Santa Maria California - Directions and Map| Santa Maria Valley

Road Travel

The Santa Maria Valley is situated midway along California’s Central Coast. It is located approximately 3.5 hours north of Los Angeles, 1.5 hours north of Santa Barbara, 4 hours south of the Bay Area, and 20 minutes from Pismo State Beach.

You can reach Santa Maria via Highway 101, Highway 1, and Highway 166.

Air Travel

To fly to or from Santa Maria Valley, the Santa Maria Airport (SMX) is a great option. Airlines like Allegiant, Alaska, and Mokulele offer connecting and direct flights to SMX.

Things to Do in Santa Maria Valley

Woody’s Butcher Block

Woody’s Butcher Block is the premier neighborhood meat market and butcher shop, providing high-end deli meats and cheeses. When you are ready to try your hand at preparing your own Santa Maria style barbecue, Woody’s Butcher Block is the place to start, with the finest cuts of meat.

Nojoqui Falls Park

Walking the short trail at Nojoqui Falls Park takes you to a spectacular waterfall. This is a favorite spot for company outings and family gatherings with various ball fields, barbecue grills, benches, and picnic tables—plus hiking trails, a playground, and restrooms.

Vandenberg Air Force Base

Vandenberg Air Force Base offers monthly visits to the Vandenberg Space and Missile Heritage Center on the third Tuesday of each month—pulling together the history of Space Launch Complex-1o and the all west-coast launch programs as it tells the story of the critical role Vandenberg plays in launching commercial, national security and scientific polar-orbiting satellites.

Oceano

Nearby Oceano is just 18 miles from Santa Maria, and offers fantastic opportunities for off-roading at the famed Oceano Dunes. With more than 5 miles of beach open for vehicle use and the sand dunes available for off-highway motor vehicle recreation, this is a must-experience for off-road enthusiasts. In addition to off-roading, surfing, swimming, surf […]

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Featured Events

March 30

Santa Maria Downtown Fridays

Downtown Fridays is the place to be for families, fun, and community camaraderie. The weekly event features a certified farmer’s market, live music, food booths, food trucks, kids’ activities, and a beer and wine tent. Every Friday starting on March 30th until September 28th, Santa Maria will be having Downtown Fridays! Each week will feature […]

April 26

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Book by Peter Parnell Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney film Generously sponsored by Joan Gellert-Sargen Sandy & Albert Mills Linda Stafford Burrows The Hunchback of Notre Dame is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials […]

April 27

31st Annual Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival

The Santa Maria Valley’s uniquely moderate coastal climate is a perfect match for many crops, the most colorful of which are strawberries. This spring, the popular fruit finds its ultimate showcase from April 27 through April 29 during the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival at the Santa Maria Fairpark. This family-friendly berry bash features strawberry […]