Santa Barbara district, California, United States

Places to visit near Montecito

Montecito is a town in Santa Barbara district, California, United States, home to about 8,965 people. Within 50 km by road there are 119 places to visit — 13 hill stations & viewpoints, 15 wildlife, forests & gardens, 17 parks and 17 beaches & coast. The must-see places are Lotusland (3 km), Montecito Hot Springs (4 km) and Andrée Clark Bird Refuge (4 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Montecito on the map

Montecito, California
Montecito, Santa Barbara district, California, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Montecito at a glance

Location
Santa Barbara district, California, United States
Population
about 8,965
Coordinates
34.4367° N, 119.6321° W
Places within 50 km
119 (53 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for parks

Top places to visit near Montecito

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Montecito: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Montecito

Things to see near Montecito, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Montecito

46 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Montecito. The closest is Arlington Peak (11 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in California →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Montecito

40 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Montecito. The closest is Shalawa Meadow (3 km); the best-known is Lotusland (3 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in California →

Parks near Montecito

35 parks within 100 km of Montecito. The closest is Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens (4 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Beaches & coast near Montecito

28 beaches & coast within 100 km of Montecito. The closest is East Beach (6 km). Best time: october to march.

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Museums near Montecito

23 museums within 100 km of Montecito. The closest is Casa del Herrero (1 km); the best-known is Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center (7 km). Best time: year-round.

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Forts & heritage near Montecito

17 forts & heritage within 100 km of Montecito. The closest is Allan Herschel 3-Abreast Carousel (7 km); the best-known is Faith Mission (8 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in California →

A one-day trip from Montecito

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 18 km on the road.

  1. Start in Montecito
  2. 3 km Lotusland · nature spot, Santa Barbara
  3. 3 km Parma Park · park, Santa Barbara
  4. 5 km East Beach · beach, Santa Barbara
  5. 2 km Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens · garden, Santa Barbara
  6. 1 km Andrée Clark Bird Refuge · nature spot, Santa Barbara
  7. 4 km Back to Montecito

Plan a longer trip from Montecito — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Montecito

No traveller has reported from around Montecito yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Montecito

    All places near Montecito by distance

    Within 15 km of Montecito

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Montecito by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints1346Arlington Peak (11 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1540Shalawa Meadow (3 km)
    Parks1735Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens (4 km)
    Beaches & coast1728East Beach (6 km)
    Museums1523Casa del Herrero (1 km)
    Forts & heritage1517Allan Herschel 3-Abreast Carousel (7 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs79Laguna Blanca (15 km)
    Waterfalls89Hot Springs Falls (3 km)
    Churches47Trinity Episcopal Church (9 km)
    Other attractions44Montecito Hot Springs (4 km)
    Caves33Painted Cave (9 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves11Rincon Island (25 km)

    Montecito: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Montecito?

    Lotusland (nature spot, about 3 km), Montecito Hot Springs (attraction, about 4 km), Andrée Clark Bird Refuge (nature spot, about 4 km), Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens (garden, about 4 km), Parma Park (park, about 6 km), East Beach (beach, about 6 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Montecito?

    119 places on Spotwander: 13 hill stations & viewpoints, 15 wildlife, forests & gardens, 17 parks, 17 beaches & coast, 15 museums.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Montecito?

    Arlington Peak, about 11 km by road; La Cumbre Peak (12 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Montecito?

    Shalawa Meadow, about 3 km by road; Lotusland (3 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Montecito?

    Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, about 4 km by road; Parma Park (6 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Montecito?

    Start in Montecito, visit Lotusland, then Parma Park, then East Beach, then Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, then Andrée Clark Bird Refuge, and drive back — about 18 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Montecito?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for parks.

    Towns near Montecito

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Montecito’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Montecito on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.