The roadside rest areas near the Gaviota Tunnel will close for months due to water shortages, Caltrans said.  

Caltrans District 5 spokesperson Ashton Harris said both facilities will be closed July 1 through Oct. 1.  

“The closure is due to a lack of available water, which is necessary for full operation of the facility,” Harris said. 

The facilities along northbound and southbound Highway 101 are the only state rest areas in Santa Barbara County. Each has 18 parking spots, restrooms and picnic tables. 

The facilities were closed last summer as well due to a lack of water from State Parks, the water purveyor for the rest areas.  

“Caltrans is looking to develop a dependable water supply for the future,” Harris said.

The state has spent millions of dollars to upgrade the water and wastewater system for the Gaviota roadside rest areas, including a $4.6 million project in 2021 and 2022.  

Both rest areas have been closed for long stretches of time in recent years due to water system issues, storm damage to the State Parks water line that feeds the facilities, and nearby roadwork.