Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Jalama Beach County Park

    4.2 (170 reviews)

    Jalama Beach County Park Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Jalama Beach County Park

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Jewels B.

    We scored a last minute cancellation of site 28 at Jalama beach for Labor Day weekend and had a great experience! A few things that I didn't quite catch from other reviews that I read that would have been good to know: -Even if the weather is calm and warm during the day, the wind is NUTS here at night. Extremely windy. Make sure everything is put away before bed and if you're tent camping, make sure everything is secured and anchored well. -The bathrooms are currently under construction and are porta potties. If you go to another part of the campsite, you can find a real bathroom but it's almost worse than the porta potty. We hope the new ones will be nice! -There's a dishwashing station with warm water which was fantastic. -The Jalama Beach shop and restaurant has SO many essentials should you forget something. I wish everywhere we camped had a shop like that! -The kids loved the little playground they had there. -There's a ground covering that's along the entrance into the beach that has the SPIKIEST, most painful little balls that get stuck in your feet and then your finger when you try to remove them so be careful! -There are the MOST interesting rocks all along this shore. And sand dollars too! There's tar all over the beach, too, though so be careful! The shop has a good solution to remove it if you get it stuck to you. -There's a little creek/run off areas from the ocean which is fun to play in, too! -The water is freezing, even at the end of August but it's refreshing on a hot day! My kids that love the waves in Long Beach and Newport did not brave these ones and instead played in the driftwood forts on the sand. -The Amtrak runs right through the area and is fun for the kids to check out and wave to. -There were a few unhoused people exhibiting erratic behavior we encountered throughout our stay and my child said she saw one lady pull her pants down and reveal herself before getting arrested and hauled off around 7am. -Lots of ants around so make sure everything is air tight! We didn't see a single mosquito or bee, which we usually see camping, so that was one benefit of the wind! - Site 28 is in a good location/proximity to the dishwashing, bathrooms, beach, etc, but it's not really ideal for tent camping because it's really exposed on all sides and there's no trees. Would be perfect for RV camping. The ground is too hard to stake in some areas. -There's zero cell service, which I personally think is a great thing. But there is a working pay phone that's $1 in quarters for 2 minutes if needed All in all, it was a great trip and we'll definitely be back.

    View from the bluff campsites with power.
    Sharon N.

    Jalama Beach is a hidden gem along the coast between Santa Barbara and Lompoc. Don't be detoured with the 14 mile drive to the beach camping weekend of your dreams. Jalama campground has miles of walkable beach a camp store with tent and RV camping. You can camp on the beach in the flat almost parking lot sites and the buffs. Several cottages are also available to rent with kitchens, beds and satellite TV. The cafe store serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is stocked with necessities like firewood, bug spray, beer wine and grocery items. Free WiFi is available in the park. Tips: Give yourself 30 minutes to get to the campground once you exit Hwy 1. Take your time it's a beautiful drive. Avoid driving at night. Bring binoculars for whale, dolphin watching and Vandenberg launches in the evening. The tar wasn't bad but bring water shoes or old shoes for beach walks. The burger at the cafe is good but the clam chowder and breakfast burritos are amazing as well. The bathroom and showers have been under construction for months. Bring a portable shower and toilet if you have them to avoid the walk to the far ends of the campsite for the only working restrooms. Bring a book, unplug and walk the beach!

    Beautiful
    Diann B.

    I Love Jalama Beach County Park! We camped over Veteran's Day weekend. We stayed at space #94. It had electrical hookup. I didn't notice that there wasn't hook up for water. I looked at hubby and apologized. He wasn't fazed. We were able to fill up at the water station via a hose. You must have your own hose. There is a dump station as well. Jalama is normally very windy. We did have wind. I wish I brought my bad ass kite. Next time, right?? I love Jalama for the epic views and the fact that your dogs can go on the beach. Unbeknownst to me, I ran into 2 friends. We were all surprised to see each other. They are both surfers. They said that they love surfing here at Jalama. Everyone we met was super friendly. Everything was wonderful. The fires at night, the burgers at the store, and the stars at night are simply breathtaking. The employee at check in was super chill and helpful. It had been 15 years since I was at Jalama Beach. I intend on staying here every year.

    Cooking breakfast!
    Audrey J.

    My boyfriend and I came to Jalama for a two night getaway and were more than happy with our experience! We were originally upset about not being closer to the beach, but upon setting up we're super happy to be up above on site 113. The view was in incredible (best view in the whole site actually) and it felt way more secluded than the sites down below. Either camp directly on the beach or up on the bluff. It's worth being a little fat from the showers. Make sure to check the Vandenberg rocket launch schedule before booking so you don't get evacuated!

    Best kept secret on the west coast. Jalama Cheeseburgers. Don't leave the park without one!
    Lee D.

    Surf, rekax, hike and eat Jalama burgers every day! This is what keeps the doctors away.

    Beautiful sky @sunset
    Tabatha D.

    Had a great time camping @jalama beach. But if your not camping you can go for the day and get a famous Jalama burger! They are delicious! I added bacon and pepper jack cheese to mine. They have showers you can use with quarters and a dishwashing station which is nice since they don't have full hookups. Trey do have picnic tables and bbq pits in the sites which is nice, and a few small cabins.

    The sunset, every dusk, obviously, stunning.
    Rob V.

    Beautiful views, the higher up the hill the better! The higher up sites have electric ONLY, not water. There is an RV water tank fill station at the entrance. Beach or sea level sites are all primitive. Bathrooms were old, but clean'ish. The beach is beautiful, but covered with tar!!! Be careful it gets all over your feet and your dogs paws!!! It comes off with mineral oil and scrubbing. The water is frigid, but that's a good thing! . The wind, as soon as the sun sets the wind picks up. It's strong, umbrellas and easy ups blow away often; Tents blow flat. Sometimes the wind lasts all night, sometimes only for a bit. It's worth it though. If you're towing or an RV, the road in is rough and narrow. It's only 14 miles, but you're traveling at only about 25 mph the whole way. The store and cafe there are very cool. We had the Jalama Burger, of course, it's a MUST try. We also had the ahi burger. Both meals did not disappoint, just delicious. There is a lot of other menu items I'll try when I go back. If you're frugal like me, stop in Santa Maria and load up on supplies, the Jalama store prices are outrageous! You can't blame them though, it's a LONG drive to get stuff out there. There is NO CELL SERVICE, NONE!!!! They do have a wifi set up for guests, but it had very limited in bandwidth, so most the time it doesn't work very well. When you're there you are truly disconnected. It'll be okay, you're life won't end, in fact it'll probably get better. Finally, the staff, one word, AMAZING! Everyone there was so willing and happy to help. But of course your attitude will make the difference. It's a VERY popular campground and I'm sure the staff puts up with a lot of sh**! Remember the golden rule.

    Hiking spot
    Sesame W.

    Visited Jalama Beach County Park and although it was extremely windy, our entire group enjoyed the 3 day visit. From multiple hiking spots, to an updated and clean kids playground, to horseshoes, beach fishing and sitting benches, there is plenty to do. Each campsite has a dedicated table and fire ring and it has a rack that can go over top to boil water or grill, etc. The campground is kept very clean, bathrooms and showers (don't forget your quarters) are in tip top shape, the campground store has everything you can imagine. We were told that the burgers were a must try and we found them to be average. The chicken sandwich, fries and onion rings out of this world! It gets chilly at night, so make sure you bring firewood (or purchase at the store), extra layers and blankets. You will survive and you will absolutely enjoy the sounds of the ocean at night and the beautiful views during the day! The best thing about this place are the park rangers and store staff.

    Beach
    Whit D.

    Nice beach! $10 per car and $3 per dog. A hidden gem- no crowds. Just you and a few others and the beach. Views are spectacular. Roads have a lot of turns getting there but worth it. A must when visiting the area!

    Amber H.

    Wow! So beautiful! We got abalone cove group spot for the first time ever and had such a great experience. There was 3 tables, 1 fire pit, plenty of space for a large group, 3 min walk to the washroom and a beautiful walk up or down the beach. The bathrooms were very clean and easy to find. There was no cell reception but the Jalama beach rangers have free wifi that's spotty but works! It's very windy and weather can go from beautiful light breeze 70* to strong winds and cold. Bring layers. We had a camper to stay in but our friends tent camped and we're fine. We'll be back soon!

    Kathleen Q.

    One of the hidden gems in the area. I only say that because when we visited, there weren't many people there. Jalama Park has a beautiful mountains and a beautiful beach. There's also enough coastline if you're interested in a long hike. Beware of tar that's on the sand / rocks, it could stick on your shoes or belongings.

    Kevin E.

    We stayed in the beach group spot and had an absolutely great time. Can't be any closer to the ocean at the Abalone Site. The campground was not packed with people and it has a little store with great food. The road in is rough as all hell but it's worth the drive. The only thing that wasn't great was the RV dump station. Its a pain to get into one side. Additionally it flooded from the light rain and there were some brown trout floating around from a irresponsible camper who dumped before us. All in all a great spot!

    See all

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Alex R.
    58
    31
    44

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Kim S.
    11
    88
    20

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 4
    Photo of Chris B.
    1064
    90
    42

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    10 months ago

    Beautiful clean beach, ample parking, nice staff, clean showers (bring quarters!) Beautiful drive in. We'll be back!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 2

    11 months ago

    Nice little shopper had a great site and enjoyed our stay. The sunset was beautiful. Very friendly people. Clean restroom.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lee D.
    5
    28
    8

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rob V.
    0
    56
    38

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J T.
    8
    112
    0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rudy M.
    6
    80
    174

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Judi M.
    332
    878
    3261

    10 years ago

    Helpful 21
    Thanks 0
    Love this 16
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Re R.
    37
    271
    230

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Jalama Beach County Park

    I've been looking into going camping anytime this year with my RV but everything seems to be booked. Any opening ava for this year?

    It is difficult to get campsites if you do not log on early in the morning or once the calendar resets, (possibly midnight?). I have been able to get reservations every month tho. It is 6 months in advance & books that far out quickly! Currently,… Read more

    Is the restaurant open as of August 2020?

    The restaurant is open and is delicious!

    Dog friendly? Day fee?

    Yes! Dog friendly and you can pay for the day or overnight camping

    Why is it always so windy?

    It's because Jalama Beach is in a huge valley that is right on the coast. So there is bound to be some wind. Although, its not always windy, during certain parts of the day the wind usually dies down and it can be paradise.

    Does this campground have fresh water at the dump station for RV's that aren't camping at full hookup sites?

    Yes!

    Is it very windy in October? What's the weather like at that time?

    Its windy all year round, it's really hit or miss.. regardless of the wind it's a beautiful place and worth it. It depends if this summer goes longer or not... I would expect October to be in the mid-low 60s in the day and low 50's at night.

    Are they strict on the 2 car policy? Meeting girlfriends but have to leave a day early so I need to drive separate which means I'll be a 3rd vehicle. Read campsites are for 2 cars.…

    I've camped here several times, but its been quite a few years. I ended up with a 3rd car one time and they were all over it, and, despite my charm, was told we HAD to remove one of the cars. I ended up driving my car outside the campground and… Read more

    What's the weather like in mid January?

    Windy most days.

    What hours is the store/ food service open?

    Til 7pm, but kitchen closes at 630pm

    View All 14 Questions

    Review Highlights - Jalama Beach County Park

    We camped up top and the view is amazing, beach not crowded and the jalama burger was all it was hyped up to be!

    Mentioned in 17 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Campgrounds 150 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground - Santa Ynez Guest Ranch - Ranch Loft bathroom

    Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground

    3.9(887 reviews)
    18.9 mi

    We booked a few nights here while exploring Santa Barbara, Solvang, and some of the surrounding…read moreareas. We ended up arriving late on our check-in day, but they had a late check-in packet waiting for us with directions to our site, which was really nice and made things easy. There are plenty of different sites to choose from. They are somewhat close together, but that's to be expected with a resort-style campground. We had a full-hookup RV site, which worked out great for us. The next morning we stopped by the main office to check in and the person behind the counter was very friendly. They also have a small convenience store with basic necessities and even a restaurant on site. The campground has a pool and hot tub as well. We didn't end up using any of the amenities since we were out exploring most of the day, but it was nice knowing they were available. We usually woke up at the crack of dawn and were gone all day. At night there were people talking, laughing, and playing some semi-loud music, but honestly that's to be expected when you're camping and people are trying to have a good time. The good thing was that everyone respected the 10 PM quiet hours. Overall, we had a great stay. We wouldn't mind staying here again in the future and hopefully taking more advantage of the events and amenities the campground has to offer.

    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.

    Photos
    Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground - Santa Ynez Guest Ranch - Ranch Loft

    Santa Ynez Guest Ranch - Ranch Loft

    Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground
    Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground - We love flying flags

    See all

    We love flying flags

    Ocean Beach Park - There is an abundance of ice plant that blossom on spring time.

    Ocean Beach Park

    3.6(14 reviews)
    13.6 mi

    It is a good place to see SpaceX Falcon 9 lanuches during the morning or night! I only seen them…read morefrom my house in San Diego CA but when I move out in a few years I will go their to see it

    Local Serendipitous Take: Surprise, there is yet another attraction that kind of complements the…read moretrip to Surf Beach, which is Ocean Beach Park. For some reason, the little road that goes there called my name & I turned onto it. Low & behold, at the end of that road is this rather interesting Park, which even has a path under the railroad tracks. While you can have a nice walk on the beach at Surf Beach, during Snowy Plower nesting time you do not have beach access at Ocean Beach during Spring & Summer months....but all the more reason to savor what we have & come again. I am not sure where all the angst is coming from...or the vague pseudo-historical references, which I did try to confirm on Lompoc's Historical website. All they had, was a reference to a failed attempt at a development at a so-called "Aloha Beach", which predated anyone alive, & was more of a get rich scam in the pre-great-depression era, which was more centered at Surf Beach which used to have a grocery & even a post-office at one time. In any case, you have a nice estuary, a decent little playground, restrooms, little boardwalk with a bird observation area & even several BBQ's matched to solid picnic tables. It is more for locals, than for tourists. In fact, if you go out under the train tracks, you will then emerge on the oceanside & have a nice view. While the path to the ocean will be blocked certain months, you can always hike the sand toward Surf Beach parallel to the tracks & then get to the ocean...or simply drive there. Of course, since almost everywhere you look is owned or supervised by the military...it is after all our military & let them keep everyone safe, including the birds. I think according to the Lompoc's historical records, the military gradually accumulated close to 100K acres of land in the area. Most of it is still pristine & off limits to most. Between Ocean Park & Surf Beach, we felt we had a nice visit on the drive here, which is also quite nice for seeing all the wonderful farms. On the way back, I did turn down one of the many farm roads nearby to see if there were any random Farm Stands. Funny enough, we were then flagged down by another visiting car going the other way, who wanted directions to "The Flower Fields". They were a nice couple visiting their family up here for Mother's Day, but all I saw was some Lavender. Later, I looked it up, & indeed, Lompoc recommends that you cruise most of these farm roads in one's search for flower beds...which is kind of amusing.

    Photos
    Ocean Beach Park
    Ocean Beach Park
    Ocean Beach Park

    See all

    Santa Margarita KOA Holiday - Bees are a real problem...

    Santa Margarita KOA Holiday

    4.0(135 reviews)
    55.8 mi

    First time camping at a KOA and I can see why people love them! A real family fun feeling with…read moreclean camp sites and cabins. Quirky and cute things to do all around the camp grounds. We loved the party yurt, our clean and spacious deluxe cabin, the jumping pillow, and the convenient koa store. Perfect central location too close to paso and slo and the coast! We also saw lots of wildlife like deer, wild Turkey, quail, hawks, lizards! It was so fun

    After recently retiring and not taken a vacation since my husband and I got married over 14 years…read moreago, we looked forward to a long awaited vacation. We selected the Cambria, Pismo Beach area. The KOA located in Santa Margarita offered the simple amenities that we were seeking. We booked from August 25th to August 29th, 2025. Upon arrival, the campground was as promised. (someone online had indicated that there was a trash bee problem, so in anticipation of that, we purchased a trap) After unloading our vehicle, I went to use the Ladies room. I opened the door and caught a quick glimpse of a rodent-thinking it might be a rat, although I did not see it for more then two seconds. The following day, I asked my husband to go with me and check it out. When we opened the door, we immediately saw the rat-this time, getting a good look at it. We reported it to the office and Michele, the clerk, responded immediately, sending the maintenance guy out. A few minutes later, I saw him leaving the restroom area, I asked him if he was taking care of the rat problem. His response was "I did not see an indication of a rat problem." Moments later, my husband overheard that same man and another man speak of getting a trap for the restroom. I was hopeful that they would take care of it asap. The following day, I opened the lady's restroom door, noticing a huge gap at the top of the door (about 2") which would allow for a rat to enter. I did not observe any traps set. I did find rat droppings on the counter, near the sink. Which we snapped a photo of. Maintenance was driving by, and I asked them about the plan for catching the rat. The man who, the very day before had suggested a trap, said that "there was no evidence of a rat." When I told him there was rat droppings on the counter, he said that he could put poison down. I agreed, even though we had our three dogs with us. (they remained on leash the entire time and were safe) The poison was never put down, so we again went down to the office. A woman was standing on the porch, turned to the cashier, asking "when does "23 check out"? The 29th? OK" Clearly she was inquiring about our unit, although we had never met. She turned to me, and I introduced myself. She interrupted me and abruptly asked "What is it you want? "What do you want from me? Everyone wants money, do you want a refund?" At that point, I wanted to present the problem to her and discuss a plan to resolve it. She continually interrupted me, over spoke and talked in a condescending tone. Clearly, she wanted to make her point over listening to my concerns. She said that "rats could get in because they leave the door propped open, did you leave the door propped open?" I was appalled at her accusatory tone. I would never leave a door propped open while using the restroom. I told her so. At this point, she indicated that 'There was no evidence of a rat." (clearly this is a predisposed "go to" comment when people have a complaint of rats) After seeing the picture of the rat droppings, she hammered me about where I saw the rat. Her tone continued to be disrespectful and condescending. When I called her on it, she placed her hands on her hips and said "REALLY? REALLY?" My husband intervened with the conversation. She suggested that she would lock the door to the lady's room. Since we were the only campers in the area, I mentioned that I would continue to use the men's restroom, which I did, with my husband being a lookout for me. The following day, a van drove up and two people got out. One being Karen, the owner, and another lady wearing a KOA Uniform. Karen could not wait to inform us that they had "disinfected the lady's room and thoroughly cleaned it and it was now open." I asked, "was there a trap set?" No, she responded. I then asked if they had killed the rat? Again, her response was 'no'. She diverted to the questions of 'where did you see that rat?" I explained to her again exactly where the rat was. My husband confirmed the location. Since we were leaving in the morning, clearly this was damage control and of no benefit to us. She also suggested that it was not a rat we saw at all, but likely a possum. Seriously? Either way, to ignore it was not resolving the issue. I know what possum and rats look like. The woman in the uniform agreed with me, adding that "the toilet brush had been chewed, so it must be a rat." There are certain expectations when you visit an establishment. Rats in the bathroom are not on the list. Further, when an owner is presented with a problem, I would expect that owner to offer a solution. Locking the bathroom door was not what I had in mind. This was not an acceptable solution. My reason for writing this is to inform others of how this campground is managed. To her, it is all about money. Not about the safety or wellbeing of your family. Before you book with this location, take this review seriously.

    Photos
    Santa Margarita KOA Holiday - Camp site 43

    Camp site 43

    Santa Margarita KOA Holiday - Jumping pillow

    Jumping pillow

    Santa Margarita KOA Holiday - My kids in the bubble pad like it's Ibiza!

    See all

    My kids in the bubble pad like it's Ibiza!

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area & State Park - Lake Cachuma full after 2022 winter storms

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area & State Park

    3.4(327 reviews)
    31.2 mi

    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

    Photos
    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area & State Park - Sage

    Sage

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area & State Park - Sage

    Sage

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area & State Park - Marina

    See all

    Marina

    El Capitan State Beach - Beautiful beaches

    El Capitan State Beach

    3.5(234 reviews)
    27.3 mi

    Another year, another great trip!…read more We planned this trip last minute as we usually do. We were able to snag a last minute reservation and got a pretty decent space. We didn't get our top pick which was 29, but we got 58 which is nice as well. Not too many people around us either which was a nice surprise. We brought our pup this time and he's been having a blast so far. Bathrooms in the middle section need the token machine replaced but other than that, everything is great!

    LOVE LOVE LOVE El Cap. Have camped here a handful of times, and it has always been fantastic…read more The drive in to the campground sets the tone. Lush narrow roads overgrown with wilderness. The sites are clearly labeled, and far apart enough from each other. There is really not a bad site in the campground, as you have sweeping views of the ocean, and a beautiful trail to walk along and enjoy these views. Bathrooms and showers are good enough and not stinky. Campers here have been quiet and respectful of others on each of my trips here. One two separate occasions that I camped here, it was raining. What better place to read and nap away a rainy day than in a site overlooking the gray, cloudy ocean with the low glimmer of the de-commissioned oil rigs in the distance. El Cap, you are a stunner!

    Photos
    El Capitan State Beach - Let's go explore the tide pool!

    Let's go explore the tide pool!

    El Capitan State Beach - We spotted a seagull plunging into the water near the beach to catch a fish!

    We spotted a seagull plunging into the water near the beach to catch a fish!

    El Capitan State Beach - The walk to the shore

    See all

    The walk to the shore

    Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara - Space 861 , my favorite spot.

    Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

    3.6(215 reviews)
    27.3 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara - Sun outdoors RV resort

    Sun outdoors RV resort

    Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara - There's a park next to the tent and RV encampment. My kids had a great time.

    There's a park next to the tent and RV encampment. My kids had a great time.

    Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara - Larger pull-through sites

    See all

    Larger pull-through sites

    Jalama Beach County Park - campgrounds - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...