We recently wrapped up another amazing camping stay with Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara and the amount…read moreof stuff we were able to do in a few days while still enjoying the laid back, coastal experience was beyond our expectations. From this location you're minutes away from the beach (across the highway with foot or car access), a short drive in to Solvang or DT Santa Barbara! And less than an hour to Ventura if you want to do a Channel Island day trip. The property offers convenient amenities like: Heated pool and hot tub, Nearby hiking trails, Views of Channel Islands and the Ynez Mountains, Concrete RV pads and grassy tent sites and a Market. Misc: The property was super clean and tidy. Two for two we arrived at our campsite and it looked like we were the 1st ones to have ever set foot in it. Immaculate! And of course the staff members are super friendly and helpful. Overall: If you're part of the RV bunch that enjoys a perfectly maintained property for your outing this is your spot. If you're a camper that enjoys setting up a tent and unwind...but also enjoys a hot shower and clean restrooms then by all means do consider Sun Outdoors your next get away spot.

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.

Beautiful campground with amazing views. Nice camp host, clean campground snd nor a lot of noise…read more They have nice fire pits and charcoal grills. Most spots are huge and have large shade trees. Warning: it gets super hot here in June through summer. Like 104 degrees, but it's very cool at night and it cools off fast once the sun goes down behind the mountain. Not a bad campground at all but it does need some updating. The bathrooms aren't bad but the toilets leak some and need maintenance. I realize it's federal property and parks always get their funding cut but the toilets need to be fixed given how many people are in the campground. Otherwise the restrooms are clean and nice. There is potable water and it's easy to wash dishes and other things. Also the camp host leaves Large jugs of water out so you can put out your fires when done. They need more signage to keep the motorcycle riders from driving across the campsites. And park service should give tickets or warnings. Also, starting up motorcycles at 7am is just wrong! Luckily there wants very many but they are loud. Camp host or park service should establish rules on this that are clearer and get repeated by campsite staff. We had a great time! And the stars are amazing at night from up here.

Very nice place with plenty of space to set up camp. Stayed for 3 nights mid July. Weather was hot…read morebut not unbearable, red rock is a great place to visit if you want go cool off with a swim. Keep in mind that you will need to pay $10 for parking at fee areas around the national forest. Keep cash on you to avoid a citation. (They do check to see if cars have paid). Road leading to upper oso is not the best and there is a flash flood crossing that has loose rocks, low cars or thin tires can be easily damaged. Bring plenty of water and have a place to store food away from wildlife.

One of the best campsites Ive had the chance to camp at. We booked site #453 and it was right by…read morethe northeastern part. Its right by the water, which allowed for beautiful views the entire time we were there. Be warned, it can get super windy since most of the campsites that are close to the water are on a bluff, which lead to our campsite being windier than those that were away from the water. The campground itself is mostly dirt and the camp roads need some TLC but the grounds themselves are well maintained. There are a couple of restrooms throughout the campsite and the toilets are flushable. They have a showers that cost $1 for about 3 minutes of very very hot water. We wernt able to change the water temp so that was unfortunate. Now lets get into our campsite. As mentioned, it was by the water and there were some trees nearby but they provide little to no shade. A couple of campsites further south was a campsite that was identical to ours but with lots of shade. I would recommend at least 2 canopies to stay cool in the summer heat. We were able to make both a wood fire and use our propane stove, so i'm glad there were no fire restrictions in place. (Make sure to check local fire restrictions during fire season!) This was mid August and we camped Monday-Thursday and we found the campground to be fairly quite at night. Make sure to secure your food at night as there are LOTS of raccoons. On our second night I was woken up to an entire family looking through our belongings. Thankfully, all other campers were respectful of quite hours and we slept good all three nights. Another thing we were not prepared for was the amount of hornets/wasps. Every time we cooked breakfast our campsite was swarmed by them to the point were we were getting uncomfortable by the amount that had spawned outta nowhere. I would advise taking something to deter them. There's a camp store by the entrance of the campsite, they have all the essentials with a slight upcharge, but thats expected since the other closest stores were 20-30 min away. They also have a gas station there that was fairly priced and had all the essentials(Beer, food and ice). Passing the store and heading towards the campsites, theres also a docking station where you can rent boats, Kayaks, etc. The rangers were all kind and on the last day when we were leaving, my car battery had died and they were kind enough to give us a jump. I cant recommend this spot enough, there's plenty to do within the campground and its perfect for a quick getaway.

Quick stop at Lake Cachuma while on our way we only had about 15 minutes to use the restroom and…read moretake a quick look around. Even in that short time, the lake was stunning. The water was such a beautiful deep blue, and the whole area has a calm, scenic feel. It definitely looks like a great place for camping or spending a full day outdoors. Next time, I'd love to come back and explore more.

I've been coming to this campsite for years. The campsite Jenni and her husband are welcoming and…read morefriendly. They came by multiple times throughout our stay to make sure everything is okay and offer us garbage bags. I never had a problem with this campsite or the host. Definitely recommend coming to Los prietos it has cell phone service. Bathroom is clean. 10 out 10

If you are even near the bathrooms it smells like a sewage plant, entire place is overwhelmed with…read moreflies to the point you have to go in your car to eat. The river is a joke as well, unless you want your kids to come out with some swollen eyes or damaged ear drums go right ahead. Host was not very hospitable either, overall would not recommend this place at all find somewhere else worth your time.

Flying flags was a nice stay - cute sites - designed well. We did have a slight ant issue - but…read moremgmt was able to provide assistance. Overall pleasant

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.

I'm definitely not an expert camper, I usually go to…read more family camping sites that are easy to access, and are generally near essential needs in case of an emergency. Davy Brown is not a bad campsite, but I do recommend this for well-versed campers . The road to this campsite is 1-1.5 hours from the main road, and is fairly windy and full of potholes. My Hyundai Accent proved to be hard to use. In terms of the campsite, it is nice and peaceful. It is next to the creek and you can hear the peaceful water stream as you doze off. The campsite is fairly clean and spacious. Plus, there are fire pits and barbecues available. I would recommend this place if you want to go deep into the forest. However, the bumpy and narrow road here makes it a tough recommendation for amateur campers like myself.

Good standard campground. This is not a "destination" campground, so you can avoid the crowds…read more Overall we enjoyed it, keeping in mind you are camping after all. - The creek runs through camp and is running next to most camp spots - Spots are well spaced out. Lots of privacy. - Vault toilets in good condition. - Fire rings and grills. - A lot of hiking trails nearby connected to camp. - Fair amount of firewood on ground to be collected if you don't want to overpay for your bundle from town. - Dumpster at entrance to dispose of trash - Pets are allowed in camp and surrounding trails. - No cell service. - No potable water. Bring your water. - Fair amount of bugs (the annoying swarm of flies around your head when near water during the heat of the day) - Lots of poison oak in camp and on trails. It can be avoided, but watch the exploring and curious kids. - Lots of ticks. Get flea/tick treatment from your vet before bringing the dog. - The road to the site is a bit rough. 4WD not required but high clearance recommended in some spots

Such a beautiful place and fun to take the family. Especially now that there should be more waterread more

One of the most underrated hiking spots in Santa Barbara. Absolutely beautiful and not crowded at…read moreall! Great biking spot as well!

PRELIMINARY FOREWARNINGS: - Three and a half mile,…read moreintermediate to advanced hike with 700-800 foot elevation gain. - This is 30 minutes from Santa Barbara and Goleta within Los Padres National Forest. - Bring $10 in cash bills for the entrance/parking fee. - Drive a 4WD or SUV because you do need to drive over a river wash. - There is very little shade so bring a hat and plenty of water. - Don't confuse it with the "Aniso Trail" which is between El Capitan and Refugio State Beaches along the PCH. This is well within the Los Padres National Forest lands. - A flushing toilet with running water and picnic tables are at the trailhead. - WHAT THE SHALE! Beware when transverse up/down the trail since the ground consists of a lot of shale (fine-grained rock that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments) which is super slippery. Now with all the 'important' information covered, I will share this Aliso Canyon and Loop is within my top three favorite hikes around Santa Barbara. There is natural beauty with 360-degree views of the greener Santa Ynez and stony San Rafael Mountain Ranges. Along my hike I have seen turkeys, deer, skunks, and many bird species, plus skeletons, scat and foot prints galore. The trail begins as a mile long interpretive trail along a creek and travels through Aliso Canyon (unfortunately I've never seen the tour maps to match the points of interest). Continue in either direction another 2.5 miles to make the loop which climbs out of the canyon and up along the hill crest. At the highest point (1,700 foot elevation) you can enjoy some relaxation on a bench (thanks to the memory of Blanche 1924-1996) with views over the Santa Ynez Valley and both mountain ranges. Directions: Your best bet is to set your GPS to Sage Hill Campground. While it isn't difficult to find the trailhead, it can be potentially confusing at first. Drive on the 154 and turn onto Paradise Road which eventually enters Los Padres. Continue on the winding road until you see the Los Prietos Ranger Station on the left side. (You went too far if you reach Rancho Oso). Turn left and follow the road down and U to the right then left before crossing the Santa Ynez River wash. You will reach the payment area and signage. After depositing your ten dollars, continue to the right until the pavement ends. Cost: - $10 Day Use (CASH ONLY, no checks--they should really modernize and have a machine or even a code that accepts Venmo or Cash Apps!) - No passes accepted (i.e. Golden Age, Interagency, State Park, Federal National Park, or any other pass you can display) - No holidays are observed! Enjoy your time and remember to pack out what you pack in.

Family Friendly - The Aliso trail is located in the Sage…read moreHill Campround. You'll need to buy a day use pass ($10) to park and hike here. Just put the cash in one of their envelopes and put your pass on your dashboard. Is it worth ten bucks? Well, while I love free hikes I do think this was a good loop trail and worth the fee. Start the loop trail on your right up the mountain ( you'll see the sign) and soon you'll be hiking counter-clockwise along the ridge, and back down into the Aliso canyon. There are some great views along the way and the final decent into the canyon along the side of the hill is exhilarating fun for the whole family. Yes this is kid friendly, but it's not easy. Be prepared for some complaining going up. We came after a large rain yet the river that runs through the Aliso canyon was mostly dry. - 3.3 miles total - Little shade so come early or late.. - Good Shoes are recommend as some of the trail is small rubble.