Photo of Sands Beach with bright sand surface

Photo of Sands Beach with turquoise water surface

Photo of Sands Beach with long straight shore

Photo of Sands Beach with very clean level of cleanliness

Photo of Sands Beach located in natural area

Photo of Sands Beach surrounded by mountains

Photo of Sands Beach - popular place among relax connoisseurs

7.2

Good

Sands Beach

Q: Is there any food or beverages in the area of Sands Beach?

There is no restaurant or bar directly on Sands Beach.There are 4 restaurants nearby.Portola Dining Commons is the closest place located 1600 meters from the beach.

Q: What is the closest accommodation to the Sands Beach?

There are 25 places to stay in the Sands Beach area.Some of the best hotels in the area of Sands Beach include:<ul><li><a href="/booking?object=hotel&object_id=345333&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2" target="_blank">The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara</a></li><li><a href="/booking?object=hotel&object_id=4373088&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2" target="_blank">Hyatt Place Santa Barbara</a></li><li><a href="/booking?object=hotel&object_id=2570226&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2" target="_blank">Residence Inn Santa Barbara Goleta</a></li></ul>The most popular other types of accommodations nearby:<ul><li><a href="/booking?object=hotel&object_id=8493197&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2" target="_blank">1902 El Camino De La Luz Home</a></li><li><a href="/booking?object=hotel&object_id=8496274&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2" target="_blank">Private Coastal Escape - Twilit Alfresco Dining home</a></li><li><a href="/booking?object=hotel&object_id=9105765&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2" target="_blank">Cozy Goleta Getaway about 2 Mi to Beach and Trails!</a></li></ul>

Ellwood, United States

#243 out of 385 in California

7.2

Good

Free entrance Virgin beach Easy access Bright sand Sand bottom Good for Surfing Good for swimming

Click on any feature to view all similar beaches in area

Located outside the settlement

Isla Vista • 2.1 km

Map of beach

Restaurant Portola Dining Commons

8 - Very good 1km

Mexican Restaurant Freebirds

9.2 - Excellent 1.3km

Pizza Restaurant Woodstock's Pizza Isla Vista

8.8 - Excellent 1.3km

Cafe Mojo Asian Fusion Cafe

8.6 - Excellent 1.4km

Coffee Shop Starbucks

8.6 - Excellent 1.4km

Restaurant Wingstop

8 - Very good 1.4km

Restaurant Lao Wang

8.4 - Very good 1.4km

Restaurant Carrillo Dining Commons

8.2 - Very good 1.5km

Restaurant The Club & Guest House at UC Santa Barbara

9.2 - Excellent 1.7km

Park Snowy Plover Critical Habitat

50m

Park Coal Oil Point Reserve

120m

Park Dune Swale Pond

230m

Park Gaffney Park

270m

Park Sea Lookout Park

330m

Park Walter Capps Park

580m

Park Window to the Sea Park

720m

Park Estero Park

790m

Park Anisq'Oyo Park

1.2km

Athletic Field Storke Field, UCSB

1.6km

Bakery IV Bagel Cafe

8.6 - Excellent 1.2km

Grocery Store Target Grocery

2.2km

Grocery Store Indo China Market Goleta

2.3km

Tourist Attraction Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa

410m

Tourist Attraction Lizards Mouth Rock

9.4km

View all on map

About

Sands Beach is located on the Pacific ocean and it is in the 243th place out of 385 beaches in the California region 485.1 km away from its center, the city of Sacramento. It is one of the beaches of Isla Vista settlement, just 2.1 km from its center. The beach is located in a natural place, surrounded by the cliffs.

It is a long lasting coastline with turquoise water and bright sand, so you don't need special shoes. The entrance to the water is very smooth. This beach is suitable for different categories of people, lonely travellers, relaxation getaway lovers etc. It is not crowded place during the season.

Sands Beach coast is free for all. It has no amenities, only nature. .

In addition to swimming and sunbathing, you can also take part in other activities. There are also some surf spots.

This beach is easily accessible, it is located very close to road. Parking is located directly on the beach.

3 more beaches are also available within a 5 km radius. The best one is Goleta Beach, which has a rating of 7.5.

Sands Beach (California) region (Santa Rosa Island sub-region) is located outside the Isla Vista settlement, which may cause some difficulties for travelers who stay far from the coast. However, the remoteness from the village is not always a bad thing. Lovers of quiet rest know, the farther the beach, the fewer crowds.

The beach stretches on the sunny coast and the easiest way to get to the beach is by car or bike. If you don't have this option, then the second best solution is to use the taxi, which can drive you directly to the beach. The only problem, if your stay is far away it can be quite expensive. There is also a possibility of use of public transport, but in this case you need to check the correct route to the Sands Beach with the locals. Take into account that the bus stop is usually in some distance., but accessing the beach requires traversing some distance on foot. While driving or cycling are the most convenient options for reaching the start point of trail, these methods may not be feasible for everyone. Alternatively, a taxi can be used to drive directly to the location. Public transportation is another option, but it's important to confirm the correct route with locals beforehand as the bus stop may be located at some distance.

Weather

history

+26 ^o C +15 ^o C

Air temperature

7.2 M/S

Wind

+19 ^o C

Water temperature

1.8 M

Wave height

Located outside the settlement

Isla Vista • 2.1 km

Map of beach

Restaurant Portola Dining Commons

8 - Very good 1km

Mexican Restaurant Freebirds

9.2 - Excellent 1.3km

Pizza Restaurant Woodstock's Pizza Isla Vista

8.8 - Excellent 1.3km

Cafe Mojo Asian Fusion Cafe

8.6 - Excellent 1.4km

Coffee Shop Starbucks

8.6 - Excellent 1.4km

Restaurant Wingstop

8 - Very good 1.4km

Restaurant Lao Wang

8.4 - Very good 1.4km

Restaurant Carrillo Dining Commons

8.2 - Very good 1.5km

Restaurant The Club & Guest House at UC Santa Barbara

9.2 - Excellent 1.7km

Park Snowy Plover Critical Habitat

50m

Park Coal Oil Point Reserve

120m

Park Dune Swale Pond

230m

Park Gaffney Park

270m

Park Sea Lookout Park

330m

Park Walter Capps Park

580m

Park Window to the Sea Park

720m

Park Estero Park

790m

Park Anisq'Oyo Park

1.2km

Athletic Field Storke Field, UCSB

1.6km

Bakery IV Bagel Cafe

8.6 - Excellent 1.2km

Grocery Store Target Grocery

2.2km

Grocery Store Indo China Market Goleta

2.3km

Tourist Attraction Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa

410m

Tourist Attraction Lizards Mouth Rock

9.4km

View all on map

Booking.com

Stays nearby

12 accomodations nearby

Private Coastal Escape - Twilit Alfresco Dining home

3.7km from the beach

4.5 Tolerable

Private Coastal Escape - Twilit Alfresco Dining home

Entire House

Located at nearest locality

Isla Vista • 4.8km from center

Booking.com View deals

Cozy Goleta Getaway about 2 Mi to Beach and Trails!

3.8km from the beach

5 Tolerable

Cozy Goleta Getaway about 2 Mi to Beach and Trails!

Entire House

Located at nearest locality

Isla Vista • 4.6km from center

Booking.com View deals

4.2km from the beach

8.7 Excellent

Residence Inn Santa Barbara Goleta

Hotel

Located at nearest locality

Isla Vista • 2.6km from center

Booking.com View deals

4.8km from the beach

8 Very good

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

15.7km from the beach

NEW! Villa Castillo 1 - immaculate luxury studio in downtown Santa Barbara

Entire Apartment

Located at nearest locality

Isla Vista • 13.6km from center

Booking.com View deals

View all nearest stays

Booking.com

Area

Average rating of nearest beaches is 7.3 (Good)

What to do in Sands Beach? Are there any attractions or entertainments in region?

For those who wish to engage in something more extreme than a lazy holiday on the beach, it is worth noting that Sands Beach is excellent for surfing. This kind of activity is suitable for beginners and for professionals. The waves in this region you can see in the photos above or study the reviews by our users. And by the way, on the beach you can take surfing coaches!

View map

Nearest Beaches

2.5km

Depressions Beach IVKC Depressions Beach IVKC

7.3 Good

4.3km

Haskell's Beach Haskell's Beach

7.3 Good

4.4km

Goleta Beach Goleta Beach

7.5 Very good

9.4km

Hope Ranch Beach Hope Ranch Beach

6.5 Good

12.5km

Arroyo Burro Beach Arroyo Burro Beach

8 Very good

13.6km

Mesa Lane Beach Mesa Lane Beach

7.1 Good

14.5km

El Capitán Beach El Capitán Beach

7.2 Good

16.5km

Leadbetter Beach Leadbetter Beach

7.5 Very good

Localities

Nearest

Isla Vista • 2.1km

Main locality of province

Sacramento • 485.1km

Transport

Airport

SBA • 4km

Bus Station

Ellwood Station & San Blanco • 2.9km

Train Station

Ventura - Downtown / Beach Amtrak Station • 55.1km

All nearest beaches

You can set the search radius & filter nearest beaches by features

Recommended Activities

What to do in Sands Beach? Are there any attractions or entertainments in region?

Travelers reviews

Average Reviews rating

7.2 Good

Contribute

Share your experience with other travelers

Average Reviews rating

7.2 Good

Adam Kinsley Jr.

10 Exceptional

A delightful sandy beach encircled by a natural reserve and the Snowy Plover Sanctuary is a perfect spot to unwind and explore the numerous trails adjacent to the Coal Oil Point Nature preserve. This location is an excellent destination for bird-watching and observing marine life. During low tides, there are ample opportunities for tidepooling, and the sunsets here are breathtaking. The only downside is that the beach is situated on UCSB property, making it a bit challenging to reach. However, paid parking is available, and the effort to get there is undoubtedly worth it.

March 2023

Saraiya Kwon.

8 Very good

When in Santa Barbara and in search of some surfing action, this beach is worth considering. However, be aware that parking space is scarce, and you'll need to walk for about five minutes to reach the shore. While the beach itself is not particularly remarkable, the surrounding mountains provide a stunning backdrop. During our visit in September, we encountered some tar that stuck to our skin, bathing suits, and surfboards. The water was murky and littered with seaweed and debris that day. Despite these minor setbacks, this beach is still worth checking out.

March 2023

Luis Hernandez

10 Exceptional

As a resident of Chicago, I can attest that this beach is a sight to behold. The picturesque scenery, coupled with its pristine cleanliness and lively atmosphere, makes it a popular spot for surfers and students alike. It's no wonder why the sunsets here are simply breathtaking! 🌅 If you happen to be in the vicinity, I highly recommend taking the time to witness the sunset at least once. And who knows, if you're fortunate enough, you may even catch a glimpse of the stars twinkling in the sky!

March 2023

Sara Kovalic

10 Exceptional

This beach is truly beautiful, however, it is important to be cautious of the recent oil spills that have been gathering in the area. It is unclear where the oil is coming from, but if you happen to get it on your feet or in the shower, using butter can help to remove it.

March 2023

Kylan

10 Exceptional

The beach is an amazing spot that attracts a lot of surfers. Although there are some rocks present, it is still a great place to catch some waves and relax. Additionally, the beach offers ample space for engaging in various sand activities. Overall, it's a perfect place to unwind and enjoy the natural beauty of the ocean.

March 2023

Questions and answers

What is the water and sand quality of the Sands Beach?

The coastline of Sands Beach is covered with golden sand. It's very clean, the surface has a mixed fraction. The water is impeccably turquoise. The entrance to the water is sandy, which makes it very comfortable.

What are the key activities at Sands Beach?

For the main activity - sunbathing, there are no sun loungers on the Sands Beach, so you need to take personal items with you and there is no natural shade, so be careful on a hot day.

The Sands Beach is also suitable for the following water activities:

Surfing

Is the Sands Beach good for swimming?

The entrance to the water is very smooth, the bottom is comfortable. The area has the high prevalence of sharks so all swimmers should be very careful.

The waves in the Sands Beach are usually strong.

So the overall recommendation of the Sands Beach for swimming is positive.

Is the Sands Beach good for families?

Family travelers should consider the following features of the beach. This is the natural virgin beach with minimal amenities. It's covered with sand and the entrance to the water is very smooth.

Is the Sands Beach secluded and good for relaxing?

The beach is located in a natural area. During the high season, the occupancy of the beach is moderate, which is very good for lovers of a relaxing holiday.

The following features add extra points:

Mountains/hills in the vicinity

Is there any food or beverages in the area of Sands Beach?

There is no restaurant or bar directly on Sands Beach.

There are 4 restaurants nearby.Portola Dining Commons is the closest place located 1600 meters from the beach.

What is the closest accommodation to the Sands Beach?

There are 25 places to stay in the Sands Beach area.

Some of the best hotels in the area of Sands Beach include:

The most popular other types of accommodations nearby:

How far is the Sands Beach from parking?

The Sands Beach has a parking spot. It is not very large, so in high season it can be busy. The approximate distance from parking is less than 100 metres.

Are there any attractions nearby Sands Beach?

There are 1 attractions near Sands Beach that are popular with travelers. The nearest are Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa located in 2 km. See the attractions section for details.

What is the best time of the year to visit Sands Beach?

The month with the highest temperature in Sands Beach is September. Its average value reaches 28°C. The warmest sea is in September, the average value is 21°C. The coldest month is March with air temperature 17°C and water 14°C. See more details in weather section.

Is the beach good for sunbathing?

Sands Beach (California) is not fully equipped for sunbathing. However, if you are not picky and are willing to spread out on a towel, you can sunbathe here as well. The natural shade will allow you to hide from the scorching sun in the peak of its activity. Well, the photos of our visitors will be the best proof of that, all the available photos of the beach are above.Sands Beach (California) is a place for true nature lovers, but if you like sunbathing on the beach, then this location is not the best option. There are no sunbeds and umbrellas, and even there is no natural shade to hide you from the scorching sun. From positives, the presence of sand, on which you can sit comfortably. But do not forget sunscreen for this place, such a recommendation is relevant. Photos of the beach you can see above. All photos are taken by our visitors personally.