Stearns Wharf

Why visit

Stearns Wharf is California's oldest working wharf, dating back to 1872. Local lumberman John Peck Stearns built it so ocean ships could tie up even at low tide, which ended the town's isolation between the mountains and the sea. Today the wharf covers 3.8 acres on 2,307 pilings (the tall posts driven into the sea floor that hold it up), with restaurants, shops, a tasting room and a small aquarium on top.

Walking it is free, and the view back toward downtown, with the mountains behind, is one of the classic Santa Barbara pictures.

What to do on the wharf

• Start at the Dolphin Fountain. The bronze dolphins at the foot of the wharf, by local artist Bud Bottoms, mark the start of the wharf and make a perfect first photo.
• Walk to the end. Look back at the city, the red roofs and the mountains, and out across the channel. It's a great spot for sunset, too.
• Visit the Sea Center. This hands-on aquarium, run by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, has touch tanks, moon jellies, a two-spot octopus and a life-size model of a gray whale mother and calf.
• Go fishing. Fishing off the wharf is free, and a bait and tackle shop on the wharf rents gear.
• Eat and drink with a view. Several seafood restaurants, a candy shop, an ice cream shop and a wine tasting room line the deck.

Sea Center hours and tickets (October 2026)

The Sea Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It closes on Thanksgiving, December 24 and 25, and New Year's Day, and keeps a few other special hours, so check before you go.

• Adults (18 to 64): $17
• Seniors (65+) and teens (13 to 17): $15
• Kids (2 to 12): $13
• Under 2: free
• Museums for All (with SNAP/CalFresh EBT card and photo ID): $5 per person, up to four people

Prices and hours change. Check the Sea Center's hours and admission page before you go. A ticket also makes a good rainy-day plan; see more ideas in Santa Barbara with kids.

Parking on the wharf

Yes, you can drive right out onto the wharf. Everyone gets the first 90 minutes free, then it's $3 for each hour or part of an hour, up to $20 a day. Drivers with a disabled placard get the first 2.5 hours free. Vehicles longer than 20 feet aren't allowed on the wharf, and during big events such as the Fourth of July the wharf is open to pedestrians only.

No car? The wharf sits at the foot of State Street, so it's an easy walk from downtown and the Funk Zone (see our getting around guide for shuttle, bus and bike options).

Wharf vs. harbor: don't mix them up

Stearns Wharf and the Santa Barbara Harbor are two different places. The harbor, where the marina and most boat tours are, is a separate spot west of the wharf. If you're meeting someone or booking a boat trip, double-check which one you need.

Make a day of it

Pair the wharf with the beach next door (see our beach guide), a kayak paddle in the harbor, or a whale watching trip. History fans can walk up State Street to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. It's also a highlight of our one day in Santa Barbara itinerary, and a front-row spot for the December Parade of Lights.

FAQ