66°
Mostly Sunny
0%
55
Santa Barbara County, CA · Pacific Ocean
Refugio State Beach
10 Refugio Beach Rd, Goleta, CA 93117
Palm-lined cove on the Gaviota coast with a small creek mouth and a popular beachfront campground. Often paired with neighboring El Capitan via a 2.5-mile coastal bike path.
Today's Conditions
Great day for photography.
NWS alert active · 25 mph wind
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. West northwest wind 10 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Tonight
Patchy fog after 5am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. North northwest wind 0 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.
Weather
- 66°F air — cool but workable
- 25 mph wind — strong wind — umbrellas will flip
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Safety
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued june 3 at 1:02pm pdt until june 4 at 3:00am pdt by nws los angeles/oxnard ca
51 /100
ok
37 Sunbathe
68 Walk
71 Photo
Best for photography today
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued June 3 at 1:02PM PDT until June 4 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Northwest winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and combined seas 8 to 13 ft expected when conditions are worst. * WHERE...East Santa Barbara Channel from Pt. Conception to Pt. Mugu CA including Santa Cruz Island. * WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to 3 AM PDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Strong winds will create dangerous sea conditions which could capsize or damage small and large vessels. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...See the Coastal Waters Forecast (CWFLOX) for more.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
Wind
10 to 25 mph
WNW
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 10 AM–03 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
63°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
—
Next High Tide
11:32 PM
5.3 ft · in 1.9h
Water Quality
Above threshold
2,000 MPN/100mL · Total Coliform
USGS · sampled 5mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (PZZ650)
The LOX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- CAZ362 Malibu Coast — Los Angeles County Beaches n/a
- CAZ354 Ventura County Beaches n/a
- CAZ349 Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast — Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast n/a
- CAZ340 San Luis Obispo County Beaches — Santa Barbara Central Coast Beaches n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
8:48 AM
Sunset
11:08 PM
Moon · 87%
Waning Gibbous
Neap tides — smaller range
Today's Tides
7-day chart →| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 6:48 AM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 1:55 PM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 5:09 PM | Low | 2.9 ft |
| 11:32 PM | High | 5.3 ft |
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
63°
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
0%
67
60°
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
0%
69
61°
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
0%
69
69°
Mostly Sunny
0%
75
72°
Mostly Sunny
0%
84
74°
Sunny
1%
84
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 10 to 25 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Day-use $10 per vehicle.
Dogs
No dogs on the beach. Leashed (6 ft) dogs allowed in campground and paved areas only.
Entry Fee
$10 per vehicle day-use.
Address
10 Refugio Beach Rd, Goleta, CA 93117
Amenities
7-Day Tide Chart →
Full high/low predictions for the next week at Refugio State Beach.
7-Day Weather →
Extended forecast for Refugio State Beach from the National Weather Service.
Frequently Asked
Is Refugio State Beach dog-friendly?
No dogs on the beach. Leashed (6 ft) dogs allowed in campground and paved areas only.
Is there an entry fee at Refugio State Beach?
$10 per vehicle day-use.
Are there lifeguards at Refugio State Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Refugio State Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Refugio State Beach?
Amenities at Refugio State Beach include restrooms, showers, lifeguard tower, camping, picnic tables.
When is the water warmest at Refugio State Beach?
The Pacific is cold. Southern California (San Diego to Santa Barbara) peaks in August at 65-72°F. Central and Northern California stay in the upper 50s to low 60s year-round. Oregon and Washington rarely exceed 60°F. Wetsuits are common.
Where is Refugio State Beach located?
Refugio State Beach is in Santa Barbara County, CA, at 10 Refugio Beach Rd, Goleta, CA 93117.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS