If you’re in the Santa Barbara area and want to find the best places to park your RV in southern California, we’ve got you covered! Whether you’re looking to spend the weekend surfing on California’s breathtaking coast, or you’re planning a week-long hiking trip, there’s an RV site that’s right for you.
Here, we give our top recommendations for RV parks in the Santa Barbara area, complete with plenty of information about pricing, amenities, and attractions.
Best Santa Barbara RV Parks
Carpinteria and Rancho Oso are our favorite RV camping locations because of their price and overall value. We also like Refugio State Beach, but unfortunately, it’s closed until further notice for repairs.
#9: Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park
- Location: 516 S Salinas St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
- Cost: $70-$80 per night
- RV Size Restrictions: Up to 45 feet
- Top Amenities: High-speed internet, full hookups, picnic tables, bathrooms/showers
- Attractions Nearby: East Beach, Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara Zoo
Santa Barbara Sunrise is situated near downtown Santa Barbara. This park is the perfect base for exploring local beaches.
Despite its proximity to the highway (and its roaring traffic), guests often find the noise to be a soothing white noise backdrop. Add in the park’s high cleanliness score, and there’s no reason not to reserve a spot at Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park.
This campground is also lauded for its friendly management that’s deeply committed to a seamless, stress-free stay.
#8: Carpinteria State Beach
- Location: 205 Palm Ave, Carpinteria, CA 93013
- Cost: $70-$80 per night for hookup sites
- RV Size Restrictions: No more than 30 feet
- Top Amenities: Quarter-operated showers, easy beach access, premium hook-up sites available
- Attractions Nearby: Wine Canyon Tours, Airplant Alchemy, Tar Pits Park
Carpinteria State Beach, nestled on Southern California’s south-facing coastline, offers an array of campsites, perfect for families and large groups.
As for amenities, the park boasts outdoor showers, a wheelchair-accessible layout, and plenty of day trip options. From guided tours and scuba diving excursions to family programs and geocaching, there’s no shortage of adventures to be had at Carpinteria State Beach.
While not all the campsites at Carpinteria State Beach are meant for RVs, you can find parking locations and hookups in the Anacapa, Santa Cruz, and Santa Miquel Loops.
Note that you can stay at Carpinteria State Beach for a maximum of seven consecutive days between March 1 and November 30, and up to fifteen consecutive days from December 1 through February 28. The total maximum stay allowed is 30 days in any calendar year.
#7: Rancho Oso RV Resort
- Location: 3750 Paradise Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
- Cost: $93 per night for water sites, $80 per night for dry sites
- RV Size Restrictions: No more than 40 feet
- Top Amenities: Spa, WiFi, dog park, basketball courts, and game room
- Attractions Nearby: Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park, Vista Point, Lizard’s Mouth Rock
Rancho Oso RV Resort received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for its unique combination of Wild West charm and modern RV luxury.
The resort is bordered by the national forest and the Santa Ynez River, unveiling acres of photo-worthy scenery, perfect for hiking and photography. The RV sites come equipped with electric, water, and cable TV hookups, ensuring that your stay is as comfortable as it is adventurous.
At Rancho Oso RV Resort, you can go horseback riding, swim in the on-site pool, or strike up a friendly game of pickleball with your fellow campers. For those long-time equestrians, the resort provides monthly horse boarding services and horse camping options with access to miles of trails in the Los Padres National Forest.
#6: Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
- Location: 1 Lakeview Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
- Cost: $45-$55 for partial or full hookups
- RV Size Restrictions: N/A
- Top Amenities: Quarter-operated showers, hiking trails, disc golf course, swimming pools
- Attractions Nearby: Neal Taylor Nature Center, Danish Village, Cloud Climbers Jeep Tours
Located near Santa Barbara, Cachuma Lake Recreation Area is a serene oasis where tranquil lake waters mirror the area’s remarkable natural beauty. Here, hundreds of campsites await, placed conveniently close to fire pits, picnic tables, and restrooms with hot showers.
There are over 100 partial and full hookup RV campgrounds, including electric, sewer, and water.
#5: Los Prietos Campground
- Location: 111 Paradise Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
- Cost: $40 – $42 per night for standard electric/non-electric sites
- RV Size Restrictions: Up to 30 feet
- Top Amenities: Flush toilets, camp tables, fresh water
- Attractions Nearby: Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park, Red Rock Pools, Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge
Los Prietos Campground, tucked within the Los Padres National Forest, offers a tranquil refuge beneath a canopy of large oak trees that shade its 38 campsites. With paved roads to your spot and amenities like firewood available for purchase, Los Prietos is designed with convenience in mind.
Each Los Prietos campground has a table, campfire ring with grill, and a pedestal grill, as well as access to flush toilets and fresh drinking water.
However, do note there are no full utility hookups for RVs, so it’s a more rustic camping experience.
#4: Faria Beach Park
- Location: 4350 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ventura, CA 93001
- Cost: $62 -$69 per night
- RV Size Restrictions: Up to 34 feet
- Top Amenities: Showers, WiFi, on-site cafe, restrooms, and dumpster
- Attractions Nearby: Ventura Harbor Village, Pacific View Shopping Center, Marina Park
Faria RV Park is a smaller location than, say, Rancho Oso, but it offers campers a picturesque retreat with the Channel Islands National Park on the horizon. It’s not the fanciest RV site, but it’s great for a weekend getaway or a road trip pit stop.
Faria Beach allows a maximum of 6 people per campsite and up to a 14-consecutive-day stay. The campground also permits dogs if they’re leashed.
#3: Rincon Parkway RV Campground
- Location: 4668 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ventura, CA 93001
- Cost: $43-$47 per day
- RV Size Restrictions: Up to 40 feet
- Top Amenities: None
- Attractions Nearby: Ventura Botanical Gardens, Kellogg Park, Harbor Cove Beach
Rincon Parkway RV Campground is the perfect boondocking locale. Located next to the Pacific Coast Highway and the Coast Starlight railroad line, this site provides 127 parking spaces dedicated to RVers seeking a rugged overnight stay.
Although there aren’t amenities like hookups, dump stations, and shower facilities available, the campground’s stunning coastal views more than make up for it.
Here, you can spot dolphins and whales in their natural habitat or surf the waves, all while enjoying the freedom of dry camping.
#2: Jalama Beach
- Location: 9999 Jalama Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436
- Cost: $60-$65 per night
- RV Size Restrictions: N/A
- Top Amenities: Hot showers, BBQ pit, restrooms, and picnic tables
- Attractions Nearby: Jack & Laura Dangermond Nature Preserve, Gaviota State Park, Lompoc Aquatic Center
Jalama Beach County Park is a luxury beachfront RV park with state-of-the-art facilities. Known for its 107 campsites, each featuring either ocean views or direct beachfront access, the park promises an experience that’s as comfortable as it is breathtaking.
With quiet hours from 10 pm to 8 am, you can treat yourself to some much-deserved peace and quiet, allowing you to wake up refreshed with stunning views of the beach and the Santa Ynez mountains.
#1: Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground
- Location: 180 Ave of Flags, Buellton, CA 93427
- Cost: $100-$200
- RV Size Restrictions: Up to 45 feet
- Top Amenities: Swimming pools, bocce ball courts, and playgrounds
- Attractions Nearby: Hans Christian Andersen Museum, Brick Barn Wine Estate, Santa Ynez Valley Botanical Garden
While it’s more expensive than other RV parks, Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground has many more amenities, including activity centers, swimming pools, full hookups, and access to Santa Barbara proper.
This RV park has lots for motorhomes and fifth-wheels up to 45+ feet, or smaller lots for trailers/RVs as small as 19 feet. Whether you’re traveling in a big rig or a smaller travel trailer, Flying Flags provides the perfect urban setting for your RV adventure.
Until the Next Adventure…
Once your adventure in sunny Santa Barbara ends, you’ll need a safe place to store your RV. To avoid costly maintenance repairs, we suggest investing in a climate-controlled indoor location. A service like Neighbor.com can help you easily find enclosed RV storage in your area.
Neighbor helps connect RV owners with storage options in all 50 states, some of which might even be in your community! Neighbor’s peer-to-peer storage marketplace offers RV storage for a fraction of the cost of traditional storage options.
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