Tarpits Park
About
Tarpits Park is a public ocean beach in California, about half a mile from Carpinteria. There is no fee to visit. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical highs reach about 76 to 78°F from July through September, with almost no wet days, based on averages from a nearby weather station in Santa Barbara. Winters stay mild, with highs in the upper 60s and lows in the upper 40s, though December through March bring around six or seven wet days a month. The Rhodes-Fleming Coastal Trail starts less than a mile away, and the Franklin Trail is about 1.7 miles off. For climbing, Romero Canyon Bouldering and San Ysidro are within about 8 miles.
Beach Details
Lifeguards
None
Parking
None at the access
Fee
Free
Restrooms
None
As published by the managing agency. Lifeguards, fees and dog rules are often seasonal, so check posted signs before you swim.
Location
Tarpits Park
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, 10 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
Rhodes-Fleming Coastal TrailHikingPhoto: cameraclub231, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.8 mi- Franklin TrailHiking1.7 mi
- FranklinHiking3.9 mi
- Gazebo trailHiking4.3 mi
- Romero Canyon BoulderingRock climbing6.8 mi
- San YsidroRock climbing8 mi
- Green DomeRock climbing8.3 mi
- West FaceRock climbing8.3 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Best time to visit Tarpits Park
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, 10.3 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.
