Natural history museum

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

About 8.7 road miles away

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History combines regional natural-history galleries and outdoor exhibits about 8.7 road miles from the railroad museum.

The place

About Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History interprets the region's animals, plants, geology, paleontology and human cultures across an indoor-and-outdoor creekside campus.

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., subject to the current special-hours notice. Use the live hours page rather than stale cached admission variants.

Current admission is $20 adult, $17 senior or teen, $15 child ages 2-12, and free for children under 2 and members. SNAP or CalFresh admission is $5 per person for up to four people; Butterflies Alive costs an additional $3.

Most exhibits have accessible paths, but Farrand Auditorium, Space Lab and Gladwin Planetarium are exceptions, and individual Earth/Marine Sciences and Prehistoric Forest pages add limitations. Choose a route from the current accessibility map rather than promising the whole campus.

What stands out

Meet the blue whale skeleton

Begin near the parking-lot landmark while treating the 2015 image as dated configuration context.

Explore regional natural history

Choose current indoor and outdoor exhibitions from the live listings.

Plan a seasonal butterfly visit

Verify pavilion dates and add-on tickets without expecting the photographed species.

Build an accessible route

Use the accessibility map, free wheelchair inventory and advance-request cart while respecting named exceptions.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a South Coast Railroad Museum trip

The museum ranks second about 13,954 meters, or roughly 8.7 road miles, from Goleta Depot. Allow several hours and keep the separate Sea Center campus out of this local profile.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • HoursDaily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; check the live special-hours notice.
  • Admission$20 adult; $17 senior or teen; $15 child ages 2-12; under 2 and members free.
  • Reduced admissionSNAP or CalFresh is $5 per person for up to four; current program terms apply.
  • Seasonal add-onButterflies Alive requires a $3 ticket beyond museum admission; availability and species vary.
  • ParkingFree auto parking in the museum lot and free bicycle parking at published racks.
  • AccessibilityMost exhibits are accessible, with explicit exceptions. Free loaner wheelchairs and advance-request Jill's Cart support are published.
  • AnimalsPets are not allowed; trained service animals are welcome under the published conditions.
  • FoodFood and drink are not allowed in indoor exhibit halls; visitors may use outdoor picnic spaces.

Choose the adjacent Goleta ranch

Add Rancho La Patera & Stow House

Use Stow House for a compact guided historic-house visit next to the railroad museum.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

When is the museum open?

Daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., subject to the current special-hours notice.

How much is admission?

Current live rates are $20 adult, $17 senior or teen, $15 child ages 2-12, and free for children under 2 and members.

Is reduced admission available?

SNAP or CalFresh admission is $5 per person for up to four people under current program terms.

Is Butterflies Alive included?

No. The seasonal pavilion requires a $3 add-on ticket; dates, configuration and butterfly species can change.

Is parking free?

Yes. The museum publishes free auto parking in its lot and free bicycle parking at two rack areas.

Is every exhibit wheelchair-accessible?

No. Most are, but the official page names Farrand Auditorium, Space Lab and Gladwin Planetarium as exceptions, and individual outdoor exhibit pages add limitations.

Are wheelchairs available?

Manual wheelchairs are free first-come with valid ID or collateral. Jill's Cart, with a wheelchair lift, should be requested well before the visit.

Are pets allowed?

No. Only trained service animals are allowed under the museum's published leash and exhibit-area conditions.

Can visitors bring food?

Food and drink are prohibited in indoor exhibit halls, but visitors may eat in outdoor picnic spaces.

Do the images show current conditions?

No. The exterior, whale and butterfly works date from 2013, 2015 and 2024 and do not establish current entry, displays, species, availability or accessibility.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-17. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.