Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center

The small Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center not only has one of the best views of Santa Barbara, but also offers visitors information about Channel Islands National Park, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, and the City of Santa Barbara. Open 10:30 am until 4:30 pm daily. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25, January 1, and the first Friday in August for Fiesta.

Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04

Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04

The Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center is located in the Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, California. Santa Barbara is located 100 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles north of Ventura. Plane, train, and bus service are all available to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Located in the bustling Waterfront of Santa Barbara's working harbor, the visitor center offers one of the best views of the city, beaches, harbor, mountains, wharf and islands. Stepping inside the visitor center there are interpretive displays about Chumash culture, Spanish explorers, Missionaries and American Ranchers. A spectacular mosaic tiled floor showing the Channel Islands and the Marine Sanctuary, the Rainbow Bridge legend and flowers native to the islands. An underwater kelp forest mural delights visitors who are curious about the marine life that inhabits our park and marine sanctuary. Garabaldi, tiger sharks, sea stars, lobster, abalone, and urchins are just a few of the species found in the kelp forest mural. Numerous free brochures and reference materials about the forest, park, sanctuary and the city of Santa Barbara are available for the visitor. A computer screen displays websites of all four agencies for ease in accessing updated information. Our outside deck has several interpretive displays about the park, the sanctuary and the forest. A telescope is setup for viewing wildlife and the visitor will find comfortable benches to sit and enjoy the spectacular views from the fourth floor deck.

• Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center
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• San Miguel Island Ranger and Visitor Contact Station
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• Santa Barbara Island Visitor Center
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• Santa Rosa Island Visitor Contact Station
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• Scorpion Ranch Visitor Center on Santa Cruz Island
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• Visitor Center Anacapa Island
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