Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · United States

Scotts Valley

Stay 1 night as a redwood-and-coast base, or skip it: Santa Cruz is 15 min south and has the boardwalk, beach and most beds.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug weekend traffic on Highway 17; winter storm closures
Airports
SJC · MRY · SFO
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Scotts Valley is a small city in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Highway 17, halfway between San Jose and Santa Cruz. It has motels, a few wineries and a skate park, but almost everyone uses it as a cheaper, quieter base for the boardwalk, Felton's redwoods and the coast. Without a car, the Highway 17 Express bus is the practical link.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Scotts Valley, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–6
  • BeerDraught beer$7–10
  • Budget bedMotel or budget chain room, a night, per roomUS$110
  • Mid-range bedMotel or budget chain room, a night, per roomUS$160
  • High-end bedMotel or budget chain room, a night, per roomUS$240

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$280

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Highway 17 mountain pass between San Jose and Santa CruzRedwood and coast baseSkypark and Tim Brauch skate parksSanta Cruz Mountains wineries
Airports
SJC San Jose Mineta International (About 30–45 min north via Highway 17; the closest airport with full service.) · MRY Monterey Regional (About 1 h south; smaller, fewer routes.) · SFO San Francisco International (About 1 h 15 min–1 h 45 min north; use for long-haul flights.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Scotts Valley: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

15°C

5°C

10 rd

Feb

16°C

6°C

10 rd

Mar

17°C

6°C

9 rd

Apr

19°C

7°C

6 rd

May

21°C

9°C

4 rd

Jun

23°C

10°C

2 rd

Jul

24°C

11°C

1 rd

Aug

24°C

12°C

1 rd

Sep

24°C

11°C

2 rd

Oct

22°C

9°C

4 rd

Nov

18°C

6°C

8 rd

Dec

15°C

5°C

10 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the default: Highway 17 has two exits into town (Scotts Valley Drive, Mount Hermon Road). Local buses run about every 30 min to Santa Cruz and up Mount Hermon Road to the San Lorenzo Valley; fares are low and there are no transfers. The Highway 17 Express links San Jose (Diridon, downtown, SJSU) with the Cavallero Transit Center in about an hour. Bicycling is fine on the main roads; Bean Creek Road is steep and for experienced riders.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Santa Cruzgo

Door to door: About 20–30 min by car

Drive Highway 17 south, or Metro bus from the Cavallero Transit Center

Boardwalk, Main Beach and the wharf; go early on summer weekends for parking.

Felton

go

Door to door: About 15 min

Drive Mount Hermon Road northwest, or the San Lorenzo Valley bus

Redwood forest and the steam train at Roaring Camp; timed tickets in summer.

Capitola

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive Highway 1 south from Santa Cruz

Small beach and colourful village; pairs well with a Santa Cruz morning.

Watsonvillecaution

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive Highway 1 south, about 25 min past Santa Cruz

Slough kayaking and farm stands; little else for a short trip.

Aptos

go

Door to door: About 35 min

Drive Highway 1 south

Quiet beaches and forest walks; good half-day.

Boulder Creek

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive Highway 9 northwest through Felton

Mountain town with redwood trails; winding road, slow going.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Scotts Valley Drive strip

Motels and the Best Western along Highway 17; easiest with a car, walkable to a few restaurants.

Mount Hermon Road / Kings Village

Closer to the transit centre, shops and Skypark; the better choice if you arrive by bus.

La Madrona Drive

Hilton and quiet residential edge; needs a car for everything.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$120–200 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or budget chain room1 × 1 night × US$160US$160
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$160US$320
Highway 17 Express, San Jose to Scotts Valley, one way2 × US$7 · checkUS$14
Rental car, one day, compact1 × US$60 · checkUS$60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$59
Trip total≈ US$327 per person per day, bed includedUS$653

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–6
Burrito at a taqueria$10–15
Diner burger with a side$15–22
Draught beer$7–10
Wine tasting, Santa Cruz Mountainscheck$20–35
Rental car, one daycheck$50–90

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for a US small city; the real risks are Highway 17 driving, summer heat on exposed trails and cold ocean water at the coast.
  • Highway 17 is a winding two-lane mountain road: expect slow weekend traffic and winter rockfall or closure after storms.
  • There is no train service; the nearest rail is in San Jose.
  • Cell signal drops in the redwood canyons around Felton and Boulder Creek.
  • Motel rates spike for Santa Cruz boardwalk weekends and university events: book ahead.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Scotts Valley Police (non-emergency)
831-440-5670
Poison Control
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Scotts ValleyScotts Valley

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Scotts Valley Police (non-emergency)831-440-5670

Embassy

No embassies here; consulates-general are in San Francisco, and embassies in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Highway 17 Express, San Jose → Scotts Valley: about $7 one way, about 1 h (check)
  • Local bus, one ride: about $1.50, no transfers (check)
  • Drive Scotts Valley → Santa Cruz: about 15 min, 11 km via Highway 17

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Scotts Valley. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug weekend traffic on Highway 17; winter storm closures · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources