Plan Your Visit
Expect the Unexpected
Plan your visit
Recognized as one of the most iconic public gardens, Lotusland is celebrated for its extraordinary history, avant-garde landscape designs, sustainable practices, and mystique. Spanning over 37 acres, Lotusland proudly stands as home to many of the rarest, most fascinating plants in the world. Explore the awe-inspiring estate through a captivating Docent-lead tour, or experience the Garden at your own leisure.
Admission
Please keep in mind, Lotusland is located in a residential neighborhood and faces a series of restrictions issued by Santa Barbara County that limit the number of visitors and vehicles per day.
- Advance reservations are required for all visitors. Walk-ins and same-day reservations are not available. We recommend booking your reservation three weeks in advance. We do not keep a cancellation or a waitlist.
- The Garden is open to the public February 15 – November 15.
Reservations Office
805-969-9990
Monday-Saturday
visitorservices@lotusland.org
Pricing
Youth (3-17): $25
Child (2 & under): free
Museums for All: $3 see details
Docent-led tours: $15 (purchased with entry ticket)
Know Before
You Go
Excuse the disruption. As part of our ever-changing Garden, we have begun renovations to make our Insectary Garden more accessible. Construction will continue throughout the Spring and may produce noise during tour dates. During the renovation process, the Insectary Garden is inaccessible by wheelchair. We appreciate your understanding of our working garden.
Lotusland’s 2025 season will be one of the most iconic to date. Enjoy extravagant events, stunning updates to a selection of gardens, and new experiences around every corner.
Reservations: The Garden is accessible from mid-February to mid-November by advance reservations only. Reservations are available Wednesday through Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.. Please plan on arriving 15 minutes prior to your reservation time. All visits are timed and subject to 2 hours. All guests must exit the Garden at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., even if you have a second reservation for the afternoon. Entrance and exit times for special events may vary.
Please note: Occasionally, Lotusland will close during regular hours of operation for special events. If you are planning a trip to visit on a particular day, please contact our Reservations Department to confirm and book your reservation.
Gate times: Rain or shine, Lotusland’s gates open 15 minutes prior to your reservation time and close 15 minutes after your reservation time begins. Plan to arrive on time as late arrivals may not be permitted (no refunds or reschedules). If you are traveling from LA, please plan for traffic delays.
With your reservation, you have the option to choose between a self-guided or docent-led tour.
For your self-guided visit, we welcome you to experience the Garden at your own pace. Self-guided visits are a wonderful way to enjoy the delicate details of the Garden and take in nature’s symphony of bird calls. Throughout the Garden, self-guided visitors can learn a wide variety of details by utilizing our Garden QR codes and interpretive signs.
Docent-led tours are offered for an additional fee of $15 and provide an engaging way to learn about Lotusland’s fascinating history, horticulture, and vast plant collection. This unique opportunity is highly recommended for first-time visitors and plant enthusiasts. Walking roughly 2 miles these tours take up the entirety of your two hour visit. ADA/wheelchair tours are available. Docent tours start promptly at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and based on daily availability. We recommend arriving at 9:15 a.m. / 1:15 p.m. as late arrivals may not be accommodated and will be subjected to self-guide instead.
Visitor Entrance: Lotusland’s Visitor Entrance is near the intersection of Sycamore Canyon Road and Cold Spring Road. This entrance is not associated with a specific street address, so we recommend using approved navigation apps, such as Google Maps, or Waze, to locate “Lotusland” or follow the directions found in your confirmation email. Please note that the administrative address listed online is for staff and deliveries only and should not be used to access the Garden.
Parking: Each reservation includes one (1) complimentary vehicle ticket, which must be selected when completing your reservation. If carpooling with another guest, include the name of the primary reservation holder in the comment section. A bike rack is available at the Visitor Center.
Rideshare: Plan to get dropped off 15 minutes prior to your reservation time begins (9:15AM/1:15PM) and picked up by 11:30AM/3:30PM. Please inform your driver to pick-up/drop-off at the Visitor Entrance on Cold Spring Road. Note: All guests must exit the property by 12:00PM/4:00PM.
One of the major attractions of the Garden is its dramatic landscape design. Wander from a sea of blooming cacti to lush gardens brimming with blushing bromeliads, down to our treasured Lotus Pond. No matter the time of the year, there is always something spectacular blooming at Lotusland. You can find more garden highlights by month here.
Our beautiful Garden Shop is located near the visitor’s parking lot and is open to attending guests during our regular tour hours and some special events. We sell a variety of plants from our Garden and other specialty gift items created by local artists. We pride ourselves on an ever-changing selection of items, so stop by the shop and say hello. While the Garden Shop is only open to guests on site, no reservations are required to visit our online Garden Shop.
Food/picnicking is not permitted (includes parking lot) and food is not sold at Lotusland. Water is encouraged. Water bottle filling station can be found at the Visitor center, drinking fountains are located throughout the Garden, and bottled water is available for purchase in the Garden Shop.
Personal photography within our photography guidelines is welcome. Outfit changes, tripods, drones, and additional photography equipment are not permitted. Photography must be conducted without disruption to Lotusland operations. Please be mindful that your photography respects the needs and privacy of other visitors and does not distract staff or volunteers from their primary duties. Lotusland reserves the right to withhold and/or withdraw permission to photograph or videotape on its premises if it is a disruption and/or is perceived that it endangers others or the collection. Please tag us on Instagram: @lotusland_gannawalska and use our hashtag #lotusland.
Artists are encouraged to create art inspired by the Garden. We respectfully ask you to contribute 20% of artwork proceeds to Lotusland. Please contact the Lotusland Marketing and Communications department for more information at marketing@lotusland.org. Self-guided visitors may choose to pain or sketch in the Garden during their visit. We ask that you stay on the turf areas and pathways while keeping access clear for other visitors. Please notify reservations if you plan on painting/sketching on your visit.
Lotusland is committed to creating a Garden that is accessible to all visitors. Since we are a historic estate, some of our paths are not ADA-compliant. Be sure to request an accessibility map at the Visitor Center for the best paths and routes to enjoy the Garden. A limited number of wheelchairs are available for loan at our Visitor Center at no charge. You may request to borrow a wheelchair at time of booking.
2025 Ticket Release Dates
Tickets are released at 9:00 a.m. PST on the date listed for the corresponding months.(Example: Tickets for September will be available to the general public on August 5th at 9:00 a.m. PST.) Dates subject to change.
Member’s Pre-Release
February – March
January 7, 2025
APRIL – May
February 18, 2025
June – august
April 22, 2025
september – November
July 22, 2025
Public Release
February – March
January 21, 2025
APRIL – May
March 4, 2025
June – august
May 6, 2025
september – November
August 5, 2025
Memberships
Memberships at Lotusland make all the difference. Our valued Members help preserve some of the rarest plants on earth, promote sustainable horticulture practices, and fund environmental education programs. As a Member, you will receive many benefits, including free admission and Garden Shop discounts. Learn more or become a Member here.
Policies
Please keep in mind, Lotusland is located in a residential neighborhood and faces a series of restrictions issued by Santa Barbara County that limit the number of visitors and vehicles per day.
- Since Lotusland has a daily capacity limit, walk-ins and same-day reservations are not available.
- Advance reservations are required for all visitors, including Members.
- We do not keep a wait list. All canceled tickets are returned to the website.
- Reservations are confirmed with a reservation number and a confirmation email. Guests are responsible for verifying their confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours please contact the Reservations Office.
Each reservation includes one complimentary vehicle ticket, which must be selected when completing your reservation. Since Lotusland is located in a residential neighborhood, we are limited by the County on the number of reservations and vehicles per day. Additional vehicles are $25 and based on availability. Car count may not exceed the number on reservation or subject to turn away. Neighborhood parking is strictly prohibited.
For the health and safety of our guests and the Garden, Lotusland has a no-pets policy, this includes emotional support/comfort animals. However, we welcome trained Service Animals (pre-verification required). Vehicles with pets will be subject to turning away without a refund or rescheduling. Service animals showing disruptive behavior will be asked to leave without a refund or rescheduling.
We ask all visitors to kindly respect our collection by staying on designated paths at all times. Collecting or touching any plant material is strictly prohibited. Any removal of plant material or harm to the collection will result in your visit being terminated and asked to leave the property. Lotusland is a no-smoking environment, including all parking lots.
Cancellations made 48 hours or more before the scheduled tour time are eligible for a full refund or rescheduling. Changes, including refunds, reschedules, or modifications, must be completed at least 48 hours prior to the reservation date.
Reschedules are subject to availability, must occur within the current season, and require a new date at the time of rescheduling. Unused reservation credits are forfeited at the end of the season and do not roll over to the next season.
Cancellations made within 48 hours of the scheduled tour time, no-shows, or tours rescheduled more than three times are considered forfeited and are not eligible for refunds or rescheduling. This policy also applies to complimentary visits and guest passes for applicable members.
Lotusland operates rain or shine; therefore, refunds or reschedules due to weather conditions are not provided.
To cancel or modify your reservation, please contact Reservations at 805-969-9990 or email visitorservices@lotusland.org.
Personal photography within our photography guidelines is welcome during your visit. Tripods, drones, and professional photography equipment are not permitted. Outfit changes or nudity of any kind are not permitted. Please be mindful that your photography respects the needs and privacy of other visitors, conducted without disruption of Lotusland operations, and does not distract staff or volunteers from their primary duties. Lotusland reserves the right to withhold and/or revoke permission to photograph or videotape on its premises if it is disrupting and/or is perceived to endanger others or the collection. Lotusland assumes no responsibility for personal injury or loss, theft, or damage to equipment or other property. Photographs taken at Lotusland cannot be used to imply Lotusland’s endorsement of any product, service, business, or opinions expressed with the photographs.
Map
Spanning over 37 acres of lush gardens and winding pathways, Lotusland is an unforgettable experience. If you are new to our Garden, we suggest reviewing our map or downloading it for later.
Current Weather
at Lotusland
Live weather feed from Lotusland’s on-site weather station.