First timer here and camping is always good wherever you go! this campground and few more along this pacific coast is always packed with campers and it's hard to find the good spot if you try to reserve them at the last minute. six month advance reservation is a must. I reserved this site 110 at the last minute in loop D and yes, i had to pay for it as it seems loop D sties are not well maintained. try to avoid loop D at all cost! restrooms and showers are dirty and some non functional. they had shower booths but half open and nasty. didn't bother using it. Squirls were everywhere trying to get some food or something and some even got into my minivan. Try reserving loop A through C for better maintained sites and restrooms. but other than those, it was peaceful place to be in, with easy access to the beach to play with kids and they even have a tiny grocery store on site. firewoods are also sold at couple of sites within. $ 6 a bundle of wood. but must say I had hard time lighting the wood as it was too moist for the wood to continuously burn through but it finally did. I must have cleared the whole area of bushes to get the fire started. fishing, biking, hiking, beach walking and quick visit to santa barbara is good too. read more

I have been camping at El Capitan State Beach for 18 years now with my family we always have a great time at this camp spot I understand that there are skunks raccoons foxes sometimes even a mountain lion it is because we are in their territory I understand that sometimes the bathroom water might be too hot or that it smells it's a bathroom. No one's poop smells like strawberries people! If the camp host here are giving you a hard time it's because you're not following directions. Being with family hiking biking surfing kayaking fishing roasting marshmallows singing by the campfire sleeping all cozy that's what this place is about everyone complains about necessities this camp ground does not offer then stay home or go to the Ritz Carlton! read more

We camped here [there is also the El Capitán Ranch across the way, but it's far more expensive and not right above to the beach like the state campground is @ $25/night. sucka.]. Water in July is warm and filled with dolphins, with which we frolicked -- no, really. We frolicked with real live dolphins. I can't believe it either. Campsites are on bluff a short, well-paved walk above the beach. Our neighbor commented that she would be trying for our campsite next time [#59] as it is one of the few that is fully shaded, though I looked around and they all seem to have *some* shade. Overall, campground is almost as good as Refugio up the road [except Refugio is right ON the beach and your campsite shade is provided by palm trees, which just looks so, so good] and is an excellent place to hang out for a couple days. read more

On a whim, I looked for a quick weekend beach getaway. Was able to book a Saturday at the El Capitan State campground. I thought the $45 +fees was steep but when you get there, WOW well worth it. Had a great spot, private, clean and huge. Each space has 2 parking spaces-max 8occup. And it seems they monitor it. Beach access is about a 5min quick walk or do what we did and drove to day parking lot and parked there. We have 4 kids so there was lots of beach gear (however we got a great spot that is very accessible) Ok I was hesitant - a lot of weird/bad reviews but #imho - bathrooms clean maintained (could be cleaner - $.25 cents/2mins with hot water that can be turned off/on (wear chanklas) *should be a lot cleaner esp for what is charged for a daily rate but they didn't smell! Sites are huge - no tent pads so bring rakes/broom/tarp for tents. No food/metal box so always store your food in enclosed bins/cars etc. lots of people wrote of Skunks/mice/squirrels I saw NONE, a few squirrels but none of the other. Fire pit with host selling $6 bundles. Also shop is tiny but has a lot of things you might forget at an inflated price. No fresh meats/produce. (No Lodgepole Market ;) nearest supermarket is about 10minutes south in Goleta (alberstsons/traders) We will for sure go back, beach was nice I had some tar/oil remnants but the rest of my family didn't. Also the weekend we went was a heatwave, it was in the 90s at 10p - we were so hot! read more

El Capitan State Beach - Beach is south of site! Accessible by waking about 10m - Parks Near Me - Goleta, California

El Capitan's now at the top of my campground list! The number of possibilities here are simply ridiculous! Our camp, site 03, was somewhat of a compromise. While it was a bit exposed to the main entrance gate, it lead directly to the beach a minute away (well, on a bike.) The site was a bit smaller than what our twelve person tent is used to, but we made do with what we had. The restrooms were always stocked,and clean without the muddied floors of other locations. There were mussel beds along the tide pools, and my Asian tendencies couldn't help itself. I grabbed two, and brought them to our camp as a midday snack. Doesn't get any fresher. ;D (Btw, I ran a quick online search to see if they were protected, but didn't see any red flags. Phew.) Favorite snapshot of the trip: Laying on the picnic tables by the shore at night to stargaze, and watching the Christmas-like Oil Tankers in the distance. read more

I'm here right now. The bathrooms are gross. You can smell them from a few campsites away. I mean they are wretched. I can't speak for the women's side but I was unable to brush my teeth they are so bad. Doesn't matter what time of day... Yes, there's skunks and raccoons but put your stuff away and they stay away. Beach is super crowded but I did catch 3 surf perch. I won't be back here. There's little to no privacy whatsoever. Getting here took me almost 4 hours leaving from 120 miles out. I left at 8am on a Saturday coming from OC. Most of the traffics was from Ventura all the way here (101). Call me a wuss, but the gross bathrooms really killed the deal. read more

For $35 a night at El Capitan State Park you can expect - the roaring sound of the freeway (I guess that's why no one uses a tent anymore and they're all in supped up vans or RV's?) And Santa Barbara's infamous ocean secret: layers of tar will end up on your clothes and all over your feet and legs if you dare get into the ocean. Why isn't there a sign letting people know? The bathrooms in this area Anza /Group area are much nicer then Yosemite Valley everything was sparking clean. The Group area is nice to camp by as it's rarely used during the week and therefore quieter. Be sure you pack away your food the raccoon's are out every night. Minus the constant freeway noise and tar all over our feet we enjoyed the campground for the nice bike trails are really beautiful views. The campsites in the 80's have great views #83 is the best but you have to have a disabled person with you and a sticker on your car. At El Capitan Canyon across the freeway you can get meals that are very tasty at a reasonable price. Kuddos to them. read more

I only give this a 3 as I have no other experiences with other campsites. So for me, this was an A-ok experience. The drive up to El Cap is quite lovely as you leave Santa Barbara. We had no trouble finding the right exit and once we gave our last name for the reservation, we got our parking ticket and were off to find it. Our campsite group was in Loop D closer to the beach. Setting up camp was a breeze but finding a non slopey area was not. We still ended up sleeping at an angle. The site had a large firepit and picnic tables. We were not too far from the bathrooms which was nice to have, although a little smelly. I did not use the showers but they were readily available for 25 cents /2 minutes. Lighting is dim in the bathrooms and bathrooms were maintained regularly. The beach is quite lovely but can be cumbersome to get to if you have a lot of gear. The early mornings were beautiful as it was empty so I truly enjoyed the serenity it provided. I did end up with tar on the feet but that washed away in a couple days. The sunset was exquisite too and the sky was somewhat clear for sky gazing. All in all, pretty relaxing. People were generally quiet during quiet hours. The store was overpriced in my opinion, we we ended up at a grocery store in Goleta for rations. A fox got into our camping friends' food so lock up that food at night. We smelled skunk as well, so be careful! Check out was at 12. read more

Had a great time camping with family and friends. The best of both worlds!! Camping and Beach Fun!! The kids had a blast. They went bike riding, spend time at the beach and enjoyed s'mores at night. They have clean bathrooms and quarter operated showers. Make sure you bring raccoon repellent cause at night those furry friends come out to eat. My husband also saw a skunk but luckily we were not sprayed. All other reviews say to be careful with tar. The only tar I saw was a dime size amount on my daughters leg but nothing to worry about. We stayed at the Ortega camp site. There was noice due to being right to the freeway but it did not bother me. You can also hear the waves at night which I loved! Beware of the cleaning/volunteer old lady she is not very nice make sure you follow park rules or she will make sure she reminds you of them and not in a nice way. read more

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Decided on a weekend getaway. I had planned on camping, selected four destinations, but did not make any reservations. Well, El Capitan was the first spot I stopped at. I drove through the park to see the available campsites. I had found a site with a beautiful ocean view. The Park Ranger at the front gate can only take Cash or Check for payment. There are four campsite loops. Most campsites have tree shade, a picnic table and a fire ring. There are flush toilets, sinks and showers. Showers use quarters to operate; and each quarter is good for a two minute shower. Be warn that any item placed on the floor will get wet, so place them on the seat. The short walk down to the beach was nice with spots to take pictures of the coastline. Once at the beach, it was not sandy, but rocky. Talked to another camper and they said that this condition was unusual; as last year was all sand. I had been warned by posts of tar / oil on the beach. If you plan on walking on the beach, most likely you will have tar on your feet like I had, so bring some kind of cleaner (Alcohol, nail polish remover, gasoline, lighter fluid, etc...). There are picnic tables with BBQ grills along the beach. Also, there is a large grass area which could hold a large gathering. I've seen people catching Barred Perch at this beach. There is a camp host that sells firewood and exchange dollars for quarters for the shower. Try to stay / reserve a site closest to the beach / bluff as the 101 freeway and train track are on the east side which is noisy. Overall, a good weekend getaway spot. read more

Somebody docked a star for their wife coming across a skunk in the night? Really? Sounds like you shouldn't be camping and should check out a Holiday Inn. This is the second campsite I've ever been to, but after Yosemite I was very pleased. Sure they charge a bit (one night was $40 or $45, I forget), but the facilities are CLEAN and ample. Plus it's rather low maintenance. We never made it down to the beach or sunset (I know, very depressing) but roasted weenies, enjoyed being outdoors, etc. There's plenty of space between campsites, which helps keep things orderly, especially considering the quiet hours. El Capitan Beach Campgrounds are very accessible from PCH and an overall mellow beach-adjacent camping experience. read more

This is a pretty nice campground in the Santa Barbara area. If you are wine tasting nearby and don't want to end up in touristy Solvang, this place will be on your drive back to LA. The group site has the nicest location and the most lovely view of the ocean - and be forewarned, the nearby Amtrak train line does run nearby but it's not a super jarring sound - think of it as being more Tom Waits-y than anything. Not every site has an ocean view, so don't come here expecting that. This place lost a star for me because at night, the skunks are in charge. I was literally afraid to walk to the bathrooms late at night because you'd shine your flashlight about and just see their glowing eyes looking back at you as they combed empty campsites nearby for leftover food. I'm talking devil, HUGE skunks here. Guys are lucky - they can wizz in the bushes anywhere, us delicate ladies have to find a latrine to do their business into. I think we will return though, and try round up some pals to land the group site. It's off by itself from the rest of the camp and it really is the nicest area. read more

This review is only for the beach as this was my only stop there. Unknowingly, my boyfriend and I strolled down the beach just like any other... Unfortunately, this is not like any other beach. This beach is covered with tar washing up in the water from the oil rigs. There are no warnings, so if you simply pop in randomly, you can leave like we did.. Absolutely covered in tar. After leaving, we spent a good forty five minutes cleaning it off with nail polish remover (yes, it works). My boyfriend couldn't get it all off, and I still have a little residue. I know this isn't the fault of the parks, but it still affected my experience there. I did not see any signs, warnings, or anyone actively cleaning it up. My only other issue with his beach is that it's very rocky both at the beginning and when you go in up to your knees. I guess it's good I couldn't go in any farther because I totally would've gone full on swimming. I can only imagine how covered in tar I would've been after that. It's really sad that our beaches are being destroyed by oil.. I've never seen anything like this before, and I hope to never experience it again. The tar was absolutely disgusting. read more

Sweet camping spot right on the beach about 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara. I almost don't want to blow it up by writing about it but who cares, knowledge is power, right? The beach is OK; it's kind of rocky, and the water never warms up for it to get real comfortable. It is noisy; you can hear the rigs bowling down 101, there is the train (which is fun to moon), and they place is usually somewhat crowded. That being said, this is one of my favorite places on Earth. When the wild mustard blooms, the hills light up California gold. Whales and dolphins do come close to the shore, as one person already mentioned, and I would say I have surfed uncomfortably close to dolphins frolicking here. Do you want to know the best part about El Cap? If a solid 8+ foot swell creeps in due west, like below 275 degrees, the point lights up like a mini-Kirra. It's shallow and hollow and if you didn't bring your board you may regret it for the rest of your life. El Cap only gets good 5-10 days a year. Auf. read more

Stayed overnight on the campgrounds 8/26/17, had a good time. Found an available campsite a few months ago on Reserve America before they did the switch over to Reserve California, luckily someone had cancelled there reservation for that day (Maybe cause the Meaweather fight). Had site #94 in the back - great size space & tress on both sides from neighbors. Cons: * No operating showers available - since it was an overnight trip it wasn't a big deal. * No Firewood for sell onsite from rangers (Drove a block over to the El Capitan Canyons and grabbed some from the Canyon Market @ $7.?? bundle before we even went to our site and settled in. * The Aniso Trail from El Capitan SB to Refugio SB is unavailable ): Overall had a wonderful time, nice tent camping beach experience. read more

The perfect place if your into whale watching, and relaxing. But you all need to relax on the generator rules, really 8PM, most places are 10pm! You could always add hook ups and solve that problem! Oh and be where when your making your reservation on line. If you have a rig DO NOT PARK IN THE LOWER LEVEL, even thou is says yo will fit. There are to many trees with low branches- trust me stick to the left and higher up spots! read more

Everything you are reading that's negative is true. Yes there are skunks. Yes there is tar (it wasn't that bad though), Yes the campground is a bit noisy due to road noise. And to add to that the "showers" were shut off due to pressure issues caused by the drought. But still - this is an excellent place to camp. The beach is beautiful. It's generally pretty quiet. We had a great 2 days. Only 10 miles away you can grab food if you don't want to deal with the mess and the El Capitan Canyon glamping campground across the road has a decent restaurant with sandwiches, pizza and breakfast. We loved our beach camping experience and will do it again. read more

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Very nice campsite-- stayed here overnight before doing a race in Leadbetter Beach. It's maybe 15-20 minutes from the beach and main drag of Santa Barbara, but conveniently just off the 101. We got really lucky-- it was fully booked, but then at the last minute someone gave up the perfect site #84-- we had an oceanfront view! Sleeping here at night was like a dream, with the waves mildly crashing up against the rocks and sand. Beautiful campsite, well maintained, fair number of trees to help with the sun and wind. Bathrooms and showers well maintained-- you don't feel like these are 'camping toilets' at all. Haha! Fire pit and picnic table at each site, not a single mosquito in May. Loved it here. A little pricey during high season-- $45 per site, $53 if you book online through Reserve America with the reservation fee, but it's well worth it if you want a reliable, clean, convenient place to camp in the area. If you're not a hardcore backpacking type of camper, you will feel comfortable in this place, and we saw plenty of people 'glamping'. The sunset from here is really pretty. read more

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Although others have mentioned the train noise, we've camped here several times and have not had any problems. We usually pick a site near the beach and all night we hear the crashing of the waves - very relaxing. Most of the sites have plenty of trees and although they are near each other, they are relatively private (but pretty small). We feel 3 small tents and 6 people are the max that can fit comfortably. Each year we have to book well in advance (we book in March for the end of September) as this campground is pretty popular. Bathrooms are old, but clean, and they have outlets near the sink for those who can't live without their hair blowdryers. There are additional bathrooms by the beach that also seem well maintained. Outdoor showers for surfers and beachgoers are also available. Additionally, there are super clean bathrooms at the RV campground across the freeway, and we have been known to sneak over there and use those once in awhile. The reason I would give this place only 4 stars and not 5 is because: the beach is gorgeous and not too crowded but there are a lot of sand flies. You have to be careful of skunks (we've seen a few), and the rodents and birds are supremely determined to get into your food. After a couple nights, hard core hikers/backpackers will be bored of this place. However, it's a great place if you're a family and you have kids - they will love the beach and the easy walks. Dining tip: no need to cook every meal...Goleta is only 9 miles away and the Cajun Kitchen cooks up an amazing breakfast. read more

One of my favorite camping spots! The view is beautiful if you get a good camping spot. There is a little trail down to the beach and this spot is dog friendly! They also offer first come, first serve camping. There is a lot of trees and since the spot is so close to the beach, it never gets too hot. Great place! I have a lot of fond memories here. I recommend booking either campsite 83 or 84. Great view and close to the trail down to the beach. read more

I love this camp ground!!! There is ample shade, so you often stay cool. There are bathrooms with running water, which means SHOWERS!! You do have to pay 25 cents for 5 minutes of hot water, but that's pretty normal. The beach is a very short walk down a nice path, and is beautiful!!! To the left, there are tide pools to search for sea creatures in, and to the right, a beautiful beach to going swimming in. Don't forget sunscreen, and something to take tar of your feet. If you forgot something, don't worry, there is a camp store. If you're planning on bringing your dogs, be warned, there are a lot of ticks. And dog's are not allowed on the beach. I definitely recommend this camp ground!!! read more

This is a great place to go to for the day. Fun trails, great beach, active fishing and beautiful scenery. You'll see all kinds of wild life here. For camping, your enjoyment all depends on the location of your campsite. The closer to the beach you are, the better your experience. The general store and restaurant at El Capitan Canyon, the glamping spot on the other side of the 101, is open to everyone. I recommend going there for breakfast, lunch or dinner and snacks. They also have an espresso bar! read more

Incredible spot near the ocean. Great cabins with a country store that has descent food.

Was great staying here. Lots of great RV spots. People were nice a friendly. Walk to the beach is not far at all . Bathrooms were not very clean (but that's usually every camp ground). View was amazing . read more

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I have such mixed feelings giving this place 4 stars. The campground itself would get 3 stars. The beach 5 stars. So here is how our stay went. My brother, cousin and I booked 3 sites.....right next to the camp host. My brother and cousin were both on corners. The rangers got a complaint at 10:15 that people on the corner were being too loud so naturally they assumed it was one of us and warned both sites. We were not loud either just sitting around the fire making s'mores with the kids. We went to bed after that. I was so ticked because the site next to us had 15 people, teenagers mostly it seemed like and they were on a corner and they were drunk and completely loud and 3 times I was almost asleep and the girls over there would shriek and scream. They had loud music and partied it up until 2:00 with NO WARNING. They did however come back at 11:30 and tell my cousin AGAIN that he was being too loud......most of the people in his site were asleep and it was just him and his mom at that point. So I guess if you are young drunk adults it is ok to be loud and obnoxious after quiet hours, but if you have a family you better make sure everyone is asleep by 10:00. The next day my friend went to the camp host to complain about us being warned for nothing. They said the ranger must have been confused and she'd go talk to the group. There they go and who do they talk to......my brother and cousin again....IDIOTS! My brother talked to the ranger for a long time and finally got it worked out, but he should not have had to do that. It was very obvious where the noise was coming from. Oh and my cousin's campsite was not next to mine and my brother's it was across the road and they got a complaint that we were crossing the road too much.....REALLY ?!?!?!?!? who does that. So anyways they finally warned that group and our second night was much better there. A skunk did run across my brother's site and tore open the trash on someone else's site. Make sure you put your trash and food up at night. We had paw prints on our table in the morning. The bathrooms are about the same as any other campground as usual not disgusting but not sparkling clean either. Bring your own TP if you are there on the weekend because both days they ran out and it took a while for refills. Also there were two showers in our campground......one was broken so there was always a line of 10 people waiting for the showers. We stayed in Site 57. My brother was at 60. It is an awesome spot.....the only bad thing is people walk across it and use it as a shortcut to go to the restrooms instead of staying on the paved path. Ok onto the beach. This is what made me wonder why I had never come camping here. The beach here made it worth while, They have a tide pool with lots of anemones. In the early morning you can catch fish. The water is not cold like some so cal beaches. Although I grew up at the beaches in so cal I have become spoiled by Hawaiian waters and do not frequent Cali oceans as much as I did when I was younger because of this. This place though not Hawaii was pretty awesome. Low soft waves, I was able to go out about 50 feet and still stand and there were dolphins frolicking in the waves. There were about 7 sightings for us that day. The sand is smooth with no rocks. Here is where it can not compare to Hawaii though......there is sooooooooo much seaweed!!!!! I don't mind it much because the beach is still gorgeous. This is my new favorite California beach now. Oh and you will get tar on your feet, but it comes right off in the shower. Overall I know it sounds like I had a lot of complaints but it really was an awesome fantastic weekend and if there were any sites open......I'd go again next weekend. read more

El Capitan State Beach - Kids enjoying the gentle surf - Parks Near Me - Goleta, California

Beautiful place to camp... walking distance to a gorgeous beach! You can watch dolphins play too! Cute! ;) But......................... I love this place until last weekend... The sheriffs and park rangers killed the vibe for us and they ticketed my friend (registration holder) for over capacity... They have a maximum of 8 people per camp site rule and we got 2 campground right next to each other and still got ticketed... wack! They also have a "shut the hell up rule" after 10PM that they enforce firmly... boring! BOOOOO! Lastly, they seem to have a rodent problem... we got raided by skunk and raccoons again. Those annoying creatures ate my eggs!!!! Lol Oh, make sure you bring enough supplies... $21 dollars for a Coors light 12 pack... ouch! Expensive convenient store! read more

Awesome campground very close to Santa Barbara. Of course, you gotta make reservations (especially around Summer Solstice Parade time) as soon as they let you, about 6 months in advance. This can be done online at reserveamerica.com. Once you're there (speaking for loop 61-91 where we usually camp), it's like you're camping on the beach, which is only a little ways away. There is a trail where we like to ride our bikes that goes all the way by the Refugio SB campsite and possibly beyond. The beach is also available for day use, so it can get a little crowded on a hot day. The bathrooms are fairly clean, showers are operated with quarters. And with a sunset at the beach every night, who cares about the occasional train that comes by? Hmm, I have a sudden hankering for s'mores! read more

Over the Veteran's holiday weekend - went for the 2nd time to El Capitan State Beach camping, love this place. It has lots of shade, spacious, some with an ocean view; ocean just a few steps down. http://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=601 There's the tide pool to see - saw quite a few page-sized starfishes, ...Gaviota State beach campground (15 min away) has the Gaviota wind caves trail which was steep but worth it. http://localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_7480.asp The bathrooms have a lot to be desired - with a few doors unable to lock. Minus, the constant noise of passing cars from the 101 freeway, and the occasional train passing by, and the night cold, the trip was awesome with the tide pools and red sunset. Had hope to see an abundant monarch butterflies migration but no luck... Now, time to change camping's schedule for May/Sept. - more hours in the day and a warmer climate. read more

Very nice camp area, though you apparently have to book certain weekends almost a year in advance to even get into the camp ground. My first time in a large group-campground setting versus camping five minutes away from the next closest group. Great vibe in the place and a quick walk to the beach. Also the camp showers here are hotter than my own at home, like way hotter. You've been warned. read more

Pros: Gorgeous views and comfortable campsites. Good times spent with great friends. We had plenty of room, the trash bins were empty, and there was a bathroom with showers. Cons: Golf cart with old people wearing jackets that say "Volunteers" driving by your camp every 20 minutes ready to bark orders if they see you break the tiniest of rule.They were rude to my wife and said "those are the rules!" and asked her if we would be staying much longer. Are you kidding me? Dogs on leash at all times no matter how well behaved. Our dogs are never tied up and had to spend 3 days on a rope. It was really sad and they didn't understand. Deal breakers: No dogs on the beach. We had to choose between leaving our dogs tied up at an empty camp or not go down to the beach at all. We camped by the beach for 3 days and never once touched the sand! read more

This is a nice spot with nice views. Showers and baths are dated, but clean. Highway noise is constant, squirrels are all over and into everything. We did learn a valuable lesson, the brochure doesn't mention having hookups, that's because there are none! Fresh water is available to fill the tank. There is a gas station just a few miles south to dump for a $5- fee. And, it's super easy to access. read more

Came from Refugio after we lost our spot and came here looking to extend our camping trip. Awesome campground, stayed here for two nights, and had campsite number 86. It was right on the cliff and had an ocean view right out of our tent window. The trail to the beach was right behind our site so it was easy access. The park rangers there were incredibly helpful and friendly too! read more

El Capitan State Beach - This was campsite #84 at sunset - Parks Near Me - Goleta, California

Camping dates: 11/7/2009 - 11/8/2011 This place was definitely not how I imagined it to be, in a bad way. Although the campsite was nice - shady, flush toilets and showers - there was nothing else great about it. The hike we did wasn't even a hike!!! It was just some silly paved road for bikes. Furthermore, it was right next to the freeway and there were not much landscape around us. The beach was nearby, but didn't spend anytime there. When I go camping, I like to explore nature, not walk on a paved road and be right next to the highway. I definitely won't be coming back. read more

It's a narrow little beach, but not too bad all things considered. Lots of tar balls from the recent spill and the store, restrooms and running water is not available due to a recent oil spill and a separate forest fire. If you come, don't forget some baby oil or even lotion to get the tar off your feet. Hopefully the next time I go back the tar and running water issues will be resolved. read more

Wow! We had a great time here! Stayed the weekend with some friends/family! Very nice spot. Clean bathrooms and quarter showers. The beach is right there and the weather this weekend was amazing! This place was definitely above average, but I did have a couple complaints: 1. It's kind of stupid that you can't pay for your car for the whole weekend. You have to walk up every day. Not a big deal, just silly. 2. I was pretty upset that there was poison oak all around our site. At least someone left a sign there to warn us (clearly a visitor). The rangers should get rid of as much poison oak as they can. This is definitely unacceptable! 3. While the beach was beautiful and easily accessible, the sand is covered in soot. After a day at the beach, my feet were black. (can't blame the park... I have to blame the offshore oil rigs) 4. Lastly, the nearest store is like 10 miles away. Also something I can't fault the park for. Just something to keep in mind. Overall 4 stars is about right. Clean the beach and clear out all the poison oak and 5 stars are yours :) read more

They yell at ya to be quiet right at 10 (super annoying.) The wood they sell you for campfires is wet and does not burn (ruined the night.) There's a 1' high curb at campground 11 which you can't see in the dark that nearly killed me when I tried walking to the car to put something away (so that the huge raccoons which were getting into our food wouldn't get into more of our stuff.) Hopefully night number two will be better (driving into town to buy proper firewood.) read more

Beautiful but lots of kelp. The beach has been cleaned. I do smell some tar though. Lots of neat things to see though in the tide pools. read more

El Capitan State Beach - Parks Near Me - Goleta, California

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Camped for 2 nights here. Really enjoyed the campgrounds. Large spaces, close to the beach, but not too close. read more

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Wonderful place. Definitely will go again. Rangers were very helpful. The 101 is noisy and always 'on', but becomes white noise after a few hours. Amtrak is loud, but not too many passed by during my 2 day weekend stay. I booked Site 63 and did not have any issues. The site is wrapped by trees/bushes on 3 sides which is rare. Most sites are wide open to view. Beach access is great....several points of entry. May want to take a small container of gasoline in case you step on tar/oil, like I did. The camp host was great. Walked around and made sure everyone was ok. Was able to buy wood from him. $6/bundle of soft wood. Bring cash. I had cellular reception in all areas of the campground. The camp store was open only on Saturday. I didn't need to go, so no review on it. The bathrooms with flush toilets were pretty clean. No issues. El Capitan Canyon is on the other side of the 101 and has a camp store. You can find anything and everything including ice, wood, and food. read more

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It's a very mediocre at best beach. It's full of debris, crowded restrooms (at least when we went) and there is lots of tar on the shoreline. Everyone had to scrub their feet by the showers provided by the park. The condition of the water is poor and overall experience with biting flies and some trash left by the tourists were very displeasing. Not a great experience read more