Overview
Lompoc (pronounced LOM-pohk) is in Santa Barbara County, California, USA.
10 sights · 7 things to do · 5 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Lompoc
Vandenberg Space Force Base
The largest space launch site on the West Coast, where SpaceX launches Falcon 9s every 3-4 days or so. Popular viewing spots include Surf Beach (best views but very limited parking), Ocean Ave and, if the fog rolls in, H…
La Purisima Mission State Historic Park
Commissed by Father Fermin Lasuen in 1787 as the eleventh California mission. The most complete restored mission, which was built from 1813 onwards after the original buildings south of Lompoc were destroyed in earthquak…
Lompoc Museum
The museum was built in 1911, as a Carnegie Library and served the community as a library until 1968. The Museum focuses on the archeology and history of the Lompoc Valley and Santa Barbara County, by maintaining exhibit…
Lompoc Valley Flower Festival
This five-day festival (Wednesday-Sunday) is held at the end of June and features a carnival, live entertainment, food booths, arts and crafts. The festival began in 1952 as a rodeo, but became a flower festival in order…
Vandenberg Space and Missile Technology Center (SAMTEC)
Models, exhibits and memorabilia about Vandenberg's pioneering role in missiles and satellites, focusing heavily on the 1950s and 1960s: Atlas/Titan ICBMs, the Corona spy satellite program, and more. In 2025, the museum …
Cypress Art Gallery
Featuring works of local artists. The Gallery is dedicated to the Art Association and its members for selling their masterpieces since 1966.
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.
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 — 17 mi away. Directions
- SBA Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, Santa Barbara — 38 mi away. Directions
- BUR Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Burbank — 124 mi away (major hub). Directions
Lompoc's airport serves only general aviation traffic. The nearest larger airport is in Santa Barbara, an hour down the road.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Vandenberg Space Force Base, Lompoc Museum, The Murals of Lompoc
- Lunch Suvans Kitchen
- Afternoon Italian Stone Pines, Old Town Lompoc Heritage Walk
- Dinner South Side Coffee Co
- Evening The Wicked Shamrock
Day 2
- Morning Vandenberg Space and Missile Technology Center (SAMTEC), Jalama Beach, Cypress Art Gallery
- Lunch Sushi Teri
- Afternoon Fabing-McKay-Spanne Historical House, Birding
- Dinner One Room Escapes & Coffee
- Evening Jasper's
Day 3
- Morning La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, Lompoc flower fields, Artesia School House
- Lunch Tom's
- Afternoon Lompoc Valley Flower Festival, Bicycling
- Evening Liquor Emporium
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
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
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Lompoc means "lagoon" in the now extinct Chumash language once spoken in the area. The town has two main claims to fame: it grows more than half the world's flower seeds, and it's the main civilian settlement near the immediately adjacent Vandenberg Space Force Base, one of the world's busiest space launch sites. Lompoc proclaims itself the "City of Arts and Flowers", and in 2021, it was home to 44,000 people.
Climate
Lompoc has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are dry and warm but rarely hot, while winters are cold and rainy. Fog is common, particularly early mornings in summer.
Tourist information
- Explore Lompoc website
Get in
By plane
Lompoc's airport serves only general aviation traffic. The nearest larger airport is in Santa Barbara, an hour down the road.
By train
Amtrak's twice-daily Pacific Surfliner between San Luis Obispo and San Diego serves Lompoc-Surf station. Arrange transport in advance, since the station is by the beach a good 10 mi out of town.
By car
Lompoc is located on scenic Pacific Coast Highway (California Hwy 1) and Highway 246, 55 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, 155 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 270 miles southeast of San Francisco. There is bus service as well from San Luis Obispo.
Get around
Lompoc has a taxi service called Lompoc Taxi. There are bus routes provided by City of Lompoc Transit (COLT) service with routes from Vandenberg Village to Mission Hills to Lompoc. There are various car rental businesses.
See
See Vandenberg Space Force Base (VBG)
The largest space launch site on the West Coast, where SpaceX launches Falcon 9s every 3-4 days or so. Popular viewing spots include Surf Beach (best views but very limited parking), Ocean Ave and, if the fog rolls in, Harris Ridge Rd in the hills above the city. As of 2026, tours of the base are not available for civilians.
See Vandenberg Space and Missile Technology Center (SAMTEC)
Models, exhibits and memorabilia about Vandenberg's pioneering role in missiles and satellites, focusing heavily on the 1950s and 1960s: Atlas/Titan ICBMs, the Corona spy satellite program, and more. In 2025, the museum was located to the old Marshallia Ranch outside the base perimeter, meaning it's now open to all. Opening hours are limited and complicated, check website or contact the museum ahead of time to confirm.
See La Purisima Mission State Historic Park (La Purisima Concepcion de Maria Santisima, California's Lost Mission)
Commissed by Father Fermin Lasuen in 1787 as the eleventh California mission. The most complete restored mission, which was built from 1813 onwards after the original buildings south of Lompoc were destroyed in earthquakes in 1812. A large cross constructed in 1912 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of La Purisima Mission & 100th anniversary of its destruction can be observed on the top of the hill behind the Veterans Memorial Building. Is unusual in several respects, including the fact that is one of two missions managed as a State Park rather than an ecclesiastical institution (after its restoration by the Civilian Conservation Corps, completed the day Pearl Harbor was bombed), and that it is painted pink instead of the more common white.
See Lompoc Museum
The museum was built in 1911, as a Carnegie Library and served the community as a library until 1968. The Museum focuses on the archeology and history of the Lompoc Valley and Santa Barbara County, by maintaining exhibits, a research library, and sponsoring public programs.
See Cypress Art Gallery
Featuring works of local artists. The Gallery is dedicated to the Art Association and its members for selling their masterpieces since 1966.
See Lompoc flower fields
As you drive through "Valley of Flower" during the summer months, you will see many patches of colors which will be varieties of cut flowers and those grown for seed. They include Sweet Peas, Larkspur, Stock, Marigolds, Sunflowers, Queen Anne's Lace, Bachelor Buttons, Delphinium and others. Also notice the vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, lettuce, artichokes, cabbage, celery, spinach and the famous Central Coast Pinquito Bean.
See The Murals of Lompoc
"City of Murals in the Valley of Flowers". Like beautiful flowers blossoming along a vine, Lompoc's mural surprise and delight residents and visitors alike as they stroll the peaceful and friendly downtown area. Lompoc has over 32 major commissioned murals painted by noted artists, as well as an additional 40 murals, all located in Lompoc's historic old town area.
See Fabing-McKay-Spanne Historical House
1875 Victorian home fully renovated and furnished by the Lompoc Valley Historical Society. Grounds also include a Blacksmith Shop, Carriage House, Museum Room, Sales Area and a Research/Reference Room.
See Artesia School House
The Lompoc Museum and the Lompoc Valley Historical Society joined forces to furnish the Artesia School House. Built in 1876, Artesia School was Lompoc's first country school, named after nearby artesian wells. It was in use as a school until 1960. It had been built 4 miles west of Lompoc on Central Avenue facing west. Brisk west winds kept blowing the doors open, so it was turned around to face east. Later it was moved to the corner of Central and Artesia Avenue. In 1972 it was moved to its present location in the 100 block of West Chestnut Avenue and restored by the Lompoc Unified School District.
See Italian Stone Pines
Classified as the largest grove of Italian Stone Pines outside of the Mediterranean. These trees were planted in 1940 by mistake, and now are valued at over 3 million dollars! They create a lovely canopy over South "H" Street. The trees have been featured in a European book on famous trees of the world because of their health and beauty.
Do
Do Jalama Beach
Stunning surf beach and campground just south of Vandenberg SFB. The shop here is mildly famous for its old school "Jalama Burgers". Getting here requires a 20-mile drive down a twisty mountain road, but it's worth it.
Do Lompoc Valley Flower Festival
This five-day festival (Wednesday-Sunday) is held at the end of June and features a carnival, live entertainment, food booths, arts and crafts. The festival began in 1952 as a rodeo, but became a flower festival in order to highlight the area's unique role as a flower growing region.
Do Old Town Lompoc Heritage Walk
Approximately 1 mile walk. Allow at least an hour. This walk takes you on a scenic tour of Old Town Lompoc with 18 different stops.
Do Birding
Lompoc Valley is on the Pacific Flyway and provides habitat to a wide variety of migratory and resident species. Bird watch at sanctuaries. Lompoc has one of the highest annual counts in the nation. For more information contact: La Purisima Audubon Society. P.O. Box 2045, Lompoc, CA 93438.
Do Bicycling
The Lompoc Valley is considered a premier bike riding area in the state with rides ranging from difficult to pleasant. Visit the Lompoc Bicycle Club website.
Do Famous Lompoc BBQ
On most Saturdays you can find along "H" Street you can find a Famous Lompoc BBQ happening.
Do Skydive! Santa Barbara
The Drop Zone with an Ocean View! Feel the rush of flying through the air at 120 mph. Check out the fantastic ocean view of Point Concepcion. Certificate of Achievement presented on your first jump. They offer 2 ways of completing your first jump, Tandem or Static Line.
Buy
Shop Farmers Market
Every Friday on corner of Ocean Avenue & I Street, 1:30PM to dusk. During the summer months, it joins the Olde Towne Market in the 100 block of South H Street in downtown Lompoc.
Shop Olde Towne Market
From July through the first of September, this Friday night event features local entertainment, arts and crafts, commercial vendors and wonderful food. This event is the perfect Friday night activity for the entire family.
Eat
Eat Tom's
A local hamburger joint, with an "A to Z" menu of 26 different burgers (some great, some standard, and a few of them unlikely to appeal to anyone except kids trying to dare one another.)
Eat South Side Coffee Co (South Side)
Fun locally owned coffee shop next to a music store.
Eat One Room Escapes & Coffee (One Room)
Local coffee shop and escape room with games for kids.
Drink
Wineries
The Lompoc Wine Ghetto is a cluster of 12 tasting rooms bounded by N 7th and 12 Sts in the southeast corner of town. As the name suggests, this is an industrial area so expect storage unit vibes, but the wine here comes from the surrounding world-class vineyards and is particularly famed for its pinot noir.
Drink Foley Estates Vineyard & Winery
This winery offers modestly priced wines that are often bargains among Santa Barbara wineries.
Drink Liquor Emporium
This unassuming strip mall liquor store hides what is almost certainly Lompoc's widest wine selection, with dozens of local wineries represented.
Bars
Drink The Wicked Shamrock
Dive bar with pool tables.
Sleep
Stay Embassy Suites Lompoc
All-suite hotel. Suites include separate living rooms with pull-out sofas, free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers and kitchenettes. Parking and made-to-order breakfast are free, as are evening receptions with light appetizers and drinks. There’s also an outdoor pool, a 24/7 fitness center and a business center.
Go next
- Go north to Santa Maria, the largest city in Santa Barbara County.
- Guadalupe - This small town is 30 miles north of Lompoc and is primarily focused on agriculture and oil production. Travelers will enjoy visiting the neighboring Guadaulpe-Nipomo Dunes, an 18-mile stretch of beach that is one of the largest remaining natural dune areas in California. The Ten Commandments was filmed in the dunes and the sets were buried after production, but today blowing winds repeatedly reveal and then re-cover these reproductions of ancient Egypt.
- Buellton - 18 miles to the east, Buellton is home to several Santa Ynez Valley wineries. Visitors will also find the ostrich & emu farm interesting, with the opportunity to get up close and personal with the giant birds.
Nearby
Buellton
City / town · 20 listings · 15 mi away
Solvang
City / town · 26 listings · 19 mi away
Los Olivos
City / town · 11 listings · 20 mi away
Santa Maria
City / town · 16 listings · 21 mi away
Santa Ynez
City / town · 6 listings · 21 mi away
Guadalupe
City / town · 2 listings · 23 mi away
Nipomo
City / town · 3 listings · 27 mi away
Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
Park · 29 mi away
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