Coal Oil Point

Located in the town of Isla Vista, Coal Oil Point is a very small, narrow, and rocky beach on the south side of Nature Center Coal Oil Point Reserve and Devereux Lagoon.  Coal Oil Point welcomes dogs on leash and offers restrooms. 

There are many fun activities at Coal Oil Point, including swimming, surfing, hiking, tide pooling, and birdwatching.

To access Coal Oil Point, drive to the end of Slough Road and a few free parking spaces are available along the road. You can walk a few minutes from the parking area to the beach.

If you are looking for attractions near Coal Oil Point, you can drive eight minutes to the Art, Design & Architecture Museum that is also known as the University Art Museum and features many architectural drawings, historic photographs, writing, scrapbooks, three-dimensional objects in the Architecture and Design Collection, and over 8,500 original works of the museum itself. Rancho La Patera & Stow House displays historic photographs and furniture related to the nearby area. If you like golfing, Sandpiper Golf Club is a waterfront 18-hole golf course that has been rated among the top 100 public golf courses in the US and the top 25 public golf courses in California. Another great attraction near Campus Point Beach is Stearns Wharf, a fun tourist attraction site that offers souvenir shops, restaurants, and a small aquarium named the Sea Center.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a 10-minute drive of Coal Oil Point. Rockfire Grill is a Mediterranean restaurant that offers Fettuccine Alfredo, pasta, chicken, and beef dishes along with special items for vegans. The bagel eatery IV Bagels Cafe serves house-baked bagels, handmade pastries, espresso, and bread along with other Mexican desserts. Another good restaurant near Coal Oil Point is Lao Wang, an Asian restaurant with a nice menu that includes spring rolls, pumpkin curry, coconut rice, basil chicken, salmon rolls, and crab meat noodles.

If you are looking for a hotel near Coal Oil Point, you can drive 14 minutes to the 5-Star pet-friendly hotel The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, an incredible Mediterranean-style hotel that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is spread 78 acres – it features a lounge, poolside bar, spa, sauna, fitness center, ping pong table, two pools, restaurants, and tennis courts. Residence Inn by Marriott Santa Barbara Goleta is a nice 3-Star hotel that welcomes pets and has a pool, golf course, and fitness center. If you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel near Coal Oil Point, the 2-Star Super 8 by Wyndham Santa Barbara/Goleta offers a pool.