Skip to content
Carpinteria State Beach, Carpinteria, CA

Photo: Myrna Litt, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sports & Outdoors

Carpinteria State Beach

A California state beach about 12 miles south of Santa Barbara, known for white sand, rock outcroppings, and tidepools.

Carpinteria, CA

About Carpinteria State Beach

Carpinteria State Beach sits on the coast about 12 miles south of Santa Barbara. Its shoreline has white sand, rock outcroppings, terraced bluffs, and dunes. Visitors can swim, surf fish, explore tidepools, and camp. The park also has a Chumash-inspired play area for children and offers school and summer programs on the area's natural and cultural history.

  • #beach
  • #tidepools
  • #camping
  • #state park
  • #surf fishing

What's around here?

The closest stops to Carpinteria State Beach, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Santa Barbara Zoo

    $25–$50

    See roughly 300 animals across 109 species at this 30-acre oceanview zoo in Santa Barbara.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    8.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Stay
    Local Gem

    Cabrillo Inn at the Beach

    $50+

    A beachfront Santa Barbara motel directly across from East Beach and the harbor.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    8.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Stay

  • Sports & Outdoors
    Outdoor Adventure

    Cal Coast Adventures

    $25–$50

    Downtown Santa Barbara bike shop renting cruisers, e-bikes and road bikes, plus guided bike tours and surf lessons.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    9.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show

    No admission fee

    Long-running open-air arts and crafts market along Santa Barbara's waterfront, held every Sunday.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    9.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sports & Outdoors
    Outdoor Adventure

    Santa Barbara Waterfront

    No admission fee

    Walkable stretch of beaches, harbor and Stearns Wharf with boating, whale watching and waterfront dining.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    9.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Sports & Outdoors

    Mission Historical Park

    Check prices

    A roughly ten-acre city park beside Santa Barbara Mission with historic ruins and a large rose garden.

    11 mi awayMore like this

Near Carpinteria State Beach

More of the same kind

Keep exploring