Find your personal paradise at West Beach Inn, located across the street from the Santa Barbara Harbor and just a few blocks away from Stearns Wharf and the Funk Zone. 

The quintessential California beach hotel has one guest room that’s been modified to accommodate visitors in wheelchairs and those with hearing and visual impairments. The beds are at a height of 24 inches and have around 32-inch clearance between the bed and the nearest wall. The room also has lower curtain pulls, mirrors and access to hearing controls as well as a fire alarm with audible signals, an ADA-compliant restroom with a roll-in shower and a work desk situated 34 inches above the floor. Guests will also find accessible parking near their room.

The AAA Four Diamond Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort is steps away from the palm fronds and golden sand of Each Beach, one of a few beaches in the area that offers beach wheelchair rentals, as well as the Funk Zone, the city’s most eclectic neighborhood. Along with unparalleled ocean views, the breathtaking resort is centered around a large pool and houses a spa, salon and several dining options.

The rooms at Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort are newly renovated and several have been equipped with amenities for visitors with physical and hearing disabilities. In the mobility accessible rooms, guests will have 32-inch entrances, roll-in showers and dual vanities in the bathroom and spacious patios. Hearing accessible rooms have visual alarms, notification devices and private balconies. The property includes a hoist for the pool, van parking, Braille signage and wheelchair-accessible routes from the public entrance to the spa, swimming pool and restaurants. Visitors can also arrange for hotel-provided transportation (with advanced notice) to more easily navigate the large 24-acre property.

A rooftop pool, on-site farm-to-fork dining, complimentary coffee and tea, and evening wine hour are just a few of the amenities guests can expect when staying at the Kimpton Canary Hotel. A crowned jewel of The American Riviera®, the Canary promises an elite experience for every guest. Some additional perks include the On-Demand Family Fridge Program for breastfeeding mothers and the Kimpton Plant Pals Programs where guests can request a plant be placed in their room to brighten their stay. 

The hotel is also able to accommodate visitors with disabilities. There are four ADA guest rooms available, each either has a roll-in shower or accessible tub, a bed shaker, visual alarm clock and TTY capabilities. The rooftop swimming pool, exercise facility, lobby and restaurant are all wheelchair accessible. Valet parking is also available for cars and vans equipped for people in wheelchairs. 

Just a few blocks north of the coastline, The Eagle Inn is one of the area’s most popular bed-and-breakfasts. Every morning, guests wake to the sensational smells of made-from-scratch breakfast and freshly brewed coffee. In the evening, most can be found sipping wine crafted in The American Riviera® on private balconies or in front of the in-room fireplaces. 

For travelers with disabilities, the inn has several lodging options available featuring grab bars around the commode and bathtub, audiovisual smoke detectors and door knockers, Braille signage throughout the property, designated wheelchair-friendly parking with appropriate van space and ramp entrances at most buildings.

With its Old Hollywood air, a stay at Montecito Inn is guaranteed to make every guest feel like a star. Have an unforgettable omakase dining experience at Sushi by Scratch Restaurants, honored in the Michelin Guide. Find ultimate relaxation with a private, in-room spa service, like a deep-tissue massage or facial. And take advantage of the inn’s proximity to downtown Santa Barbara.

Montecito Inn has one accessible Luxury King Suite Deluxe situated on the ground floor of the Luxury Wing. The room offers the same amenities as other deluxe suites, like its spacious living room. The room also has a roll-in shower and lowered peepholes on the door. Around the property, guests will find accessible restrooms in the lobby as well as wheelchair-friendly entrances to all main buildings and seating in the on-site restaurant.

Photo credit: Blake Bronstad

The sounds of swaying palm trees, waves lapping in the ocean and the buzz of nearby local businesses—a stay at the Harbor View Inn puts you in the center of Santa Barbara’s bustling waterfront. 

The inn’s five accessible rooms range from a two-bed suite to a city-view room with one king bed. Accessible arrangements vary by room and can include roll-in showers, tub/shower combinations with rails, door chimes and strobe lights, lowered peepholes, beds and curtain pull rods. Most walkways throughout the property offer plenty of space for people in wheelchairs. The on-site pool has a chair lift as well.

Inspired by the Lewis Carroll novel and the owner’s home in England, Cheshire Cat Inn & Cottages is a charming Victorian bed-and-breakfast just minutes from downtown and the waterfront. The property has three houses with up to six guest rooms and several small private cottages, all of which provide pristine views of the surrounding gardens and Santa Ynez Mountains. 

The inn has a ground-floor ADA-compliant room in the Main House with a roll-in shower, lower queen-size bed and smooth hardwood floors, allowing for smooth navigation for wheelchair users. Guests also have access to a designated accessible parking space during the entirety of their stay. To book this room, please contact the Cheshire Cat Inn & Cottages by phone at 805-569-1610.

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, is a luxury resort hotel imbued with the welcoming essence of coastal California. Here visitors can escape to two tranquil beaches, find rejuvenation with curated wellness activities, lounge on the rooftop terrace and dine at several on-site eateries, from Angel Oak steakhouse and the Latin American-inspired ‘O’ Bar & Kitchen to San Setto, known for delightful Japanese eats and The Bistro, a casual yet elegant Italian dining experience.

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara has several accessible accommodations available, including the Garden-Level Guest Room and Fireside King, both with large mobility-friendly balconies. Each room has wheelchair-accessible vanities, self-closing doors, hearing kits, lowered night guards and outlets, roll-in and transfer showers. Guests with disabilities can also utilize the resort’s jitney cart service to get around the property quickly and safely. Most of the wellness experiences are also accessible to visitors with disabilities and should be booked in advance.

Photo credit: Jim Bartsch

Terra cotta roofs, bright-white stucco, arched windows and handcrafted tile domes—Santa Barbara Inn was inspired by the Spanish-Mediterranean-style architecture that adorns the city’s most historic landmarks. While staying at the inn, lounge poolside during the day (yes, the pool is heated during cooler months), dine on Italian cuisine while overlooking the Pacific Ocean and take advantage of your proximity to East Beach, whose palm-lined walking paths and beach wheelchair rentals allow all visitors to revel in its beauty.

Santa Barbara Inn has a range of lodging options for guests with accessibility needs, including an ADA-compliant suite and several guest rooms on all three floors of the hotel, all of which either have ocean or mountain views. Each room has a low-profile bed with space for a portable hoist or hoyer lift, grab bars in the bathroom, roll-in showers and fold-down shower seats, visual doorbells and alarms, and Braille signage as well as 32-inch door widths and clearance throughout the room. Other amenities include ADA-compliant parking and valet parking, wheelchair lifts in the lobby, low-profile desks in the lobby and seating in the restaurant and bar, and chair lifts for the pool and Jacuzzi.

Once a retreat for artists in the 1920s, El Encanto’s radiant sunsets, premier ocean views and lush gardens continue to welcome visitors seeking a serene and luxurious getaway. Here, guests are invited to indulge in afternoon tea with botanical infusions, personalized fitness and yoga classes, gin and jazz on Thursday evenings and coastal-inspired dishes paired perfectly with Pacific vistas, to name a few.

These experiences aren’t limited to visitors with disabilities as El Encanto continues to improve and enhance its accessibility offerings. The property has ensured that the routes and entrances to all public facilities are ADA compliant and installed a self-operating pool lift to the outdoor pool. The accessible guest rooms have 32-inch doorways and come equipped with transfer benches, grab bars in the restrooms, roll-in showers and lowered door viewers for guests in wheelchairs. Visitors with sensory-related disabilities may also enjoy visiting the gardens surrounding the property, where they can decompress in a quiet atmosphere beneath cool shade trees. Wellness enthusiasts can book private fitness classes and other services to accommodate their specific needs. 

Prepare to be dazzled at this iconoclastic enclave in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone. The Spanish Colonial-style rooms at Hotel Californian offer panoramic views of the surrounding Santa Ynez Mountains while the on-site spa awaits with highly personalized treatments. Visitors can also enjoy wine tastings, award-winning eats and craft cocktails at five restaurants and bars. 

The entire Hotel Californian property is wheelchair accessible, including the spa, restaurants and bars. The hotel has nine accessible rooms, all of which feature roll-in showers or ADA bath and shower combinations, roll-under sinks, Braille room numbers, visible strobe alarms and door-knock notifications as well as lowered beds, light switches, door peepholes and shelf storage. Visitors in wheelchairs navigate the property easily with ramps and elevators in most buildings as well as smooth tiled floors for exceptional maneuverability. View the hotel’s accessibility packet for more information.

In nearby Goleta, just north of Santa Barbara, sits the The Leta Hotel. The under-the-radar boutique hotel features an on-site eatery, Caya Restaurant & Bar, known for its California-inspired cuisine, and a heated pool with food and beverage service June through September.

As noted on its website, The Leta strives to provide a comfortable stay for every guest which is why you’ll find accessible routes to and from all public facilities, including the fitness center and pool area, Braille room numbers, large print menus, lowered emergency evacuation instructions, a swimming pool hoist, and visual and vibrating alarms around the property. Each room includes grab bars, 32-inch-wide doorways and lowered shelving, peepholes, sinks and thermostat controls. And, while valet parking is not compatible for vans, there are van-accessible spots available in the self-parking facility. Explore all accessible features at The Leta.

A Triple Forbes Five-Star Property, Rosewood Miramar Beach is known for offering the best of the best to every visitor, from its two relaxing pools and Michelin recommended epicurean adventures, like Caruso’s and Ama Sushi, to the tranquil Sense® Spa, an onsite oasis with treatments inspired by ancient rituals. 

Rosewood Miramar Beach has several mobile- and hearing-accessible rooms available, like the Beach House Terrace King Suite that comes complete with an expansive patio and roll-in shower and the single-story Garden Bungalow with ample room for wheelchair navigation. Each room also has 32-inch entranceways and includes vibrating devices for the beds and pillows, visual and audible alarms and Braille signage. Outside the room, visitors will find a chair lift at each of the resort pools, Braille signage throughout the property, valet parking for wheelchair-accessible vehicles, as well as wheelchair access to all restaurants, the fitness center and the spa. Learn more about Rosewood’s accessibility offerings.

Photo credit: Cecilia Rosell

Family owned-and-operated since 1976, Marina Beach Motel is a beloved Santa Barbara establishment. The motel is a short driving distance from some of the destination’s top accessible attractions, like Stearns Wharf and Old Mission Santa Barbara, as well as the many galleries, shops and restaurants downtown. 

The small but mighty property has one accessible room that can sleep up to six people. It comes with a kitchen and private patio as well as a variety of accessible additions, including roll-in access, grab bars and a transfer chair for the tub/shower combo, and visual alarms. Visitors with disabilities can view photos of this room on its website for more detailed information.