Is this a doable commute--Ventura to Goleta??? (Oxnard, Santa Barbara: 2011, apartments)

[NoCalME]

Considering a job offer in Goleta. The price of apartments in the Santa Barbara area are crazy high considering what you get for your money. I would rather have a longer commute and get a nicer place for less money than to live right in the Santa Barbara area. Is Ventura too far of a commute to consider living there? As long as traffic moves at a steady pace and is not stop-and-go, I don't mind a long commute. Is there any public transportation that runs between these two cities that could be used for commuting instead of driving?

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Lots of people make that commute every day. Vista Bus service also takes people between Ventura and Oxnard on their way to Santa Barbara and Goleta. Vista also offers a wi fi on many of their buses which is convenient for posting here on City Data Forum.

[that1guy]

Originally Posted by NoCalME

Considering a job offer in Goleta. The price of apartments in the Santa Barbara area are crazy high considering what you get for your money. I would rather have a longer commute and get a nicer place for less money than to live right in the Santa Barbara area. Is Ventura too far of a commute to consider living there? As long as traffic moves at a steady pace and is not stop-and-go, I don't mind a long commute. Is there any public transportation that runs between these two cities that could be used for commuting instead of driving?

That's a hard one...It's not too bad, many people do it. Have you considered living near Old Town Goleta? There are some pockets of Santa Barbara which are comparable in price to Ventura. Not too desirable, but then again this is for Santa Barbara/Ventura levels. North Goleta has some deals.

[stillkit]

If you're willing to commute that far, you might think about looking in the other direction to places like Solvang or Buellton or even Santa Maria. The distance wouldn't be any farther and you'd avoid any urban areas on your commute. Solvang is a neat little town.

[Winston Smith]

You'll be joining around 15,000 other people every morning and afternoon. Highly recommend using the VISTA Coastal Express:

Coastal Express Northbound | VCTC

[tamo1962]

we are looking as well in the Santa Barbara area and have wondered about Solvang and Buellton. Are they nice areas? Is the road down to Goleta an easy drive or is it a mountain nightmare? We are considering moving from Colorado(Boulder/Denver area) and were starting to look at Ojai area as an alternative to SB area.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by tamo1962

we are looking as well in the Santa Barbara area and have wondered about Solvang and Buellton. Are they nice areas? Is the road down to Goleta an easy drive or is it a mountain nightmare? We are considering moving from Colorado(Boulder/Denver area) and were starting to look at Ojai area as an alternative to SB area.

There's about a 4 or 5 mile downgrade between Solvang and the coastal area around Goleta, but it's nothing to worry about. It's probably not over a 5% grade and four lane all the way. You won't even have to slow down or worry about snow. I guess it probably does snow up there sometimes, but I've never seen it or heard of it. In truth, for years that was my alternate route to the Bay on the rare occassions when they closed the Grapevine because of snow and I never got turned back or stopped.

I always thought Solvang was a neat little place, though admittedly I never spent any appreciable amount of time there and haven't been back in 5 or 6 years. My IMPRESSION was that it was a small town of "artistes" and eco-friendly hippie-types, but I could be totally wrong. Hopefully, someone more familiar with it will come along and correct any mis-impressions I've got. I think it was the mailing address for Micheal Jacksons' Neverland ranch, so that oughta tell you something.

As for Buellton? All I can say about it that is the 101 runs past it.

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by tamo1962

we are looking as well in the Santa Barbara area and have wondered about Solvang and Buellton. Are they nice areas? Is the road down to Goleta an easy drive or is it a mountain nightmare? We are considering moving from Colorado(Boulder/Denver area) and were starting to look at Ojai area as an alternative to SB area.

Ojai to Goleta is a bit of an unfriendly commute. You could drive to Ventura and use the VISTA Coastal Express commuter from there (see earlier post for link), or drive in heavy traffic north on 101. The other option from Ojai is over Casitas Pass, a windy, two-lane road between Ojai and Carpinteria.

Commuting from north SB County to its south coast is something around 10,000 people do every day. It can be a haul. Santa Maria to Santa Barbara is 75 miles one way. Your options are three-and-a-half:

1. The 101 -- four lane-divided highway or freeway.

2. Highway 154 over San Marcos Pass between Buelton and SB, two-lane mountainous road with occasional passing lanes that's windy and somewhat steep on the SB side. Hwy 154 is famous for head-on crashes.

3. Use the Clean Air Express commuter Thank you for visiting the Clean Air Express website (see also Traffic Solutions - Transit).

3.5 - From Lompoc you can commute to Goleta and SB on one somewhat early Amtrak schedule.

Hope this helps.