This route gives you a great point to point location to camp. At one end, Carpinteria is a little town where you can easily get to by Amtrak or car with many amenities including a great coffee shop and various restaurants. On the other end at Refugio, the hiker biker site is given the best plot of land looking over a beach and the Pacific Ocean. The entire site is dotted with palm trees and gives a very resort-like feel to it.
The route will take you through backroads paralleling highway 101 before it opens up through busy side streets of Santa Barbara. You’ll get to explore much of downtown Santa Barbara and then you’re directed north through the UC Santa Barbara campus and then eventually make your way onto Highway 101 before needing to exit off onto Refugio State Beach after 11 miles of shoulder riding.
Don’t get too discouraged by highway riding as you’ll get to see a diverse environment and visit all the best that Santa Barbara has to offer. Good weather, the Stearns Wharf Pier, the beautiful beach, and amazing food options. This is one of our favorite get-aways wherever you are in Southern California. Sites at Refugio get snatched up quickly so this is the best way to stay there at a moment’s notice.
