Gaviota State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 7 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(805) 968-1033
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Gaviota State Park is a 2,710-acre park in Santa Barbara County, about 10 miles southwest of Solvang.
The park supports snorkeling and diving, surfing, horseback riding, boating, and swimming. Water access includes a swimming beach. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites, tent sites, and showers).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 7 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
Day Use 7:00 a.m. to Sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $10 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $10.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: beach.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed in campground and day-use area. Dogs not allowed on beach.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
From southbound Highway 101, Gaviota State Park presents itself as the gateway to the Pacific Ocean and features seasonal camping near a secluded sandy beach. With its iconic train trestle and pier, the intimate ocean landscape is the perfect setting for your wedding, celebration or other small event. The sprawling backcountry offers many opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, and experiencing natural hot springs.
ATTENTION: Trailers may be rented and delivered to the park from 101 RV Rentals. This is the only business permitted for delivery of RVs in this state park. It is illegal to conduct business in a park area without a permit, contract, or other written agreement. Renting from a business other than 101 RV Rentals may leave you without accommodations as the RV/camping equipment may be turned away upon arrival at the park. 101 RV Rentals can be contacted at (805) 210-7391.
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Hike-and-Bike Campsites, RV Access
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingPicnickingFishingSnorkeling and scubaSwimmingSurfingGeocachingHikingHorseback ridingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Park or camp store
- Parking
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
A popular spot for swimming, picnicking and surf fishing, Gaviota State Park is located off route 101, 33 miles west of Santa Barbara. A pier on the west end of the beach is used by anglers and scuba divers, and surfers use use a boat hoist on the pier to access the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel. A steep trail leads hikers to upland portions of the park. Camping on a first-come, first-served basis in a small campground accommodates tents or trailers up to 25'. Winter flooding may occasionally close park. Phone (805) 968-1033 for more information.
March 2014: The pier is closed until further notice due to severe damage from recent storms.
Picnic Area
The day-use area includes beach access, pier access, park store, restrooms, picnic area, and picnic tables on the beach. There are 5 accessible picnic tables and barbecues adjacent to the park store. The accessible restroom includes an outdoor rinsing shower. There is an accessible route to the beach with accessible tables. These tables are not anchored and can be moved if needed. Call ahead for additional information.
Read more from the park
Beach/Shore Access
A beach wheelchair is available. Contact the Camp Host at site #38 to reserve it.
Other Information
Combination restrooms with showers in campground have accessible toilets and usable showers. The showers may require assistance reaching controls from folding benches.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- Hwy 101 & Gaviota Beach Rd
Goleta, CA 93436 - Nearest town
- Solvang — about 10 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 34.4731, -120.2295
- Phone
- (805) 968-1033
- refugio@ports-ca.us
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is located 33 miles west of Santa Barbara on U.S. 101.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Gaviota west.jpg — Public domain (released by the author), Taken by Antandrus
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology