Refugio State Beach
Also known as Refugio SB
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 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
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Refugio State Beach is a 930-acre beach in Santa Barbara County, about 10 miles southeast of Solvang.
Things to do include surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and geocaching. Water access includes a swimming beach. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites, tent sites, group camping, 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 | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
8am 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
Refugio State Beach offers excellent coastal fishing as well as trails and picnic sites. Palm trees planted near Refugio Creek give a distinctive look to the beach and camping area. Lifeguards patrol the beach year around while lifeguard towers are only staffed roughly from Memorial day weekend through Labor day weekend. Beach wheelchairs are available for use by the public at no cost. With this specially designed chair, wheelchair users may access the beach at several locations. Contact a ranger or lifeguard for additional information.
Refugio State Beach is a picturesque paradise 22 miles west of Santa Barbara with breathtaking sunsets and a tropical island feel, perfect for small, intimate weddings, celebrations, and other events. The quiet, remote beach is ideal for kayaking, surfing, fishing, or simply getting away from it all. The park also features 66 campsites, 3 group campsites, basketball court, swing set, campfire center, and a large grassy area with barbeques.
Read more from the park
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, Group Campsites, 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
BoatingPicnickingFishingSwimmingSurfingGeocachingHikingBikingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Nature center or museum
- Park or camp store
- Parking
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
✓ 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
Refugio State Beach offers excellent coastal fishing as well as trails and picnic sites. The beach is located 20 miles West of Santa Barbara on Highway 101 at Refugio Road. Phone (805) 968-1033 for more information.
Camping
Family Campground: Five accessible campsites are available (#1, #8, #38, #52, #62) and include a nearby accessible water station. Route from campsites to restrooms is accessible. Combination restroom/shower building #5 is accessible and includes adjacent accessible parking. Restroom #4 in the east campground is usable. Toilets permit front transfers. Designated accessible parking is adjacent to the building.
Group Campground: Group campsite(s) Yanonali and Anapamu are accessible. The nearby combination restroom/shower building (#5) is accessible and includes adjacent accessible parking.
Read more from the park
Picnic Area
Four accessible picnic areas are available in the day-use area. Parking, route, and restrooms within the day-use area are accessible. Along the accessible route are a refurbished basketball court and the Refugio Beach Store, which sells camping supplies, souvenirs, ice, beverages, groceries, fishing bait, and tackle.
Trails
Visitors to Refugio State Beach can enjoy the views of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands from a bluff-top bike trail/walkway. Part of the trail has been closed because of coastal erosion so it is no longer possible to travel between El Capitan and Refugio State Beaches, but parts of the trail remain open. The trail has fairly level sections, and parts of it may be usable, and challenging, for strong wheelchair users.
Beach/Shore Access
To reserve a beach wheelchair, call (805) 968-3834 M-F. Otherwise, contact park staff within the park for more information.
Exhibits/Programs
An education center used for training staff and volunteers is accessibly designed.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 10 Refugio Beach Road
Goleta, CA 93117 - Nearest town
- Solvang — about 10 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 34.4651, -120.0691
- Phone
- (805) 968-1033
- SB.SpecialEvents@parks.ca.gov
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Refugio SB is located 20 miles West of Santa Barbara on Highway 101 at Refugio Road. Address: 10 Refugio Beach Road, Goleta CA 93117
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: Refugio State Beach (18102147006).jpg — Public domain (US federal government work), Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US
“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