The Best Hotels Closest to California State University San Marcos in San Marcos for 2026

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Our top choices for California State University San Marcos hotels

An outdoor patio with a grill, dining area, and seating.

A modern hotel lobby with a stone fireplace, a reception desk, and a blue seating area.

A gym with treadmills and elliptical machines, large windows, and outdoor seating with umbrellas.

A pool area with lounge chairs, a pool, and a covered seating area.

1. Fairfield Inn & Suites San Diego North/San Marcos

1.3 km from California State University San Marcos

Paula

￥22,588

￥24,891 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 11 - Oct 12

A dining area with wooden tables and chairs, a flat-screen TV mounted on a brick wall, and framed pictures.

A hotel entrance with a glass door, potted plants, and a red carpet leading inside.

A stone-built outdoor seating area with a fire feature, surrounded by lush greenery and a clear sky.

A lobby with a green sofa, two round tables, and striped chairs.

2. Hampton Inn San Marcos, CA

0.7 km from California State University San Marcos

Pedro

￥18,680

￥20,548 total

includes taxes & fees

Nov 1 - Nov 2

A hotel room with two beds, a large window with a sunset view, and a wooden floor.

A living room with a dark grey sofa, a patterned armchair, and a wooden coffee table. A framed picture hangs on the wall.

A dining area with round tables and chairs, a kitchen area with cabinets, and a window with curtains.

A swimming pool with lounge chairs and a sign for Ramada.

3. Days Inn by Wyndham San Marcos

1.6 km from California State University San Marcos

Malak

￥11,744

￥12,918 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 26 - Oct 27

An outdoor seating area with sofas, chairs, and tables, surrounded by a stone wall and string lights.

A spacious lobby with a central seating area, a reception desk, and a large window providing natural light.

A modern hotel lobby with a reception desk, seating area, and a fireplace.

A hotel room with two beds, a desk with a computer, a chair, and a large window with a view of a landscape.

4. Ayres Hotel Vista Carlsbad

5.9 km from California State University San Marcos

Shannon J

￥22,730

￥25,047 total

includes taxes & fees

Nov 1 - Nov 2

A buffet setup with coffee dispensers, coffee mugs, and food containers.

A hotel room with a bed, a desk, a television, a bathroom with a large mirror and red-tiled sink.

A reception area with a counter, blue sofas, a round table, and a wall-mounted mirror.

A hotel with a sign reading 'Continental Inn,' a parking lot, a swimming pool, and a mountain in the background.

5. Continental Inn San Diego Hotel Escondido

5.6 km from California State University San Marcos

Warren

￥22,658

￥24,924 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 4 - Oct 5

A swimming pool with lounge chairs and a building with multiple windows and balconies.

A hotel with a large entrance, a covered patio area, and a tower-like structure.

A spacious lobby with a wooden staircase, a reception desk, and a large rug.

A hotel room with a sofa, a small table, a desk, a chair, a TV, a mirror, and a wardrobe.

6. West Inn & Suites

16 km from California State University San Marcos

Juan

￥16,812

￥22,404 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 4 - Oct 5

An outdoor patio with a table and chairs, a fire feature, and a view of parked cars and palm trees.

A hotel entrance with a sign reading "Springhill Suites by Marriott" and a parking area with cars.

A modern bar area with a long counter, multiple seating options, and a large window providing a view.

A modern bar area with a long counter, multiple bar stools, and a television mounted on the wall.

7. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Escondido Downtown

6.1 km from California State University San Marcos

Lynn

￥21,878

￥24,109 total

includes taxes & fees

Nov 1 - Nov 2

A modern bedroom with a large bed, a nightstand, a painting of a coastal scene, and a bathroom visible through an open door.

A swimming pool with lounge chairs and umbrellas, surrounded by a building with balconies and a fence.

A spacious kitchen with wooden cabinets, a built-in TV, and a large window offering a view of the outside.

A motel with a swimming pool, multiple parking spaces, and a fenced construction area.

8. Motel Mediteran Escondido

9.2 km from California State University San Marcos

Bob

￥11,491

￥12,640 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 7 - Oct 8

An outdoor seating area with chairs and a fire feature, overlooking a body of water and a distant mountain range.

A spacious living area with a wooden table, a sofa, and a chair, overlooking a scenic view of a body of water and hills.

A pool area with a view of a mountain and a town in the background.

A wedding aisle with white chairs and floral decorations leading to a decorated arch.

9. Lakehouse Resort

Lake San Marcos, 4.6 km from California State University San Marcos

Nicole

￥17,044

￥23,564 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 6 - Oct 7

A beach with palm trees, a lifeguard tower, and a sandy walkway.

A hotel room with a bed, a chair, a table, and a view of the beach and ocean through a large window.

A kitchen with a door leading outside, a clock on the wall, and a framed picture of a delivery truck.

10. Moonlight Beach Motel

15.6 km from California State University San Marcos

Scott

￥24,400

￥26,840 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 14 - Oct 15

A Courtyard by Marriott hotel with a modern facade, large windows, and a covered entrance area.

A modern living room with a flat-screen TV, grey upholstered chairs, wooden side tables, and a patterned carpet.

A modern living room with a flat-screen TV, comfortable seating, and a decorative shelf.

11. Courtyard San Diego Oceanside

16.2 km from California State University San Marcos

Mauricio

￥23,678

￥26,741 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 12 - Oct 13

An outdoor patio with seating, umbrellas, and palm trees.

A bar area with a long counter, multiple stools, and a television screen.

A spacious lobby with high ceilings, modern lighting fixtures, and comfortable seating areas.

A spacious lobby with a large sofa, multiple chairs, and a coffee table.

12. Hilton Garden Inn San Diego - Rancho Bernardo

13.9 km from California State University San Marcos

Miguel

￥24,865

￥28,332 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 11 - Oct 12

A rooftop pool area with lounge chairs and tables, surrounded by palm trees and modern buildings.

A modern hotel lobby with a central bar area, seating arrangements, and large windows providing natural light.

A spacious lobby with a dining area, seating arrangements, and a large window providing natural light.

A poolside area with stone fire pit seating and lounge chairs.

13. Residence Inn by Marriott Carlsbad

11.7 km from California State University San Marcos

Priyesh

￥29,362

￥32,943 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 30 - Oct 31

A Courtyard Marriott outdoor seating area with wicker furniture, a fire feature, and stone accents.

A landscaped garden with a pond, walking paths, and a building in the background.

A modern hotel lobby with a mix of seating options, including sofas and tables, and a Starbucks coffee station.

A modern hotel with a stone facade, multiple windows, and a covered entrance.

14. Courtyard by Marriott San Diego - Rancho Bernardo

14.6 km from California State University San Marcos

Isabel

￥22,588

￥25,739 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 11 - Oct 12

An outdoor seating area with modern furniture, a fire feature, and a building with large windows in the background.

A modern hotel lobby with a bar area, seating arrangements, and a large potted plant.

A sandy beach with footprints and seagulls.

A Holiday Inn hotel with a modern design, featuring a covered entrance and a flagpole.

15. Holiday Inn Carlsbad by IHG

9.3 km from California State University San Marcos

Lizette

￥20,047

￥22,492 total

includes taxes & fees

Nov 1 - Nov 2

A hammock in a room with wooden flooring and a dark wall.

A modern living room with a fireplace, wooden ceiling beams, a sofa, and a dining area with checkered chairs.

A modern two-story building with a wooden facade, a garage, and a well-maintained garden with various plants and flowers.

A woman sitting in a teal hanging chair on a wooden deck with a view of trees and a building in the background.

16. Twelve Senses Retreat

15 km from California State University San Marcos

Jacklyn

￥56,328

￥62,277 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 22 - Oct 23

A modern living room with a sofa, chairs, a coffee table, and a hanging light fixture.

An outdoor kitchen area with a grill, dining table, chairs, and an umbrella.

A hotel with a pool, outdoor seating, and a covered patio area.

A poolside area with a fire pit, outdoor seating, and a view of a swimming pool.

17. Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego Oceanside

16.7 km from California State University San Marcos

KARINA

￥27,308

￥30,793 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 11 - Oct 12

A bedroom with a bed, nightstand, chair, and a kitchenette area with a microwave and sink.

A hotel with a red facade, multiple balconies, and a parking lot with palm trees.

A reception desk with a dark wood finish, a potted plant to the right, and a framed picture above the door.

A covered corridor with a beige door, windows, and a tiled floor.

18. Motel 6 Carlsbad, CA - North Near Legoland

16.9 km from California State University San Marcos

Amber Joy

￥13,416

￥15,026 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 4 - Oct 5

A swimming pool with a clear blue edge, a metal ladder, and a stone wall in the background.

A reception desk with a wooden panel design and a digital kiosk, located in a modern hotel lobby with a large window and a welcome sign.

A modern lounge area with patterned sofas, round tables, and a large window offering a view of the outdoors.

A spacious kitchen with wooden cabinets, a marble countertop, and a breakfast bar.

19. Hampton Inn Cardiff Beach Encinitas, CA Near Del Mar

15.7 km from California State University San Marcos

Sylwia A

￥23,040

￥25,344 total

includes taxes & fees

Nov 1 - Nov 2

A brick pathway leading to a building with a covered entrance, surrounded by well-maintained gardens and trees.

A restaurant with a long wooden table, green upholstered seating, and a patterned ceiling.

A spacious living room with a herringbone wood floor, wooden ceiling beams, and a large painting on the wall.

A poolside area with lounge chairs and palm trees.

20. Inn At Rancho Santa Fe

13.1 km from California State University San Marcos

William

￥53,842

￥66,794 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 18 - Oct 19

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Compare popular hotels close to California State University San Marcos

Property	Star rating	Guest rating
Fairfield Inn & Suites San Diego North/San Marcos	9.4 Exceptional 1,000 reviews	View
Hampton Inn San Marcos, CA	8.6 Excellent 1,000 reviews	View
Days Inn by Wyndham San Marcos	7.6 Good 1,004 reviews	View
Ayres Hotel Vista Carlsbad	9.6 Exceptional 2,172 reviews	View
Continental Inn San Diego Hotel Escondido	9.0 Wonderful 998 reviews	View

Top California State University San Marcos Hotel Reviews

Extended Stay America Premier Suites - San Diego - San Marcos

10/10 Excellent

"Great hotel very calm place nice and quiet"

Best Western Escondido Hotel

8/10 Good

"The hotel is outdated. The rooms were very clean. The staff were friendly and helpful. It’s very good situated for the i15 freeway. The reason I gave it that star rating was because there is bad odour in the hotel. Other than the smell i was reasonably happy with my one night stay."

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites San Diego-Escondido by IHG

10/10 Excellent

"Perfect for our weekend trip. Loved how there was food places within walking distance. The pool was small but perfect for us since noone else was using it. Thank you. Breakfast was really good as well."

Hampton Inn San Marcos, CA

8/10 Good

"All the chairs in the lobby and the room are not clean and stained"

Two Estates w/ Pools, Hot Tub, Game Rooms, Views & Tennis Court Near Wineries

8/10 Good

"Overall it was a great stay and a very nice property. The rooms are big, the views spectacular, the kitchen(s) fully stocked with dishes, flatware and cookware for 40. Lots of spaces for people to hang out and easy walk from one property to the other (we rented both). The feeling is grand but a little worn, making it elegant but very comfortable. The one hiccup was with pool heating - be sure you know what the ambient temperature of the pool is before requesting (and paying for ) heating. Communication is also a bit of an issue - there's Bob, the owner (very responsive and helpful, but not really "on call"), the AvantStay representative (very responsive but limited in what she can do decision wise), the AvantStay 800 number (also easy to access, polite and courteous and eager to help, but don't make decisions - they pass it up "the chain" and get back to you) and the final level behind the curtain where the decisions are made and passed down but with whom the renter cannot communicate directly. We had several situations where this was not a problem - for example, the AC didn't work upstairs in one of the houses when we arrived and it was replaced the next morning. But when it came to heating the pool it led to miscommunication and a lot of frustration. Fortunately, they eventually understood and resolved the issue fully. with that one caveat, I would recommend the place totally."

Luxury Estate - Sleep 24 - Infinity Pool & Hot Tub

10/10 Excellent

"Amazing property for a get together of families with children (reunions), etc. It has everything to keep kids/teens entertained - from billiards, foosball, corn hole, a putting green, a pool with a water slide, a trampoline, a swing set and a Pac Man video game console. It’s also close to conveniences like Walmart, target, etc if you need last minute food items or necessities. Owner was easy to communicate with. Loved the space for multiple families to spread out.. We even did a Family Olympics and game nights.. so perfect for our gathering! Many fun memories made here!"

Garden vibe stationary RV in No. San Diego County with WiFi, AC. TV. Views.

10/10 Excellent

"It was a very nice vibe and plenty of things to make a stay comfortable."

Charming Villa House 3-bedroom with pool & jacuzzi, AC in beautiful San Marcos

10/10 Excellent

"This home is underated! Ray was a lovely host and offered to help us with checking in, sent a message halfway through our trip to check on us, and the pool and amenities were stellar. My kids were thoroughly entertained with so many things and the “party pool”. There’s also a community/private park that’s accessible behind the house that the kids and dog loved!!!"

Private Pool, Hot Tub & Valley Views Near Wineries | The Ranch by AvantStay

10/10 Excellent

"Great property for our party of 18. Kid friendly and the pool was exceptional."

Other attractions near California State University San Marcos

Double Peak Park

8.4/10 (48 reviews)

After visiting Double Peak Park, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in San Marcos. Stroll along the beautiful beaches in this family-friendly area, or check out its lively breweries.

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Regal Edwards San Marcos

You can take time to visit Regal Edwards San Marcos during your travels to San Marcos. Stroll along the lakeside or visit the shops in this relaxing area.

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Stone Brewing

8.8/10 (127 reviews)

You can take time to visit Stone Brewing during your travels to Escondido. Check out the shops and top-notch restaurants in this family-friendly area.

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Twin Oaks Golf Club

8.4/10 (60 reviews)

Play a round of golf in San Marcos at Twin Oaks Golf Club, and enjoy other activities such as surfing. Discover the top-notch restaurants and great live music in this family-friendly area.

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The Links at Lakehouse

8.6/10 (78 reviews)

Play a round of golf in Lake San Marcos at The Links at Lakehouse, and enjoy other activities such as surfing. Amble around this family-friendly area's beautiful beaches and enjoy its lively breweries.

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The Executive Course at Lakehouse

8.4/10 (43 reviews)

Play a round of golf at The Executive Course at Lakehouse and enjoy other activities in San Marcos such as surfing. Wander the beautiful beaches or discover the beautiful sunsets in this family-friendly area.

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Play by Play Sports Facility

After visiting Play by Play Sports Facility, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Escondido. Check out the shops and top-notch restaurants in this family-friendly area.

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Play by Play

After visiting Play by Play, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Escondido. Check out the shops and top-notch restaurants in this family-friendly area.

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Frequently asked questions

What's the area like around California State University San Marcos?

California State University San Marcos is located in a family-friendly area of San Marcos known for its lively breweries and array of dining options. You'll find 204 hotels and other accommodations within a few miles for a convenient home base.

What's the best place to stay near California State University San Marcos?

Hampton Inn San Marcos, CA is one of the top choices for your stay based on our traveler data, and this hotel offers free breakfast and free parking. It's located just a short 0.4 mi (0.7 km) from California State University San Marcos. Another good choice is Fairfield Inn & Suites San Diego North/San Marcos, located just 0.8 mi (1.3 km) away.

How many hotels should I expect to find close to California State University San Marcos?

Expedia has 204 hotels and other accommodations a few miles from California State University San Marcos.

If I need to cancel the hotel reservation for my stay near California State University San Marcos, will I receive a refund?

Yes! You'll find that most hotel room reservations are refundable if you cancel prior to the hotel's cancellation deadline, which often is within 24-48 hours of your arrival date. If you have a non-refundable reservation, you might still have the option to cancel and receive a refund within 24 hours of your booking. Enter your dates, click on "Search", then use the "fully refundable" filter to view the top deals on offer near California State University San Marcos.

Where can I learn more about changing or cancelling my trip in the area near California State University San Marcos?

For additional details about rescheduling or cancelling your stay near California State University San Marcos, click here.

What can I see and do near California State University San Marcos?

You can check out the local talent at California Center For The Arts, Patio Playhouse, and Ritz Theater. Spend some time wandering around Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, Montiel Dog Park, and San Elijo Hills Dog Park. Create some family memories at Center for the Performing Arts Escondido and California Fruit Wine.

Find hotels near California State University San Marcos, San Marcos from ￥12,640

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Our top choices for California State University San Marcos hotels

1. Fairfield Inn & Suites San Diego North/San Marcos

2. Hampton Inn San Marcos, CA

3. Days Inn by Wyndham San Marcos

4. Ayres Hotel Vista Carlsbad

5. Continental Inn San Diego Hotel Escondido

6. West Inn & Suites

7. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Escondido Downtown

8. Motel Mediteran Escondido

9. Lakehouse Resort

10. Moonlight Beach Motel

11. Courtyard San Diego Oceanside

12. Hilton Garden Inn San Diego - Rancho Bernardo

13. Residence Inn by Marriott Carlsbad

14. Courtyard by Marriott San Diego - Rancho Bernardo

15. Holiday Inn Carlsbad by IHG

16. Twelve Senses Retreat

17. Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego Oceanside

18. Motel 6 Carlsbad, CA - North Near Legoland

19. Hampton Inn Cardiff Beach Encinitas, CA Near Del Mar

20. Inn At Rancho Santa Fe

Compare popular hotels close to California State University San Marcos

Top California State University San Marcos Hotel Reviews

Extended Stay America Premier Suites - San Diego - San Marcos

Best Western Escondido Hotel

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites San Diego-Escondido by IHG

Hampton Inn San Marcos, CA

Two Estates w/ Pools, Hot Tub, Game Rooms, Views & Tennis Court Near Wineries

Luxury Estate - Sleep 24 - Infinity Pool & Hot Tub

Garden vibe stationary RV in No. San Diego County with WiFi, AC. TV. Views.

Charming Villa House 3-bedroom with pool & jacuzzi, AC in beautiful San Marcos

Private Pool, Hot Tub & Valley Views Near Wineries | The Ranch by AvantStay

Other attractions near California State University San Marcos

Double Peak Park

Regal Edwards San Marcos

Stone Brewing

Twin Oaks Golf Club

The Links at Lakehouse

The Executive Course at Lakehouse

Play by Play Sports Facility

Play by Play

Frequently asked questions