Santa Barbara Pier | Parking Guide

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Stearns Wharf Parking

When you come to visit Santa Barbara’s number one tourist attraction—Stearns Wharf—you want to make sure you know all the details so you can plan everything out for your day of fun on the surf and the sand. You’ve got to make sure that you have all the necessities for the day: beach towels, sandcastle tools, boogie boards, wet suits, and of course, sunscreen. So instead of having to run back and forth between your hotel and the wharf, park a little closer so you can spend as much time as possible on our beautiful beaches and attractions. Are you from out of town and are not sure where to park? Read through this parking guide and familiarize yourself with all the ins and outs of parking on Stearns Wharf.

First 90 Minutes: FREE

Parking in Santa Barbara is most usually a breeze. With an ample amount of spaces and reasonably priced rates, it makes the already great experience of being downtown even better. If you park your car on Stearns Wharf, the first 90 minutes are free. After the first 90 minutes are up, each hour is $2.50. If you or someone in your family has a disability, ADA parking is free for the first 2.5 hours and is then $2.50 after.

When you arrive at Stearns Wharf, drive up to the turnstile and take a ticket, which will start the timer for your visit. Be sure to hold onto your ticket because lost tickets have an automatic flat rate charge of $20. Keep in mind that even if you have a merchant receipt, this rate still applies if you have lost your parking ticket. There are no in and out privileges on parking in Stearns Wharf, so if you decide to leave then you’ll have to get a new ticket to enter back into the parking area.

Oversized vehicles are not allowed to drive on the pier (these are vehicles over 20 feet). These oversized vehicles can be parked in designated spaces on Garden Street or nearby Palm Park lots.

Street Parking

Cabrillo Boulevard 

If the lot is full in Stearns Wharf, there is usually a good amount of street parking on East Cabrillo Blvd, so be sure to practice your parallel parking skills. There will be signs posted around the area you park on the street that indicate how many minutes you can be parked in the space. Be sure to keep track of how much time you’ve been in a space or else you may be subject to a parking ticket.

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