Overview
Guadalupe is a city in Santa Barbara County, California.
1 sights · 1 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Guadalupe
Guadaulpe-Nipomo Dunes Center
Housed in a restored 1910 Craftsman-style bungalow, the Dune Center offers a look at the history and ecology of the Guadaulpe-Nipomo Dunes, one of the largest remaining natural dune areas on the California coast.
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge
An 18-mile stretch of sand dunes on the coastline. Hiking, wildlife viewing to surf fishing. The Dune Center (see above) offers guided walks of the dunes. Cecil B. DeMille filmed the 10 Commandments on these dunes then b…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 75°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Lompoc)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SMX Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field, Santa Maria — 8 mi away. Directions
- SBP San Luis County Regional Airport, San Luis Obispo — 19 mi away. Directions
- FAT Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Fresno — 134 mi away (major hub). Directions
Nipomo is 8.5mi (13.6km) west of Highway 101 on Highway 166.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Guadaulpe-Nipomo Dunes Center
- Afternoon Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Get in
By plane
- Santa Maria Airport, about 8mi (13km) southeast of Guadalupe, is a one terminal airport. Scheduled flights are available to and from Phoenix (2 flights per day on American Airlines) and Las Vegas (Sunday, Wednesday and Friday service only on Allegiant Air.
By car
Nipomo is 8.5mi (13.6km) west of Highway 101 on Highway 166.
By bus
- Amtrak has bus service to Guadalupe a couple of times a day.
See
Do
Do Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge
An 18-mile stretch of sand dunes on the coastline. Hiking, wildlife viewing to surf fishing. The Dune Center (see above) offers guided walks of the dunes. Cecil B. DeMille filmed the 10 Commandments on these dunes then buried the set pieces in the sand. As the dunes blow in the wind, the sets are revealed then reburied so keep an eye out for "ancient Egyptian" architecture during your visit.
Go next
- Santa Maria - Eight miles east of Guadalupe, Santa Maria is the largest city in the county, and is probably best known as the original home of barbecue tri-tip, now referred to as Santa Maria style barbecue. The area is also one of the state's largest wine-producing regions, and has been a filming location for films ranging from The Ten Commandments to Pirates of the Caribbean.
- Pismo Beach - This tourism-focused coastal town is located 16 miles north of Guadalupe. It has more than 65 restaurants and 30 lodging options, and draws visitors with its beautiful coastline, annual clam festival, and the thousands of monarch butterflies that gather to spend the winter in a grove at the edge of town.
- Lompoc - 31 miles south of Guadalupe, Lompoc is nicknamed the "City of Arts and Flowers", with more than half the world's flower seeds grown in the fields around the town. The city celebrates its association with flowers every June during the Lompoc Valley Flower festival. The area is also home to Vandenberg Air Force Base, America's west coast spaceport, where rocket launches can sometimes be seen.
Nearby
Nipomo
City / town · 3 listings · 6 mi away
Santa Maria
City / town · 16 listings · 8 mi away
Oceano
City / town · 5 listings · 10 mi away
Arroyo Grande
City / town · 9 listings · 11 mi away
Grover Beach
City / town · 5 listings · 11 mi away
Pismo Beach
City / town · 17 listings · 14 mi away
Avila Beach
City / town · 13 listings · 17 mi away
San Luis Obispo
City / town · 51 listings · 22 mi away
My experience
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