Ocean Park Motel
2690 46th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94116, San Francisco, United States
2-star hotel
Guest rating: 4.6 / 5
Overview
Ocean Park Motel is a 2-star, art-deco motel built in 1936, tucked into the quiet southwest corner of San Francisco near Ocean Beach. Often noted as one of the city's oldest motels, it retains a vintage character with cedar-paneled interiors while offering modern conveniences. Its low-key residential setting gives it a quieter, more neighborhood feel than hotels in downtown or Fisherman's Wharf.
Rooms & Suites
Rooms and suites are finished in cedar paneling and come with free Wi-Fi, cable TV, and en suite bathrooms with showers. Some units add minifridges and microwaves, while multi-bedroom suites (up to two bedrooms) feature fully equipped kitchens, though these may require a minimum-stay booking. The mix of standard rooms and kitchen-equipped suites makes the property flexible for both short overnight stays and longer visits.
Amenities & Recreation
The motel centers on a garden courtyard with a hot tub, plus an on-site playground for children. Free on-site parking is provided for guests, a notable convenience in a city where parking is often scarce. Dogs are welcome at the property, adding to its appeal for pet-traveling guests.
Location & Surroundings
The motel sits about a 6-minute walk (roughly 390m) from the San Francisco Zoo and just two blocks from the sand dunes of Ocean Beach. It's directly across the street from a Muni Metro light-rail stop offering service toward downtown, and it's within a few kilometers of Golden Gate Park (4.1km), the San Francisco Botanical Garden (4.6km), the Japanese Tea Garden (4.8km), the de Young Museum (5.0km), and the California Academy of Sciences (5.0km). Farther-flung attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge (9.6km), Palace of Fine Arts (8.9km), Alcatraz Island (12.3km), and PIER 39 (11.5km) are reachable by transit or a longer drive.
Best for
Ocean Park Motel suits budget-conscious travelers, pet owners, and families seeking a quieter, residential base near Ocean Beach and the San Francisco Zoo rather than the busier downtown core. Its free parking, garden hot tub, and playground also make it a good fit for road-trippers and parents traveling with kids, while the light-rail stop across the street keeps downtown sights accessible without a car.
Travel tips
The Muni Metro stop directly across the street provides a straightforward, car-free way to reach downtown San Francisco and connect to other city attractions. Given the property's distance from central sights like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and PIER 39 (all 9km or more away), plan on transit or a drive rather than walking for those. Free on-site parking is a practical advantage if arriving by car, since street parking near the beach and zoo can be limited during busy periods.
What guests say
Guests consistently praise the quiet, laid-back neighborhood setting, the classic art-deco character of the building, and the comfort of the cedar-paneled rooms. Staff are repeatedly described as friendly and accommodating, with several reviewers highlighting a warm welcome for traveling dogs. The small children's playground and easy access to the beach and zoo are also frequently mentioned as pluses, and multiple guests note the property's authentic, old-San-Francisco atmosphere as a standout compared to more generic city hotels. No recurring negative themes appear among the excerpts provided.
Check availability · Booking links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure