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    Public Restroom / bathroom

    5.0 (1 review)

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    4 years ago

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    Gaviota Rest Area – Northbound Side

    Gaviota Rest Area – Northbound Side

    (30 reviews)

    $

    California's highway rest areas are universally magical, disappointing, sketchy, lovely, and weird…read more We would stop at them occasionally on cross-state trips when I was little, mainly to use the bathroom, but as I grew older and drove long distances myself, I never really understood their value. Why not stop somewhere you could also buy gas and food? But then I got into this habit of doing the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles trip on the 5 in the middle of the night, and rest areas became essential, because many 24/7 gas stations' restrooms magically go out of order in the middle of the night. Since the pandemic, I've been pretty annoyed by how many of the rest areas along the 5 have been simultaneously closed for long periods of time. I understand if they're doing major renovations, but Caltrans should schedule the construction so that at least some of the rest areas are open along the same route. Rest areas on other freeways feel like a bonus, like that random one on the 280. Who uses that one? Why? I know, I know; I already told you why people need rest areas. The Gaviota rest areas along the 101 might be my favorite in the state. Especially this one, the one on the northbound (eastern) side of the freeway. It appears not long after the 101 goes from hugging the south-facing coast to almost due north toward the curvy hilly section on the way to Buellton. And unlike its 5 counterparts, this rest area has a lot of character. It has gorgeous views of the surrounding natural features, and it feels perfect in scale. Is it safe? It's not unsafe, but compared to other rest areas, you might say it is unsafe. For one thing, the parking is a small bank of angled parking spots right off the incoming lane. People are usually coming fast off the 101, so when you're backing out to leave, you need to very careful. Also, the only thing separating these parking spots from the highway is a short stone wall and a lane for semis and buses. That lane is usually occupied, so you're usually physically protected, but when it's unoccupied, it would be very easy for a car to careen through that wall and into the parking spaces. There are also signs that warn about rattlesnakes, but I've never seen one here. Unfortunately, this rest area has been closed on two separate occasions in the last three years for renovations. The second closure was only for a few months, but it was still annoying, as this is a good place for me to use the restroom, stretch my legs, and catch some sleep if I need to now that Pea Soup Andersen's is permanently closed (RIP). The bathrooms are generally pretty clean. Even though you're right next to the freeway, it doesn't feel as loud or obnoxious as you expect it to. They have some tables to sit at and a couple of pet-relief areas. I love looking across the highway at the craggy hills. It reminds me so much of the geography farther north around the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.

    Needed to stop to use the restroom and take a nap and Gaviota saved me! I pulled off the freeway…read moreand I was in the parking lot! Go slow when you exit the freeway because people are walking through the parking lot with their kids. I didn't encounter anyone, but it was scary when the big rig trucks would exit and they're barreling through because they're trying to slow down. This spot is nice, there's plenty of restrooms available and they're clean. Definitely a great rest spot. Stop here even if you don't need to use the restroom it's super convenient and you're back on the road in less than a minute.

    Gaviota Rest Area:  Southbound 101 - No more payphones.

    Gaviota Rest Area: Southbound 101

    (12 reviews)

    $

    I recently reviewed the Gaviota Rest Area's northbound side (…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/gaviota-rest-area-northbound-side-goleta?hrid=ZD_A27xUjI0BfVrxb346sA&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) ). Most of what I wrote about the northbound side is true of the southbound side, although this side (southbound) feels like it has a slightly larger and more varied natural area behind the bathroom buildings. This side also has a much larger pet-relief area. Frankly, I've stopped at the northbound side about four times as often as I've stopped here, mainly because it was my habit--ritual, really--to stop at Pea Soup Andersen's (RIP) for a break on my way from San Francisco to SoCal. Now that the original Pea Soup's is no more, this stop will probably be more useful to me. Also like its northbound cousin, this stop was closed for years for renovations. It also seems generally to be closed more often than the northbound side, for some reason. When I visited last week, I noticed that they've removed the payphones. I guess that's to be expected these days, but if a person really were desperate and they had lost their phone, it seems like a remote rest area of all places should have a way to make a phone call. The men's bathroom is usually very clean. The parking setup is similar to the northbound side, so be careful when pulling in and out. It is also slightly safer, though, because there seems to be a longer lead-in before the parking stalls begin than on the other side.

    Beautiful clean open rest area on the way to Santa Barbara! Watch for signs on the way telling…read morewhether it is open!

    Holiday Inn Express & Suites Carpinteria - Lobby

    Holiday Inn Express & Suites Carpinteria

    (197 reviews)

    $$

    I was very impressed this place is adorable And dog…read morefriendly clean Above beyond Even have breakfast I recommend

    Holiday Inn Express in Carpinteria is not a bad place to stay. It's not the Ritz Carlton. But what…read moreis it, is a comfortable, clean, and safe hotel that is reasonably priced for the area. It's near the freeway, downtown Carpinteria, beachs, and a suburban shopping plaza with a grocery store ( eateries, Starbucks, fast food). Pros: + Complimentary breakfast. This was quite a spread and the egg and protein hot items rotates. Eggs one day could be a cheesy omelette patty and the next scrambled. The protein was bacon strip, pork sausage or turkey sausage patty. They had a pancake machine, very simple to use, just press a button. There were cinnamon rolls, bagels, bread slices, muffins, three cereal offerings, yogurt, and fruit (bananas, oranges). Coffee, tea, juices, milk, and even had almond milk. The women working the breakfast were amazing. Cheerful and helpful, adding to a great start to the day. They were taking care to refill hot food trays and tidying the area. + Outdoor swimming pool and hot tub. + Fitness center. + Free WiFi. + Free lending library in the lobby. + Complimentary 24/7 coffee and tea station in the lobby. Other: - They leave a printout of your receipt on the floor outside your door the early morning before checkout. I'm not a fan of this practice. Because we all know, people are noisy. I asked mine to be left at the desk. - The sole elevator is super small. Barely large enough for the bellhop cart and one person. - One of the two washing machines, in the guests laundry facility, was broken during our visit. - Not enough USB ports, for my liking, in the room. - The room's mini fridge temp was on the fritz. It froze my items even on a low setting. - Microwave was not cleaned. Still had the previous guests cheesy blob in it. Yikes.

    Public Restroom / bathroom - reststops - Updated May 2026

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