Once a center of California's petroleum industry and designated as a Preserve America Community by the White House, Santa Paula is located in Ventura County in the fertile Santa Clara River Valley. The Chumash Native Americans first settled here some 10,000 years ago and were living in two villages called Mupu and Srswa when Baja California's former governor, Gaspar de Portala, arrived here in 1769.
From 1795 to 1840, the area was given away in various Spanish and Mexican land grants. George Briggs gained ownership in 1862 and began selling off land parcels to farmers. Nathan Blanchard, along with E. L. Bradley, laid out the Santa Paula townsite in 1873 and planted the first orange seedlings. By the time the railway came in 1887, he had oranges to ship all around the country. In 1886, oil production began and helped build the city's wealth.
Today, surrounded by orange and avocado orchards and lined with quaint Victorian-style homes, Santa Paula is a popular tourist destination. Along with its sunny weather and beautiful natural surroundings, the city has many historical and cultural attractions. Whether you are passing through or plan to stay for a while, you need to find a hotel that will provide you with a base to start on your city exploration expedition.
What Is the Seasonality of Santa Paula, CA?
While the city enjoys a perennial sunny climate, the best time to visit Santa Paula is between April and November. The weather is more temperate at this time, and the likelihood of encountering rain or snow is low. You can take in the grandeur of the San Cayetano and Oak Ridge mountains and explore the oak-studded trails around the fast-flowing Santa Paula Creek and the Santa Clara River. If you prefer a cultural tour, Santa Paula has several museums and hosts year-round events and festivals.
June, July, and August are the busiest tourist months, so hotel prices tend to be high in this period and it might be tricky to find a good deal on a hotel room. It will help to book your hotel room in advance of the tourist season.
If you prefer to avoid the rush and also get a reasonable hotel room price, you might want to wait until November. The end of fall tends to bring chilly winds and rain showers. There will be fewer tourists to compete with, and you can get a better deal on a hotel room.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Santa Paula, CA:
Santa Paula, CA: Prices by Star Rating Class
Below are 3 charts illustrating avg. nightly cost trends by star rating class in Santa Paula, CA. Browse these charts to calculate the cheapest months to book a room in Santa Paula for your upcoming travels.
What Are Some Luxury Hotels in Santa Paula, CA?
4 Star Average Prices: $201.50
If you want to stay at a luxury hotel in Santa Paula, head to the historic downtown district to book a room at the elegant Glenn Tavern Inn. Located 1 mile away from the Santa Paula Private Airport and renowned as a National Register Historic Site, the restored hotel is in the Tudor-Craftsman style that promises guests a cozy yet chic experience. There are 38 elegant guestrooms and suites with comfortable king, queen, and double beds, sofa, desk, and coffee table.
You can enjoy in-room amenities like Wi-Fi, cable TV, refrigerators, coffee/tea makers, iron and board, telephones, and Jacuzzi tubs. Some of these amenities are only for select rooms, so inquire in advance. The hotel has a non-smoking and pet-friendly policy.
The Glenn Tavern Inn has an in-house Italian restaurant, Enzo's, that offers live weekend entertainment and authentic Italian cuisines like lasagna, rustic pizza, eggplant parmigiana, chicken piccata, parmesan-crusted pork chops, and more. The place gets plenty of guests, so call in advance to make your dinner inquiry.
Heading south from Santa Paula, drive about 10 miles to the Residence Inn by Marriott Camarillo. The air-conditioned rooms have well-stocked kitchens, comfortable beds with premium bedding, desks, safes, smart TVs with cable entertainment, and free Wi-Fi.
For recreation, guests have access to an outdoor pool, a spa tub, a fitness center, a library, and a picnic area. You can also take advantage of laundry facilities, concierge services, and free breakfast. This is a pet-friendly hotel.
What Are Some Affordable Hotel Options Near Santa Paula, CA?
3 Star Average Prices: $163.57
You won't have any trouble finding affordable hotel options in Santa Paula. The Ocean Gateway Inn is a motel located close to the historic downtown district. It will only be a short walk to visit the museums, shops, and restaurants. You can take your pick from rooms with king, queen, and double beds, or choose a king mini-suite. Plus, you can enjoy pool and spa facilities at the motel.
The inn offers a continental breakfast and has vending machines for snacks, soft drinks, and bottled water. There is also an ice machine. If you're driving over, there is plenty of guest parking space available.
The Good Nite Inn Camarillo is about 9 miles from Santa Paula and is a smoke-free property. It has 129 air-conditioned, large guestrooms with queen size beds, writing desks, phones, and flat-screen TVs with cable channels. Guests can also enjoy free Wi-Fi, free coffee and tea in the mornings, and access to the outdoor pool. You can make use of their laundry facilities and limited parking space.