Getting Here
A trip worth every mile.
When you make your escape to our roadside retreat, the journey is half the fun. Wind your way through ribbons of historic California highway, where mountain passes give way to rolling ranch lands, canyons cut into cliffs, and wide-open valleys.
Travelers have been pulling off the road to stop in at Cuyama Buckhorn since 1952, making it a beloved stop for everyone from the road-well-traveled community to the occasional legend, including Johnny Cash himself.
Take the scenic route.
Approx. 2.5 hours
For our favorite routes from LA, take I-5 to Fraizer Park. From there, you have two options.
Turn onto Lockwood Valley Road, which winds through Los Padres National Forest before connecting with Highway 33. Or, drive through Pine Mountain Club via Highway 95, where you’ll pass through Bitter Creek Wildlife Refuge.
Once you hit Highway 166, turn left and you’ll see our iconic red sign waving you in to the Buckhorn.
Approx. 1 hour
From Santa Maria, take eastbound Highway 166 into the Cuyama Valley. You’ll pass the Twitchell Reservoir before seeing Cuyama Buckhorn on your right.
Approx. 1.5 hours
The perfect opportunity to take State Scenic Highway 33, named Hagerty’s 2024 Road of the Year. From Highway 101, take the exit for Highway 33 North until you reach Highway 166. Turn left onto 166, and Cuyama Buckhorn is just 15 minutes down the road on your left.
Approx. 2.5 hours
Taking you through Carrizo Plain National Monument, this route is especially spectacular in the spring months. Head northbound on Highway 101 to Highway 58 East and continue until you reach Soda Lake Lake Road. Turn right and continue through the grasslands in Carrizo National Monument all the way to Highway 166. Take a right towards Cuyama Valley, and we’ll be just 15 minutes down the road on your left.
Fly On By
It’s clear skies ahead, pilot! Thanks to our neighbors at Blue Sky Center, the Cuyama Valley’s L88 Airstrip is open and waiting for your arrival. Just a 10 minute walk down the road from The Buckhorn, it’s the perfect excuse to fly in for a meal — or better yet, a stay at our high desert haven.
- OWNER & MANAGER
- Blue Sky Center
- LOCATION ID
- L88
- LATITUDE
- 34 56' 32.4800"
- LONGITUDE
- 119 41' 29.3300"
- ALTITUDE
- 2203
- CURRENT USE
- Public
- LENGTH OF RUNWAY
- 3380' X 60’
Rides & Rallies
Cuyama Buckhorn has been a beloved pitstop for the motoring community for decades. We’re excited to welcome car and motorcycle clubs to pull up beneath our iconic red sign, stretch your legs, and swing in for a bite to eat or a drink.
“Parts of [Highway 33] curl in on themselves into tight, technical twisties — catnip to car enthusiasts and motorcyclists.”
