How to Reach Santa Barbara

GET IN

  • By Plane: Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, located in Santa Barbara, near the neighbouring town of Goleta, provides access to LAX through a shuttle service that flies between the two airports several times per day. There are flights to Santa Barbara from San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver and other destinations. Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District's Route 11 bus links the airport with downtown Santa Barbara.
  • By Bus: The Greyhound station is now located adjacent to the train station. The Santa Barbara AirBus operates several times per day from Goleta, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria to LAX. Other overland options can be found through the Santa Barbara County website, Traffic Solutions.
  • By Train: Amtrak, housed in a historical landmark on lower State Street in the heart of the Funk Zone, provides service on both the Pacific Surfliner (San Luis Obispo to San Diego) and Coast Starlight (Seattle to Los Angeles). Travel to Santa Barbara via train to have a picturesque journey.
  • By Car: There is only one major highway in and out of Santa Barbara, US 101; downtown Santa Barbara can be accessed via the Garden St. exit, while the beaches can be found off the Cabrillo Blvd. off ramp. Traffic patterns are the opposite from the famous Los Angeles grid lock, as the 101 can come to a grinding halt on Sunday afternoons. A road trip to Santa Barbara is fun!

GET AROUND

  • By Taxi: Taxis are extremely expensive, and can be hailed on the road as is customary.
  • By Bicycle: Along the waterfront, many businesses offer bicycle or inline skate rentals for exploring the beach areas, and "rickshaw" taxis are also common. Cyclists needing maps, pdfs, or apps can visit the Santa Barbara visitor centre at Garden St and Cabrillo Blvd or the Santa Barbara County website, Traffic Solutions.
  • By Car: Budget and Hertz car rental outlets are present at the airport terminal, and several other rental agencies are located in Santa Barbara.
  • By Bus: The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (SBMTD) runs buses all over Santa Barbara proper, and neighbouring Goleta and Montecito. Routes and fares are on their website.

Most buses stop at the Transit Centre which is 8 blocks from the train station. The SBMTD also runs shuttle bus services along State St between downtown Sola St and the waterfront, and along the waterfront, leaving every 15 or 30 minutes between 9AM and 6PM (till 10PM F-Sa in summer). Fare is 50 cents; get a free shuttle transfer to switch between the two shuttles.