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Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

2559 Puesta del Sol · Santa Barbara, CA

Why you should go…

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History sits on a wooded campus near Mission Santa Barbara in California. Its galleries cover regional natural history, dinosaur and marine fossils, birds and insects, and Chumash Indian culture, and the grounds include a planetarium and space lab. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers free parking in its own lot.

  • #museum
  • #natural history
  • #family
  • #science

Good to know

General museums guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Check the special exhibition separately

    Touring shows usually carry their own ticket and their own opening hours, listed apart from general admission.

  • Look for the free window

    Many museums run community days, member evenings, or discounted late openings. It is worth a look before you pay full price.

  • Travel light through the door

    Large bags and backpacks often have to go to a coat check, and lines for it move slowly at opening.

  • Weekday mornings beat weekend afternoons

    School groups clear out by early afternoon midweek, while weekends stay busy from late morning on.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Downtown Santa Barbara

    Free

    The historic downtown district of Santa Barbara, anchored by the State Street corridor of shops, restaurants and paseos.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Cat Therapy

    Under $25

    Santa Barbara's only cat cafe, where visitors socialize with adoptable rescue cats in a cage-free lounge.

    1.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Date Night

    Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail

    Free

    Self-guided trail linking over 20 walkable wine tasting rooms across downtown Santa Barbara neighborhoods.

    1.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Santa Barbara Historical Museum

    Free

    Free Santa Barbara museum tracing the region's Chumash, Spanish, Mexican and American history.

    1.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Reagan Ranch Center

    Free

    A free museum in downtown Santa Barbara with artifacts and exhibits on Ronald Reagan's life and presidency.

    2.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

    Under $25

    Harborside museum on Santa Barbara's maritime history with interactive exhibits and a theater.

    2.8 mi awayMore like this