Most people visit Santa Barbara in the summertime in hopes of sunshine and warm beaches. That’s nice and all, but summertime weather in Santa Barbara also brings summertime crowds at every turn. Luckily, we Santa Barbarans know a secret: with around 300 days of sunshine, Santa Barbara is a beautiful place to be all year long! Santa Barbara weather in December is similar to the weather the rest of the year, just with a little higher chance of rain and a little lower chance of fog. Sure, the temperatures are ten degrees cooler (averaging 65°F), but it’s a sacrifice we are willing to make for sunshine and fewer people on the beach!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, designed to allow The Unremarkable Climber (me) to earn a small commission if you choose to book through them, at no extra cost to you. This really helps support the site and lets me know you find this information valuable! That being said, all of the experiences I recommend, commission based or not, are genuine recommendations for some of my favorite activities, so I hope you enjoy them as much as I have! Feel free to drop any questions in the message box below.
Why I Love Santa Barbara Weather in December
Working in the outdoor industry in Santa Barbara, I basically live in a t-shirt and hiking pants. What I love most about Santa Barbara weather in December is the reliable sunshine and 65°F average daytime temperatures. Although December is one of the coldest months, I rarely need more than a light jacket during the 10 hours of daylight!
Actually, I find myself reaching for my jacket more frequently in June—the foggiest time of year. I know this seems backwards, but as the hot, early summer desert air creeps over the Santa Ynez Mountains, it interacts with the cold, moist air coming off the still-chilly Pacific Ocean, creating dense fog throughout early summer. Speaking from personal experience, Santa Barbara weather in December is often much nicer and sunnier than the weather in June!
Not only are you avoiding the foggiest month (June), but by visiting Santa Barbara in December, you’re also avoiding the busiest months (July and August) and the wettest months (January and February)! While Santa Barbara still averages three inches of rain in December, the rain paints the mountains green, and chances are, you’ll still get plenty of sunny days to enjoy them.
Santa Barbara Weather in December is PERFECT for Hiking, Biking, and Rock Climbing!
Santa Barbara weather in December is perfect for exploring Los Padres National Forest. During the summer, the sun beats down on the exposed trails, making them feel 20°F hotter than the nearby beaches. In the winter however, the cooler temperatures and increased rainfall create a pleasant and vibrant experience in the Santa Ynez Mountains as color begins to return to the local foliage.
Whether you choose to hike to Montecito Hot Springs, rock climb at Gibraltar Rock, or mountain bike Camuesa Loop Trail, the possibilities for exploring the Santa Ynez Mountains are seemingly endless. Whichever activity you choose, you’re sure to be rewarded with outstanding views of Santa Barbara, the Pacific Ocean, and the Channel Islands below!
December is Ideal for Whale Watching
December is actually one of the best times to go whale watching in Santa Barbara! During this time, you have a higher chance of encountering these gentle giants because migrating gray whales are following the Santa Barbara coastline south on their yearly journey from Alaska to Baja, Mexico. Additionally, I often encounter California sea lions and multiple species of dolphins this time of year! My favorite cruise is this sailing catamaran whale watching tour. Even though the boat is slow-moving, nothing compares to gliding across the ocean under sail! I just feel so much closer to the wildlife, and still have an amazing time regardless of whale sightings, but whales are definitely a plus!
Is Santa Barbara Weather in December Warm Enough for the Beach?
A winter day in Santa Barbara is obviously not a day in the tropics, but I definitely think a calm, sunny day in December is plenty warm enough to spend a day sunbathing! The air temperature is usually a comfortable 65°F—perfect for soaking up some central California sun!
However, I am personally a total wimp when it comes to the cold and I think the sea temperature in Santa Barbara is often too chilly for me to swim even in the summertime. I think many visitors underestimate how chilly the Pacific Ocean can be all year round, with water temperatures only reaching the mid 60’s in the summer and mid 50’s in the winter. Luckily, with a proper wetsuit, you can kayak, snorkel, surf, and paddleboard all winter long! Santa Barbara Surf School offers wetsuit rentals to set you up for success.
What to Do in Santa Barbara if it Rains
Although we are in a perpetual state of drought here in California (with the exception of 2023) and rain is not a super common occurrence, Santa Barbara weather in December is sometimes unpredictable and there is still a possibility of precipitation. Luckily, there are a ton of things to do in Santa Barbara in the rain!
Wine Tasting in the Funk Zone
The local way to spend a rainy day in Santa Barbara is to grab your umbrella and take a walk through the Funk Zone! Here you can sip wine at 16+ tasting rooms, grab a beer at a local brewery, try some local cuisine, or just window shop until your heart’s content. You won’t even get too wet because it’s all within a 13-block neighborhood right next to downtown State Street and Stearns Wharf! You can’t go wrong no matter what you choose, but I do recommend stopping by the visitor center on the way for current deals and coupons.
My Favorite Santa Barbara Museums
For those with little ones or looking to avoid a hangover, Santa Barbara is home to 20+ museums and historic buildings dating back to the Spanish mission era.
My favorites include:
- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History: Giant blue whale skeleton, 10,000 years of Chumash history, endemic species from the Channel Islands, moving dinosaurs, and more!
- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center: A small aquarium on Stearns Wharf featuring kelp forest habitats, intertidal creatures, and hands-on marine science!
- Old Mission Santa Barbara 1786: A still-practicing remnant of the historic Spanish mission system.
- Santa Barbara Maritime Museum: An in-depth look into Santa Barbara’s historical connection with the ocean environment.
- MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation: A perfect place to keep kids (and their parents) occupied for hours with dozens of hands-on exhibits that put your creative mind to the test.
Join a Kayak Tour!
As long as the ocean’s not too stormy, you can always go kayaking! If you’re going to be wet anyway, you might as well be wet on a kayak as you explore the harbor and surrounding kelp forests. You might even get to encounter some of the resident marine mammals that call Santa Barbara home!
Here are my favorite tours and rentals:
Take a Hike after the Storm Passes!
Santa Barbara is a huge watershed. Rain falls in the Santa Ynez Mountains high above the city, then drains out through an extensive network of canyons to arrive at the Pacific Ocean. During this time, threats of flash flooding and mudslides are very real.
Once the rain subsides however, much of the risk does as well as the canyons continue to drain for a few days—creating the perfect opportunity to explore a full watershed and its rarely-seen waterfalls! With a higher chance of rain, Santa Barbara weather in December is usually perfect for exploring these rare water features. Some of my favorite Santa Barbara watershed hikes include Seven Falls Trail and Tangerine Falls, but they’re not for everyone.
Santa Barbara weather in December shouldn’t hold you back from an incredible beach vacation this winter. If anything, it might make your trip even more fun and memorable! Rain or shine, mountains or beaches, wine tasting or sea kayaking, you’ll never run out of fun things to do in Santa Barbara this December!