Goleta Beach
Goleta Beach
4
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
A long sandy beach near Goleta Point.
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Restaurants
179 within 3 miles
Attractions
54 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
184 reviews
Excellent
70
Very good
80
Average
20
Poor
7
Terrible
7
Fred L
San Jose, CA1,430 contributions
Jul 2020
Was in the Goleta area for a family getaway at the Bacara and spent a lot of time at Goleta beach. The beach is beautiful. You can walk along the beach or follow the walking trail that runs parallel to the beach. It is one of the most beautiful beaches I have been on and is a great place to take pictures. On the days I went into the water with my daughters (5 & 7), we got oil tar on our feet. That’s the first time I experienced that but it came off easily. There were also large clumps of seaweed which my oldest daughter did not appreciate. There was just the right amount of people on the beach that you could have your space you not feel completely alone.
Written July 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ghk1857
Ireland81 contributions
Jan 2020
On the spur of the moment, a family member invited us all to join them at sunrise on Goleta Pier. We watched the sun come up on the Pacific and give those glorious colours on the sea and the mountains. It's an experience we will never forget
Written July 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gahan
Santa Clarita, CA369 contributions
Aug 2020
I've come here twice just to go walking on the pathway. Parking is free, which is great. I took the bike path by the parking lot and walked up into UCSB and around the lagoon and back. Roughly 3 miles total. Looked like local families mostly enjoying the beach and pathway areas.
Written August 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ricksmithconsult
Hanford, CA34 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
I saw this beach park on Google Earth and it looked nice…
This place is to be avoided, at least right now. Most of the parking (of which there is plenty, and free) is closed off. Just one small area remains. There is a building (restaurant?) that is boarded up and very run down. I saw no restrooms, though there could be some. There were a few anglers, and a few seedy-looking characters, but not many other people.
I understand that the park took a pretty substantial beating during the winter storms last month, which is too bad. The areas I saw, though, could easily be reopened for parking, and a little maintenance wouldn’t hurt anything. This could be a very nice park, so I hope that it can be restored and reopened in the future. For now, go somewhere else.
This place is to be avoided, at least right now. Most of the parking (of which there is plenty, and free) is closed off. Just one small area remains. There is a building (restaurant?) that is boarded up and very run down. I saw no restrooms, though there could be some. There were a few anglers, and a few seedy-looking characters, but not many other people.
I understand that the park took a pretty substantial beating during the winter storms last month, which is too bad. The areas I saw, though, could easily be reopened for parking, and a little maintenance wouldn’t hurt anything. This could be a very nice park, so I hope that it can be restored and reopened in the future. For now, go somewhere else.
Written February 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MrGaucho1987
Santa Barbara, CA954 contributions
Aug 2021
Goleta Beach has seen better days. The tides have been hard on the beach as it's very rocky now. The seaside features tables and restrooms. There used to be a restaurant but it closed recently. It will probably reopen. The bottom line is that it is not a real pretty beach. There is a fair amount of parking. And you can bike to it from UCSB and Santa Barbara.
Written September 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sachin K
New York City, NY6,509 contributions
Feb 2019 • Family
Spend some quality time on the pier of Goleta Beach. Awesome scenery all around. Got to see some native birds. Certainly worth considering visiting same, when in the area.
Written December 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miranda C
Newport Beach, CA1,072 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
My favorite part about this place is there are benches very close to the water. When sitting, you get to see the never-ending ocean accompanied by blue sky and sun. The breeze adds to the scene, and it is also a great place to just relax. The pier is also nice, but I would say not as nice as the beach. A pleasant walk is all it has to offer. The wood is uneven and easy to trip. Fishing is an activity to do, but some fishers swear-- be careful around children. Although another plus is that you can get quite close to seagulls and pigeons, and they won't be fazed. It takes more than walking by them to disturb them. It is really the beach that makes Goleta worth visiting.
Written August 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SharonD_11
Santa Barbara, CA62 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
My dog and I love this beach. Walks here are like spa treatments for us both. South of the beach park is one of the longest beach walks inSB county and it is.. Dog friendly! Never dissappoits . There is room for a long Sandy beach even when the tide is in.
Written July 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ronald H
Carmel, CA193 contributions
Sep 2017 • Solo
If you are an ocean swimmer, this is the best beach swim on the coast between San Luis Bay and La Jolla. The water is warmer by as much as 5 degrees versus beaches north and south. Even on no -storm big wave days, entry and exit are easy. Entry is gently sloping, though there are a few rocks from time to time along the surf line and in the late spring, kelp gets captured in the bay and gets ground up over and over and can be mucky during initial entry. It is gone by waist deep though and the vis can be pretty good during that time of year. Start just west of the pier where the showers are and go straight out at least to the bouy line, or to the pier's end if you are experienced, then turn west, towards the UCSB campus. In the summer, about a quarter mile west, there is a bouy line from shore for jet ski ingress/egress. Ski drivers have always been very courteous and cautious when swimmers are in the area. From the showers past that point, in a straight line to the beach at the cliffs is almost a half mile. Turning around to make a 1 mile loop, you will find the mild current helping you on your eastbound leg during afternoon swims. There are lots of swimmers of all levels doing the parallel shore swim and you will never meet a friendlier group of folks anywhere. If you enjoy group swims, there are noon time regulars almost every day, mostly year round. Parking is good, restrooms are next to the showers and if you are so inclined, you can go to the Beachside restaurant to restore those burned off carbs afterward.
Written September 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James W
Birmingham, AL901 contributions
Jun 2021
this is a very ice and different beach to go out on. Relatively uncrowded. it is also very long and easy to walk..
Written July 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcella-Don
North Bellmore, NY35 contributions
I'm planning a trip doing a drive up or down the PCH. We're really green about this area. Is there any place else we should see in Santa Barbara? Were not into museums for this trip. Were looking for landscape. We'll be there last week in April
Is goleta Pier open April 7 following beach closure and storm damage?
There is no current info on edhat
Sayomii
Sacramento, CA
When can you start fishing for mackerel off the pier?
tomkK7680LT
Goleta, CA75 contributions
Goleta beach pier is .23 miles long, open for fishing all year long, at anytime of day (yea that’s right 24 hrs) mackerel bite all the time, there is no limit to the number you can take or their size. The pier is considered a man made obstacle so you don’t even need a valid calif. salt water fishing license. If you show up before 3;00 pm, you can purchase bait squid or anchovies cheep. Late evenings or early mornings (on occasion) a game warden walks the pier, so measure you keepers of game fish, and follow the rules; shark, halibut, & pile perch.
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