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    Carpinteria State Beach

    3.6 (293 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Sunset
    Jacob S.

    Possibly my favorite beach on the planet. Keep in mind, I don't get out too much, but this place will always have such a special place in my heart. I used to go hear as a child with my Grandparents, would go here as a teen for camping, took my dog there for her last day around... It clearly means a lot to me. It is always a clean, pleasant place to be, and the sunsets are unbeaten. Parking is easy and free, there are plenty of good food options nearby, what else could you need?

    Monica R.

    $10 parking, nice family beach, fluffy sand, clean water nice breeze. It is worth to go a little far to enjoy a day on the beach. Close there is a little downtown with many restaurants to have a dinner. Well, they said no dogs, but I think they tolerate close to the parking lot. But, it is the cutest scene of our day. We loved our day !

    Love the views!
    Amado O.

    It's a great place to camp. Love the hike/bike trails. The town is a small walk barely used our car. Plenty of good restaurants just minutes away. The beach is very beautiful and great cliff scenery to take pictures. Some of the bad stuff. Lots and lots of tar!!! They do not allow dogs on the beach and I would not want to take my dog on it. You wil get tar on you and your furry pet. It's hard to get out. The spaces are really tight. I moved my truck a few times to let some neighbors park. Without them asking, I was more concerned then hitting my truck them parking. Don't worry they didn't even say thanks. Most people don't even look. I stayed In Santa Rosa, I did not like how much sand was on the paved area. They don't bothered sweeping it. Minus well camp on the actual beach sand. They have clean facilities with plenty of restrooms. Loved the wild life all around. I would go back but come with a shovel and leaf blower to move the sand off my camp site lol.

    Erika C.

    Had a great time with the family at Carpenteria. The campground is about a 10 min walk to downtown Carpenteria with beautiful scenery, brewery, coffee shops etc... The campground is clean and restrooms were decent. The spots are very tight and The only thing I didn't like was the constant harassing from the camp rangers. They are extremely strict and come back to harass you constantly throughout your stay. I loved it here so much despite that but not sure if it's worth coming back if we have to deal with that again. Overall beautiful beach.

    Signage
    Courtenay O.

    What a great place to walk and talk and enjoy the beach, and the weather with friends and relatives! Our family took us here after lunch, to walk off the calories. We parked down the street by their favorite thrift store. We did see a parking lot closer to the beach. The weather was perfect on 12/26/22 - not too cool or hot, and we walked in the sand and on the recycled boardwalk. Some of the succulents along the way were in flower in yellows and pinks. We also passed restrooms that were closed for the season, but one or two WERE open. Unfortunately they had no soap or paper towels. Thus, 4 and not 5 stars.

    Ane V.

    It is a good place to visit all year round. It is nice to walk along the shores and enjoy the view. Maybe it be to Watch the sunrise, sunset, surfers or the swimmers. There are picnic area with tables, barbecues and covered patios that offers a wonderful view of the Santa Ynez Mountains. This is a good rest stop while driving by to Santa Barbara or on your way home. There is Amtrak train service to the park. Check with Amtrak for schedules, times and fares.

    Walkway
    A. K.

    Stellar experience at Carpinteria State Beach! I borrowed a state park pass from my local CA library which let us park for free. Clean restrooms and super chill crowd. Hurricane Hilary passed through a few weeks ago and left debris/ wood. I saw a few people (locals?) picking up garbage and debris as they left. This beach is exactly what I imagine when I hear California Beach- clear blue skies, breezy shoreline with silky sands. A highlight of this beach is once you are on the beach, you are right near the water. No need to exhaust yourself hauling all your things a long ways to find your spot. A few families in the middle of the week, but more folks reading in chairs or blankets spread out & taking in the beauty.

    Vuoch L.

    We lucked out , found parking right away . Bathroom / shower / camp site is a short trek across the sand on the board walk . Closer to the water has lots of rocks , so watch your footings . Walking distance to many restaurants nearby .

    Beach
    Leslie B.

    Came here with my mom and my girlfriend it was such a pleasant time! Love that the restrooms are super close to beach! Also the walk from the car to the actual sand is very close! Get here early to reserve a good spot my family arrived here around 8am and we found a great spot, towards the afternoon it does get a little more packed but as long as you have your spot it's a great time! Will definitely be returning here soon! Also side note it is very clean they were people sweeping sand on the boardwalk which was nice ! Hope you choose to visit this beautiful beach ! And don't forget all your snacks and drinks! No dogs allowed on the actual beach! And there are grills to barbecue but the water isn't visible from that area !

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    3 months ago

    It's a nice dry camp site. The restrooms and showers are helpful. Cool breweries nearby.

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    Kate W.

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    2 years ago

    What a beautiful beach. We spent a few hours walking along the beach, collecting sea shells, and enjoying the sunshine in January.

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    Carpinteria State Beach Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Carpinteria State Beach

    Does the bathrooms have a kitchen sink to allow us to wash pots and pans?

    Yes!

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yup! I bring my dog here. Need to be on a 6ft leash at all times though.

    Do they have lifeguards and on which days?

    Yes, they have lifeguards. I assume they have them everyday. We were there on a Wednesday and stayed until 6pm and the lifeguard was still there when we left.

    For 454, can we put chairs on the sand? Is there beach access from site? I see some ropes? Is that blocking ocean access or vegetation? Also, it says. I parallel parking, we have a truck and pop up...will both fit in spot? Hard to tell from photos.?

    Hi, Please call the park for specifics. Although I can answer most of your questions... the folks in the entrance station are much more familiar with where beach access… Read more

    Are dogs allowed on the beach?

    No, they are not allowed on the beach, but there is a park adjacent to the campgrounds and beach parking, where they can be on a leash.

    One more question! Can we bring a small charcoal bbq?

    Yes, totally. The rule of thumb is: the park needs to be the same before, during, and after your visit. So, if it is contained and doesn’t change the environment around you, it’s probably ok. Feel free to ask any number of questions nonetheless :)

    The site says campfires: yes, but not ring provided. May we bring a small one for a campfire? Asking about site M454.

    Yes u may bring a fire pit

    Can I bring my dog?

    Yes! They are not allowed on the beach, but yes at the campsite and on the trails of on leash.

    Are there flushable toilets? Are there showers?

    Greeting from the beach Mora! Yes, we have flushing toilets as well as hot showers. The showers… Read more

    Can a tent camper (pop up) be used at a tent site?

    I don't think so...Only tents I believe. I do see alot of Pop-up campers nearby in "camper area".

    Can you set up tent on the beach without reservation? Been trying to reserve a spot but all booked. What's your advice?

    No, you run a very good risk of getting a citation! Try mid-week in October thru February, or book a site online 6 months in advance. The park can only give you one day at a time if they have space.

    I understand extra cars are $10 a night. Our extra car won't fit in our spot, so is there plenty of room designated elsewhere for extra cars? Thank you :)

    Hi! Extra people in our party park OUTSIDE the campground. It's just a little walk. Been doing that for years to avoid $10 fee.

    Does each standard campsite have a fire ring and picnic table?

    Yes! They all have a fire ring and table.

    View All 23 Questions

    Review Highlights - Carpinteria State Beach

    You can walk to see the tide pools and to the Seal Sanctuary or you can just sit in the beach and do nothing.

    Mentioned in 19 reviews

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    Santa Claus Beach

    Santa Claus Beach

    (35 reviews)

    Such a hidden gem of a beach. We stumbled upon it after randomly getting off the freeway. Passing…read morethe beautiful beach houses , there's an open area to park by the railroad. Walking across the railroad, the beautiful beach is kept hidden and beautiful. It was nice to come relax in the sun and hit the waters for a bit. It is NOT hard to find, don't be mislead by these reviews. There's also a surf store, a restaurant, and other stores going more down the road! Nice area.

    Last month, on a weekday in the middle of summer, is when I dropped in to this beach known by…read moreseveral names... Santa Claus Beach (unofficial name) and Padaro Beach (offical name). It was so hectic to get to this beach due to all the road construction. And the beach was packed due to the various local children's summer camps and tourists. First, thing to note is the road construction. Possibly it's over by now. But when I visited, the road had no parking for the stretch right along the public access to the beach. It's free access and parking. The normal spots were taken by the construction crew and their equipment and materials. They were digging up the road. I saw a lot of folks parking in the road construction zone. The crew were calling tow trucks depending on where those cars were parked. Anyway, we parked really far away and hoofed it in while dodging dozers, street traffic, and construction crew. The access to the beach is limited to the open stretch where so happened the construction was occurring. Other access points are private property. Don't be tempted to cut through, it's illegal. Once you get to the public access area, you'll need to hike a wee bit of sandy elevation to cross the train tracks. Have your wits about while trekking near and on the tracks. Look both ways from afar and be ready to move to a safe distance if there is an incoming train. We ventured further to the far edges of the beach. The beach was clean. Sand was soft. Good vibes. Watch out at high tides if you venture to the far sides, the beach shrinks at high tide. And a rocky outcropping is beyond the sand. Plus there are no plumbed public restrooms, but I did see porta toilets.

    Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary

    Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary

    (38 reviews)

    I set out to view the Carpinteria Seal Rookery. Basically this is a restricted beach area for…read morehumans but where seals gather to hang out and live their best life. Before I go further I want to tell ya all that "messing" (includes physically approaching and intruding in restricted areas) with the seals is a federal violation resulting in $10,000 fine. Plus remember the state& local crime punishable by more fines and probable time. We all know how much the government is hurting for some extra moolah. So don't be a doofus. The viewing area is free, no charge. All right with that said, you can view the website for ways to get to the overlook. All paths lead to using the Carpinteria Bluffs Trail. Plus for the love of all that you love, beware of the train tracks. Those are active tracks with real live trains. There are no bells n whistles to alert you that they are a coming. The tracks are not set there for a photo selfie opp. Don't linger on them and don't use them as a walking path. The summer weekday afternoon I visited, the extended bluff trail viewing area was closed. It was roped off. However the hedge, along the viewing trail, was overgrown so the beach below was not visible from that vantage point. So I went back to the area before the trail viewing area. And there was a small area where the hedge was not overgrown to view a portion of the beach below. That portion was closest to the private Casitas pier. But on this particular summer weekday afternoon, I was unable to view any seals on the beach from my vantage point. I'm pretty sure some were down there though. I saw a few swimming in the distance. Then unfortunately I saw a great white shark do what they do. It made a meal of a seal or two. Not a bad place for the sharks to hang out. Highly unfortunate for the seals when they do.

    It was very windy when I visited, and so there were no seals or any other animals. I walked down on…read morethe beach and realized why. It was so windy that anything on the beach ended up getting a sand blasted exfoliation! The birds were having issues keeping up in the wind too. Nonetheless, this is a cute place to visit and walk around. The views are amazing and I love the cliffs. There are also small sea shells that have washed up on shore that you can look at. I guess I'll have to pick another day when the weather is better and then I can go seal-spotting.

    Lookout Park - View of the ocean from top of the bluff

    Lookout Park

    (62 reviews)

    Does not have a designated dog park. It is a bit disheartening to see oil on the beach. It is a…read morebeautiful park to take pups on a leash, bathrooms available, and a large playground.

    5 Star Rating Lookout Park in Summerland, near Santa…read moreBarbara, is an absolute gem! This clean, beautiful park, perfectly situated on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean, was the ideal spot for our family reunion this past June. We'll definitely be back! Value - 5 The value here is incredible. We reserved Area A for just $65 for the whole day for our family reunion! It came with a large, double-width bbq, two picnic tables and a long, high-top serving table. That's a steal, especially considering places in Oxnard (which aren't nearly as bougie or clean) were charging well over $200. Quality / Cleanliness - 5 This park is impeccably maintained. There are two large picnic areas (require reservation) and several smaller picnic areas with bbq (first come, first served), and the large, well-maintained play area for kids is fantastic, including a jungle gym and even musical instruments. The path down to the beach is somewhat steep but totally worth it. The beach itself is super clean, with sand at low tide and lots of cute nooks and crannies to explore. At high tide, it becomes a rocky beach as the water comes right up to the path landing. Plus, it's pet-friendly! Service - N/A As a public park, there isn't a traditional "service" component to review, but the booking process for the picnic area was smooth. Physical Location - 5 The location is simply stunning. Being on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean is breathtaking. The park is clean, the amenities are well-kept, and there's a cute little town/shopping area just past the Amtrak overpass that's easily walkable from the park. Everything about this location is perfect.

    Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve

    Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve

    (36 reviews)

    52 acres of open space. It's between freeway 101 and the Pacific Ocean. It has fields of…read morewildflowers and native plants, eucalyptus grove of trees, walking paths that connect to the Carpinteria Bluffs Trail, and access to a low tide beach and seal rookery. Since the preserve is on a cliff, the sunsets are gorgeous. Catch the sun as it dips slowly into the ocean horizon. The colors melting into the ocean. Perfection. The access and parking to the preserve is free. FREE! You gotta luv that. Since the preserve is on a bluff, the beach is elevated below. So accessing the beach requires some trekking skills. Plus there are active live train tracks between the beach and preserve. Trains often run through. Always have your wits about you when you're near train tracks. And keep a considerable distance from the moving train. Next to the bluffs are ball fields with actual real turf. There are public restrooms there. I can't offer any additional info on those, I didn't use them. Both the preserve and ball fields have their own parking lots. Also I want to acknowledge the citizens of Carpentaria for fighting off land developers to keep this land undeveloped and forming a land trust to permanently safeguard it.

    Lovely dog friendly trail next to the beach. Pretty flat so easy for most people on a dirt path…read more Views of the ocean too or you can walk down to it in certain spots (if you are ok with a sorta steep hill). Saw plenty of people biking on the trail too as it's pretty wide in spots. Weather was nice and cool so perfect to take your dog for exercise and enjoy the views. We parked in the free lot and walked North almost to Carp State Beach before turning back -- so a good 2 miles maybe. Drove down to Rincon Point Beach afterwards to take our dog to the beach there for a run.

    Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park - Train tracks

    Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park

    (8 reviews)

    Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park is nestled in the coastal town of Carpinteria, California. While…read moreit doesn't look like much from the outside, things are surprisingly beautiful within. It's got a great beach area and little bluffs to sit on overlooking the ocean. It's a place where you can unwind, take a leisurely stroll, and simply breathe in the fresh coastal air. Last time we were there, the beach had tons of driftwood from all the recent storms. There were some really interesting pieces of wood out there and maybe a hidden treasure or two. It was fun to search through everything and build a wooden fort. The salt marsh ecosystem also draws in various bird species, some uncommon, making it interesting for birdwatching. Whether you're an experienced birder or simply appreciate a cool looking bird, the park offers ample opportunities to spot and observe them in their natural habitat. The park has actually been closed since April 2023 but is scheduled to reopen in June 2023, for emergency dredging and other issues related to all the weather and flooding. The park's amenities are relatively limited, including a small visitor center and a picnic area, they also have some campus spots I believe. Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park is a worth a stop if you are local or looking for a nice spot to spend some time by the beach. Five stars.

    The trail runs along the edge of the rehabed salt marsh. It is an interesting walk, well kept and…read morewith good educational signs. The neighborhood surrounding the marsh on 2 sides is upscale and there is plenty of street parking. Lots of room and benches to relax and enjoy the views.

    Carpinteria State Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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