Carpinteria is a small oceanside city in Santa Barbara County. The name translates to "Carpentry".

Understand

Located only a few miles south of Santa Barbara, this city of about 13,000 is most known for its large sandy beach and state park. Sacramento, the capital city, is 613 km to the north and Santa Barbara, the county's administrative center, 18 km to the east. It is a coastal city on the Pacific coast of southwest California

History

Prior to the white residence, it was a residence of the Chumash tribe of Native Americans, and white people migrated to form a village during the California Gold Rush in the 1840s. Traditionally, agriculture and fishing such as avocados, grapes, and nuts were the main economic activities. In the 1960s, oil fields were developed in California Offshore Oil Field, and oil manufacturing became the main industry, and food processing and manufacturing industries also developed. It is a resort located in the middle of Ventura and Santa Barbara, and there are camping grounds and trails along the beach, so you can enjoy fishing, boating, and surfing. The nearby coast is famous as a breeding ground for seals and sea lions, and it is an area where various sea creatures, including gray whales, live.

Get in

By car

Highway 101 goes north to San Francisco and south to Los Angeles.

By bus

Santa Barbara MTD provides bus service to Goleta and Santa Barbara. VISTA bus goes to Ventura. Greyhound stops in Oxnard and Santa Barbara.

By train

Amtrak has a station on the Pacific Surfliner route between San Luis Obispo and San Diego, via Los Angeles. Nearest stop for the long-distance Coast Starlight train, running between Los Angeles and Seattle, is in Santa Barbara or Oxnard.

• 1 Carpinteria railway station, 475 Linden Ave. (updated Nov 2019)

By plane

Santa Barbara has an airport which flies to several destinations. Los Angeles International Airport is about 100 mi (160 km) away and has cheaper flights to many more destinations. There is an airport shuttle, Santa Barbara Airbus, which travels 8 times a day to/from LAX.

Get around

By foot

A great way to get around, given that the city is small and compact.

By car

Moving a car can be a hassle, especially in the summer when it is crowded. However, parking is free throughout the city.

By bus

There is a shuttle bus run by Santa Barbara MTD which travels in a loop around the city on 20 minutes increments.

By bike

Another good way to get around.

See

Seals and sea lions have a rookery at the Carpinteria Bluffs and can be seen from December through May. There are also tide pools in the area that contain anemones, sea urchins, crabs, starfish, snails, fish and octopus.

• 1 Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park (take 3rd St until it dead-ends at Ash). The estuary is an excellent place for birdwatching. Interpretive trails lead through the marsh, and viewing platforms are also available. The estuary covers an area of 230 acres, 120 of which are owned by the University of California at Santa Barbara and are off limits to visitors. (updated Nov 2015)

Do

Visit the beautiful beach. Visit the State park and go shopping in the various antique stores through the town. Ride along the Seaside Shuttle to visit historical sights throughout the city.

• 1 California Avocado Festival (Avofest), 800 Linden Ave (Carpinteria Ave and Linden Ave), ☏ +1 805 684-0038, samantha@avofest.com. Held annually on the first weekend in October, this three-day festival attracts nearly 100,000 visitors and celebrates all things avocado. The festival features over 75 musical acts on four stages, the "largest avocado" competition, the world's largest vat of guacamole, plenty of food, historical exhibits, a children's venue, and an arts & crafts venue. Free. (updated Nov 2015)

Eat

A few of the places to eat in Carpinteria are The Spot and Little Dom's. The Spot offers a medium price food selection from burgers to fries to tacos.

• Taqueria Rincon Alteño, 4414 Via Real. Authentic Mexican restaurant and favorite of locals. Cheap with no frills. Crispy tacos are highly recommended though not for the faint of heart; soft tacos are great as well. Can be crowded. Under $10. (updated May 2019)
• Clementines, 4361 Carpinteria Ave. A homey comfort food restaurant that feels like you're eating at grandma's. Portions are large (even on the light eaters menu) and include crudités, soup, salad, fresh bread, entree and pie. The pie is delicious and should not be missed. Fried chicken is solid and there is a surprisingly good offering of mostly local seafood. $11-30. (updated May 2019)

Drink

• 1 Apiary Taproom & Fermentory, 4191 Carpinteria Ave #10, ☏ +1 805-684-6216, cheers@drinkapiary.com. 2-8PM Mon-Wed, 2-9PM Thu, 2-10PM Fri, 12-10PM Sat, 12-8PM Sun. Apiary brews dry mead, hard kombuch, and organic hard cider in small batches from natural ingredients. They serve their drinks here, at the site where they are fermented. They arrange for food trucks to be nearby, or you can bring in your own food. (updated Nov 2024)

Sleep

• Best Western Carpinteria Inn, 4558 Carpinteria Ave, ☏ +1 805 684-0473, fax: +1 805 684-4015. 
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 5606 Carpinteria Ave, ☏ +1 805 566-9499. 
• Motel 6 Santa Barbara-Carpinteria North, 4200 Via Real, ☏ +1 805 684-6921, fax: +1 805 566-0387. 
• Motel 6 Santa Barbara-Carpinteria South, 5550 Carpinteria Ave, ☏ +1 805 684-8602, fax: +1 805 566-9097. 

Go next

• Ventura - Located on the coast 23 miles southeast of Carpintera, Ventura is home to many interesting shops, the historic Mission San Buenaventura, and is the gateway for excursions to the Channel Islands National Park.
• Ojai - Located 22 miles to the east, Ojai is a popular weekend getaway for Southern California residents, offering wine tasting, art galleries, hiking, horseback riding, spas, and a rustic environment for those looking to escape the big cities.
• Montecito - Bordering Santa Barbara and located along the ocean, Montecito is located eight miles west of Carpinteria and is one of the wealthiest communities in America, home to stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Rob Lowe. Visitors seeking luxury, and who can afford to pay for it, will appreciate the upscale resorts; those who would rather not pay a small fortune for lodging can still enjoy the beaches and excellent restaurants.

Routes through Carpinteria

Santa Barbara ← Montecito ←	N  S	→ Ventura → Los Angeles / Long Beach
END ←	W  E	→ Ojai → Santa Paula
San Luis Obispo ← Santa Barbara ←	N  S	→ Ventura → Los Angeles