Vacation rentals in San Marcos

San Marcos is a peaceful gem of a town nestled in the stunning, rugged Southern California countryside just a half hour drive north of San Diego. This lovely ranch county with its iconic Southern California vistas of jagged mountains, unique vegetation and the most beautiful, burned orange sunsets is a worthy stopover for a relaxing break from city life. The lovely, wide beaches of Oceanside are just a 20 minute drive north of San Marcos.

Find a perfect rental property with vacation stays ranging from accommodation just for two to spacious luxury homes with a pool for an unforgettable getaway with a large family or friend group. Many of the vacation rentals in the area also feature a jacuzzi and are located within easy driving distance of several beautiful lakes and lagoons making this an ideal home away from home base for exploring the remarkable city of San Diego and the iconic Southern California sun drenched, landscapes that make this region so popular amongst visitors in all seasons.

Unforgettable San Diego and San Diego County have much to offer the adventurous tourist. From prime, Pacific surfing locations with sublime waves to mountain trails with breathtaking views, this region has it all. Located a short drive from San Diego’s iconic attractions such as San Diego Zoo, Seaworld and the wonderful museums of Balboa Park, San Marcos is perfectly situated. Head out for exhilarating adventures such as horse riding on San Diego’s Imperial Beach just 43 minutes to the south or gliding and parachuting at Torrey Pines State Park just a 30 minute drive away.

San Diego County has a distinct Mexican flavor woven into the fabric of a laid back Southern Californian lifestyle. Gloriously authentic Mexican, mom and pop fish taco dives and upmarket Mexican eateries are dotted all over the region and San Marcos is only an hours drive from Tijuana for a day crossing to Mexico for an authentic Hispanic, Mexican border town experience. After a day of souvenir hunting and legendary enchiladas, head back to tranquil San Marcos to relax and plan your next adventure!

San Marcos is located within easy driving distance of several, wonderfully quirky historical locations that make for a fun, relaxing day of strolling and cultural insights. Spend a delightful few hours wandering around the quirky streets of San Diego’s Old Town that celebrates the city’s Spanish Colonial heritage. Here you will find a variety of historical buildings, scores of charming speciality shops and dozens of tantalizing restaurants. Leo Carrillo Ranch is a jewel of a historic rancho in picturesque Carlsbad, just 18 minutes by car from San Marcos, while the delightful, historic atmosphere and myriad of small, beautiful art galleries and quirky shops make a trip to lovely San Juan de Capistrano, 41 minutes to the north a wonderful adventure to look forward to.

The wide expanse of San Diego county’s breathtakingly rugged backcountry scenery is where some of the most incredible hiking trails are waiting to be discovered! Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve offers sweeping views over the Pacific Ocean with the exquisite color palette of stark, barren mountains as a backdrop. Stonewall Peak showcases the rolling Cuyamaca Mountains and panoramic vista over the desert stretching all the way to the landlocked Salton sea. Whale Peak is well worth the 2 hour drive to Anza Borrego Desert State Park for the mesmerizing,360 degree birds eye view of the Southeastern corner of Southern California. More accomplished hikers will love tackling the fabled Big Laguna trail en route to Anza Borrego or steep and rugged El Cajon mountain just an hour southeast of San Marcos where the rewards for a steep, hard climb are incomparable for lovers of panoramic summit views!

This beautiful Mexican eatery and exquisite wedding venue with it’s lovely exterior dining tables is a cultural landmark of historical San Juan located just 40 minutes north of San Marcos. It is here that diners can sample exquisite high end Mexican cuisine in a hacienda style restaurant that oozes regal charm and a wonderfully authentic vibe. A perennial favorite of Richard Nixon, once upon a time, be sure to book a table or arrive early for brunch, lunch or dinner!

With over 4 million visitors per year, San Diego zoo located in Balboa Park in central San Diego is considered to be one of the best zoos in the world. Don’t pass up the opportunity to view the stunning startlingly authentic, wildlife enclosures in this magnificent zoo that is right on your doorstep in San Marcos! This 100 acre wildlife sanctuary is home to over 12 000 animals and the multi million dollar animal enclosures offer state of the art facilities for animals in incredibly realistic botanical and landscaped settings for visitors to admire and learn about the amazing creatures that are located here.

Spend a wonder -filled day at Disney’s wondrous, magical kingdom located just 1 hours drive north of San Marcos. Get lost in the magic of this once in a lifetime theme park on a daytrip that is fun for all ages in all seasons! Enjoy thrilling rides, awesome snacks and countless fun filled hours of lovely photo opportunities in this Disney wonderland that many, both young and old consider to be their “happy place”.

California’s beach sunsets are the stuff of legend and really have to be seen to be believed. Surround yourself in the fabled hues of sundown on the beautiful beach at Del Mar, just 20 miles east of San Marcos on the coast. This lovely resort town is situated at the mouth of a river and features a combination of high end luxury and old world charm. The graceful Del Mar dates back to the 1880s as evidenced in the quaint, half timbered tudor style architecture. Del Mar Village features a number of delightful specialty boutiques and wonderful bistro-style patio dining perfect for after your sunset stroll on the beach!.

San Marcos boast a 10 000 square ft antiques mall where antique lovers can get lost amongst the mesmerizing merchandise that is on sale and on display in over 60 booths. Take your pick from amongst antique furniture, collectibles, glassware, vintage pottery, tools, fine China, jewelry and so much more in this vintage emporium. The antique dealers are always hunting for exciting new finds and new merchandise arrives daily! Browse amongst antiquarian books, glittering rings, brooches, lampstands and unique estate finds in this extraordinary treasure trove of objects from bygone eras!

Should I plan a trip to San Marcos well in advance?

It's worthwhile if you can book your stay well in advance when visiting San Marcos, as only 13% of our properties are usually available throughout the year.

Which months offer the highest availability?

The months that offer the most accommodation options are, on average, October (with an availability of 25%), September (24%), and January (24%), according to the trends observed in the prior year.

How many vacation rentals are there in San Marcos?

Our catalog features approximately 40 properties from 2 partners, giving you plenty of choices when searching for your next dream vacation rental!