City in California, United States
Is Santa Barbara safe?
Safe for a tourist city, with low violent crime.
Is Santa Barbara safe?
Safe for a tourist city, with low violent crime. Car break-ins, bike theft and homelessness near State Street are the usual problems.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- Homicide rate in United States: 5.8 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in United States: 12.7 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Santa Barbara at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Car break-ins and bike theft; petty theft from beaches; drunken disputes near lower State Street and Funk Zone on weekend nights. |
| At night | Downtown and the Funk Zone are lively but quiet by 11 pm–midnight. Use Uber or Lyft rather than walking to the Mesa. |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women. Usual care with parked cars at trailheads and with drinks late at night. |
| Other risks | Wildfires and mudslides after fire (Thomas Fire, 2017); Rip currents at some beaches; Rattlesnakes on dry trails |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake rental listings asking for deposits or wires
- Card skimmers at gas pumps and standalone ATMs
- Unlicensed parking attendants at beach lots
Take care
- Leaving valuables in cars at beaches and trailheads
- Upper State Street after midnight: fights and aggressive drunks
- Hiking after heavy rain: landslides and flash floods
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking age is 21 everywhere; bars and shops check ID, so carry your passport.
- Open alcohol containers in public and in cars are illegal in most places.
- Cannabis is legal in some states but federally illegal; never carry it across borders or onto federal land.
How Santa Barbara compares in United States
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Sedona | 5/5 · Very safe |
| New York City | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Orlando | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Honolulu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Boston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Diego | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Maui | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nashville | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Austin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Key West | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Denver | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Portland | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Antonio | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Charleston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Savannah | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kauai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Big Island | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Santa Barbara | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Los Angeles | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Miami | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| San Francisco | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Washington, D.C. | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Chicago | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| New Orleans | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Seattle | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Philadelphia | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Atlanta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Santa Barbara safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women. Usual care with parked cars at trailheads and with drinks late at night.
Is Santa Barbara safe at night?
Downtown and the Funk Zone are lively but quiet by 11 pm–midnight. Use Uber or Lyft rather than walking to the Mesa.
What is the crime rate in Santa Barbara?
Car break-ins and bike theft; petty theft from beaches; drunken disputes near lower State Street and Funk Zone on weekend nights. Nationally, United States records 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Santa Barbara?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Santa Barbara
Going to Santa Barbara solo?
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Sources
- Santa Barbara MTD
- Santa Barbara Airport
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
- Visit Santa Barbara
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.