Santa Barbara is a Southern California seaside community. Tourists flock to this region for Camping in Santa Barbara and RV campsites near Santa Barbara, California.
They see a smattering of Los Angeles residents looking for a spot to park their RVs for the night.
Santa Barbara is around 100 miles north of Los Angeles, and most RV parks in the Santa Barbara area are along the ocean.
This town’s biggest amenity is beach access, and the campers in the region make sure to make use of it.
Summary
| Guide | Camping in Santa Barbara |
|---|---|
| Things to bring | Torch, tent, etc |
| Best places to visit | Stearns Wharf, and more |
| Campgrounds | Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park, and more |
| Situated | California |
Camping In Santa Barbara
1. Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort
The Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort is a medium-sized RV park north of Santa Barbara in the hills.
This RV Park is equestrian-themed, unlike other campgrounds in Santa Barbara, California, and it offers a variety of kid-friendly facilities.
The resort is spread out across 310 acres, and the camping area dates back to 1845.
Address: 3750 Paradise Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
2. Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park
Santa Barbara is the place to visit if you’ve ever wanted to trek the Santa Ynez Mountains to witness the dawn or stroll down a sandy beach to watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
If you travel in your RV and choose to stay at Santa Barabara Sunrise RV Park, the experience will be even better!
Address: 516 South Salinas St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Read: Camping In New Mexico
3. Ocean Mesa RV and Campground
The Ocean Mesa RV and Campground is right on the sand. It’s approximately five miles outside of Santa Barbara and is part of El Capitan State Beach.
Every RV spot has trees around it for shade, and there are plenty of seaside views.
Address: 100 El Capitan Terrace Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93117
4. Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground
The Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground, northwest of Santa Barbara, is a big RV park.
Within walking distance is a local vineyard, and the town of Solvang is just five minutes distant.
Lake Cachuma and the Los Padres National Forest are two more nearby attractions.
Address: 180 Ave Of The Flags, Buellton, CA 93427
5. Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
The County of Santa Barbara manages Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. It’s on the beaches of Lake Cachuma, northwest of Santa Barbara.
This RV park is one of the area’s largest and is open all year.
Address: 1 Lakeview Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
6. Carpinteria State Beach Campground
The Carpinteria State Beach Campground is a few miles east of Santa Barbara. It’s a huge RV park that’s right on the beach.
The maximum camper length that you can bring to this RV park is 35 feet.
Address: 205 Palm Avenue, Carpinteria, CA 93013
7. Paradise Campground
The Paradise Campsite is a lonely campground in the Santa Barbara hills to the north. It’s one of the area’s smaller campgrounds, and it’s at a high height.
Paradise Campground has small bodies of water, and nature walks around it.
Address: 5050 Paradise Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
8. Refugio State Beach
A few minutes west of Santa Barbara lies Refugio State Beach. The beach has overhanging palm trees, and the RV park has beach access.
You can bring campers up to 30 feet long can be at Refugio State Beach.
Address: 35 Refugio Beach Road, Goleta, CA 93117
9. Lake Casitas Recreation Area
The Lake Casitas Recreation Area is about 15 minutes east of Santa Barbara on the beaches of Lake Casitas.
This RV park is relatively spacious and has full hookups. The Lake Casitas Recreation Area is available throughout the year.
Address: 11311 Santa Ana Road, Ventura, CA 93001
Best Places To Visit Near Santa Barbara
Mission Santa Barbara
Mission Santa Barbara is the city’s most famous monument, known as the “Queen of the Missions” because of its elegant elegance and gorgeous surroundings.
Its architectural style has had a significant impact on the city’s appearance. Much of the city was built again after a devastating earthquake in 1925, in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, with inspiration from Mission Santa Barbara.
Since its foundation in 1786, this is the only California mission that has been with the Franciscans, and a community of Franciscan friars still resides here today.
Most tourists spend an hour or two on a self-guided tour, with docent-led tours offered on select days.
Stearns Wharf
Stearns Wharf at the bottom of State Street in downtown Santa Barbara provides stunning views of the harbor and beaches.
They have Santa Ynez Mountains around. It was completed in 1872 and was the longest deep-water pier between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
This tourist hotspot now has specialized shops, cafés, and the Sea Center, one of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s two locations.
If you’re looking for a restaurant with a view, look no further. This is a fantastic spot for a seafood meal with a view of the ocean.
Read: Camping In Cape Cod
Best Things To Do in Santa Barbara California
Checklist Before Camping In Santa Barbara
Most people who begin camping around bring much too much gear, especially heavy gear.
We believe that we’ll simply need a backpack to transport it because we already have some camping gear.
We created a small important checklist for you to not carry too much.
- Tent
- Backpack
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Oven
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Bear spray
- Sunglasses
- Boiler
FAQ
Are there different fees for different groups sizes when camping in Santa Barbara?
Yes, the amount depends on the campground, and some campgrounds could have a maximum limit on how many people can camp together.
Are you allowed to have your pet with you when camping in Santa Barbara?
Most state parks allow for pets, and private campgrounds might vary depending on each private campground. However, you must pay a fee per pet most of the time.
Do you have to make a reservation for camping in Santa Barbara?
Yes, you have to make a reservation in some campgrounds, but in some, you do not have to since they are on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
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- https://santabarbaraca.com/places-to-stay/camping-rv-parks/[↩]
- https://www.attractionsofamerica.com/attractions/best-things-to-do-santa-barbara-california.php[↩]
- https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/d/united-states/california/santa-barbara/camping/pets#:~:text=Dogs%20are%20allowed%20in%20the,not%20permitted%20on%20the%20beach.[↩]
- https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/d/united-states/california/santa-barbara/camping/pets#:~:text=Dogs%20are%20allowed%20in%20the,not%20permitted%20on%20the%20beach.[↩]