Continuing within sight of the Pacific Ocean, U.S. 101 hugs the coast as it leaves Ventura and enters Santa Barbara County. The segment of freeway passing through downtown Santa Barbara was constructed in the late 1980s, and there are several instances where the freeway reverts to expressway status in the county. At Gaviota, U.S. 101 leaves the coast, turning due north toward Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo, two major Central California cities. Passing alongside the coast and mountains, traversing old bridges and passing through a tunnel, this segment of U.S. 101 is truly a crown jewel in California's freeway system.

Northbound U.S. 101
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 mileage sign near Milepost 85 in Carpinteria. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 at Exit 86, Casitas Pass Road. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 87, Santa Monica Road, one and one-half miles. Photo taken 06/02/02.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 91, Evans Avenue. Photo taken 06/02/02.
	Northbound U.S. 101 near Milepost 92 entering Santa Barbara. This section of freeway is very old, and it has some original expressway characteristics. Upon entering downtown Santa Barbara ahead, U.S. 101 assumes an urban freeway, but that is due to the fact that the downtown segment was constructed much later than this section. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 at Exit 93, San Ysidro Road. Photo taken 12/23/01.

	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 94A, Olive Mill Road/Coast Village Road. Photo taken 06/02/02.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 95, Salinas Street, three-quarters of a mile. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 approaches downtown Santa Barbara near Milepost 96. This picture was taken late in the afternoon on one of the shortest days of the year, and the freeway generally heads west through Santa Barbara. Therefore, the signage can be somewhat difficult to read and the glare can overtake the scene. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 96A, Milpas Road, one-half mile. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 mileage sign approaches Exit 96A, Milpas Road, one-half mile. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 96B, Laguna Street/Garden Street and downtown Santa Barbara. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 at Exit 96A, Laguna Street/Garden Street and downtown Santa Barbara and approaches Exit 97, Bath Street. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	View of the signage on the Exit 96B offramp as seen from northbound U.S. 101/California 1 in downtown Santa Barbara. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 98A, Cabrillo Street. Photo taken 06/02/02.
	The next exit along northbound U.S. 101/California 1 is Exit 98B, Arrellaga Street. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 at Exit 98B, Arrellaga Street. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 99B, Pueblo Street. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 101A, La Cumbre Road/Hope Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	This unique guardrail is found along northbound U.S. 101/California 1 as the freeway approaches Exit 101B. Photo taken 06/02/02.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 at Exit 101B, Junction California 154/State Street. California 154 leads northwest from this interchange, providing an inland alternative to U.S. 101 between Exits 101B and 146 via Cold Springs, Lake Cachuma, Santa Ynez, and Los Olivos. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 103, Turnpike Road. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 104A, Patterson Road. The next exit is for California 217. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 at Exit 104B, Junction Westbound California 217 Freeway, which connects to University of California at Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Airport. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Views of Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 between Mileposts 105 and 130. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 at the Gaviota Beach turn off near Milepost 130. This is the last beach exit along northbound; U.S. 101 makes a sharp turn inland from here, and it will not see the ocean again until near Pismo Beach. The section of coast west of Gaviota (including Point Conception and Point Arguello) is considered to be the "lost coast," because it is largely inaccessible and unpopulated from here north to Vandenberg Air Force Base. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 approaches the Gaviota Tunnel. This tunnel is for northbound traffic only, and southbound traffic bypasses the tunnel through a narrow canyon to the left (west) of here. Note the "El Camino Real" bell and signage located near the tunnel entrance. This is the only tunnel on U.S. 101 between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Photos taken 12/23/01.
	Finally, after nearly 70 miles of duplex, Northbound U.S. 101 and California 1 finally split at Exit 132. This picture is along northbound approaches Exit 132, Junction Northbound California 1. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 approaches Exit 132, Junction Northbound California 1. Note the scenic route shield pasted onto this sign. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/California 1 at Exit 132. California 1 turns northwest toward Lompoc and Guadalupe, rejoining U.S. 101 again at Milepost 187. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 mileage sign after the California 1 Gaviota split (Exit 132). Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 approaches Exit 140A, California 246 in Buellton. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 140A, California 246 in Buellton. California 246 leads west to Lompoc (and a county road connection to Surf and Vandenberg Air Force Base) and east to Solvang and Junction California 154 in Santa Ynez. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 approaches Exit 146, Eastbound California 154, one mile. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 approaches Exit 146, Eastbound California 154, next right. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	As evidenced by this style of power pole, somewhere between Exits 146 and 154, northbound U.S. 101 leaves Southern California Edison territory and enters Pacific Gas and Electric territory for electricity distribution. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 154, Northbound California 135, Los Alamos. California 135 connects to California 1 north of Vandenberg Air Force Base, then reconnects with U.S. 101 in Santa Maria. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	California 135 only gets this standalone shield along northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 154. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	View of northbound U.S. 101 between Exits 154 and 159. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 mileage sign around Milepost 159. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 approaches Exit 167, Business U.S. 101, Santa Maria Way. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	The next six exits along northbound U.S. 101 are for the city of Santa Maria. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 approaches Exit 171, Junction Westbound California 166, Main Street. California 166 leads west into Guadalupe (Junction California 1). Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 at Exit 171, Junction Westbound California 166, Main Street. Eastbound California 166 is Exit 175, so California 166 merges onto U.S. 101 for four miles through Santa Maria. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 and Eastbound California 166 at Exit 173, Junction Southbound Business U.S. 101 and California 135, Broadway in Santa Maria. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101 and Eastbound California 166 shields after Exit 173 in Santa Maria. U.S. 101 exits Santa Barbara County when it crosses the Santa Maria River between Exits 173 and 175. Photo taken 12/23/01.
Abandoned Arroyo Hondo Bridge
	View of the abandoned Arroyo Hondo Bridge parallel to the U.S. 101 freeway just northwest of a rest area north of Santa Barbara. This picture shows the original bridge between the new U.S. 101 freeway, which is situated on a fill, and a railroad bridge to the south (since U.S. 101 runs west-east through here). Photo taken 06/01/02.
	Another late-day view of the abandoned Arroyo Hondo Bridge, this time looking south at it. A rest area is situated at the east (south) end of the bridge, making access fairly easy from the freeway. Photo taken 06/01/02.

These photos provide a view of the deck of the Arroyo Hondo Bridge looking southbound (east), toward the rest area. Photos taken 06/01/02 and 2004 by Ellery Price.

	And this photo shows the deck of the bridge looking northbound (west) along the Arroyo Hondo Bridge. Photo taken by Ellery Price, 2004.
	View of the Arroyo Hondo Bridge as seen from the railroad bridge, looking northeast. The U.S. 101 freeway is visible in the background. Photo taken 06/01/02.

Page Updated December 18, 2004.