Known as “The Good Land,” Goleta is a popular outdoor destination among travelers and locals from Santa Barbara and beyond. Kayakers paddle out from Goleta Beach in search of dolphins and other marine life; hikers find miles of trails in Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park and the wider Los Padres National Forest; and bikers take the coastal route to Isla Vista. The South Coast Railroad Museum and Butterfly Preserve are the most popular attractions in town.
High-end options abound: from luxury spas to fine dining and golf courses.
The State Street Visitor Center in Santa Barbara has helpful visitor information.
The South Coast Railroad Museum and Butterfly Preserve are especially family-friendly.
Goleta is just 10 miles (16 kilometers) from downtown Santa Barbara.
Goleta is minutes from downtown Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport. It’s easily reachable by car via Highway 101—the longest highway in California—and has its own Amtrak train station. The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) runs buses from downtown Santa Barbara, which take roughly 30 minutes to reach Goleta. A rental is much easier for getting around, especially for exploring outside town.
Goleta is a year-round destination blessed with a mild southern California climate. For the best beach weather, visit from June to September, skipping the high summer months to avoid the crowds. To see something special, visit during the butterfly migration season; it’s generally in winter but peaks from December to February.
In the heart of winter, California monarch butterflies flutter to coastal towns for warmer weather. In Goleta, they nest in the Coronado Butterfly Preserve and the Monarch Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa, located on the north side of town next to Santa Barbara Shores Park. The preserve has open space, trails, and classrooms next to the most extensive butterfly wintering groves in California—visit from November through February for your best chance to see the winged insects.
