Santa Barbara Zoo Day Trip With Kids

The Santa Barbara Zoo is one of the top medium-sized zoos in Southern California. Spanning 30 acres, the zoo is home to hundreds of animals and boasts a stunning location, making it an ideal spot for a day trip. Perfect for children, the zoo is just the right size, providing ample space to run around without boredom.

There are some excellent displays thanks to the generous donations by the zoo’s membership. Known as the world’s most beautiful zoo, the Santa Barbara Zoo’s location is in a lush botanic garden overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Andre Clark Bird Refuge is to the west, and inland, the Santa Ynez Mountains make a picture-perfect backdrop.

The Santa Barbara Zoo offers a variety of activities for visitors. At The Barnyard, you can feed domestic sheep with specially formulated food. The Masai giraffes, the tallest residents of the Zoo, are a must-see. The Kallman Family Play Area is the perfect place for children to run around and have fun. You can also ride on the Zoo Train, which circles the perimeter of the Zoo.

The California Trails exhibit is one of the most popular attractions. It features a variety of animals, such as juvenile California condors, Channel Island foxes, bald eagles, desert tortoises, and Rattlesnake Canyon and Condor Country. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of the Andree Clark Bird Refuge, the Santa Ynez mountains, and Santa Barbara while exploring California Trails.

Other attractions you won’t want to miss are the Crawford Family Penguin House, Western Lowland Gorillas, Cats of Africa, Gibbon Island, and The Aviary, which have tropical birds from Africa and South America.

Santa Barbara Zoo Train Rides

The Santa Barbara Zoo boasts two miniature C.P. Huntington trains that run on a half-mile track. These trains provide an excellent way to explore the Andre Clark Bird Refuge behind the zoo. In addition to the animal habitats, the zoo is home to acres of lush gardens featuring native plants, exotic species, and less formal plantings.

The Ridley-Tree House Restaurant offers a variety of sandwiches, snacks, and salads to enjoy during your visit. Additionally, many restaurants are just a short drive away, including several located on nearby Stearns Wharf.

Getting to the Santa Babara Zoo

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner stops at Santa Barbara, and the zoo is a little over a mile from the train station. So if you want to take a break from driving it’s possible to take the train. The Santa Barbara MTD Shuttle runs from Stearns Wharf to the zoo and only costs a quarter.

Santa Barbara Zoo is about 90 miles north of Los Angeles, a two-hour drive with the right traffic conditions. The Zoo is medium-sized, and takes about three hours to see the sights, leaving plenty of time to explore Santa Barbara.

From the South on U.S. 101, Take the Hot Springs/Cabrillo Boulevard exit. Turn left on Cabrillo and continue to the first stoplight. Turn right on Niños Drive. The Zoo entrance is on the right side, across from the playing fields. Visit the Zoo Website.

From the North on U.S. 101: Take the Milpas Street exit. Turn right on Milpas Street and turn left on Cabrillo Boulevard. Turn left at the first light, which is Niños Drive. Traffic tends to be heavy along Highway 101 on weekends, so it’s best to get early.

Fun Things to Do In Santa Barbara

There are many other things to do in Santa Barbara, including visiting the Mission Santa Barbara, Stearns Wharf, and the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens.

Knott’s Berry Farm Tickets

California Zoos and Aquariums

San Francisco Zoo