VEHICLE INTELLIGENCE & TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS LABORATORY
    University of California, Santa Barbara

Welcome to Santa Barbara!

The Santa Barbara Mission
No, that's not the Californian smog.  It's the marine layer that blows in off the Pacific,
keeping Santa Barbara relatively cool in summer.  It usually burns off by noon.


Bearings VITAL is located at 1629 Ellison Hall, south of Parking Lot 12, on the main campus of UC Santa Barbara (grid cell D4 on campus map)

The UCSB campus is in Goleta, about 10 minutes west of downtown Santa Barbara, at the south end of CA-217 which exits off US-101 (Northbound only).  Note that the California coast runs E-W in this area, and US-101 “North” really runs west before turning north to San Francisco.

Map A: Regional map (LAX-SBA)
Map B: Local access map (getting to campus)
Map C: Campus map

For more information see the detailed driving directions below.

The downtown street grid is oriented at 45 degrees, and “north” is geographic northwest.  Many street names are Spanish, in which the double-L is silent.  Carrillo is pronounced Carrio.  Careful: there's also Castillo and Cabrillo.
Looking west at Ellison Hall


Campus location
Getting to Santa
Barbara		 SBA airport neighbors UCSB.  Principal services are turbo-props from LAX and San Jose, and jet service from San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.  Ground transportation options to downtown from SBA airport:
  • Taxis — list at right.  $25-30 to downtown.  For a chatty cabbie ask for Steve at American.
  • SuperRide Shuttle Service plies to anywhere in the county.  Airport to downtown: $15 for 1 person, $22 for two.  805.683.9636
  • Rent a car — list at right
Other options from LAX airport
  • The Santa Barbara Airbus plies approximately every 2-3 hours, 0800-2300, about $35 each way.  805.964.7759
  • Drive.  Driving directions from LAX are below.
Other options from Los Angeles downtown
SBA airport
Taxis
American 689.0683
City 968.6868
Crown 564.2101
Orange 964.2800
Rose 564.2600
Yellow 965.5111
Limos
Driving Directions 
from SBA airport		 These are general purpose directions to downtown and UCSB.  For directions to conference venues, please consult the appropriate conference page.

To downtown 20 minutes, follow red arrows on Map B

  • Turn right (S) from the airport parking area, following sign for Santa Barbara.  Follow the road under the bridge and around to the left: east and northeast
  • Merge with CA-217 N, drive 2 minutes, keep left
  • Merge with US-101 S (E), drive 5-10 minutes
  • The exit closest to downtown is Carrillo Street.
To UCSB campus 3 minutes, follow green arrows on Map B
  • Turn right (S) from the airport parking area, following sign for Santa Barbara.
  • Turn left (E) before the overpass, on to entrance ramp to CA-217 S, following sign for UCSB.  Merge and drive a few seconds to campus.
  • Get parking permit and campus map at gate.  Daily parking pass costs $5.00.  A few metered spots are available.
  • Turn right after the gate, on Mesa Road, and follow nice and slow (25 mph)
  • Turn left at the first light, and right into Lot 16.  Ellison Hall is in grid cell D-4 on the campus map, south of parking lot 12.
 Rental Cars
 
Toll free
Local
Avis
800.331.1212
964.4848
Budget
800.221.1203
964.6791
Dollar
800.800.4000
683.1468
Hertz
800.654.3131
967.0411
National
800.227.7368
967.1202
Thrifty
800.367.2277
681.1222
 
Driving Directions
to UCSB from out
of town		 From LAX
  • Head east on Century Blvd, 5 min.
  • Follow signs to I-405 N: under the freeway and cloverleaf ramp on the right.  Drive 20 min.
  • Exit right to US-101 N,Ventura Freeway (ignore the earlier Ventura Blvd).  Drive west 90 min, past Santa Barbara into Goleta.  Map A: LAX-SBA.
  • Exit on CA-217, which immediately curves south.  Drive 2 min, move to the left lane, and when the freeway ends you'll find yourself at the UCSB campus gate.  Get a parking permit and campus map
  • Turn right after the gate, on Mesa Road, and follow nice and slow (25 mph)
  • Turn left at the first light, and right into Lot 16.
From points north
  • Come down to Santa Barbara on US-101 S.
  • Exit at Los Carneros which comes soon after the built-up area begins.  Turn right (south) on Los Carneros and follow the road to its end (grey arrow 1 on Map B).
  • Turn left (east) on El Colegio Road to the campus gate (arrow 2).  Get a parking permit and campus map.
  • Turn left (north) up Stadium Road, to the light (arrow 3).
  • At the light, turn right (east) on to Mesa Road (arrow 4).
  • Drive up the hill, turn right at the second light, and right into Lot 16.
  • If you'd rather take your chances with the metered spots in Lots 12 and 16, you can turn straight from Los Carneros to Mesa Road, bypassing the campus gate.
A daily parking pass costs $5.00.  Visitors may park in Lot 16; a few metered spots are available in Lot 12.  Ellison Hall is in grid cell D-4 on the campus map, south of parking lot 12.

While in Santa
Barbara