Located in northern Santa Barbara County, the Santa Ynez Valley is just 35 miles from the beaches of Santa Barbara, 125 miles up the coast from Los Angeles and 300 miles south of San Francisco.
The region is easily accessible via vehicles on U.S. Highway 101 and State Highways 154 & 246.
For car free travel, Amtrak trains feature connecting bus service to Solvang; private aircraft land at Santa Ynez Airport (IZA).
Larger commerical flights fly regularly into nearby Santa Barbara (to the south) and Santa Maria (to the north) several times daily. Car rental is available from both airport locations.
Santa Barbara Airport (SBA)
Santa Maria Airport (SMX)
Highway Access to the Santa Ynez Valley
To reach the Santa Ynez Valley from the north, take Highway 101 to Highway 154 at Los Olivos. Tiny Ballard lies 3 miles south off Baseline Road. The turnoff for Solvang is just beyond, west on Highway 246, while a straight jaunt on Highway 154 will take you through the spectacular San Marcos Pass and onto Highway 101 toward Santa Barbara.
From the south, take Highway 154 off Highway 101 at Goleta (just north of Santa Barbara), up through the San Marcos Pass. A left turn heading west on Highway 246 takes you into Solvang; continuing straight along Highway 154 takes you through Los Olivos and onto Highway 101 toward San Luis Obispo.
Orientation
U.S. 101, Highway 246, and Highway 154 form a triangle around the six towns of the Santa Ynez Valley, all residing within a 10-mile radius. Highway 246 becomes Mission Drive within Solvang city limits, then continues east past the mission toward Santa Ynez. Alamo Pintado Road connects Solvang with Los Olivos, whose commercial stretch is along 3 blocks of Grand Avenue. This geographic arrangement may sound confusing but in reality it all blurs together gracefully, and the friendly residents are always handy with directions.
