Distance: 27 miles
Driving Time:
30 minutes, but can come to a standstill on Sunday afternoons and the end of
long weekends
On this scenic stretch of highway, the ocean and mountains leave little room for the road, making for a very scenic drive. On a clear day, you'll see the Channel Islands offshore, along with some oil well platforms.
Twelve miles south of Santa Barbara, campers will find Carpinteria State Beach where you can camp oceanside. This spot is so popular that you're unlikely to drive in and find a spot open, and during the busiest times you may have to reserve seven months in advance to get in.
Points of Interest
If you can tear your gaze away from the ocean, you'll see orange groves east of the highway near the Seacliff exit. Look closely as you pass the tiny community of La Conchita, on the inland side of the road south of Rincon Beach and you may notice banana trees growing in backyards and along the streets. They're the remnants of a former banana plantation.
Where the coastline curves away from the highway just south of Santa Barbara is Rincon Beach, a favorite spot for local surfers and a nice place to stretch your legs and watch them.
The long pier jutting into the ocean is the Xaco Pier, a privately-owned oil company pier. You may recognize it from films such as The Two Jakes and others.
Just south of Santa Barbara, you may catch a glimpse of the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, the third-oldest polo fields in the United States. During polo season (which runs off and on from April through October), you can watch the play on selected days.
Side Trip
Take CA 33 just north of Ventura to reach Ojai, a small resort town in a location so idyllic that parts of the 1937 film Lost Horizon were filmed there. If you decide to stay overnight in Ojai, you can check for the best hotel rates at Kayak.com.
Primary Needs
You'll find a few places to stop along the highway for food and gasoline, but the highway is literally wedged between cliffs and ocean in places, and you may be better off to wait until you get to Santa Barbara or Ventura.