The Perfect Santa Barbara Day Trip Itinerary
Santa Barbara has long been one of my favorite destinations in the Golden State. While I’d recommend staying for a bit longer if you can, you can see a lot of the area with just one day. If you’re doing a California road trip or just looking for a fun day trip from a nearby city, it definitely can’t be missed!
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the ultimate Santa Barbara day trip itinerary. I’ve included some of the city’s most popular attractions, as well as my favorite eateries to enjoy along the way!
The Ultimate Santa Barbara Day Trip
Here’s a breakdown of how to spend one day in Santa Barbara. You’ll start with breakfast and coffee in town before taking a short drive over to a nearby easy hike. After that, you’ll spend the rest of the day exploring all that Santa Barbara has to offer!
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Get Breakfast and Coffee in Town
Start with getting breakfast and a caffeine boost in town. There are a ton of great eateries and coffee shops all throughout Santa Barbara, but here are a few of my favorites:
- Cajé Coffee (Multiple Locations): Cajé (pictured below) is a coffee shop that also offers simple breakfast items, such as bagels and avocado toast. Full disclosure: the coffee drinks are pricey (and that’s coming from someone who has to deal with LA coffee prices!), but it’s worth the splurge for a one-time treat – I highly recommend The Burnout. If the weather is nice, I recommend going to the location at 1316 State Street, where they have a really beautiful outdoor patio.
- Jeannine’s Restaurant & Bakery (Multiple Locations): If you want more of a sit down, table service type of experience, head over to Jeannine’s. This popular restaurant cooks up classic breakfast dishes, including benedicts, pancakes, waffles, and more. If you happen to be taking the train for your day trip, there is a location within walking distance of the Santa Barbara train station.
- Green Table (Downtown Santa Barbara): Green Table is an organic vegetarian restaurant with lots of great options for both vegans and vegetarians. The health-conscious menu includes a breakfast sandwich, avocado toast, muffins, smoothies, and more. They also have great matcha lattes.
Do an Easy Hike at Arroyo Burro Beach
After breakfast, you’ll drive about 10 minutes outside of Downtown Santa Barbara to hike near Arroyo Burro Beach. The Arroyo Burro Beach Loop is a 1.3 mile trail on top of a coastal bluff. It overlooks Arroyo Burro Beach, and you get stunning views of the coastline.
This trail is super easy – there’s no elevation gain, and the path is clear and wide. I’d call it more of a walk than a hike! That said, you will be walking on bark chips and dirt, so closed-toed shoes are a good idea.
Street parking is available on and around Medcliff Road. The Arroyo Burro Beach Loop trailhead is located at the corner of Medcliff and Selrose Lane.
Visit Old Mission Santa Barbara
Once you’ve finished your hike, it’s time to head back into town, where you’ll hang out for the rest of the day. First, stop by Old Mission Santa Barbara, which was the 10th mission to be built in the state. The historic landmark is open for self-guided tours, and adult tickets currently cost $15. During the tour, you can explore the interior of the mission church, as well as the mausoleum, cemetery, gardens, and museum.
Those that aren’t interested in the tour can still check out the exterior of the building and the surrounding property. I also highly recommend checking out the Mission Rose Garden, a small garden that has an abundance of rose varieties. It’s located right across the street, and is free to visit.
There is a large parking lot in front of the property. You can also park on one of the surrounding neighborhood streets.
The mission sometimes closes for weddings and other events, so it’s a good idea to check the website before visiting. If you’re visiting on Saturday, also note that tours aren’t available from 12:00pm to 2:30pm.
Grab Lunch in Downtown Santa Barbara
Next, you’ll want to drive to the heart of Downtown Santa Barbara and grab lunch around State Street – the main shopping district in town. There are a ton of great lunch spots, but here are two of my top recommendations (both of which are near the next destination on the itinerary:
- Santa Barbara Public Market: This food hall (pictured below on the left) is home to a varied selection of food vendors. I absolutely love Fala Bar, a vegan restaurant that serves falafel burgers, salads, sandwiches, and more. Corazon Cocina is also the perfect option for anyone craving Mexican food.
- The Daisy: The Daisy (pictured below on the right and center) is one of my favorite places to grab lunch in Santa Barbara. I love the falafel plate, and their fries are perfect. The menu also features sandwiches, salads, bowls, and more, and there are great options for vegans and vegetarians.
If you’re down to walk the rest of the day (which I recommend!), I suggest parking your car on a neighborhood street or at a public lot near Downtown SB and leaving it there for the day. There are lots of public lots, including City Lot #3. If you street park, be sure to pay close attention to the street signs to make sure you’re able to park there for the day. For reference, the walk from Downtown Santa Barbara to Stearns Wharf is about a mile long.
Explore the Santa Barbara County Courthouse
One spot that you absolutely can’t miss during your day trip to Santa Barbara is the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. While it might seem weird to visit a courthouse, this is one of the most popular attractions in the area – and personally one of my favorite spots to explore!
This 1929 Spanish-Colonial style courthouse is fully operational, but visitors are welcome to check out the building (for free!). While you are visiting, be sure to go up the Clock Tower for amazing, 360-degree views of the city and beyond. You can either climb the stairs or take the elevator. You’ll also want to check out the elaborate murals in the Mural Room, and explore the Sunken Gardens. If you’re visiting on a weekend, you can also join the free docent-led tour, which starts at 2:00 pm and lasts one hour.
The main tourist entrance to the courthouse is located under the Great Arch off Anacapa Street. Note that you will need to go through a security screening during court business hours.
Shop at State Street
After checking out the courthouse, walk over to State Street. This palm-tree lined street runs right through the heart of downtown, eventually leading to the wharf. As you walk, you’ll see plenty of beautiful Spanish and Mediterranean-inspired architecture. There are also tons of antique stores, local shops, and other hidden gems, as well as more recognizable brand-name stores.
While you’re there, I recommend stopping by Urban Flea Market, which has a ton of fun and funky vintage clothes, home decor, vinyl, and other goods. I also love exploring Italian Pottery Outlet, which sells kitchenware, ceramics, and other creative gifts and home goods.
If you need a caffeine boost or a sweet treat, I also highly recommend stopping by LOKUM, which is located on State Street just a block from the courthouse. They sell authentic Turkish coffee, as well as amazing baklava and Turkish delights (I love the orange and hazelnut delight!). The space is also beautifully decorated!
Stroll Down Stearns Wharf
Continue walking down State Street to make your way to Stearns Wharf, which dates back to 1872. This 2300-foot wharf is California’s oldest wharf. As you walk down, you’ll get beautiful views of the ocean, as well as the Santa Barbara coast.
Grab Drinks at the Funk Zone
You can’t spend a day in Santa Barbara without stopping by the Funk Zone, which is the center of Santa Barbara’s arts, food, and wine scene. It’s worth spending some time strolling through the area to check out some of the local stores and galleries – I suggest stopping by The Shopkeepers (a clothing and home goods store) and Tendrel (a men’s clothing store).
Many of the tasting rooms on Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine Trail are also located in the Funk Zone. This trail serves as a map for wineries and tasting rooms in the area, many of which source grapes locally from wine regions like the Santa Ynez Valley (and the greater Santa Barbara County area) and Paso Robles.
Within the Funk Zone, one of my favorites is the family-operated Pali Wine Company, which has a really nice outdoor patio area. This winery specializes in Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, with grapes sourced primarily from Santa Barbara County.
Another great spot is The Valley Project, which produces wine with grapes from the five distinct viticulture areas in the county. Both wineries give you a great taste of the local wine scene (without having to make the trek up to wineries in Santa Ynez Valley – although I do recommend that for another day!).
End Your Day Trip with Dinner
Finally, finish off your mini Santa Barbara trip with dinner at one of the city’s amazing restaurants. I have two recommendations, both of which are in the Funk Zone:
- Loquita: Loquita is a well-loved Spanish restaurant offering paellas (including a vegetarian option), seafood entrees, classic tapas dishes, and so much more – all in a beautifully designed space! They also have amazing cocktails, including a varied selection of gin and tonics.
- The Lark: Another popular Funk Zone restaurant is The Lark, a warm and inviting restaurant serving New American fare made with locally sourced ingredients. Menu highlights include crispy brussel sprouts, oysters, hand cut pappardelle pasta, fried chicken, local seafood dishes, and more.
I hope you have an amazing time in Santa Barbara! Here are some additional travel guides to help you plan your next California adventure:
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