Leadbetter Beach
About
Leadbetter Beach is a public ocean beach in California, about 0.8 miles from Santa Barbara. It offers restrooms, lifeguards and accessible access, and a fee is charged. Typical averages from a nearby Santa Barbara weather station show mild weather year-round, with the driest stretch from June through September, when highs run about 73 to 78°F and wet days are rare. Winter brings highs in the mid-60s and roughly six to seven wet days a month. For time away from the sand, Switch back Trail lies about 2 miles away, and Historic Olive Grove Loop Trail and Coyote Creek Trail are both within about 3.6 miles. Climbers can head to Barbeque Boulder, about 3.7 miles out.
Beach Details
Lifeguards
On duty (often seasonal)
Parking
Available
Fee
Fee charged
Restrooms
Yes
Accessible access
Yes
As published by the managing agency. Lifeguards, fees and dog rules are often seasonal, so check posted signs before you swim.
Location
Leadbetter Beach
California
Data: California Coastal Commission, YourCoast public access data. Source metadata
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: Year-round. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 66–78°F and lows of 46–60°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Santa Barbara, CA weather station, 1.4 mi away. High / low in °F, and days with snow.
- Jan67° high47° low
- Feb67° high47° low
- Mar68° high49° low
- Apr71° high51° low
- May72° high54° low
- Jun73° high57° low
- Jul76° high60° low
- Aug78° high60° low
- Sep78° high60° low
- Oct76° high56° low
- Nov71° high50° low
- Dec66° high46° low
Nearby
Switch back TrailHikingPhoto: Damian Gadal, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)2 mi- Historic Olive Grove Loop TrailHiking3.5 mi
- Coyote Creek TrailHiking3.6 mi
Barbeque BoulderRock climbingPhoto: Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)3.7 mi- Cracked BoulderRock climbingPhoto: Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)3.8 mi
- Caretaker BoulderRock climbing3.8 mi
- Skofield ParkRock climbing3.8 mi
- Stevens Park TrailHiking3.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Best time to visit Leadbetter Beach
Best months: Year-round. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
67° / 47°
7 wet
Feb
67° / 47°
7 wet
Mar
68° / 49°
7 wet
Apr
71° / 51°
3 wet
May
72° / 54°
2 wet
Jun
73° / 57°
1 wet
Jul
76° / 60°
0 wet
Aug
78° / 60°
0 wet
Sep
78° / 60°
1 wet
Oct
76° / 56°
2 wet
Nov
71° / 50°
3 wet
Dec
66° / 46°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Santa Barbara, CA, 1.4 mi away at 16 ft. We don't have this place's elevation, so higher spots nearby can run cooler. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
