Santa Barbara Beach CampingBest Beach Camping in Santa Barbara County
Photo by OC Gonzalez on Unsplash
Jalama Beach
Ventura County Parks
The terraced ocean view campsites at Jalama Beach are highly coveted and the campgroud is often fully booked.
Jalama is located about an hour from Santa Barbara and 45 minutes from Lompoc. RV, tents, and cabins are available to book. Some site have full hookups including sewer and electric but make sure the wattage is right for you. There is also a dump station. Hot showers are available for 1 dollar and bathrooms have flush toilets. Cabins sleep four and come equipped with a full bathroom, kitchenette, living room, fire pit, and private porch.
Like Gaviota, high winds and rough surf are not uncommon. Stake down your tent and be mindful of the tide. There are two group campsites, Abalone Point and Starfish Cove. The campground has a two night minimum for weekend reservations and a three night minimum for holiday weekends.
There is much to do from wind surfing, beach caving, and fishing to whale watchin and nature photography of amazing coastal wildlife. Beachbreak, Cracks, and Tarantulas are sought after surfs spots in the area and the 11 mile round trip of the Point Conception de Anza trail takes you to the historic Point Conception Lighthouse. There is a playground on site as well.
Purchase camping necessities at the Jalama Beach Store and Grill and try out the famous Jalama hamburger.
Racoons and are active in the campground. Secure your food and belongings. Dogs are allowed for a fee per day and must be on a leash at all times. The fee goes towards maintaining the park. Proof of rabies vaccination may be asked for if you are a dog owner so come prepared. Pets are not allowed in the cabins.
Beach wheel chairs are available at this park. Speak to a lifeguard or the ranger for access.Gaviota Campground
Gaviota State Park
Gaviota State Beach campground is a coastal treasure offering access to hiking trails and two thousand acres of oak woodland and chaparral back country.
It's conveniently located off the 101, with the Gaviota hotsprings only three miles up from the campground. There's also a few small sea caves to explore when the tide is out but watch out for tar on the beach. Check out a lovely hike on the aptly named Wind Caves Trail that leads you to picturesque wind sculpted caves.
Safety first! Mountain lions and snakes do live in the area. Let the park ranger know if you plan on doing any back country exploration.
The campground features the Southern Pacific Trail Trestle- a popular attraction for sunset photography. The train is active and the highway is closeby so expect some ambient noise. There is little division between sites with some visitors commenting that the campground is more like a divided parking lot so if the beach doesn't do it for you and you're looking to be more immersed in nature you might try nearby El Capitan or Refugio.
This campground is notoriously windy with gusts reaching up to 50 miles per hour. Come prepared with stakes and try to avoid setting up your tent in the dark. There are coin operated showers and potable water spigots throughout campground. Each site has picnic tables and a fire pit. If you’re in an RV, come ready for dry camping.Refugio State Beach
Only 30 minutes away from Santa Barbara, you'll find Refugio State Beach Campground among picturesque palm trees. It's right off of scenic highway 101 and there are even views of the Channel Islands on cloud free days.
Campsites feature fire pits and picnic tables. Many sites boast ocean views but take note there is little to no shade. There are showers and a camp store but if it happens to be closed you'll need to travel about a half hour to get to the nearest market. If you're planning to RV it, there is no dump station or RV hookups. There is not much privacy but the campsites are great for kids and families.
Refugio is ideal for whale and wildlife viewing. The protected cove offers calm waters that allow for awesome snorkeling, kayak tours, and coastal fishing. Take a bike ride on the three-mile Ansio trail that leads from Refugio to El Capitan. Dogs are allowed in the campground but not on the beach.
Some visitors complain of tar and come prepared with oil for removal in addition to making sure to check their clothing and feet before leaving the beach. Also, pack food away from critters as some campers have a real problem with the unwelcome company. An awesome feature is that the campground offers beach accessible wheelchairs! Contact park staff for more information about how to reserve your wheelchair.
There is a train alongside the 101 you may occassionally hear but we hope falling asleep to the sound of ocean waves at night makes it more than worth it.Campgrounds/loops at Refugio State Beach:
Refugio Campground
🏕️ Free Availability AlertGroup Camping Area
🏕️ Free Availability Alert
El Capitan State Beach
With stunning cliffside views, roomy campsites, and moderate weather all year, it's no wonder a spot at El Capitan can be hard to snag. It's coastal bluff setting make it great for whale and dolphin watching, plus, the sunrise views are incredible!
There's plenty of pathways down to the beach where you'll find tidepools to explore. A word of caution if you're traveling with little ones and reserved a site near the ridge - there is only a wire fence marking the dropoff. The beachside day use area features a nice grassy space for the kids to run around in addition to picnic benches. There are also streams that are great for the kids to ramble along.
There are coin operated showers and a beach store on location where you can pick up the essentials. If you're planning to RV, this is a no hookup no dumping campground, so come prepared.
Some campers comment on noise from the nearby 101 and the possibility of tar getting stuck to you down by the beach. Make sure to book a site farther away from the road and bring some oil to remove the pitch if these are concerns for you.Campgrounds/loops at El Capitan State Beach:
Group Area
🏕️ Free Availability AlertUpper Section (sites 92-132) & Portola Group)
🏕️ Free Availability AlertMiddle Section (Sites 29-91) & Anza Group)
🏕️ Free Availability AlertLower Section (Sites 1-28)
🏕️ Free Availability Alert
Carpinteria State Beach
At Carpinteria state beach campground, you'll find family friendly ocean view camping walking distance from your tent, trailer, RV.
Popular activities include visiting Jellybowl Vista Point, Tar Pit Park, and the Tomol Interactive play area where adults and kids alike gain insight to Chumash coastal life before colonization.
Explore tide pools and watch for whales, seals, and sea lions. The campground consists of four loops named after the Channel Islands. There is a nearby train but it doesn't pass by too often in the evening. Each site comes with picnic tables and fire rings with the exception of San Miguel beach row which has no fire pits. Raccoons are active. Lock down your goods! Anacapa offers RV and tent camping. No hookups. Includes three group campsites. Santa Cruz allows RV and tent camping with twelve beachside campsites incuding three group sites. There are no hookups. Santa Rosa has some full hookups including 30 amp electric power and sewer. There are 22 beachside campsites. This loop is close to Jellybowl and Harbor Seal Preserve. San Miguel features a mixture of tent and RV sites, with some offering electric, sewer, and water. Part of this loop is no tents allowed.Campgrounds/loops at Carpinteria State Beach:
Anacapa (Sites 101-127 & Group Sites)
🏕️ Free Availability AlertSanta Cruz (sites 201-244 & group sites)
🏕️ Free Availability AlertSanta Rosa (Sites 301-380)
🏕️ Free Availability AlertSan Miguel (Sites 401-460)
🏕️ Free Availability Alert