Getting To & Around Santa Barbara

Saying “I do” in Santa Barbara also means saying “yes” to a stress-free experience upon arrival, whether you’re traveling by plane, train or automobile. Your entire wedding party will appreciate the overall ease and convenience of getting from point A to point B. Our destination’s beaches, vineyards, cultural attractions, restaurants and hotels are just moments apart. So, whether you’re a walker, cyclist or motorist, you can explore The American Riviera® with ease. 

How do wedding parties and guests get to Santa Barbara?

bug vehicle arriving in Santa Barbara

Driving Here

Road tripping to Santa Barbara certainly does have its perks, especially along California’s legendary HWY 1 and 101. Cross this iconic, honeymoon-worthy road trip off your bucket list and see the sights of Santa Barbara County. Here’s our Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide for inspiration. 

Flying to Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is small, laid-back and, as you’d expect, architecturally distinct. It offers daily departures as well as nonstop flights to and from major cities like Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.

Need more options? Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) are just 85-90 miles southeast of Santa Barbara.  

Getting Here by Train

Wedding attendees with time to spare can relax and let Amtrak® take care of the getting-here part. The Santa Barbara and Goleta Train Stations are serviced by two routes. The Pacific Surfliner runs between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. Stops along this scenic route include Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The Coast Starlight runs between Seattle and Los Angeles, with stops in Portland, the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Barbara and other key cities.

How do wedding attendees get from the airport or train station to their accommodations?

Santa Barbara Airport front entrance

Unlike some wedding destinations, getting to the Santa Barbara South Coast’s hotels and resorts from the airport or train station is easy. Rideshares, taxis, shuttles and other services will streamline your arrival.

Uber and Lyft

With a few taps on your mobile device, Uber and Lyft make getting around super-convenient. Catch a ride directly outside the terminal, but be sure to confirm you’re getting into the right vehicle by checking the license plate, as rideshares are a popular airport transportation option.  

Taxi Services

You’ll see a line of taxis waiting for arrivals directly outside Santa Barbara Airport. If you prefer to set up your cab in advance, cab companies that allow you to do so include American TaxiCrown CabFly by Night Taxi, Roadways Cab, Rose Cab, Santa Barbara Airport TaxiSanta Barbara City CabSanta Barbara Checker Cab and Santa Barbara Yellow Cab

Rental Cars

If you or someone with your group prefers to be behind the wheel, you’ll find rental car kiosks in the Santa Barbara Airport, including Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National. Thrifty also has rentals available off-site. Some companies also have locations throughout the area if you need a different drop-off site.  

Limos & Luxury Private Cars

Your wedding plans may very well involve at least one glorious limo ride. Or perhaps a bachelor or bachelorette outing requires a stylish vehicle for exploring the Santa Barbara South Coast. Whatever the case, companies like EOS Transportation, Limo Link Transportation and Rockstar Transportation have you covered.

Hotel Shuttle Services

Quite a few area hotels offer shuttles to and from the airport and/or Amtrak stations, including: Best Western Plus South Coast Inn*, Best Western Plus Pepper Tree Inn*, Ramada Santa Barbara*, Hilton Garden Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta,  Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort and The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara.

*These properties run to and from both the airport and train stations.

Commercial Shuttle/Bus Services

As with many destinations, commercial shuttle services go to and from the Santa Barbara Airport – and major area airports like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR). These include Santa Barbara Airbus and Central Coast Shuttle. 

Public Transit

If you and your fellow wedding attendees aren’t in a hurry to get into town once you land, consider the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District. A bus stop right across from the terminal makes it easy. Find schedules and more info in the Airport’s South Lobby Terminal or on the district’s website.  

How can my wedding’s attendees get around Santa Barbara?

No matter what time of year you’ll be here for the wedding, Santa Barbara’s temperate year-round climate and plenty of car-free ways to get around mean that renting a car is optional. There are also quite a few unique options for navigating among wedding festivities. Here are some of our favorite ways to get around town.

Beach Cruisers & Electric Bike Rentals

Rent a beach cruiser from Cal Coast Adventures or Wheel Fun Rentals. Another fun option? Rent an electric bike from BCycle Santa Barbara, E-Bikery or Santa Barbara Bikes To Go

Depending on where you and your fellow wedding attendees are staying, your hotel or resort may even offer complimentary bike rentals.

Other Fun Transportation Options

Whether it’s getting your guests from the hotel to the wedding venue or checking out all of The American Riviera®’s offerings during your honeymoon, you’ve got other cool options for getting around in style, from a zippy electric four-seater from Wheel Fun Rentals to the three-wheeled SB Buggie. You can also explore by way of the Santa Barbara Trolley or The Landshark.

Your hotel or resort may even offer car and shuttle service within a few-mile radius of the property, an amenity your guests will surely appreciate. Such hotels include El Encanto, a Belmond Hotel, Hotel Californian and Rosewood Miramar Beach.

For more details and tips on getting to and around Santa Barbara and the surrounding area, see our full guide to transportation on the Santa Barbara South Coast.