Leadbetter Beach Webcam – Check the Surf in Santa Barbara

The Leadbetter Beach Webcam shows the surf at one of Santa Barbara’s most popular city beaches from two Surfline cameras at the Shoreline Beach Cafe. The main camera looks west along the sand to Leadbetter Point, where low cliffs topped with trees and palms close off the cove and the swell wraps in along the point. The second camera, on the Cafe Patio tab, looks straight out to sea from the cafe’s terrace, past blue umbrellas, a palm trunk and strings of lights, to the beach break and the horizon. Together they answer the two questions most people bring here: is there a wave, and what is the beach like right now. Haze can soften the view of the point, and the light can change from flat grey to bright sun within a few hours.

About Leadbetter Beach

Leadbetter Beach sits between Santa Barbara Harbor and Shoreline Park, below Leadbetter Hill and across from Santa Barbara City College. It is a beach that was never meant to exist. When the harbor was built, it blocked the current that carried sand down the coast, and the sand piled up here instead. The old line of cliffs now lies about 27 meters (30 yards) offshore, and the original beach was where the college football field stands today. The harbor’s effect on the sand supply led to several lawsuits against the city.

Leadbetter Point is a small right-hand point break, sheltered and inconsistent, with slow, crumbling waves that make it one of the city’s favorite spots for beginners and longboarders. It tends to work best around low tide. Consistent summer winds also make the beach a favorite with kitesurfers and windsurfers. On shore there is a grassy park with picnic tables and barbecues, lifeguard towers, restrooms and showers, and the cafe itself at 801 Shoreline Drive, which makes Leadbetter one of the few surf spots with a restaurant right on the beach.

Weather and Climate in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara’s climate is mild in every month. January averages a high of 19 C (67 F) and a low of 8 C (47 F), and April is only a little warmer at 22 C (71 F). The city gets about 482 millimeters (19 inches) of rain a year, measured downtown, a short distance inland from the beach.

Summer highs reach about 25 C (76 F) in July and 25 C (78 F) in August, with nights near 16 C (60 F), and October stays almost as warm at 24 C (76 F). Every so often a sundowner, a hot, dry downslope wind off the mountains in the late afternoon or evening, can push the city into the mid-30s C (high 90s F) and drop the humidity sharply.

Things to Do Near Leadbetter Beach

Shoreline Park runs along the bluff to the west: 14.67 acres (5.9 hectares) of lawns and paved paths opened in 1968, with views over the harbor and out to the Channel Islands. A stairway through a torii gate leads down to a tidal beach about 16 meters (53 feet) below, which disappears under the water at high tide.

To the east, the harbor is a short walk along the waterfront. The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has filled the old Naval Reserve Building there since July 2000, and Stearns Wharf is about 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) from the beach, an easy walk or bike ride along the waterfront.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More surf and beach cameras on the California coast and beyond:

• Campus Point Webcam
• Venice Beach Webcam
• Cox Bay Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you see on the Leadbetter Beach Webcam?

The main camera looks west along the sand to the waves breaking at Leadbetter Point and the palm-topped cliffs behind it. The Cafe Patio tab looks straight out to sea from the Shoreline Beach Cafe, over its umbrellas to the beach break.

Where is Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara?

It lies between Santa Barbara Harbor and Shoreline Park, across Shoreline Drive from Santa Barbara City College, about 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) west of Stearns Wharf.

Is Leadbetter good for beginner surfers?

Yes. Leadbetter Point is a small, sheltered right-hand point break with slow, crumbling waves, often called the best beginner spot in the city. Surf is inconsistent, and it usually works best around low tide, so a look at the cameras before paddling out saves a wasted trip.

Is there a cafe at Leadbetter Beach?

Yes. The Shoreline Beach Cafe stands at 801 Shoreline Drive at the edge of the sand. Both cameras on this page come from the cafe’s surf cam page, and the Cafe Patio tab looks out from its terrace.

Does the Leadbetter Beach Webcam show Stearns Wharf or the harbor?

No. The main camera faces west toward Leadbetter Point and the second faces the open ocean. The harbor and Stearns Wharf are to the east, outside both frames.

What is the weather like at Leadbetter Beach?

Mild all year. Highs run from about 19 C (67 F) in January to 25 C (78 F) in August, with about 482 millimeters (19 inches) of rain a year. Hot, dry sundowner winds occasionally raise the temperature sharply in the late afternoon or evening.

Is there parking at Leadbetter Beach?

Yes. There is parking along the nearby streets, and Shoreline Park on the bluff above the beach has a free lot.

Source: Shoreline Beach Cafe