Carpinteria State Beach

This park unit is fully open. State Parks will continue to use a monitor and adapt strategy to meet any new guidance it may receive from local and state public health officials as COVID-19 is still present and still deadly, especially for the elderly, immune-compromised and the unvaccinated.

COVID-19 Guidelines (February 16, 2022)

Recreate Responsibly
Protect yourself, family, friends and your community by following these prevention measures:

Know Before You Go – Prior to leaving home, check the status of the park unit you want to visit to find out what restrictions and guidelines are in place. Have a back-up plan in case your destination is crowded. Stay home if you are sick
Plan Ahead – Some restrooms will be temporarily closed to keep up with cleaning schedules. Bring soap/hand sanitizer.
Play It Safe – Find out what precautions you should take when exploring the outdoors, especially if this is your first time visiting the State Park System. Learn more at parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips.
Be COVID-19 Safe – State Parks continues to meet guidance from local and state public officials as COVID-19 is still present and still deadly. Effective March 1, 2022, state guidance recommends that all individuals, regardless of vaccine status, continue masking in indoor settings, such as museums and visitor centers. Universal masking remains required in specified high-risk settings. Please plan ahead as local county guidelines may differ from state guidance and visitors are urged to follow county guidelines when required. Read the latest COVID-19 guidance at COVID19.ca.gov.
Leave No Trace – Leave areas better than how you found them by staying on designated trails and packing out all trash. Do not disturb wildlife or plants.

Phone Number

(805) 684-2811

Max. Trailer Lengths

Trailer: Up to 35 Feet
Camper/Motorhome: Up to 35 Feet

Park Hours

Day Use:
Sunrise to Sunset

Dogs Allowed?

Yes
Dogs allowed in campground and day-use area. Dogs not allowed on beach.

Driving Directions to Carpinteria SB

The park is on Highway 224, off U.S. 101, twelve miles south of Santa Barbara.

View on Map

Maximum Stay: From March 1 through November 30, park visitors may camp for a maximum of seven (7) consecutive days. From December 1 through February 28, park visitors may camp for a maximum of fifteen (15) consecutive days. When the maximum consecutive stay has been reached, the person(s), equipment, and vehicle(s) must vacate the campground for a period of 48 hours before returning for another stay. The maximum stay limit for camping at Carpinteria State Beach is a total of 30 days in any calendar year.

Online Reservations

Upcoming Park Events

No events scheduled at this moment.

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES
En route Campsites
Family Campsites
Group Campsites
Hike or Bike Campsites
RV Sites w/Hookups
RV Dump Station
RV Access

TRAIL USE
Hiking Trails

DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Picnic Areas
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Fishing
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
Beach Area
Swimming
Windsurfing/Surfing
Family Programs
Geocaching

OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Parking
Restrooms / Showers
Restrooms
Outdoor Showers
Drinking Water Available
Wheelchair Accessible

Carpenteria Sunset Image

General Park Information

About the Park

Located within minutes of the urban centers of Santa Barbara and Ventura, Carpinteria State Beach offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy high-quality outdoor recreation in the setting of a small southern California coastal Community. With terraced bluffs, dune areas and a mile of beach for swimming, surf fishing, tidepool exploring and camping, Carpinteria State Beach is a unique treasure with a rich biological and cultural history. In 1769, the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola explored the Santa Barbara coast, eventually meeting the local Chumash people at the village of ‘Mishopshnow’ near what we now call Carpinteria Creek. Portola observed several of their plank “Tomol” canoes being constructed and the incorporation of the naturally-occurring asphaltum (tar) into its design. Members of the Spanish expedition referred to the area as La Carpinteria or ‘The Carpenter Shop,’ later to become Carpinteria.

Learning and School Programs

TEACHER'S GUIDE TO THE CARPINTERIA TIDE POOLS

Teachers looking to bring their class to the park to enjoy the Tide Pools should check out this unique online presentation designed to outline what to expect and help plan your field trip. Attached you will find resouces and activities for before, during and after your visit.

DISTANCE LEARNING

Book a Virtual Field Trip for Your Class

Programs are currently fully booked! Openings are announced every September. To stay up to date on program offerings please visit the PORTS link below.

Tide Pools

Learn about the animals who live in the Carpinteria Tide Pools by exploring the park's padlet page. Tide Pool Padlet

Tar Pits During the Ice Age

The Carpinteria tar pits have produced many additions to the fossil record. Some of the fossils found at the park include the Ground Sloth, Dire Wolf, American Mastodon, and Saber-toothed Cat. Watch the linked video to learn more about the tar pits during the pleistocene period. Fatal Attraction Fatal Attraction (Espanol)

Suggested Activity: Making Fossils with Dough

Start a Nature Journal

You can start connecting to nature from your home, school, or local park. All you need is something to draw with and something to write on. Nature Journal Your Neighborhood

Resources:Bird Drawing Guide

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS

California State Parks offers educators and service organizations a unique opportunity to establish service-learning projects. If you are interested in a learning approach that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities please visit the link above.

EDUCATION VOLUNTEER

Are you interested in volunteering to help with education programs at the park? Please fill out our interest survey and we will get back to you.

Tomol Interpretive Play Area

This unique playscape invites children to enjoy healthy outdoor play while they learn about California’s colorful history at the same time. The Tomol Interpretive Play Area is one of these special places. Found tucked into the northwest corner of Carpinteria State Beach in the coastal beach community of Carpinteria, this unique facility lets kids run, jump, slide and generally have fun while it encourages them to imagine living in a Chumash Indian village on the shore of the Pacific Ocean.

Notifications and Reports

Carpinteria Interpretive Master Plan

Camping Information

Camping options within the Carpinteria SB campground are quite varied. Please visit our campground information page to learn more about the specifics.