Santa Barbara Beaches

Santa Barbara features miles of coastline with several pristine beaches to choose from. From harbor and sailboat views to family friendly gems, you’ll have no trouble finding a great beach to relax and enjoy the view during your stay in Santa Barbara.

Carpinteria State Beach
Located only 10 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara, this wide stretch of beach features gentle waves and tide pools, perfect for families and children.

Arroyo Burro Beach
This dog friendly beach is a local favorite. Known as Hendry’s Beach by locals, this flat spot features a dog washing station in the parking lot and after your beach visit you can head over to the Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach for lunch or dinner. The parking lot fills up quickly so get there early!

Butterfly Beach
From breathtaking sunsets to celebrity sightings, it’s no wonder Butterfly Beach is a local favorite. The Four Seasons Resort Biltmore is located across the street, where you can enjoy drinks on the patio. Butterfly Beach is one of the few west-facing beaches in Santa Barbara, so it’s worth staying late to catch the sunset.

East Beach
Located between the Santa Barbara Zoo and Stearns Wharf, East Beach offers everything you need from Wheel Fun bike rentals, beach volleyball courts, bike and rollerblading trails, a children’s playground, and walking distances to cafes and restaurants. There is limited paid parking and street parking available so arrive early to snag a good spot.

Leadbetter Beach
This surfer’s paradise is a conveniently located near Shoreline Park and features amazing views of the Channel Islands.

Goleta Beach Park
Located 10 miles from Santa Barbara, Goleta Beach features kayak rentals, volleyball, horseshoe pits, a fishing pier, and plenty of places to barbecue with family and friends.

Summerland Beach
This beach is not only dog friendly but horse friendly as well. Santa Barbara Beach Horseback Rides offers sunset horseback riding tours along the beach for a beautiful beach experience.

El Capitan Beach and Refugio State Beach
Located 20 and 30 minutes up the coast from Santa Barbara respectively, these beaches are great for swimming and if you’re lucky, dolphin-watching.