^^ Thanks everyone! I'm doing a few AA MRs out to SBA in May and also have a ~3 hour layover.

Google Maps has the walk from the front door of SBA to the Beachside Cafe as being a whopping .9 miles. (I know multiple people mentioned the walk being 15 min, but it looked so much further on the map. Apparently I'm just terrible at judging distances on maps.)

Looks like within 20 min of landing, I'll be eating a tri-tip sandwich on the beach. Since the airport looks pretty small, I'm guessing it won't take much time to clear security. That should leave plenty of time to play in the sand.

Security at SBA is kinda odd. Yes, it is a very small airport (terminal building) but it actually has a good number of flights. There are only a few holdrooms (which act as secure areas) so security will be long at peak times. At 5:30am on a Monday, waits can be 30+ minutes. The good news is that the airport employees do an excellent job of organzing passengers by flight while waiting to go through security, and then they let you in by flight (keep in mind, you are actually "waiting" outdoors).

For example, at 6am at the UA/DL holdroom, they will have 4-5 security lines for the LAX flight, SFO flight, DEN flight, SLC flight, etc. If you are on the LAX flight which departs at 6am, and you show up at 5:30 and see 150 people waiting, simply go ask the attendant where you should go. If they have already got your flight thru security, you will get to cut in line (this becomes learned after a while ).

Overall SBA is pretty unique as an airport. Have fun on the trips!

In the middle of the day, when things are slow, they'll actually close the screening and airside areas until about 45 minutes before flights. But there are places to sit, plug into shore power and use their good free wi-fi, landside. ^

Thanks everyone! Sounds like I'll be headed down to the beach. I haven't had a good tri-tip sandwich since I lived out in CA years ago. I think I'm glad I chose SBA as my turn-around city!

I take it that you haven't walked by the dorms when it's tanning season

1) There's a California destination board in FlyerTalk?? Who knew? Who knows? Anyway.....

2) If there ever were a destination campus...

3) Speaking of sand between your toes, if one goes to the restaurant, then walks along the beach, it's about a 15 minute stroll over to the campus, and specifically Campus Point, one of the most famous surfing destinations on the coast.

Wait people actually come to this airport? Thought it was outbound flights only.

I'd guess you probably already took your trip by now, but if not, or for anyone looking.

Most are right on, the Beachside at Goleta beach is about all you can get to in 3 hours. Security is pretty easy going and you should have no problem getting through with only one hour before departure. As mentioned, many times security isn't open until 45 minutes prior.

If you want to check out the campus, you can easily take a bus right from the airport (#25) for $1.75 and then return for $1.75, of course you'll have to be mindful of the bus schedule which is typically every 30 minutes in both directions. Walking to campus is probably pretty reasonable (airport to center of campus and back is about a 1 hour walk, maybe 1:15. Keep in mind that the general area until you get to campus or the beach is not very pedestrian friendly, there is no sidewalk, just a shoulder for the first half and a bikelane/path for the second (watch out for the crazy cyclists).

Walking to downtown goleta (which is mostly an industrial/commercial area) is about 20 minutes one way, and again not at all pedestrian friendly until you get to the city.

Elephant Bar is a great place to hang out, but as far as I know you would have to walk around the airport to get there which would be close to 30 minutes one way and again, not pedestrian friendly.

So yeah, Goleta Beach and the beachside restaurant for a meal or a few drinks and a casual stroll is about the best you could probably do. If you had a car you might be able to pull off a quick tour of downtown Santa Barbara and the pier there as long as you weren't trying to do it between about 4:00PM and 6:00PM.

Have fun, if you haven't already.

A better way to get to the Elephant Bar is to take the shuttle to the secondary long term parking lot, and walk from there. It should only be a 5-8 minute walk from there. You would have to cross the street (Hollister) and walk back towards the airport to get there.

....ummm, during my grad days, I TA'd discussion sessions during tanning & surfing season; and even managed to accomplish some teaching with nubile co-eds in the front row wearing minimal beachwear.

Seriously, it's a goodish walk especially with any baggage and the campus is fairly dead on weekends and the side nearest the airport.

I bet that was some lecture, Humbert.

All this talk has made me wonder if we should be arranging a SBA Do at Beachside or E-bar...?