Top Downtown Stays in Sacramento, California
Downtown Sacramento packs the California State Capitol, Capitol Park, the Downtown Commons around Golden 1 Center and the Old Sacramento waterfront into a compact, walkable grid. The hotels listed here sit within that core or just beyond it: the Delta King, a historic riverboat moored on the Sacramento River, the Kimpton Sawyer in the Downtown Commons, the Hyatt Centric and The Citizen Hotel near the Capitol, and the Residence Inn facing Capitol Park. Two options, the Westin Riverfront and the Hilton Garden Inn South Natomas, sit outside the center, and I flag them clearly below.
Sacramento is California's capital and a river city, set where the American River meets the Sacramento River. Its downtown mixes government buildings around the Capitol with the Gold Rush era streets of Old Sacramento and a newer arena district at the Downtown Commons, which gives a short stay plenty of variety on foot.
Capitol, riverfront and Downtown Commons
Downtown Sacramento rewards travelers who want to walk: the State Capitol, the Convention Center, the Downtown Commons and the Old Sacramento riverfront are all close together. The listed hotels range from a historic riverboat to modern design hotels with pools, and several welcome pets.
For a stay built around the State Capitol, three hotels stand out. The Hyatt Centric Sacramento Downtown is a short walk from the California State Capitol and Museum, with a terrace, a bar and a fitness center, and it holds an 8.8 rating from over 400 reviews. The Citizen Hotel, Autograph Collection, occupies a historic building a short walk from both the Capitol Museum and the Sacramento Convention Center. The Residence Inn by Marriott Sacramento Downtown at Capitol Park sits directly across from Capitol Park, which makes morning walks among its trees easy before meetings or sightseeing.
The Delta King Hotel is the most distinctive address on this page: a historic riverboat with rooms looking out over the city or the Sacramento River. It is moored on the Old Sacramento waterfront, where the restored Gold Rush era streets and the Tower Bridge are a few minutes away on foot. The boat has a traditional American restaurant, a bar and a sun terrace, and it is rated 8.3 from more than 670 reviews. I would choose it for a short stay where the setting matters more than a pool or a gym.
If you want amenities as well as location, the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel stands in the Downtown Commons, next to Golden 1 Center, with a year-round outdoor pool and a spa-wellness center. Rooms include Nespresso machines and bathrobes, and the hotel is pet-friendly with private parking. The Residence Inn at Capitol Park adds a heated outdoor pool, a hot tub, a hot breakfast buffet and suites with fully equipped kitchens, a practical setup for longer work trips or families who prefer to cook some meals. The AC Hotel by Marriott Sacramento, also in the city center, adds a restaurant with European cuisine, a lounge and spa facilities.
Two hotels in this list are not downtown in the strict sense, and it is fair to say so. The Westin Sacramento Riverfront Hotel & Spa is listed two miles from the city center, with a heated pool, a 24-hour gym, spa services and some balconies over the Sacramento River. The Hilton Garden Inn Sacramento/South Natomas sits north of downtown, with an outdoor pool, a hot tub and in-room microwaves and refrigerators. Both are good choices if you have a car; for walking to the Capitol, pick one of the central hotels instead.
A traveler's perspectiveI recommend the Kimpton Sawyer for a first visit: it sits in the Downtown Commons next to Golden 1 Center, keeps an outdoor pool open year-round and accepts pets. For something more memorable, I would book a night on the Delta King, the historic riverboat on the Old Sacramento waterfront, where some rooms look straight onto the Sacramento River.
Hyatt Centric Sacramento Downtown
Sacramento
413 reviews
Modern downtown hotel with city views, dining, and a fitness center
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFamilies can walk to the California State Capitol and its museum, a free and easy outing that gives children a first taste of state history, and Old Sacramento's riverfront and railroad heritage are within reach downtown. Rooms are air-conditioned, welcome in the Central Valley summer heat, and many have city views. The on-site restaurant and terrace save searching for dinner. Pets are welcome, so the family dog can travel too.
Kimpton Sawyer Hotel by IHG
Sacramento
425 reviews
Downtown Sacramento hotel with a year-round pool and pet-friendly amenities
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe California State Railroad Museum is a short walk from the Kimpton Sawyer, and that is the outing I would plan first with children in Sacramento. Back at the hotel, the year-round outdoor pool in the Downtown Commons gives them a swim, while parents can try Revival, the pool-level lounge. Several restaurants on site save a search for dinner, and rooms have Nespresso machines and bathrobes. Pets are accepted. A score of 8.8 across 425 reviews is strong.
Hilton Garden Inn Sacramento/South Natomas
Sacramento
256 reviews
Pet-friendly hotel with an outdoor pool and hot tub north of downtown
Check availabilityWhy guests love itI would book this Hilton Garden Inn for a practical Sacramento stay with a pool to come back to. It sits north of downtown, and guests rate it 8.6 across 256 reviews. The outdoor pool and hot tub suit families after a day out, and the fitness center keeps routines going. Rooms have a spacious work desk, a microwave, a refrigerator and a coffee machine. The Garden Grille and Bar handles meals, and pets are welcome.
AC Hotel by Marriott Sacramento
Sacramento
98 reviews
Modern comfort in downtown Sacramento with dining and wellness
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe city-centre location keeps downtown Sacramento within walking distance, and the restaurant serves European dishes for an easy family dinner. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi, welcome in the hot Sacramento summer. The fitness centre suits parents keeping a routine, and the bar and lounge give adults a place to sit once the children are asleep. Pets are welcome, and no pool is listed. The 8.4 score comes from 98 reviews.
Residence Inn by Marriott Sacramento Downtown at Capitol Park
Sacramento
127 reviews
Spacious suites with kitchens, a heated pool, and a prime downtown location
Check availabilityWhy guests love itResidence Inn by Marriott Sacramento Downtown at Capitol Park faces Capitol Park directly, so families have green space across the street. The spacious suites come with fully-equipped kitchens, useful for picky eaters and longer stays. Children can swim in the heated outdoor pool while parents use the hot tub, a hot breakfast buffet starts each day, and the on-site restaurant serves California cuisine. WiFi is free, and guests rate it 8.4 from 127 reviews.
The Westin Sacramento Riverfront Hotel & Spa
Sacramento
108 reviews
Riverfront luxury with a heated pool, spa, and Italian-inspired rooms
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Westin Sacramento Riverfront Hotel & Spa sits on the Sacramento River, two miles from the city center, and its outdoor pool is heated year-round, so children can swim even in the cooler months. Parents can use the hot tub, the 24-hour gym and spa services. Rooms have vintage Italian furnishings, luxury linens and 42-inch flat-screen TVs, and select rooms have balconies with river views. Dining is on site. Guests rate it 8.4 from 108 reviews.
The Citizen Hotel, Autograph Collection
Sacramento
335 reviews
Historic downtown hotel with a restaurant and fitness center
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Citizen Hotel, Autograph Collection occupies a historic building in central Sacramento, a short walk from the California State Capitol Museum, an easy history lesson for school-age children. Rooms have private bathrooms, work desks and free toiletries. The on-site restaurant and bar make dinner simple after a day on foot, parents can use the fitness centre, and pets are welcome. Guests rate this 4-star hotel 8.4 from 335 reviews.
Delta King Hotel
Sacramento
677 reviews
Historic riverboat hotel with dining, a bar, and city or river views
Check availabilityWhy guests love itSleeping on a historic riverboat is a memorable experience for children, and rooms look out over the river or the city. The boat is moored in downtown Sacramento, so walks along the waterfront start at the gangway. The restaurant serves traditional American dishes, and the sun terrace is pleasant on warm evenings. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi. A score of 8.3 from 677 reviews is good for such an unusual stay.
Local tips
- 1Choose by focus: the Hyatt Centric, The Citizen Hotel or the Residence Inn for the Capitol, the Kimpton Sawyer for the Downtown Commons and Golden 1 Center.
- 2Book the Delta King for river views and Old Sacramento on foot, but expect a historic boat rather than a full-service hotel with a pool.
- 3Pick the Residence Inn at Capitol Park for long stays: suites with full kitchens, a hot breakfast buffet and a heated outdoor pool.
- 4Travelling with a dog? The Kimpton Sawyer, Hyatt Centric, The Citizen Hotel and AC Hotel by Marriott are all listed as pet-friendly.
- 5Note that the Westin Riverfront and the Hilton Garden Inn South Natomas are outside the center; plan on a car or rideshare from either.
- 6Check event dates at Golden 1 Center and the Convention Center before booking, as downtown hotels fill quickly on those nights.