the most tourists, so if you enjoy meeting other travelers and participating in crowded events, you might want to plan your visit for June, July, or August. Expect to pay a little more for lodging because of the increased demand and to wear plenty of sunscreen to protect your skin from the unrelenting sun.
You might enjoy yourself more if you travel to Lancaster during the spring or fall. Temperatures cool down and the crowds taper off, which means inexpensive hotel rooms and fewer lines at area attractions. You'll also get to spend more time outdoors without sweating through your clothes. Since this area doesn't experience much fall color, you'll see more flora during the spring months.
Winters get chilly in Lancaster, with temperatures sometimes dropping into the 30s and 40s, and it sometimes snows in the desert. While snow looks beautiful draped over cacti and other succulents, it might put a pin in your vacation plans, especially if you're not comfortable driving in snowy and icy conditions. Additionally, you won't want to spend as much time outdoors, though the afternoons often warm up to the 50s and 60s.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Lancaster, CA:
Averate Rates by Star Rating
Below we've posted 3 graphs displaying average price patterns by star rating class in Lancaster, CA. Analyze these line graphs to evaluate the least expensive months to book in Lancaster for your upcoming travels.
Best Luxury Hotels in Lancaster, California
4 Star Average Prices: $154.66
A few of Lancaster's many hotels offer upscale lodging for affordable prices. A vacation should offer a chance to live the good life for a few days, and if you're willing to spend a few extra bucks, you can elevate your trip from good to great. Luxury hotels offer more amenities and unique perks.
For instance, the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Lancaster offers rooms that start at around $149 per night. It's considered a long-term-stay hotel, but you can book rooms for short durations if you prefer. It's a gorgeous hotel with a peaceful, stone-adorned patio for guests to gather and relax near the outdoor pool. Take advantage of the barbecue pits and the pool-side lounge chairs.
The venue offers a free healthy breakfast every morning in the dining area. Fill up on fresh fruit, coffee, granola, oatmeal, and other delicious delicacies. The rooms feature premium linens, flat-screen televisions, well-lit desks and work spaces, separate living areas, and cable television channels. There's also a market on-site if you get hungry or thirsty, and the gym and business center will help you keep up your daily routines.
Meanwhile, rooms at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Lancaster start at around $114 per night. This hotel is modern and cozy, with lots of upholstered furniture in dense patterns and soft carpet underfoot. Contemporary and traditional decor unite, creating a peaceful haven when you want to relax and unwind. SpringHill Suites offers an outdoor pool, an exercise room with cardiovascular equipment, a whirlpool, and a convenience store. You can also order delivery from local restaurants and take advantage of the free hot breakfast every morning.
In your SpringHill room, you'll find comfortable, thick mattresses and luxurious bathrooms with granite countertops. You can choose between rooms with one king or two queen beds, each with an extra sleeper sofa. Each suite comes with a kitchenette and a cozy lounge area. You'll also enjoy the premium cable channels on the flat-screen televisions and the premium toiletries and linens.
Both of these Marriott locations also allow mobile check-ins. If you don't feel like standing in line at the front desk, just access the website or app from your smart phone or tablet to make checking in a breeze. You can also bring your pet if you can't bear to leave Fluffy or Fido home alone.
Best Budget-Friendly Hotels in Lancaster, California
3 Star Average Prices: $138.20
If you're looking for the least-expensive lodging in Lancaster, you'll have a few choices. Each offers minimal amenities and creature comforts, but you won't blow all of your vacation budget on a place to fall asleep each night.
Take the Town House Motel in Lancaster, for instance. It's a long, narrow, one-story building with a retro aesthetic that calls to mind movies from the '40s and '50s. You might also recognize it as a set for more modern films, such as the iconic "Fast and Furious" franchise and the highway thriller "Joy Ride." Rooms feature outdated but clean furnishings and decor, with free wireless internet, free parking, flat-screen televisions in the guest rooms, and in-room microwaves and refrigerators.
If you decide to visit in spring or summer, you might want to cool off in the convenient outdoor pool, which also features lawn chairs for sipping a cold beverage and catching up on your summer reading list. There's a jacuzzi and spa room for relaxing during your vacation or business trip, and the hotel helps its guests wake up in the morning with a free hot breakfast, which includes traveler favorites like waffles, pancakes, and muffins.
Alternatively, consider booking a room at the Best Western Plus/Desert Poppy Inn. Rates at this establishment start between $89 and $102, depending on the season, and it's a relatively new facility. The cheerful stucco façade welcomes you to Lancaster and ushers you indoors. You'll find a chic lobby with a cozy sitting area, and, when you get to your room, you'll be treated to contemporary furnishings and modern decor.
You can take advantage of the pool, fitness center, business center, and laundry facilities. In your guest room or suite you'll enjoy access to a flat-screen television, high-speed internet access, a desk with an ergonomic chair, air conditioning, and a coffee maker. There's also a communal hot tub that's open until 10 p.m. every night, and since this is a completely non-smoking hotel, you won't have to worry about your asthma or allergies acting up when you walk the halls.
