Looking to mix up your coastal routine? These day trips from Santa Barbara deliver scenic drives, charming towns, and wine country magic—all within easy reach!
If you are in a hurry, I recommend:
Unique Day Trips from Santa Barbara:
1. Ventura
Ventura is a casual, classic, California beach town where the Santa Clara River meets the Pacific Ocean. Stroll down Main Street for locally owned boutiques and restaurants. Enjoy the exhibits at the Museum of Ventura County, and visit historical buildings such as the San Buenaventura Mission, founded in 1782.
At the waterfront, walk to the end of the wooden pier to fish or watch the surfers. A long paved cycling path parallels the waterfront. Hop on a cruise or rent a kayak from the Ventura Harbor, also where the Island Packers begin their day trips to the Channel Islands. Away from the waterfront, you’ll find the best views at Grant Park or the Ventura Botanical Gardens. Watch a 1-minute video on great eats in Ventura.
2. Anaheim
Southern California’s Anaheim is home to the Disneyland Resort, the Angel’s baseball team, Anaheim Ducks hockey franchise, and Knott’s Berry Farm. Local gems include the Vans Skate Park, the SwingIt Trapeze School, and the Discovery Cube children’s museum. Anaheim’s Center Street Promenade is the recently revitalized historic district. The area is packed with trendy shops and restaurants, and offers a Farmer’s Market every Thursday. The Anaheim Packing House, once a citrus packinghouse, is now full of eateries serving up artisanal snow cones, soul food, waffles and beer. Anaheim Museums include the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center, which offers rotating history, art and cultural exhibits.
3. Avila Beach
California’s Avila Beach is a coastal community tucked into the San Luis Obispo Bay north of Santa Barbara. Avila has a uniquely warm and sunny microclimate, and miles of white sand beaches surrounded by an oak valley. The area is home to several spas and natural hot springs. Enjoy local wines, shopping and dining at scenic oceanfront restaurants. Visit the historic and picturesque Point San Luis Lighthouse, built in 1890, and now restored as a museum offering docent-led tours. Hike or bike the three mile Bob Jones trail from the tip of the Avila Beach Pier up to Highway 101. Engage with marine life up close at the Central Coast Aquarium.
Avila Beach, CA 93424
4. Bakersfield
Bakersfield is an inland community at the southwest outskirts of the Sequoia National Forest. Bakersfield offers museums, nightlife, restaurants, dining, river rafting, and outdoor adventure as the southern gateway to California’s central valley. Museums include the Bakersfield Museum of Art, the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, and the California Living Museum, otherwise known as the Bakersfield Zoo. Enjoy river rafting along the Kern River from several put-in spots with outfitters offering whitewater experiences ranging from Class I to Class V rapids. Annual events include the classic Kern County Fair, held each September. The 10-day fair offers a carnival, rodeo, live music events and more.
5. Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are a National Park in California just south of Santa Barbara off the coast of Ventura. Made up of five islands, the park offers diving and snorkeling, sea cave exploration, wildlife viewing, hiking and camping. Each of the islands offers its unique small world, reminiscent of a wild California long past. Park visitor centers are located in both Santa Barbara and Ventura, while the islands themselves are accessible only by boat or sea plane. Advance planning is required as there are no services or fresh water on the islands. Third party concessionaires such as Channel Island Packers and the Channel Islands Adventure Company can help you plan your trip.
113 Harbor Way 4th Floor, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, Phone: 805-658-5730, Channel Islands Video
Romantic Day Trips from Santa Barbara:
6. Douglas Family Preserve
Santa Barbara’s Douglas Family Preserve is a city-managed 70-acre reserve in the Mesa neighborhood. The park is the largest undeveloped stretch of coastal land in Santa Barbara. The open space provides outdoor recreational opportunities such as cycling, hiking, dog walking and wildlife viewing. Over three miles of trails within the park include views of the Pacific Ocean, overlooking Arroyo Burro Beach. Habitat includes coastal live oaks and southern oak woodlands, coastal bluff and sage scrub, grasslands and wetlands. Some non-native plants remain, a sign of the preserve’s history as a nursery. Habitat restoration is ongoing, and includes providing milkweed for migrating monarch butterflies.
Medcliff Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, Phone: 805-897-1941
7. Gaviota State Park
Gaviota State Park is a California Park located on the coast in Goleta, north of Santa Barbara. Ocean front bluffs at the park have been extensively researched for their unique display of geological history. Several preserved fossils remain in the rocks, including the complete skeleton of an ancient fish, similar to a Halibut. Park features include hiking trails, picnic areas, RV access and campsites. The coastal park is popular for swimming, fishing, diving or snorkeling and surfing. A camp store and restrooms with showers are available. The 3,000 acre park spans the area from the Pacific Coast to the highest ridge of the Santa Ynez Mountains.
1595 US-101, Goleta, CA 93117, Phone: 805-968-1033
Family Day Trips from Santa Barbara:
8. Hearst Castle
The Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California is the 1919 estate of William Randolph Hearst, now a museum and California State Park. The estate, designed in partnership with the architect Julia Morgan, was still unfinished by 1947, although it contained 165 rooms, over 100 acres of gardens, pools and terraces. Works of art in the home include ancient Egyptian sculpture, Grecian art dating back to the year 80 AD, Renaissance era reliefs and paintings, gilded ceilings, art deco accents and Tiffany lamps. Over a dozen tours are available for those interested in the grand rooms, upstairs rooms, gardens, or the Hollywood starlets who frequented the castle as guests of Hearst, including Greta Garbo, Bette Davis, Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, and Cary Grant.
750 Hearst Castle Rd, San Simeon, CA 93452, Phone: 800-444-4445
9. Hollywood
Hollywood is among the neighborhoods of Los Angeles and has long been a tourist attraction since becoming the home of America’s film industry. Visit Universal Studios Hollywood to see not only a working movie studio, but to enjoy the attached theme park. At Paramount Pictures, tour the lot of the city’s oldest movie studio. View the iconic 45-foot tall Hollywood sign from a hike in the Hollywood Hills, on horseback, or via helicopter with an aerial tour. Take a stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame to search for your favorite stars, passing by icons such as the El Capitan Theater, TCL Chinese Theater, the Dolby Theater, home to the Academy Awards, and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
Hollywood, CA 90028
10. Lake Cachuma
Santa Barbara’s Cahuma Lake Recreation Area is a scenic county park surrounded by the San Rafael and Santa Ynez Mountains. The 9,000-acre area includes Lake Cachuma, which was created in 1953 by construction of the Bradbury Dam. Facilities within the park include a charming and fully stocked general store, playgrounds for children, fishing piers, and a marina that sells bait, fishing licenses, and boat rentals. Swimming is not allowed in Lake Cachuma itself, although there are several area pools at the lake for swimming in the summer months. Ranger led programs at the lake include nature walks and a 2-hour lake cruise that departs from the park’s marina.
1 Lakeview Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93105, Phone: 805-568-2460
📔 I get asked this a lot so I decided to include it:
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Where is Santa Barbara located?
- Santa Barbara is located on California’s central coast, between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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Why is Santa Barbara a great starting point for day trips?
- Santa Barbara is an excellent starting point for area day trips to some of the most picturesque and naturally stunning coastal and valley towns.
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What coastal activities can visitors enjoy near Santa Barbara?
- Explore the coast to the north and south for beautiful sandy beaches perfect for surfing, strolling, or swimming.
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What outdoor adventures are available inland?
- Head inland to explore the Los Padres National Forest and the mountainous regions of San Rafael and Santa Ynez.
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What is special about the valleys near Santa Barbara?
- The valleys at the foothills of these mountains are home to some of California’s most loved wine-growing regions.
Best Time for Day Trips from Santa Barbara, California:
- March to May – Spring brings lush vineyards, wildflowers, and ideal weather for beach walks and hillside hikes.
- June to August – Summer offers sunny skies perfect for coastal drives, wine tasting, and charming small towns.
- September to October – Warm, golden days ideal for harvest festivals, scenic backroads, and less crowded adventures.
- November – Pleasant weather and fewer tourists make this great for art towns, farms, and tranquil beaches.
- December to February – Winter’s mild climate is perfect for cozy escapes, holiday charm, and oceanfront views.
Plan Your Trip