Northern California
10 Best Historic Hotels and Inns in Northern California
The 10 best historic hotels and inns in Northern California: San Francisco grand hotels, Mendocino Victorians, redwood lodges and a Mount Shasta mill town.
By Alex Khachigian · Updated September 2026 · 3 min read
Northern California still has hotels rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, Victorian inns in Mendocino, a Tudor lodge on the Eel River and a lumber company hotel below Mount Shasta.
These 10 are grouped by road trip route, followed by a few more on the North Coast.
In This Guide
- How to Choose a Historic Hotel in Northern California
- Historic Hotels in San Francisco: The Palace and The Fairmont
- 3. Cavallo Point in Sausalito
- Historic Wine Country Hotels: Sonoma Mission Inn and The Madrona
- Historic Inns in Mendocino Village
- Historic Hotels Near the Redwoods: Benbow and Hotel Arcata
- 10. McCloud Hotel Near Mount Shasta
- More Historic Stays on the North Coast
- When to Book Historic Hotels in Northern California
- FAQ
How to Choose a Historic Hotel in Northern California
Older buildings can mean small rooms, thin walls or no elevator. Call ahead if you need an accessible room. Coastal and mountain inns often include breakfast and have fireplaces.
Historic Hotels in San Francisco: The Palace and The Fairmont
Both are tied to the 1906 earthquake. Add them to my 3 days in San Francisco itinerary.
1. Palace Hotel
The Palace opened on Market Street in 1875 and reopened in 1909. Its Garden Court, under a stained glass dome, serves afternoon tea.
2. Fairmont San Francisco
The Fairmont on Nob Hill was nearly finished when the 1906 earthquake hit and opened in 1907. It has a marble lobby, cable cars outside and the Tonga Room tiki bar.
3. Cavallo Point in Sausalito
Cavallo Point fills the officers’ homes of Fort Baker, a former Army post below the Golden Gate Bridge. The homes face a parade lawn with city views. It has a spa, cooking school and restaurant, and Marin Headlands trails start on site.
Historic Wine Country Hotels: Sonoma Mission Inn and The Madrona
See my Napa vs. Sonoma itinerary for tasting rooms.
4. Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
This 1927 Mission Revival hotel in Boyes Hot Springs has spa pools fed by thermal mineral water.
5. The Madrona, Healdsburg
The Madrona, formerly Madrona Manor, is an 1881 Victorian mansion a short drive from Healdsburg Plaza and the Dry Creek and Alexander Valley wineries.
Historic Inns in Mendocino Village
My Mendocino weekend guide covers what to do.
6. Mendocino Hotel
The Mendocino Hotel opened on Main Street in 1878, facing the headlands. The lobby and bar have Victorian furniture and stained glass, and rooms range from compact historic rooms to garden suites.
7. MacCallum House
MacCallum House was built in 1882 and has rooms in the main house and garden cottages. Breakfast is included, and headlands trails are a short walk.
Historic Hotels Near the Redwoods: Benbow and Hotel Arcata
Both fit my Northern California coast road trip.
8. Benbow Historic Inn
Benbow Historic Inn is a 1926 Tudor Revival inn on the Eel River south of Garberville, near the Avenue of the Giants. It has a restaurant and a lawn.
9. Hotel Arcata
Hotel Arcata opened on the Arcata Plaza in 1915. It’s affordable, many rooms have clawfoot tubs, and it’s walkable to the Saturday farmers market and an easy drive to Redwood National and State Parks.
10. McCloud Hotel Near Mount Shasta
The McCloud Hotel was built in 1916 in the lumber town of McCloud, on Mount Shasta’s southern slopes. It’s a restored inn with a big front porch and a base for McCloud River Falls; see how to visit Mt. Shasta.
More Historic Stays on the North Coast
Heritage House Resort & Spa in Little River grew around an 1877 farmhouse and was the set of Same Time, Next Year (1978). Scotia Lodge fills a renovated 1923 inn in the old Pacific Lumber town of Scotia.
Victorian Inn is on Main Street in Ferndale, a Victorian dairy town settled in the 1850s.
When to Book Historic Hotels in Northern California
San Francisco rates spike during conventions and in fall. Wine country fills during harvest, late August to October, and Mendocino books out on summer weekends. Book small inns two to three months ahead; winter is the best value on the North Coast, with storm watching and whale migration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest hotel in San Francisco?
The Palace Hotel, opened in 1875 and rebuilt in 1909.
Are historic hotels in Northern California good for families?
Big hotels like the Fairmont are. Small inns such as MacCallum House suit couples.
Where can I stay in a historic hotel near the redwoods?
Benbow Historic Inn and Scotia Lodge are near the Avenue of the Giants. Hotel Arcata is a base for Redwood National and State Parks.
Which historic Mendocino inn is closest to the headlands?
The Mendocino Hotel, which faces them from Main Street.
Can you visit the Palace Hotel Garden Court without staying there?
Yes, for meals and afternoon tea. Reserve ahead.
