Visitors have 2 hours 15 minutes beginning at your stated arrival time. Late arrivals will not be granted additional time.

Those who arrive for a docent tour will be broken into groups of approximately 6-8.

Non-members must adhere to the tour schedule, and may self-guide only at times when self-guide is provided as an option upon reservation. Members may self-guide at all time slots.

Visitors may not walk around on their own after a docent tour. Entrance and exit times are staggered to ensure proper social distancing.

The house, where Lotusland’s administrative offices are located, is not a part of the tour.

Yes, wheelchairs and walkers can be accommodated on a slightly modified tour. If you or a member of your party use a wheelchair or walker, please inform a Visitor Services staff member at the time you schedule your tour or select the proper boxes when making your reservation online . Docents and Lotusland volunteers are not permitted to push wheelchairs.

There are no cart tours of Lotusland.

Lotusland has numerous foreign language docents, please make a language request in the comments section of the online booking, or call to speak with a reservations associate. We will do our best to find an available docent on your selected tour date, but make no guarantees.

Vaccinated guests are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors. Unvaccinated guests are no longer required to wear masks outdoors but must wear a mask indoors including the garden shop and restrooms. Before your visit, please review Lotusland’s Covid-19 Policies HERE

On Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., call 805-969-9990. On Saturday after 1 p.m., or on a legal holiday, call the entrance kiosk at 805-565-4489.

Tour Reservation Office: 805-969-9990, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Administration: 805-969-3767, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FAX: (805) 969-4423

Our staff list can be found here.

Directions to the visitor entrance are e-mailed to you, with your tour confirmation, after you make your reservation.

Lotusland’s mailing address is for the administrative offices at 695 Ashley Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108.

The Visitor Entrance is on an entirely different street, Cold Springs Road, near the intersection of Sycamore Canyon Road. This entrance has no street address.

Do not use GPS, Mapquest or similar programs. They will direct you to the wrong gate. Directions to the Visitor Entrance, which has no street address, are included in your tour confirmation.

Lotusland is a public garden operating in a private, residential neighborhood. As a courtesy to the neighbors, advance reservations are required for all visitors. Directions are included with your tour confirmation form.

The Garden Shop is only open to guests on docent-led or self-guided tours for shopping at the end of their tours. But our online store is always open.  www.lotuslandshop.org

The Garden Shop sells a variety of plants seen in the garden, with around one hundred different species available over the year.

Lotusland has on online store! Members receive the same discount available in the Garden Shop and  our online store is always open.  www.lotuslandshop.org

Lotusland offers Enhanced Tours when visitors may enjoy a luncheon at Lotusland before or after a morning tour, or wine and hors d’oeuvres following an afternoon tour, for up to 40 people on the pavilion patio. Guests have celebrated birthdays and anniversaries, held wedding showers, or just socialized with friends. There is a use fee—contact ctentler@lotusland.org  or call 805-969-3767, extension 116

Members at the Garden Steward level may hold a private party for up to 60 guests and members at the Garden Champion level may hold a private party for up to 200 guests. Restrictions apply.

Lotusland is more accessible than ever—sometimes space is available the next tour day. Saturdays are the first to fill up, but you may still be able to book on your first choice of days.

Because Lotusland is a public garden operating in a private, residential neighborhood, advance reservations are required for all visits, and can be pre-paid by credit card or check. The County of Santa Barbara stipulates that we follow this rule.

Children greatly enjoy the magic of Lotusland, and we encourage families to visit. Children do need to be closely monitored for their safety and to protect rare plant species, historic statuary and numerous water features.

To ensure the best experience for all guests, those arriving in groups of 12+ must call to book their reservation. Group reservations include several benefits:

• The ability to make two payments (initial non-refundable deposit and a final payment adjusted to the final guest count)
• A personal greeter will meet you at the visitor center
• Docent tours are included and available mornings or afternoons
• Groups are allotted a number of vehicles relative to group size without added car fees.

Rates are $55/person on weekdays and $60/person on weekends

For information about adding a luncheon or reception after a group tour please contact events@lotusland.org.

Cancellations made with at least a week’s notice will receive a full refund. Cancellations made with less than a week’s notice will be considered forfeited.

Adults are $50, children aged three to 17 are $25, children 2 and under are free. Please visit our Membership page to find out how Members visit free!

Vaccinated guests are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors. Unvaccinated guests are no longer required to wear masks outdoors but must wear a mask indoors including the garden shop and restrooms. Before your visit, please review Lotusland’s Covid-19 Policies HERE

You can log into our online ticketing portal with your Member ID or email. Please email Member Services at membership@lotusland.org if you would like us to send your Member ID.

Membership does not guarantee access into the Garden. However, Members are given priority access through our online ticketing portal.

Yes. There are Lotusland members around the world.

You will receive one for each person listed on the Membership. Benefits apply only to the person named on the Membership card.

Your membership materials will be mailed to you within two weeks, however, your digital membership card will arrive immediately following your membership purchase.

Yes, reserve online and add a membership upon checkout.

As both membership and admission fees provide crucial funding for Lotusland, this is not an option.

Your membership is valid for 12 months.

No. Your digital member card includes information to make it a useful tool for contacting Lotusland for reservations, but it is not required.

Yes, your member card can also be used for discounts at participating nurseries and garden specialty retail stores.

We are closed for all regular docent-led and self-guided tours, however, we do schedule Member events during this time.

Yes. A digital membership card will be issued for each.

Yes, for some levels. Please see membership chart for applicable levels.

Membership fees are partially tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Free admission passes that have either expired or do not have a date printed on them are no longer valid.

Members may visit during our regular tour times. Reservations are required. To comply with Lotusland’s Conditional Use Permit, advance reservations are required for all Members and visitors. Learn More
While priority reservations are available for current members, Membership does not guarantee garden access. We recommend booking reservations 3-4 weeks in advance.
Call Visitor Services at 805.969.9990 to make reservations and assure availability or book online. Pricing and benefits are subject to change without notice.

There are additional educational events open to Members – Please Visit the Upcoming Events page, consult your Lotusland Newsletter or e-Bulletin or call visitor services for more information – 805.969.9990

Yes. Simply give our Membership Team a call – 805.969.3767 x115

A welcome letter with the name of gift donor, member card(s), our Shop and Save partners list, and a bonus magazine subscription for one year to Better Homes & Gardens or Martha Stewart Living.

Your Lotusland Membership package will be mailed to you and/or your gift recipient within 2 weeks. Please call Member Services at 805.969.3767 ext. 115 to arrange alternative options.

Memberships at the Friends & Family level and above include children age 18 and under who reside in the same household.

Only Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs are allowed. More information.

Yes, photography, including video photography, is encouraged, but for your personal use only.

The use of tripods causes tour delays, so they are not allowed on docent-led tours. Members may use tripods on self-guided tours.

Water fountains are located throughout the garden and bottled water is available for purchase in the garden shop. Food is not sold at Lotusland.

Guests on tour are not allowed to picnic at Lotusland.

However, members at the Garden Cultivator level and above may bring a picnic for ten people one time during their membership year.     Private parties (Enhanced Tours), before or after your tour, for up to 40 people are available.

Interested in volunteering? Contact Volunteer Manager Kitty Thomassin, at (805) 969-3767, extension 112, or kthomassin@lotusland.org You can also print out a volunteer application, complete it and mail it to the address on the form.

Contact Volunteer Manager Kitty Thomassin, at (805) 969-3767, extension 112, or kthomassin@lotusland.org for more information.

Volunteer positions are only available to adults aged 18 and older.

Something is in bloom in the garden every week of the year! A major feature of the garden is its dramatic design, which can be viewed at any time.

Though it varies slightly each year, lotuses are usually in bloom during July and August.