Drivers urged to plan ahead as rest areas close along busy coastal corridor

Drivers traveling along California’s scenic Highway 101 this summer will need to plan ahead after roadside rest areas in both directions of the highway closed because of a water shortage.

The northbound and southbound Gaviota Roadside Rest Areas in Santa Barbara County closed July 1 and are expected to remain closed through Oct. 1, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

The closure affects both directions of Highway 101 near the Gaviota Tunnel, a heavily traveled stretch between Buellton and Goleta. The shutdown leaves travelers with roughly 35 miles without a state-operated roadside restroom, California publication Edhat reported.

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The closure is due to a lack of available water needed to fully operate the facilities, Caltrans said.

The Gaviota rest areas serve one of California’s busiest coastal corridors, used by commuters, tourists and long-distance travelers moving between Southern and Central California.

With the facilities unavailable, Caltrans is encouraging travelers to plan ahead by identifying alternate places to stop for fuel, food, restroom breaks and rest before beginning their trip.

Officials said the rest areas will remain closed until a reliable water supply is restored, with no reopening expected before Oct. 1.

The issue appears to stem from the area’s water supply rather than routine maintenance. Local reports indicate the facilities rely on water from an inland spring that is outside Caltrans’ control, and the same rest area experienced a similar extended summer closure last year.

The Gaviota shutdown comes as other California rest areas are also temporarily unavailable.

In Kern County, Caltrans has closed the northbound and southbound Interstate 5 Tejon Pass rest areas while crews upgrade water and wastewater facilities, Caltrans said. That project is expected to continue through August 2027.

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The latest closure also sparked discussion among drivers familiar with the route, many of whom said the Gaviota rest areas have become known for frequent shutdowns.

“Keeping the Gaviota rest stop open longer than six months … impossible!” one Reddit user joked.

Others said the closures have become so common that they now expect to find the facilities unavailable.

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“I don’t remember ever seeing them open other than during holidays,” another commenter wrote.