Exploring Redwood City: 6 Hotels with Car-lite Options for Travel

As I wrote in a previous post, Redwood City is located in Santa Clara Valley 27 miles south of Downtown San Francisco on the newly upgraded Cal Train commuter rail service.

This article covers a list of six hotels that are in walking distance of the station platform. I have only stayed at one of them. My impressions are based on website, knowledge of the chain, and area walkability, based on my trip and Google maps. I have organized the list from closest to furthest

The Redwood Creek Inn wins the prize for closest location. It is the closest to the train station a short 7 minute, 3 block walk to the train platform. In fact, it is directly across the street from the shopping center that is in front of the train platform. Coffee options abound places, ranging from Noah's Bagels, to Starbucks, to the previously reviewed Franklin Street Cafe, in the shopping center adjacent to the station platform.

Redwood Creek Inn is located at 1090 El Camino Real. Google maps gives the hotel a 2-star rating. From the photos it looks like a gentrified motor court hotel from a bygone era, complete with an upgraded inner courtyard. Rates start $160 or so per night. Expedia gives the hotel a score of 8.2 out of 10, and rates it a ' very good' accommodation.

The next closest hotel is Kasa Niche, which based on website looks like a budget hotel boutique hotel fusion. Located at 868 Main Street, the hotel web site photos give off high tech vibes, with a virtual front desk check-in. Casa Niche received very high reviews on various booking sites, with only negative being no onsite parking, free or otherwise, with patrons encouraged to park at nearby public parking lot. The station is a 4-minute .6 mile walk from the Caltrain Redwood City platform.

There are many coffee shops around, with the nearest one being Coffee bar just 0.2 miles away. Coffee bar offers a breakfast and lunch menu, along with a wide variety of tea and coffee options. During my visit, I noticed the unique art pieces that helped distinguish it from the typical chain stores.

The next two hostelries are both on El Camino Real, a major arterial that traverses the spine of the peninsula. The first one is the Best Western Inn, at 316 El Camino Real, which is an .8 mile walk to the station. The hotel is 1 block from a Starbucks. According to Google, the hotel received an average review of 4.1 stars out of 5. Room rates around $190 per night average for a midweek stay.

Holiday Inn Express is located .7 mile south of the station, also along El Camino Real, to the north of, the above mentioned Best Western. It also is a very close to a different Starbucks. Along the walk, you will find a Whole Foods Market Cafe, for those who like to sip their coffee among the groceries! The store does have an indoor sitting are where you can drink and eat from their wide selection of to-go items. According to trip advisor, the hotel received 4 out of 5 green circles, and rates range from $110-$160 on fall weekends.

Sequoia Inn, located at 526 El Camino, is a 2-story motel, located at 526 El Camino Real. Located .7 miles from the Redwood City station, it is a budget friendly establishment with rates starting at 75 dollars per night.

The last hotel I will mention is the Good Nite Inn, which I reviewed extensively in a previous post. Located at 485 Veterans Blvd, it is the furthest from the Caltrain platform, at 1.1 miles or a fairly pleasant 25-minute walk. Click below for more on my review.

I hope you find this article helpful, in planning your auto-light trip! Comment below if you have stayed in Redwood City or anywhere nearby and minimized auto dependency! Share you auto-lite, pedestrian center. Finally, click on the link below to book your trip to Redwood City!