Drivers planning to travel along California’s picturesque Highway 101 this summer should prepare for closures of road rest areas due to a water shortage. Both northbound and southbound Gaviota Roadside Rest Areas in Santa Barbara County shut down on July 1 and are set to remain closed through October 1, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
The closure impacts both directions of Highway 101 near the Gaviota Tunnel, a busy route between Buellton and Goleta. This closure leaves travelers without a state-operated roadside restroom for about 35 miles, as reported by California publication Edhat.
The rest areas are closed due to insufficient water needed for full operation.
These facilities serve one of California’s most traveled coastal corridors, frequently used by commuters, tourists, and long-distance travelers moving between Southern and Central California. Without these amenities, Caltrans urges travelers to identify alternate spots for fuel, food, and rest before they start their journey.
Officials indicated these rest areas will stay closed until a reliable water supply returns, with reopening expected no sooner than October 1. The problem stems from a limited water source independent of Caltrans’ maintenance scope. Reports suggest the facilities rely on an inland spring, and the same rest areas experienced a comparable closure last year.
In Kern County, Caltrans also temporarily closed the northbound and southbound Interstate 5 Tejon Pass rest areas for water and wastewater facility upgrades. This project is anticipated to last until August 2027.
Among drivers familiar with Highway 101, the latest closure has sparked conversation. Many drivers say they often find the Gaviota rest areas shuttered. On social media, some users humorously note the rest stop seems perpetually closed, open mainly during holidays.
Kelly McGreal, a production assistant with the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital, contributed to this report.