This was our first time coming here and it was a great experience. There were some drawbacks, but…read moreI'll get to those in a bit. We booked our trip in July, the weather was pretty good. We experienced a high of 84 and one of the nights it was down at 52! We did read that it gets cold at night so luckily we brought warm clothes to sleep in. Having a beanie and warm blankets helped get through the cold nights. Second night was a low of 64, so that wasn't too bad. I like to book my campsite as close as possible to the restrooms to make the trips short, but just an FYI, these restrooms have a really bad smell. The restrooms are kept very clean, but the smell comes from the vent. We could smell that stuff from our campsite, so I would recommend choosing a spot not too close to these restrooms. The campsites looked very nice in size, there was some distance between sites. I like my privacy and I like that there were many small trees providing tons of shade and separation from neighbors. The sites have a BBQ pit and a fire pit. Unfortunately a fire restriction was placed the day before we arrived so we couldn't use either or. They allowed us to use a gas stove. There is no running water as mentioned so we brought extra to drink, wash dishes, and shower. They do sell water at the site, but it is very expensive so be sure to bring a lot of water.

The location is really nice, but not for camping with tents, unfortunately. For the whole night…read morethere was a strong wind that almost had blown out tent away But landscape is so picturesque

We have stayed here in our RV multiple times. Sites are large and clean…read more This trip we stayed in a king safari tent. When staying here, remember... it's a tent, don't expect a flashy hotel room. Our tent had a king sized bed. It was stocked with towels, plates, pans, silverware, paper towels, dish soap & a sponge. It had a coffee maker with coffee, a fridge, microwave and a toaster. The heater worked great and we enjoyed using the outdoor kitchen.

Just spent this past weekend at flying flags in Buellton. This was our fourth time visiting. Still…read morea very clean resort however there is a new ban on E bikes. We were warned as we checked in that if we were caught riding our E bikes we would be kicked off the premises. Needless to say this change affected our experience and will have a big impact on us returning. One of the best parts of visiting campgrounds is riding around and our E bikes with our families and venturing out of the resort into the city to enjoy local activities and businesses.

I had 10 wonderful days of camping here with great neighbors who respected quiet hours…read more Unfortunately, a new couple moved in and their dog barked nonstop all night -- from 11 PM until 5 AM. Quiet hours are clearly stated as 10 PM to 7 AM ,and we all signed a contract agreeing to that. I contacted the park office, only to later be told I should have called the sheriff instead. The ranger did absolutely nothing during the night. This morning the ranger spoke to my neighbor and then came to tell me that I could move -- even though I followed all the rules. The noisy neighbors were allowed to stay. If I wanted peace and quiet, apparently I was the one expected to relocate. When I asked the neighbor why he couldn't control his dog, he said, "What do you want me to do, tape its mouth shut?" That says everything about the kind of pet owner he is. It's unbelievable to punish someone who's been here peacefully for 10 days while allowing a dog to bark all night and disturb the entire campground. If you stay here, bring earplugs -- because management won't help. I'm giving two stars only because I enjoyed my stay before the neighbors from hell showed up.

I am definitely not a camper so this camping stuff is still new to me but I am HOOKED!!…read more I went camping with my family and close friends and we all had a BLAST!! The memories we created will be with me forever. This campground is well maintained, offers so much to do and see, is very affordable ($50.00 per night) and the Park Rangers are here around the clock providing security. The campground offers boat rentals, fishing, camping, movie nights, campfires, amazing views of the lake etc.. I could go on and on. This is a PERFECT place to come camping with your family, friends, both or solo. Solvang is 15-20 mins away and the Chumash Casino is three miles away for those that wish to step away from the camping thing for a short time. Very happy with our visit to this campground

After multiple times staying; we truly love it here! Always…read morehave great neighbors, for the most part the sites are clean. Park Ranger cks for valid stays by verifying reservations but for those people that need a lesson on keeping your dogs leashed !! More posts needed!! Please - whether friendly or not, your dog will wonder & it could be a bad ending. Overall - even with morning fog, the ocean wave sounds are so relaxing & tranquil. Beaches are wonderful to walk and although many boulders- there was plenty of inlets to climb down with sandbags to help make your steps safe even for elderly dogs. Another great trip in the books! Thank you Ventura.

Be prepared to know how to parallel park an RV. Bring a tow vehicle to go to other places. Learn to…read morelove your neighbors because you are packed in like sardines. Know that there is no "easy" access to the beach, just rock climb over boulders or walk to nearby Faria Beach Campground. But most of all, get ready to experience a beautiful view of the sunset. You can enjoy walks on the beach with your pets, and the sound of the ocean waves will lull you to sleep (and the occasional commuter train or small freight train). I would recommend, maybe.

My favorite campground, hands down…read more It honestly bugs me that Yelp only has a one-to-five rating system, because sometimes five stars just isn't enough. This place deserves a 9.9 out of 10. Let me tell you about this hidden gem. First off, the name is almost misleading. Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara makes it sound like it's right in Santa Barbara, but it's actually about 15 minutes north of Goleta, in the El Capitan area -- and that name fits it much better. This place feels like a hidden piece of heaven. This is my third time being here. The first time was when I was in boarding school in eighth grade and we came here on a school trip. The second time was when I was married and stayed at the connected glamping resort. My ex-wife loved to travel, and we stayed at some very elegant places, but this was glamping at its finest. What I didn't realize back then is that the hotel and RV campground are connected by a little trail. You can walk from the RV side to the hotel area, visit their little convenience store, and continue down toward the beach. I'm currently in spot 818, all the way near the top, and it feels like I'm in the mountains. It's private, peaceful, and surrounded by nature. But just a short walk away, you have access to one of the most beautiful beaches around. It feels almost private. Absolutely stunning. For me, this RV campground is perfect. They have everything: a dog park where your dog can run off-leash, a kids' playground, hiking trails, a pool, a jacuzzi, clean and beautiful bathrooms, and well-kept grounds. Everything is maintained extremely well. The staff is also outstanding. Kathy runs the place, and she clearly runs a tight ship. Every staff member I've dealt with has been wonderful. They're never in your way, but they're always there when you need them. That's rare. Before coming here, I stayed at a very nice RV park in Malibu. Was it nice? Sure. You could see the ocean. But it felt more like being in a parking lot. Here, I feel like I'm actually camping in the woods. Then you walk a little ways and suddenly you're at this incredible beach. I started RV life in February, and this is my fourth place so far. To me, this is heaven on earth. I've been here for a month, and I have to leave on the 8th because a school rented out the whole property and everyone has to clear out. Honestly, I'm sad to leave. But it's probably for the best, because I'm supposed to be exploring the coast -- and if I didn't have to leave, I might never go. As Arnold Schwarzenegger would say: I'll be back. Thank you to Kathy and everyone at Sun Outdoors/El Capitan for making my stay so comfortable and wonderful. I rarely write reviews unless a place is either the absolute best or disturbingly bad. This place is something very special. If you ever get the chance to stay here, take it.

This is an amazing location away from the city and just nature around you. The staff are friendly…read moreand very helpful. We stayed in our motorhome and was a great experience. Our first time staying in camp ground, we had electricity hooked up which was very good. We stayed next to the pool and hot tub. My kids really loved going to the pool and hot tub. The showers/restrooms were kept clean. There are 4 showers where we stayed. The camp ground is huge and there's different places in the camp ground where you can stay. There's the RV and tent encampment. There's also El Capitan Canyon encampment which falls in the Sun Outdoor family branch where there's cabins and yurts. We are definitely coming back!! Definitely recommended.

Didn't explore the tide pools, wind caves, hiking trails, or natural hot springs (yet), or use one…read moreof the 41 campsites, but I loved the tall train trestle looking over the sandy, secluded beach, which can be seen in the excellent movies Sideways and 20th Century Women. Gaviota allegedly takes its name from Spanish soldiers who killed a seagull while camping there in 1769, though that story might be for the birds. Of the 2000 acres of backcountry, the steep Gaviota Peak Fire Road (2.5 miles from entrance) lleads to small sulfur springs, open to the public. Overlook Fire Road is a three mile round trip up a hill for a view of the Channel Islands. It's called Overlook because mountain lions were will overlook you with napkins stuffed into the collar holding knives and forks.

Beautiful views but do NOT tent camp here, luckily our tent made it through the night but several…read moreof our neighbors tents did not. Wind gusts start at around 6pm and last until the morning reaching speeds of 25mph, we were coated in dust in the morning. Also for the money you pay to camp I'd expected cleaner facilities with toilet paper stocked and not on the ground, unfortunately that is not the case. Showers barely worked and the bathrooms were disgusting - they also close half the bathrooms at night.

We had a great stay in the seagull cabin. Overall very clean and perfect for two!…read more Thankful for the store that seems to literally have everything

Annual visit. Great little hideaway. Beach vibe. We stay away from humans and simply park and spend…read moretime on the beach so it's PERFECTO!!

Waited in line just to check out this beach while we were nearby, but a park employee approached us…read morewhen she saw a doggie in our truck. No dogs allowed on the beach. So, we continued to wait for the line, then we were able to turn around and leave after we got to the pay booth.

We've been trying to camp at Refugio for some time but our reservation had been cancelled due to…read moreweather damage. Well we finally made it! My group of about 20 people stayed at Bouchard group site. It is perfectly situated on the south side of the campground with stunning views of the ocean! The group site has its own public restroom and showers which was a great amenity! The grounds are in decent shape but watch out for holes! (Gophers?) there is also beach access from the site and water spigots (unthreaded) so you cannot connect a water hose to it. Everything about our stay was perfect and the ranger and groundskeepers made regular visits and to stock the restrooms. I cannot wait for our next visit!

After my mom passed away, I needed a quiet getaway before her memorial. My friend and I decided to…read morego to Avila Beach, and we ended up staying at Flying Flags. We had actually discovered the campground the week before while driving up the coast, and we liked the area so much that we came back the following week. Before going, I had read some negative reviews, especially about the bathrooms, so I was a little hesitant. However, we had already booked our stay, so we decided to go--and I am so glad we did. Our experience was simply amazing. The campground was clean, quiet, and relaxing. We each stayed in our own Jupe, and both of them were very clean, comfortable, and nicely set up inside. The bedding was provided, and we already knew towels were not included, so we brought our own. We requested our own fire pit right in front of each Jupe which made the experience feel private, peaceful, and special. The views from our Jupes were beautiful, and the atmosphere was exactly what I needed. During the day, we would go into town to get food, visit stores, or explore the area. We felt comfortable leaving our belongings behind because the campground felt safe and secure. The staff was also friendly, and the whole place had a calm, welcoming feel. One thing I really appreciated was the quiet environment. They have a noise policy, and it made the campground feel peaceful instead of chaotic. It was a wonderful place to relax, clear my mind, and work on things for my mom's memorial while still having space to breathe. The prices were very reasonable, the weather was nice, and the overall experience was better than I expected. It truly felt like a mental and emotional reset during a difficult time. I almost do not want to recommend it because it feels like such a hidden gem, and I would love for it to stay peaceful and uncrowded so I can go back. But honestly, it was a beautiful getaway, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quiet, clean, relaxing camping experience near Avila Beach.

Highly recommend this friendly, luxury camping venue! The jupe tents were amazing. Quiet, cozy,…read morewarm, comfortable and incredible views. You cannot build a fire but they will provide you with a propane "fire pit" for $35 and it runs for quite a while. It is often very windy in this area from 2-5 pm give or take so bring a windbreaker and a hat . We loved watching the otters from our tent in the most comfortable wooden deck chairs. The sea lions were doing their mating calls day and night which was hilarious and added to the fun culture of the place. Pack a sound machine if this would bother you in the night. The staff were very kind and communicated well. We got awesome $5 shirts at the welcome store and the lady working let our toddler use her binoculars to look out at the sea life which really made his day. She was very sweet and deserves a raise! There was bocce ball and cornhole towards the entrance. Very nice and clean bathrooms, center of the campground. A private beach located down the hill. Everything was dog friendly! Free coffee and cocoa at the welcome shop during store open hours. Tons of informative information given to us about the history of the land and its people, upon check in. Really the whole experience was great and we have no complaints, only praises. Thank you!