13 Best Beaches in Santa Barbara By a Local
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If you’re looking for the best beaches in Santa Barbara we have you covered.
Known as The American Riviera, Santa Barbara is home to some of the best beaches in California; its topography creates eye-candy vistas at every turn.
Let’s just get right to it, so you can be splashing in the water and walking on the soft sand
13 Best Beaches in Santa Barbara Quick Guide
- Butterfly Beach
- Leadbetter Beach
- East Beach
- Arroyo Burro Beach County Park (Hendry’s Beach)
- Mesa Lane Beach
- Miramar Beach
- West Beach
- Summerland Beach
- Goleta Beach Park
- Carpinteria City Beach
- Haskell’s Beach
- Loon Point
- Padaro Beach
Map of Santa Barbara
1. Butterfly Beach
Perhaps my favorite beach, Butterfly Beach, sits in posh Montecito (Oprah’s hood) across the street from the Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore Santa Barbara. You don’t have to be a guest at the hotel to use the beach. However, it’s an excellent option for those staying in Santa Barbara or seeking a more upscale beach experience.
You may see celebrities stroll along the bougainvillea-lined promenade running parallel to the beach.
Butterfly Beach offers a more secluded and peaceful atmosphere than other Santa Barbara beaches. It’s an ideal spot for sunbathing and swimming, but be mindful of the high tide since it can limit the available space on the beach.
Insider Tip: Butterfly Beach faces west, making it a perfect place to watch a majestic sunrise or sunset.
Need to know: It’s facility-free. During weekends it isn’t easy to park. However, there is a bike trail from Stearns Wharf east along the water to Butterfly Park. If you want to rent a bike, you can easily hit Butterfly Beach during your ride.
2. Leadbetter Beach
Leadbetter Beach is a popular location for beachgoers in the Santa Barbara area looking for a day of relaxation or beginner surfers looking to conquer its small swells—the most sheltered beach along Santa Barbara’s hot waterfront real estate.
This slice of beach sits between Shoreline Park and Santa Barbara Harbor, close to restaurants and hotels, making it a popular spot. Santa Barbara City College students unwind here as well.
Make sure to walk up to Shoreline Park, where you’ll see a bird’s-eye view of the surfers below and get the best scenic view of the Channel Islands.
Popular activities include sunbathing, swimming, surfing, and paddle boarding at this beautiful beach.
If you’re a beach volleyball fan, there are several courts to play on.
Afterward, you can have lunch at the picnic tables or take advantage of the nearby restaurants. Parking is generally available, but it may be crowded during peak hours.
Insider Tip: Have lunch barefoot on the beach at the Shoreline Café, where you can enjoy fantastic fish & chips, and burgers with your feet in the sand.
Need to know: Leadbetter Beach has outdoor showers, a restroom facility, and a massive adjacent parking lot.
3. East Beach
East Beach is another favorite among Santa Barbara visitors and locals alike. An iconic Santa Barbara beach, East Beach is a wide beach at a broad 1.6-mile stretch (making it the longest of city beaches along Santa Barbara’s waterfront) located near Stearns Wharf and State Street. It offers easy access to shops, restaurants, and hotels.
Note: Leadbetter, West Beach, and East Beach sit along the Cabrillo Bike Path so that you can access these beaches easily on two wheels.
There is plenty of space on this beach; it even has a playground, making it an excellent choice for families, and numerous volleyball courts for those seeking friendly competition. Remember to bring your sunscreen and try your hand at windsurfing if you’re feeling adventurous.
Insider Tip: Located next to Stearns Wharf with cafes, it makes life easy for people with kids. Every Sunday, a popular art fair sets up on the promenade. Skater’s Point skate park is also close by for the skateboarder in your family.
Need to know: This beach has a lifeguard, so it’s great for families. Rent a bike at Wheel Fun Rental and cruise along Cabrillo Boulevard.
Local Tip MUST STOP: East Beach is the closest beach to the famous taco stand (I hit this place every time we visit Santa Barbara or just drive through) La Super-Rica Taqueria. #16 special on the menu is one of my favorites. It is cash only. Address: 622 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
For scenic beachfront views, grab a cocktail and food at the beachfront Reunion Kitchen & Drink or Costa Restaurant.
Two places to stay with easy access to East Beach: Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort and the Santa Barbara Inn, are excellent choices.
4. Arroyo Burro Beach County Park (Hendry’s Beach): Only off-leash dog beach
Also known as Hendry’s Beach, Arroyo Burro Beach is a must-visit for dog lovers since it’s a favorite spot for local canines and their owners.
Arroyo Burro is one of the only Santa Barbara beaches where dogs are allowed off-leash in a designated area.
Found five miles west of downtown Santa Barbara, this 14-acre beach has stunning white sand and towering palm trees.
If you’re interested in surfing, this location is popular for beginners, experienced surfers, and stand-up paddleboarders. Remember to explore the nearby cliffs during low tide for some incredible views. This beach is great for spotting dolphins, seals, and whales.
Insider Tip: The Boathouse, a popular restaurant, overlooks the beach. (Please note that while the beach is dog-friendly, dogs are, unfortunately, not allowed at the restaurant). 😕
Need to know: You can hike miles along the shoreline to Mesa Lane Beach during low tide. For one of the best hikes in Santa Barbara, you can also follow a loop hike from the parking lot to the Douglas Family Preserve.
Click here for more features and facilities.
5. Mesa Lane Beach — Steps Beach
Mesa Lane Beach is a narrow beach with calm waters. If you want a more private, quiet experience, Mesa Lane Beach is for you. Secluded by soaring cliffs that provide excellent protection from the wind, this is a local favorite, you won’t find crowds here, but you won’t find amenities here either, so plan accordingly.
Set up camp at Hendry’s Beach and hike to Mesa Lane Beach along the shoreline to check it out. Just make sure to plan your visit accordingly; you won’t be able to see the shore at all during the high tide; it all but disappears. That makes for a great day and the best of both worlds.
Inside Tip: You can hike here from Arroyo Burro Beach Park (Hendry’s Beach) at low tide. It’s about a mile hike.
Need to know: Visiting Mesa beach requires a hike down and back up a steep flight of steps (see picture above), which is why this beach is less crowded.
6. Miramar Beach
Tucked away on the coast is a small beach known as Miramar Beach, overlooked by the fabulous resort, Rosewood Miramar Beach.
This stretch of beach offers surfing, swimming, and an excellent place to just stroll along its golden sand. Miramar borders the upscale enclave of Montecito, where Oprah resides.
The best time to visit Miramar is low tide, when you can walk miles to the east, past Fernald Point, with impressive beachfront homes. Or walk west to Hammonds Beach, a popular surfer location. During high tide, hike the Hammonds Meadow Trail to see bougainvillea in hues of purple, gold, and pink.
Insider Tip: Rosewood Miramar Beach resort has sea-view restaurants for Santa Barbara locals and visitors. The spectacular Southern Italian-inspired Caruso’s is very good.
Need to know: No facilities and no structured parking—Park in the surrounding residential neighborhood. Dogs are allowed on this beach as long as they’re leased, so your pooch can join you!!
7. West Beach
Probably Santa Barbara’s most touristy beach because of, well, location, location, location — West Beach is adjacent to the Stearns Wharf Pier. This is a small (only a quarter of a mile) but popular beach because it’s conveniently located near State Street with its boutique hotels, restaurants, and shops and sits along Cabrillo Boulevard as joggers and bikers zoom by.
West Beach offers everything: water sports rentals, bike rentals, sand sculptures, boating, and beach volleyball. You’ll see more sailboats than swimmers because of the nearby harbor.
Insider Tip: If you want a pool to swim in with the kids, Los Banos public pool and West Beach Wading pool are steps from the sand.
Need to know: One of the most popular things to do with kids in Santa Barbara is the Santa Barbara Sea Center, which is nearby. Popular hotels include The Harbor View Inn and the Hotel Milo Santa Barbara.
8. Summerland Beach — Dog Friendly Beach in Santa Barbara
Another of Santa Barbara’s south-facing beaches is Summerland Beach, with its laid-back vibe that allows both dogs and horses to partake in its beauty.
Located about six miles south of Santa Barbara, this beach with white golden sand is one of the only beaches on the south coast where you can ride a horse! Visit Los Padres Outfitters for a two-hour guided tour on a horse along the shore.
For more activities, you can also enjoy stand-up paddleboard and kayaking here or hang out on the sand and surf. Walking south from Summerland Beach, you’ll hit Loon Point, another white sand beach on our list.
Summerland Beach is one of the few beaches in Santa Barbara that is dog-friendly.
Inside Tip: This beach is horse friendly. You can book sunset horseback riding tours and tour the coast.
Need to know: Right above the Summerland beach is Lookout Park which has a children’s playground to occupy the little ones. It also has barbecue grills, volleyball courts, and a picnic area.
Don’t want to grill? Right across the freeway is Summerland Beach Café, which is dog-friendly and opens for breakfast and lunch in a historic Victorian house.
9. Goleta Beach Park
Goleta Beach is considered a “good land” beach. About 15 minutes from Santa Barbara, near the University of California Santa Barbara, Goleta Beach Park clocks in at 29 acres!
It’s a great beach to stay on all day. There are grill areas, places to rent a kayak and stand-up paddleboards, volleyball nets, horseshoe pits, and picnic areas.
You can also cast a line off Goleta Pier, a 1,450-foot pier jutting out into the Santa Barbara Channel at Goleta Beach County Park. If you’re lucky, you can catch multiple types of fish; halibut, calico bass, crab, and rockfish.
From here, you can bike to Santa Barbara on the beachfront trails. You can also hike along blufftop trails to Campus Point Beach in front of the University California Santa Barbara (UCSB) campus. I was just here recently, and it’s lovely.
Insider Tip: This is one of the best kid-friendly beaches with gentle waves and many facilities, including a children’s playground.
Need to know: Lifeguards are on patrol in season. A lot of amenities, so it’s a great beach to stay from sunup to sundown. Also, there’s free parking!
Click here for more features and facilities.
10. Carpinteria City Beach — Best Beaches Near Santa Barbara
Named one of the “world’s safest beaches” in the 1920s to attract visitors to Carpinteria’s pristine beaches, made “safe” by the sheltering Channel Islands. This beach is technically in Carpinteria. It has a family-friendly vibe with miles of beach for swimming, surfing, and exploring. The waves are tame and perfect for boogie boarding. Camping is also available.
Check out nearby Rincon Point, a separate unit of Carpinteria City Beach located at the border of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
Rincon (Spanish for “angle” or “corner”) is a surf spot located at the Ventura and Santa Barbara County line. Also known as the “Queen of the Coast,” Rincon is one of California’s most famous surf spots, known worldwide for its well-formed waves and long rides.
Insider Tip: Carpinteria State Beach is a protected beach in the state park and allows camping all year round.
11. Haskell’s Beach
This lovely white sand beach sits right below The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, but you don’t have to stay at The Ritz to access it.
Its long, beautiful stretch of sand is perfect for kayaking along Goleta’s coastline and for observing native critters living inside of the tide pools scattered along the beach.
Insider Tip: Designated beach parking is available, and then take the access trail down to the beach.
12. Loon Point
The least touristy of all the beaches on this list is Loon Point Beach, with high bluffs and great tide pools to search for critters at low tide. Loon Beach is a real hidden gem; it’s less popular because it is located outside Santa Barbara proper.
This beach is a great spot for sunbathing, walking, and beachcombing! It’s technically in Carpinteria.
If you walk north, you’ll hit Summerland Beach below Lookout Park.
Insider Tip: A parking lot is designated for the beach, but you have to walk a bit to access the beach along a trail that crosses the railway tracks. To access the parking lot, come in from the west end of Padaro Lane and park, and here, near the parking lot, are the only restrooms, so plan accordingly.
Need to know: For a fantastic hotel experience, try the Cliff House Inn, which offers a pool that overlooks the ocean.
13. Padaro Beach (Santa Claus Beach)
Located west of the beachside community of Carpintera sits Santa Claus Beach, where there’s a giant sign with a cartoon character of Ole Saint Nick. One of the best beaches near Santa Barbara, Ole Saint Nick is not huge; it’s small and quaint.
With its long stretch of soft sand, this broad beach is a local favorite and another on our list that allows your puppy, as long as she is on a leash.
Beginner surfers love Santa Claus Beach for its gentle swells and surf shops along Santa Claus Lane, which border the beach.
Insider Tip: Grab beach necessities and food at Garden Market grocery and have lunch at the Padaro Beach Grill, which has a sandpit packed with toys for kids.
Need to know: Only free street parking is available along Santa Claus Lane.
Best Beaches in Santa Barbara: FAQs
Which beach is best for sunbathing in Santa Barbara?
Many of Santa Barbara’s beaches are good for sunbathing. East Beach, Haskells Beach, and Leadbetter are ideal for sunbathing and water activities.
Does Santa Barbara have good beaches?
Yes, Santa Barbara has some of the best beaches in Southern California. Its sandy beaches are the perfect spot on the Pacific Ocean and only a short drive from Los Angeles. (about 90 miles).
Can you swim in the ocean in Santa Barbara?
Yes. You can swim on every beach we’ve listed in this article.
Why is it called Butterfly Beach Santa Barbara?
Butterfly Beach is named after the monarch butterflies that once inhabited the native grasses along the beach.
Are the beaches in Santa Barbara warm?
That depends are your definition of warm. I can tell you what the average termperatures are:
The average annual water temperature on the coast in Santa Barbara is 59°F.
By the seasons: in winter 57°F, in spring 56°F, in summer 62°F, in autumn 62°F. Minimum water temperature (52°F) in Santa Barbara happens in March, maximum (66°F) in August.
I’m always cold when I visit Santa Barbara, California.
What is the warmest beach on the California Coast?
For the warmest water, Newport Beach and Avalon on Santa Catalina Island typically heat up to 70 degrees F (21 °C) in August. The highest temperature year-round is Long Beach which has an annual daily mean of 65 degrees F (18 °C).
Final Thoughts: Best Beaches in Santa Barbara
As you can see from this list Santa Barbara, located on the picturesque central coast of California, is renowned for its spectacular beaches.
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California Travel Planning Guide
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Head to the Ultimate California Packing List to get all the information you need about packing for a trip to California.
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