Goleta Beach Park

Goleta Beach Park is a county-run facility on a sand spit near the University of California Santa Barbara campus, the Santa Barbara Airport, and the city of Goleta.

The beach at this park is much narrower than it used to be, but you’ll find enough sand for sunbathing, especially by the pier and restaurant building if you get there early. Lawns at the park are vast and good for sunbathing too, and picnic tables are abundant.

The paved bike path that runs right behind the park goes all the way to Santa Barbara and beyond making this a great spot to park and begin a ride. There are walking trails on the bluff top west of Goleta Beach Park which lead to the UCSB Lagoon and Campus Point Beach.

The 1500-feet long fishing pier is a long walk in itself with views of UCSB, Santa Barbara, and the Santa Ynez Mountains.

There is a boat launch here for launching boats right onto the bay. Kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders put in here as well and there are rentals on site. Atascadero Creek and Goleta Slough come together and flow to the ocean just east of the beach park.

To get to Goleta Beach Park from Highway 101, take the Hwy 217 exit toward the Airport and UCSB then follow it to Sandspit Road. As you get close, look for signs pointing to Goleta Beach Park. Park hours are 8am to sunset daily.

Address

5905 Sandspit Rd
Goleta, CA 93117

Phone

805-568-2460

Park Name

Goleta Beach County Park, Goleta Slough State Marine Conservation Area

Other Names

Goleta Slough, Atascadero Creek

Owner

County Park

Pet Details

Dogs allowed on leash

Fees

Free parking

Activities

Fishing, Birdwatching, Biking, Walking, Sunbathing, Volleyball, Picnicking, Boating, Kayaking, Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Amenities

Fishing Pier, Restrooms, Picnic Tables, BBQs, Benches, Paved Bike Trail, Grass Park, Playground, Restaurant, Rentals, Boat Launch, Horseshoes Pits, Creek, Volleyball Courts, Lifeguards (summer)

Links

Water Quality
Water Temps
Tide Chart