Santa Maria is home to Buckboard Motel. Santa Maria Valley Historical Society and Natural History Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Children's Resource & Referral (CRR) Discovery Museum and Regal Edwards Santa Maria & RPX. Santa Maria Fairpark and Rancho Bowl are also worth visiting. Visit our Santa Maria travel guide
Situated in Santa Maria, this motel is within 1 mi (2 km) of Santa Maria Fairpark, Children's Resource & Referral (CRR) Discovery Museum, and Santa Maria Valley Historical Society. Simas Park and Natural History Museum are also within 2 mi (3 km).
Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?
Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.
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Reviews
Buckboard Motel Reviews
7.0
Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
I stayed at the Buckboard Motel in Santa Maria from February 13–14 and had a pleasant experience overall. The room was pretty clean and well-kept, though the property could definitely benefit from some updating. The bed was firm but still comfortable, and I slept well during my stay.
What stood out most was the staff. They were extremely kind and welcoming. One staff member even offered to carry my luggage upstairs if my room had been on the second floor, which I truly appreciated. That level of courtesy made a positive impression.
Overall, a comfortable stay with very friendly service.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified review
2/10 Terrible
Kara
Nov 24, 2023
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
This place is rough and dirty. Stay somewhere else if you can.
Took a while to get checked in due to the person not being in the office when we got there, they had to be found by another employee. Bed was rather hard but better than sleeping in the truck. Otherwise was a nice place to stay.
Bedding was filthy. Staff was great about changing sheets but not the dirt of thing you should have to ask for. Walls, furniture and bathroom were all run down and disgusting. Please avoid
Just a room two chairs, an extra head board left attached to wall next to the poor bed amateurish paintings on tbe dirty walls . No extra lock on door . Basically you get what you pay for.
Super nice host but… room was a bit well - let’s just say floor was filthy.
Grounds run down.
Safe enough, secure enough but wish I had spent alittle more to feel less grungy. Tried to save money. Next time probably won’t.
This motel was a second option because there was an error in my previous motel. I checked in, walked into the room and saw around 3-4 cockroaches scurry across the floor. I promptly killed them, and didn’t walk around without shoes on again. No bedbugs which was good, but there was wadded up toilet paper and a pair of womens panties stuffed under the bed. As well as a used bar of soap in the shower. The bed was comfortable enough for one night. But the cleanliness was really a problem.
The property was okay. Nothing particularly great about the property, but also not the worst hotel we have stayed at. The walls were extremely thin and we could actually hear the people on the other end of the phone that our neighbor was talking to. Bathroom was a little dingy and the lighting was harsh.
We stopped here because most other hotels/motels were sold out. I would probably try another place and see if we had better luck next time.
But while we wouldn't recommend this property, I wouldn't begrudge anyone who decided to stay here.
I love staying here when I'm in Santa Maria. They are always so friendly and courteous, even on short notice. The rooms are nice and big and very clean. You don't have to worry about paying extra for a microwave or refrigerator they are automatically included. The management makes sure all your needs are met.
When I entered the room I felt gravelly sand/dirt under my feet/shoes. I realized there was a layer of dirt on hard floor, bathroom area had footprint stains and furniture/lamps had thick layer of dust. I immediately requested front desk to sweep out the room. She spent 5-10 min barely sweeping/mopping. It would’ve taken 1/2 hr to an hr to clean that room. Ugh! Needless to say I didn’t sleep and woke early and left. Would’ve felt better sleeping in my car.😠