Santa Barbara
Spanish Colonial whitewash, the American Riviera, and the most photogenic coastal drive in California.
Distance
95 mi
Drive time
~110 min
Route
US-101 N along the coast — 95 mi from downtown LA
Best window
April–June and September–October for the best weather and clearest views (May Gray and June Gloom can fog the coast until midday)
About Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is the closest classic California-coast getaway to LA — about 95 miles and just under 2 hours north on US-101, with the Pacific on your left for the second half of the drive. Nicknamed the 'American Riviera,' it's a strict Spanish Colonial Revival town: red-tile roofs, whitewashed adobe, and the 1786 Old Mission Santa Barbara above downtown. A 12–15 passenger van handles the drive, parks easily at the downtown lots, and turns it into a one-day wine + beach + State Street walk for the whole crew.
Why it's worth the drive
- Old Mission Santa Barbara (1786) — the only California mission continuously operated by the Franciscans since founding.
- State Street — a mile-long pedestrian-friendly main street with restaurants, boutiques, the historic Granada Theatre, and the El Paseo arcade.
- Stearns Wharf — California's oldest working wooden wharf (1872), free to walk, with restaurants and the Sea Center.
- Funk Zone — converted warehouse district between the freeway and the wharf with 25+ tasting rooms (the Urban Wine Trail).
Things to do
What groups actually do at Santa Barbara
Old Mission Santa Barbara
1786 'Queen of the Missions' — self-guided museum tour with the original sanctuary, cemetery, and Moorish-fountain garden.
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
1929 Spanish-Moorish landmark — free climb to the 85-ft clock tower (El Mirador) for the best red-tile-roof view of downtown.
Stearns Wharf
Free to walk, free fishing without a license, Moby Dick restaurant for harbor-view lunch.
Funk Zone wine tasting
25+ tasting rooms within walking distance — Municipal Winemakers, Riverbench, Margerum, and the Test Pilot cocktail bar.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
78 acres of California-native plants in Mission Canyon — easy 1.5-mile loop, redwood section, and a 1806 mission aqueduct.
East Beach & Butterfly Beach
East Beach has volleyball and lifeguards near downtown; Butterfly Beach (Montecito) is the celebrity-spotting calm-water alternative.
Group + van tips
Driving a 12-15 passenger van to Santa Barbara
- US-101 N can back up at the Conejo Pass and through Camarillo at weekday rush — leave LA before 6 AM or after 10 AM.
- Downtown public parking lots (Lot 1, 6, 8, 10, 11) are free for the first 75 minutes and accept 12-15 passenger vans — Lot 10 is closest to the Funk Zone.
- The 154 (San Marcos Pass) is the scenic alternate route back via Lake Cachuma and the Santa Ynez wine country — add 45 min.
- Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu (SR-1) is the slow but photogenic return route — 3 hours instead of 1.75, but worth it once.
Santa Barbara's downtown municipal lots (Lots 1, 6, 8, 10, 11) accept 12-15 passenger vans in standard rows. First 75 minutes are free.
When to go
Best time to visit
April–June and September–October for the best weather and clearest views (May Gray and June Gloom can fog the coast until midday). Summer is warmer but more crowded. October's Santa Barbara Vintners Celebration of Harvest is a peak weekend for wine country.
Need a van for the trip?
Our LA fleet of 12-15 passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits delivers to LAX, Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), and Hollywood / DTLA hotel doors.
See LA vansPlan your visit
Official Santa Barbara resources
Visit Santa Barbara (CVB)
santabarbaraca.com
Old Mission Santa Barbara — official site
www.santabarbaramission.org
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
sbcourthouse.org
Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail (Funk Zone)
urbanwinetrailsb.com
More background
Santa Barbara FAQ
How far is Santa Barbara from LA?
About 95 miles north of downtown LA via US-101 — typically 1.75 to 2 hours each way, longer at weekday rush. From LAX it's about 100 miles / 2 hours.
Can I do Santa Barbara as a day trip?
Yes — leave LA by 7 AM and you can comfortably hit the Mission, the Courthouse tower, lunch on State Street, an afternoon in the Funk Zone, and be back in LA by 9 PM.
Where do I park a 15-passenger van in downtown Santa Barbara?
The City of Santa Barbara's downtown lots — Lot 10 (closest to the Funk Zone), Lot 6 (State Street), and the Granada Garage — all accept standard Sprinters and Transits. First 75 minutes are free.
Is PCH (Highway 1) a better drive than US-101?
More scenic, much slower. PCH through Malibu adds about 90 minutes vs. US-101 inland. Most groups take US-101 up and PCH back for the variety.
More day trips