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Sight Waterfront, Santa Barbara

Stearns Wharf

A sight in Waterfront, Santa Barbara, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Sunset.

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Stearns Wharf in Waterfront, Santa Barbara
Photo: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · license

Why go

California's oldest working wharf with views back to the mountains.

It is one of 15 curated places we feature in Santa Barbara, alongside 4 sights, 3 bars & cafés and 3 places to eat. 5 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Santa Barbara Shellfish Company and Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Sight
Neighborhood
Waterfront
Price
Free
Time needed
45 min
Best time
Sunset

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Santa Barbara, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Santa Barbara Shellfish Company

    Counter seafood shack at the end of Stearns Wharf; lobster and crab.

    Food · 0.1 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.

    Funk Zone taproom of a Santa Ynez Valley brewery with a patio.

    Drinks · 0.4 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Funk Zone

    Former warehouse blocks near the beach, now full of wine tasting rooms, breweries and murals.

    Drinks · 0.4 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Santa Barbara Harbor Parade of Lights

    Boats strung with Christmas lights circle the harbor after dark, followed by fireworks over the water.

    Activity · 0.4 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Brophy Bros

    Seafood restaurant upstairs on the harbor, known for clam chowder and views over the boats.

    Food · 0.6 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    East Beach

    Wide sandy beach with volleyball courts and a palm-lined bike path.

    Outdoors · 0.7 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Stearns Wharf is a stop on our Pacific Coast Highway route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More sights to see in Santa Barbara

4 more curated sights in Santa Barbara. See the full Santa Barbara guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Santa Barbara run from 63°F in February to 82°F in August; January is usually the wettest month. For Stearns Wharf itself, we suggest: Sunset.

Modelled monthly averages for Santa Barbara from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Santa Barbara weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Stearns Wharf, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
217 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA
Coordinates
34.41001, -119.68597
Destination
Santa Barbara, California

Stearns Wharf: quick answers

How much time do you need at Stearns Wharf?

Plan on about 45 minutes at Stearns Wharf. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Stearns Wharf?

Our pick: Sunset.

Is Stearns Wharf free?

Yes, we list Stearns Wharf as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Stearns Wharf?

Stearns Wharf is at 217 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA, in Waterfront. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Stearns Wharf?

Stearns Wharf appears on Pacific Coast Highway, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Stearns Wharf to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Santa Barbara.

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Also in Santa Barbara

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.