Santa Cruz Vacation Rentals, California: house rentals & more

Select from 273 homes, 26 cottages, and other vacation rentals in Santa Cruz to find one that's perfect for your trip. Whether you're traveling with a group or just with your pet, vacation rentals have the amenities you expect for your stay, which might include WiFi and a washer and dryer. No matter what you're looking for, you'll be sure to find a rental that has what everyone needs, including a place that's non-smoking or offers accessibility.

Find spaces that suit your style

Find properties near top attractions in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Find the best place to stay - Santa Cruz

Large Santa Cruz Beach House ! Steps to the beach! Pets welcome!

6 bedrooms · 4 bathrooms

Top rated rentals - Santa Cruz

Great house close to wharf and boardwalk

Wonderful house with modern amenities close to boardwalk and restaurants of the wharf. Great communication with owner. Ants present in the kitchen, but the property owner seemed to be right on top of the issue. So I only write this in case it continues in future write-ups as a warning, but I doubt that will be the case, based on the timely responsiveness of the owner. Overall wonderful stay and therefore 5-star rating.

Michael K.

Stayed Sep 2023

Perfect location

You can't beat the location! Besides the fact that you are a short walk to all of the attractions, the house itself is perfect for a large group. We enjoyed people watching by the fire in the front yard and playing games and relaxing in the back yard. The home itself is even more spacious than we expected and it slept our group of 11 comfortably. Gia and Krista were great hosts and very communicative. We would absolutely stay there again!

Michael H.

Stayed Sep 2023

Image of Great 3-story home near Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Great Visit

My family enjoyed our stay here. It's at a convenient location. The place is spacious, comfortable, and relaxing. The property manager was very responsive to our questions in a timely manner.

Suzanne N.

Stayed Sep 2023

This historic vacation home was built circa 1870-90 and remodeled in 2017.

Great place to stay near beach and boardwalk!

We loved our 3 day stay here. Owner was super flexible and responsive. Place was lovely, clean and well located. Beach towels and chairs were much appreciated. We would stay here again!

Lisa M.

Stayed Sep 2023

Enjoy the panoramic views of the ocean, sand, Boardwalk, and Wharf on West Cliff Drive!

Big and beautiful house!!

This house is nice and big with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms! It’s beautiful, has an ocean view and is in the perfect location to the wharf, beach and boardwalk!! You can easily have two families staying here with all the bathrooms and there are two living rooms!! We will be back!!

Charlie T.

Stayed Aug 2023

Family Time

The villas were perfect for my family during our visit in SC. We enjoyed the closeness to the beach, the efficient kitchens and the gathering space for a BBQ

Donielle W.

Stayed Aug 2023

Terrific cottage

We had a great stay at the cottage! It was quiet and immaculately clean, and the hosts were friendly, welcoming, and had great recommendations. Great place to stay in Santa Cruz!

Matthew F.

Stayed Aug 2023

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Explore the beachside setting in Santa Cruz

Enjoy the entertainment and other features of Santa Cruz. This walkable city is known for its beaches, sporting events and seaside. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay are just a couple of the must-sees. Whether you're planning a family holiday, romantic stay or friends trip, vacation rentals offer features like full kitchens and laundry facilities for a more convenient stay.

Activities and attractions in Santa Cruz

Do you want to find attractions to visit in the area? Travelers enjoy fun activities like surfing, camping and biking. Venture out of your cozy vacation rental and check out everything that Santa Cruz has to offer. These are some of the major attractions to put on your list, all within 30 miles (48.2 km) of the city center:

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (1.1 mi / 1.7 km)
Pasatiempo Golf Course (1.8 mi / 2.9 km)
Roaring Camp Railroads (4.8 mi / 7.7 km)
Zip Line (6.3 mi / 10.1 km)
Seascape Golf Club (7.8 mi / 12.6 km)
Mount Madonna Center (15.9 mi / 25.5 km)

Exploring the beaches and other natural features in Santa Cruz

Whether you're an adventurous traveler or just want to appreciate the scenery, Santa Cruz is a great place to get out in nature. Here are a few of the area's most eye-catching features, all within 30 miles (48.2 km) of the city center:

Monterey Bay (13 mi / 20.9 km)
Main Beach (1.1 mi / 1.7 km)
Santa Cruz Main Beach (1.1 mi / 1.8 km)
University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum (1.5 mi / 2.5 km)
Seabright Beach (1.6 mi / 2.5 km)
Twin Lakes State Beach (1.8 mi / 2.9 km)

Seasonal weather in Santa Cruz

Travelers speak highly of Santa Cruz for its surfing. If you're hoping to enjoy some warm-weather activities on your vacation, September, August, July and June are the hottest months to visit, when temperatures average 67°F.

Transportation to and around Santa Cruz

The nearest airport is in Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal), located 13.4 mi (21.6 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that works for your travel itinerary, you might consider flying into Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC), which is 27.6 mi (44.3 km) away.