Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, United States

Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour

Outty Ranking 48 3.0 · 8 traveler reviews1 hoursFrom $45

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September 2026

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Adults

Age 13 and over

2

Children

Age 12 and under

0

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From, per person$45
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Outty Ranking

48/100

Worth a Look. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

3.0/5

Based on 8 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour worth booking?

Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour is a 1-hour experience in Santa Barbara, United States, from $45 per person. It scores 48 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look, based on a 3/5 rating across 8 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
48 / 100
Rating
3/5 (8)
Duration
1 hours
From
$45 per person

World class private tour, completely controlled by you! Come see the best sights in Santa Barbara, at your leisure! Commentary and Tour by Laure Spiers, a local legend! Don't worry about other people, this tour is c

What you get

    About this experience

    World class private tour, completely controlled by you! Come see the best sights in Santa Barbara, at your leisure! Commentary and Tour by Laure Spiers, a local legend! Don't worry about other people, this tour is completely tailored to you with the Pintours App! With our app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want! You can skip a stop you don't like, and you have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips.

    What's included

    Included

    • Free navigation and Smartphone Guide
    • Pintours App Guide

    What you'll see and do

    1. Old Mission Santa Barbara

      Landmark 1786 Spanish mission with period art & artifacts, gardens with ocean views & a gift shop. We will just pass by this stop to take some pictures and all the scenery in. If you would like to spend more time here, there is an optional tour that is not included to explore a bit more. You can purchase the tickets at the booth.

      Pass by without stopping

    2. Santa Barbara County Courthouse

      1929 tile-roof courthouse complex known for a mural room & Spanish Colonial Revival embellishments.

      15 minutes here

    3. El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park

      Historical site housing remnants of a 1782 Spanish fortress, including 2 original adobe buildings.

      25 minutes here

    4. Paseo Nuevo

      Best shopping area of Santa Barbara. Filled with great eats better described as an open-air mall with a variety of well-known chain retailers, plus a movie theater & dining.

      30 minutes here

    5. Funk Zone

      The Funk Zone is a unique Santa Barbara arts, culture, business, and industrial district between State Street and Garden Street, and Montecito Street to Cabrillo Boulevard. This amalgamation of historical marine structures, industrial lots, and houses has a unique history in manufacturing, lumber, citrus, produce, and fishing. Over the years, many artists have found creative freedom by carving out studio spaces in this “funky” area of Santa Barbara, and so have wineries, restaurants, art galleries, and shops.

      30 minutes here

    6. Stearns Wharf

      Storied wooden wharf offering restaurants, varied shops, a small aquarium & water views.

      25 minutes here

    7. Leadbetter Beach

      City beach offering both white sand & a grass lawn, plus picnic areas, showers & restrooms.

      25 minutes here

    8. East Beach

      Long, palm-lined sandy beach known for its sunsets & volleyball, lifeguarded during summer months.

      25 minutes here

    9. The celebrity enclave of Santa Barbara. Find Oprah and many others of the rich and famous living right here

      10 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Santa Barbara

    Depending on how you booked, your driver can meet you here, right outside the Old Mission. We will text you all the details. If you are driving yourself, you can drive from this starting point.

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 45 minutes before departure.

    Ends at

    This will be the last stop, at the Coral Casino. We highly encourage you to explore this area, but if you would like to head back to your hotel or another area, you can ask your driver to take you back or you can drive yourself.

    Options you can book

    • Unlimited Uber Pass

      Unlimited Uber Pass: We will provide you an Uber Pass, which will let you go to each stop with your personal Uber driver

    • Private Luxury Van/Chauffeur

      Private Luxury Sprinter Van : With Luxury Chauffeur, fits max 11 people. Pickup included

    • Unlimited Uber Pass / Pickup

      Unlimited Uber Pass / Pickup: Unlimited Uber Rides on us, with the Uber Pass. This option will also include a hotel pickup to the tours first stop! Pickup included

    • Tour Only

      Pick your own transport: Drive at your leisure or we can accommodate you with electric scooter / bike options.

    • Private Luxury Driver Included

      Luxury Vehicle and Driver Pickup included

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 15 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Pintours

    Know before you go

    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

    Photos

    Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour in Santa Barbara, photo 2Santa BarbaraFunk ZoneLeadbetter BeachStearns Wharf

    Traveler reviews

    8 verified traveler reviews for Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    4
    4 star
    0
    3 star
    0
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    4
    Sort
    Dan_R · June 2026

    Subpar

    The two hour Santa Barbara tour with Pintours just didn’t live up to expectations. We could not understand the narration (heavy accent) , very limited information – we would’ve found out more by looking it up on the Internet ourselves. We stopped it midway through and didn’t finish the tour.

    Response from the operator: We're truly sorry to hear about your experience and apologize for not meeting your expectations. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We take concerns like yours seriously and would like the opportunity to make things right. If you're willing, please contact us with more details so we can review the situation and work toward a resolution.

    via Viator

    Betsy_S · November 2024

    Fun trip

    Tour was fine, the commentary was interesting and the locations were fun. Recommend starting around 1

    via Viator

    Jegadisan_S · October 2024

    Not worth it

    Buggy app and narration wasn’t anything to write home about. Got to the location and the app wouldn’t play the narration. And had to keep exiting the tour and restarting it to make any kind of progress. Self drive option is not great as well since it does not play well with car play for directions

    via Viator

    Barbara_W · November 2023

    Horrible. Never once did...

    Horrible. Never once did anyone tell me you needed a car for this tour!!! They took my money without explaining that. Am on vacation and do not have a car!!!!

    via Viator

    Carlos_M · October 2023

    Difficult To Navigate the Audio.

    I am not sure if it was Pintours or myself. It was challenging to navigate the Audio tour, so we decided to explore the city on our own by visiting the popular attractions and more. If we had known this earlier, we would have saved the money we spent on the Audio tour and invested it in something else. I am not an IT expert, but I am competent. When it comes to tasks like following audio, I know how to handle it. Karl Vögeler-Suegart / Ontario / Canada

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    1 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Price range
    $45 to $1100
    Hotel pickup
    Available for selected locations
    Booked in 30 days
    3
    Verdict
    Worth a Look

    Why this scores 48

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)49
    Review evidence (18% weight)35
    Booking momentum (14% weight)26
    Value for money (12% weight)63
    Listing quality (10% weight)74
    Local standing (8% weight)0
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Santa Barbara.

    How much does Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour cost?

    +

    Prices start at $45 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Santa Barbara usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour take?

    +

    Plan for about 1 hour from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Santa Barbara is not rushed.

    Is Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 48 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3/5 across 8 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Santa Barbara, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour?

    +

    Around 3 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Santa Barbara can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Santa Barbara and add a light layer if any part of the 1-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Santa Barbara Highlights Private 2-Hour Driving Tour start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Santa Barbara within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Santa Barbara?

    +

    Santa Barbara runs wine tours into the Santa Ynez Valley, harbour sailing and whale watching, Channel Islands day trips, and Spanish colonial walking tours through the Presidio and Mission. Tasting-room access and group size make the biggest difference in wine tours here. On Outty we rank every Santa Barbara experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Santa Barbara Electric Bike Tour, Kayak Tour of Santa Barbara with Experienced Guide, Small-Group Wine Tour in Santa Barbara to Exclusive Vineyards. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Santa Barbara?

    +

    March to June and September to November, dodging the May and June marine layer. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Santa Barbara?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    Ready to lock in your spot?

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