California State Route 246
Encyclopedia
State Route 246 is a state highway in the U.S. state
of California
. It runs from Lompoc
to Santa Ynez
and cuts through the Santa Barbara Wine Country.
. This is the primary route from U.S. Route 101 to Solvang
, one of the Santa Ynez Valley
's biggest tourist attractions. It follows the Santa Ynez River
for most of its length. The portion of the route through Solvang is called Mission Drive, while through Lompoc—where is co-signed with State Route 1
—it is called Ocean Avenue. SR 246 was defined all the way to Surf, but in 1984, it was truncated to SR 1 (known as H Street in Lompoc.) SR 246 then leads northeast out of Lompoc along a relatively flat two-lane road until reaching Buellton, where it widens upon its intersection with US 101. It narrows once again to two lanes through Solvang and Santa Ynez before reaching its eastern terminus at the junction with State Route 154. This is the main alternate route from Northern Santa Barbara County to the South Coast, and it is a pleasant drive for those who want to avoid the heavy truck traffic on US 101. It is also notable for passing two of Santa Barbara County's three Spanish-era missions
, Santa Inés
(in Solvang) and La Purísima Concepción
(near Lompoc).
In 1933, this was part of State Route 150
, and in 1963, it was part of State Route 154.
The entire route is in Santa Barbara County
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Postmile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|
|rowspan=2|8.30
|rowspan=2|Ocean Avenue – NASA South Gate
, Surf
|rowspan=2|Continuation beyond the Lompoc
west city limit
|-
|rowspan=3|Lompoc
|-bgcolor=#ddffdd
|9.55
19.25Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 1
rather than SR 246.
|
|West end of SR 1 overlap
|-bgcolor=#ddffdd
|20.57
9.56
|
|East end of SR 1 overlap
|-
|
|
|Purisima Road – Vandenberg Village
, Vandenberg AFB
|
|-
|Buellton
|26.29
|
|Interchange
|-
|Solvang
|30.28
|Alamo Pintado Road – Ballard
, Los Olivos
|
|-
|Santa Ynez
|
|Edison Street – Santa Ynez
|
|-
|
|R34.60
|, Cachuma Lake
, Santa Barbara
|
|-
|
|R34.60
|Armour Ranch Road
|Continuation beyond SR 154
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It runs from Lompoc
Lompoc, California
Lompoc is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The city was incorporated in 1888. The population was 42,434 at the 2010 census, up from 41,103 at the 2000 census....
to Santa Ynez
Santa Ynez, California
Santa Ynez is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The town of Santa Ynez is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley, and features the Santa Ynez Airport for general aviation with a paved 2804 x 75 foot runway. The population was 4,418...
and cuts through the Santa Barbara Wine Country.
Route description
Most of the road is two lanes wide, with the exception of the route through the cities of Lompoc and BuelltonBuellton, California
Buellton is a small city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The city of Buellton is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley...
. This is the primary route from U.S. Route 101 to Solvang
Solvang, California
Solvang is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. It is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley. The population was 5,245 at the 2010 census, down from 5,332 at the 2000 census...
, one of the Santa Ynez Valley
Santa Ynez Valley
The Santa Ynez Valley is located in Santa Barbara County, California, between the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south and the San Rafael Mountains to the north. The Santa Ynez River flows through the valley from east to west. The Santa Ynez Valley is separated from the Los Alamos Valley, to the...
's biggest tourist attractions. It follows the Santa Ynez River
Santa Ynez River
The Santa Ynez River is one of the largest rivers on the Central Coast of California. It is long, flowing from east to west through the Santa Ynez Valley, reaching the Pacific Ocean at Surf, near Vandenberg Air Force Base and the city of Lompoc....
for most of its length. The portion of the route through Solvang is called Mission Drive, while through Lompoc—where is co-signed with State Route 1
California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
—it is called Ocean Avenue. SR 246 was defined all the way to Surf, but in 1984, it was truncated to SR 1 (known as H Street in Lompoc.) SR 246 then leads northeast out of Lompoc along a relatively flat two-lane road until reaching Buellton, where it widens upon its intersection with US 101. It narrows once again to two lanes through Solvang and Santa Ynez before reaching its eastern terminus at the junction with State Route 154. This is the main alternate route from Northern Santa Barbara County to the South Coast, and it is a pleasant drive for those who want to avoid the heavy truck traffic on US 101. It is also notable for passing two of Santa Barbara County's three Spanish-era missions
Spanish missions in California
The Spanish missions in California comprise a series of religious and military outposts established by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order between 1769 and 1823 to spread the Christian faith among the local Native Americans. The missions represented the first major effort by Europeans to...
, Santa Inés
Mission Santa Inés
Mission Santa Inés was founded on September 17, 1804 by Father Estévan Tapís, who had succeeded Father Fermín Lasuén as President of the California mission chain...
(in Solvang) and La Purísima Concepción
Mission La Purísima Concepción
Mission La Purisima Concepción, or La Purisima Mission, with the original Spanish name being La Misión de La Purísima Concepción de la Santísima Virgen María, was founded on the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin on December 8, 1787...
(near Lompoc).
In 1933, this was part of State Route 150
California State Route 150
State Route 150 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. It runs from Santa Paula to U.S. Route 101 near the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line. It is a two-lane road...
, and in 1963, it was part of State Route 154.
Major intersections
- Note: Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured in 1964, based on the alignment as it existed at that time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage.
The entire route is in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Postmile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|
|rowspan=2|8.30
|rowspan=2|Ocean Avenue – NASA South Gate
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, Surf
|rowspan=2|Continuation beyond the Lompoc
Lompoc, California
Lompoc is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The city was incorporated in 1888. The population was 42,434 at the 2010 census, up from 41,103 at the 2000 census....
west city limit
|-
|rowspan=3|Lompoc
Lompoc, California
Lompoc is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The city was incorporated in 1888. The population was 42,434 at the 2010 census, up from 41,103 at the 2000 census....
|-bgcolor=#ddffdd
|9.55
19.25Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 1
California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
rather than SR 246.
|
|West end of SR 1 overlap
|-bgcolor=#ddffdd
|20.57
9.56
|
|East end of SR 1 overlap
|-
|
|
|Purisima Road – Vandenberg Village
Vandenberg Village, California
Vandenberg Village is a census-designated place in the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The population was 6,497 at the 2010 census, up from 5,802 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Vandenberg AFB
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
|
|-
|Buellton
Buellton, California
Buellton is a small city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The city of Buellton is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley...
|26.29
|
|Interchange
|-
|Solvang
Solvang, California
Solvang is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. It is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley. The population was 5,245 at the 2010 census, down from 5,332 at the 2000 census...
|30.28
|Alamo Pintado Road – Ballard
Ballard, California
Ballard is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California. The town of Ballard is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley. The nearest city is Solvang. The population was 467 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Los Olivos
Los Olivos, California
Los Olivos is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California. The ZIP Code is 93441, and the community is inside area code 805...
|
|-
|Santa Ynez
Santa Ynez, California
Santa Ynez is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The town of Santa Ynez is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley, and features the Santa Ynez Airport for general aviation with a paved 2804 x 75 foot runway. The population was 4,418...
|
|Edison Street – Santa Ynez
Santa Ynez, California
Santa Ynez is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The town of Santa Ynez is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley, and features the Santa Ynez Airport for general aviation with a paved 2804 x 75 foot runway. The population was 4,418...
|
|-
|
|R34.60
|, Cachuma Lake
Lake Cachuma
Lake Cachuma is an artificial lake located in the Santa Ynez Valley of central Santa Barbara County, California on the Santa Ynez River adjoining the north side of California State Route 154. The reservoir was created by the construction of Bradbury Dam, a earth-fill structure built by the U.S....
, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
|
|-
|
|R34.60
|Armour Ranch Road
|Continuation beyond SR 154