Flying into Santa Barbara Airport (SBA)
SBA, at 500 James Fowler Road, is the closest airport to campus and advertises 28 daily nonstops to 13 destinations. Uber and Lyft pick up right in front of the terminal. The airport also publishes a long list of local taxi companies with phone numbers, and shuttle operators including Santa Barbara Airbus (805) 964-7759 and Central Coast Shuttle Service (805) 928-1977. A Santa Barbara MTD bus stop sits on Moffett Road across from the terminal.
By car, UCSB's visitor directions use the Airport/UCSB exit (Route 217), which carries you through Henley Gate and onto Mesa Road toward University Plaza. The Information Kiosk there gives special event parking instructions, or you can park in a visitor lot and buy a permit.
Flying into LAX instead
When SBA does not connect well to your home airport, LAX is the common alternative. UCSB's Parents & Family Weekend travel page names the Santa Barbara Airbus, describing 8 daily trips to and from LAX. Airbus lists a Goleta stop at 750 Technology Drive and takes reservations online or at (805) 964-7759.
Getting around without a car
Santa Barbara MTD runs three routes that matter most to UCSB families:
- Line 24x UCSB Express: downtown Transit Center to UCSB, Isla Vista, Santa Catalina and Camino Real Marketplace.
- Line 27 Isla Vista Shuttle: UCSB, Sabado Tarde, Abrego, Santa Catalina and Camino Real Marketplace.
- Line 28 UCSB Shuttle: UCSB, El Colegio, Santa Catalina Hall, Phelps Road and Camino Real Marketplace.
Parking on campus as a visitor
Transportation & Parking Services sells short term ePermits at pay stations in campus lots, and most visitor lots also take the ParkMobile app. Regular rates are $1 for 20 minutes, $3 for an hour, $8 for four hours and $8 for the day. Gold rate lots charge more, up to $12 a day. Metered spaces are separate: pay at the meter by card, because an ePermit is not valid there. The Lot 3 meters, for example, run $12 for a full weekday.
A few rules catch parents out. Visitor permits are not valid in Faculty "A", Staff "B" or residential housing lots. Pay stations stop selling visitor permits from 10pm to 5am on Friday and Saturday nights, and weekend overnight visitor parking without a valid permit carries a $100 fine. Questions go to TPS at (805) 893-2346.
Where parents stay
On campus. The Club & Guest House, Building 581, has 34 rooms with lagoon and ocean views, and its site speaks directly to visiting parents. It is the only hotel on the alumni list that sits on campus.
A short drive away. UCSB Alumni lists The Steward and The Leta at about 2 miles from campus, and the Best Western Plus South Coast Inn near both UCSB and SBA. Staying this close keeps move in morning simple.
More alumni rates. The Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara (listed by UCSB Alumni as the Ramada Inn) and FOUND Hotels Santa Barbara appear on the same alumni list. FOUND is described as near both UCSB and downtown.
Gaviota Coast. The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, an oceanfront resort, is on the alumni list with a 15 percent UCSB rate.
Several of these rates come with conditions. The Ramada discount, for example, does not apply on graduation weekend.
Busy weekends to plan around
Several weekends bring large numbers of UCSB families or alumni to town at once: move in (Sept 18 to 20), the All Gaucho Reunion (Oct 15 to 18), Parents & Family Weekend (Nov 6 and 7) and commencement in June. Book as soon as your dates are firm, and save the alumni rate codes before you start comparing.