Get away to California’s Central Coast for $500 or less (yes, really)
With just a three or four-hour drive, you can escape the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles or San Francisco and head to Santa Maria Valley—a destination that Sunset Magazine describes as one of the “best cities and regions to visit in wine country.”
We’ve rounded up a sample itinerary and other ideas for an overnight trip to Santa Maria Valley for $500 or less. We calculated the following based on prices listed online as of Oct. 2025, so we know it’s possible!
Your Itinerary
Day 1
- Check in for your two-night stay at the Days Inn
- Stroll around Old Town Orcutt before dinner at Far Western Tavern
- Enjoy a nightcap at Naughty Oak Brewing Co.
Day 2
- Have a complimentary breakfast at the hotel
- Sip on wine at Riverbench
- Grab lunch at the spot of your choice on the Santa Maria Valley taco trail
- Stop by The Luffa Farm
- Take in the sunset at Oso Flaco Lake
- Enjoy dinner at Maya Mexican Restaurant (or, if you’re craving more Santa Maria Style barbecue, visit Shaw’s Famous Steakhouse!)
Where to Stay
Start by booking your hotel at one of the many lodging properties in Santa Maria Valley. On average, hotel rooms run approximately $100 per night, with some properties like Days Inn and the Hampton Inn & Suites offering free breakfast. You can browse the full list of hotels and motels in the region, along with applicable deals like AAA and AARP discounts here.
The best part about staying in Santa Maria Valley? Your key card unlocks exclusive deals at participating local businesses, including discounts on wine tasting flights and meals.
What to Explore
Forget everything you think you know about crowded California beaches and pricey, FOMO-creating attractions. Santa Maria Valley offers clear trails, serene landscapes, and hidden history.
Get outdoors
Explore the California Central Coast like you’ve never seen it before, with uncrowded coastlines, rolling hills and trails that offer everything from a rigorous hike to a leisurely stroll. Santa Maria Valley has 24 hiking trails within a 30-minute drive and temperate weather all year round, leaving nearly endless opportunities to get outdoors.
One of the most famous trails in Santa Maria Valley is at Oso Flaco Lake. With tall, marshy grasses, striking blue waters and the nearby ocean, this serene and undeveloped habitat is home to songbirds, lizards and other wildlife. The out-and-back trail is wheelchair-accessible and culminates in a boardwalk that offers uninterrupted views of the San Luis Bay and Pacific Ocean. If you’re visiting March through September, you may even spot a Western Snowy Plover—and, on a clear day, you could see whales or dolphins!
Take a step back in time
From natural and local history to interactive museums and family-friendly exhibits, learning more about the California Central Coast feels like its own adventure.
Your keycard gets you free admission to the Dunes Center, a local museum and non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the conservation and restoration of the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes ecosystem. The Dunes span 18 miles of coastline and 22,000 acres, and at the Dunes Center, you can immerse yourself in the fascinating ecological and local significance of this natural marvel. Cinephiles will enjoy seeing authentic artifacts from Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments, filmed at the Dunes more than 100 years ago.
If you’re craving a more agricultural experience, check out The Luffa Farm. This farm grows luffa bath sponges from heirloom seeds year-round, and is one of the few farms to do so in the United States. Most people are surprised to discover that luffas are actually gourds, and don’t come from the ocean like sea sponges. This unique farm offers tours for free, so you can come back from your trip with trivia-level knowledge and awesome souvenirs.
Where to Wine & Dine
“Affordable” and “exceptional food and wine” don’t always go together, but in Santa Maria Valley, they’re a given. Here, people sip wine in their jeans and treat visitors like family, meaning you get a laid-back, authentic wine country getaway without the Napa-style markups.
Wine tastes better with a discount
Remember that handy keycard promo? Well, it comes in clutch once again—show your card to get a free wine tasting at some of the area’s best wineries, including Cambria, Cottonwood Canyon, Foxen and Riverbench. And, if beer is more your speed, local husband-and-wife-owned brewery, Naughty Oak Brewing Co., offers a $6 flight.
Authentic Santa Maria Style barbecue for a family-style price
There’s plenty of good food in Santa Maria Valley, including some of the Central Coast’s best tacos. For dinner, look no further than Santa Maria Style barbecue. This is a culinary tradition going back 150 years to America’s first cowboys, and you can enjoy this flavorful tradition in the place it was born.
Santa Maria Style barbecue is simply seasoned and cooked to perfection over red-oak-fired coals, made complete with a side of pinquito beans, fresh salsa, a simple green salad and, perhaps, a glass of award-winning Santa Maria Valley wine. This delicacy can be found in many local restaurants, including Far Western Tavern, The Swiss, the Hitching Post and Shaw’s Famous Steakhouse, and you can get a full feast with all the fixings at most establishments for under $40.
A weekend getaway doesn’t have to drain your bank account. In Santa Maria Valley, you can visit tasting rooms located right in the heart of sprawling vineyards, eat to your heart’s content, and stretch your legs on uncrowded beaches. Santa Maria Valley is home to dozens of hotel and motel options all within an affordable price range, including family-owned, brands you know, and boutique.
Start planning your trip by booking your stay today.
