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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Lompoc & the Santa Ynez Valley, California
Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm's festival runs July 1 through Labor Day near Lompoc, where more than 40 murals and La Purísima Mission fill a day.
4 places · updated October 17, 2026
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Highway 246 links two very different valleys. To the west, Lompoc is a farm town near the coast whose fields grow cut flowers from April through September, whose downtown walls carry more than 40 murals, and whose small wineries cluster in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto. To the east, the road climbs through the Sta. Rita Hills vineyards to Buellton, the Danish-themed village of Solvang and the small town of Los Olivos. Two Spanish missions, a stretch of wild Gaviota coast and a county lake are all within about half an hour.
The lavender sits at both ends. Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm on Tularosa Road east of Lompoc, a certified wildlife sanctuary, opens its farmstand and flower fields Friday through Monday in summer, runs guided tours from late June and holds a lavender festival with wreath-making classes from July through Labor Day. Clairmont Farms on Roblar Avenue in Los Olivos has grown lavender since 1998 and keeps its farm shop open Wednesday through Sunday. Visit between late June and Labor Day to catch both.
The lavender farms
- Santa Rita Hills Lavender FarmLavender farm · Lompoc
Farmstand and fields open Friday–Monday 11–5 in season (or by appointment); guided tours from late June; general admission July through Labor Day; off season after Labor Day.
- Clairmont FarmsLavender farm · Los Olivos
Fields, picnicking and boutique open Wednesday–Sunday 11–5 and by appointment (per their website; call to confirm).
Best time to visit
Lompoc's flower fields bloom from April through September, with stock, larkspur, delphinium, sweet pea and bells of Ireland. Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm starts guided farm tours on June 20, opens its lavender festival to general admission from July 1 through Labor Day weekend, and keeps its farmstand open Friday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; after Labor Day it goes into its off season and opens by appointment. Clairmont Farms lists its shop hours as Wednesday through Sunday, 11 to 5. In fall and winter, the Elverhøj Museum in Solvang shows Danish designer Bjørn Wiinblad's work (August 22, 2026 through January 10, 2027), and the Lompoc Valley Historical Society holds an open house on October 24, 2026. Vandenberg rocket launches are frequent, with more than 80 expected in 2026.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- La Purísima Mission State Historic Park🏛️ Historic site · Lompoc · about 4 mi, 10 min drive
Described by State Parks as the most completely restored mission in California, with burros, horses, longhorn cattle, sheep and goats around the grounds. A 1-mile loop links the historic buildings, and guided 90-minute tours run several afternoons a week.
Buildings 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; trails 6 a.m.–sunset; tours Saturdays at 11 and 1, Wed–Sun at 1; closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas
$6 per vehicle
- Lompoc Outdoor Mural Gallery🌉 Landmark · Lompoc · about 7 mi, 15 min drive
More than 40 murals around town depicting Lompoc's history, heritage and diversity; an easy self-guided walk downtown.
- Jalama Beach County Park🏖️ Beach · Lompoc · about 17 mi, 25 min drive
A quieter county beach park on the coast southwest of Lompoc with tent, RV and group camping and seven rentable cabins. The county posts Vandenberg launch information for visitors.
- Gaviota State Park🌳 State park · Gaviota · about 20 mi, 30 min drive
A coastal park on Highway 101 with a beach for swimming and surfing below a historic train trestle, and backcountry trails through oak woodland and chaparral to natural sulfur hot springs. Dogs are allowed in the day-use area but not on the beach.
Day use 7 a.m. to sunset
$10 per vehicle
- Nojoqui Falls Park💧 Waterfall · Buellton · about 19 mi, 30 min drive
A county day-use park where a short trail leads to a waterfall, an easy stop on the way between the valley and the coast.
- Old Mission Santa Inés🏛️ Historic site · Solvang · about 19 mi, 30 min drive
A mission founded in 1804 on Solvang's edge and still an active Capuchin Franciscan parish, with a rose garden, a healing garden and docent tours.
Call (805) 688-4815 for gift shop and tour hours
- Elverhøj Museum of History and Art🏛️ Museum · Solvang · about 18 mi, 30 min drive
Solvang's museum of Danish-American immigrant history and art; through January 10, 2027 it shows works by Danish artist Bjørn Wiinblad.
Thursday–Monday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Cachuma Lake Recreation Area🏞️ Park · Santa Ynez · about 30 mi, 45 min drive
A county-run lake east of Santa Ynez with campsites, cabins and yurts, a nature center, and 1.5-hour naturalist-led cruises aboard the Osprey.
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Melville WineryWinery or vineyard (21+) · Lompoc
Estate winery on Highway 246 in the Sta. Rita Hills growing cold-climate pinot noir, chardonnay, syrah and grenache, a few minutes from Santa Rita Hills Lavender.
- Beckmen VineyardsWinery or vineyard (21+) · Los Olivos
Biodynamic Los Olivos winery, open daily 11 to 5, where visitors can picnic at gazebos above a pond and garden; reservations recommended.
- The Historic Santa Maria InnInn or B&B · Santa Maria
A Santa Maria inn welcoming guests since 1917, whose Century Room serves California cuisine at lunch and dinner.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMLa Purísima Mission State Historic Park
Walk the 1-mile loop through the restored buildings and see the mission livestock; about 1.25 hours.
- 11:45 AMThe Historic Santa Maria Inn · about 30 min drive
Lunch in the Century Room; about 1 hour.
- 1:30 PMSanta Rita Hills Lavender Farm · about 35 min drive
Friday through Monday in summer, browse the farmstand and walk the flower fields, or book a guided tour; about 1 hour. After Labor Day, visits are by appointment.
- 2:35 PMMelville Winery · about 5 min drive
A booked estate tasting on Highway 246, for those 21 and over; plan a designated driver. About 40 minutes.
- 3:35 PMClairmont Farms · about 20 min drive
Shop the lavender farm store (Wednesday–Sunday, until 5); about 30 minutes.
- 4:20 PMElverhøj Museum of History and Art · about 15 min drive
A quick look at the Danish-American history rooms and current exhibit before the 5 p.m. close (Thursday–Monday).
- 5:05 PMOld Mission Santa Inés · about 5 min drive
End with a walk past the mission and its gardens on the edge of Solvang, then stay in town for dinner.
Tips
- Plan the lavender stops for a weekend: Santa Rita Hills' farmstand opens Friday–Monday and Clairmont's shop Wednesday–Sunday, so Friday, Saturday or Sunday works for both.
- Santa Rita Hills Lavender asks visitors to drive carefully on the farm, a certified wildlife sanctuary, and offers accessibility accommodations with advance notice.
- Dogs may use La Purísima's trails and roads and Gaviota's day-use area, but not mission buildings or Gaviota's beach.
- Wineries such as Melville and Beckmen book tastings ahead; tasting is 21+, so arrange a designated driver.
- Check Vandenberg's launch schedule before you go; Lompoc is a popular viewing spot and launches are frequent.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When is the Santa Rita Hills lavender festival?
General admission runs from July 1 through Labor Day weekend, and guided farm tours start June 20; the farmstand is open Friday–Monday, 11 to 5, in season.
Is Clairmont Farms open to visitors?
Its farm shop in Los Olivos is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment.
When do the Lompoc flower fields bloom?
From April through September, with stock, larkspur, delphinium, sweet pea and bells of Ireland.
How far is the coast from the lavender farms?
Gaviota State Park is about 30 minutes south of Santa Rita Hills Lavender by way of Highway 101, and Jalama Beach is southwest of Lompoc.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
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