Map showing campground location near New Cuyama, California

Camper submitted image from Bates Canyon Campground

Bates Canyon Campground

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Two miles of dirt road separate Bates Canyon Campground from the paved route in, and that stretch shapes the entire experience. The road is generally manageable in a standard vehicle during dry conditions, but reviewers who visited after rain report turning back rather than risk getting stuck. Set within Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County, this small drive-in campground sits at the end of that dirt corridor with a handful of sites, vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. No water is available on-site.

Site quality here is uneven. A few flat spots cluster near the bathrooms and work reasonably well for tents or small rigs, while other sites slope enough to make setup difficult. The bathrooms have drawn complaints about cleanliness and the absence of toilet paper, so packing your own is a practical necessity. A trail from camp leads toward a creek, though flow depends on the season and may require walking upstream to find water. Antonio C. notes there is "plenty of firewood to gather from fallen trees nearby," which holds in drier months when fallen material is accessible.

Cell service is available, and the campground sits close enough to a main highway that the area does not feel as remote as its access road suggests. Wildlife sightings and nighttime animal sounds have been noted by visitors. Pets are welcome. Nearby options include Sierra Madre Ridge to the southwest and Cuyama Oaks Ranch to the east, both worth considering if a more developed setup is a priority. Campers planning a visit in winter or spring should monitor rainfall closely before committing to the drive in.

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Map & DirectionsBates Canyon Campground is located in California near New Cuyama

Public Campground

Directions

From Santa Maria: Hwy 166 50 miles east, Cottonwood Cyn. Rd. 7.5 miles southwest

Coordinates

34.95362527 N
119.90772867 W

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Connectivity

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Verizon
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AT&TLTE
Some Coverage

Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More

T-Mobile
No Coverage
Verizon
No Coverage
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site

Site Types

Tent Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

Picnic Table
Phone Service
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

1 hr 17 min from Santa Maria, CA
1 hr 37 min from San Luis Obispo, CA
1 hr 47 min from Bakersfield, CA
2 hrs 31 min from Oxnard, CA

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Reviews4 Camper Reviews - Bates Canyon Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

3.5

out of 5

4 Reviews

Many campers appreciated the remote, peaceful setting but site quality varies considerably. Bathroom facilities received consistent complaints for poor conditions, though basic amenities exist.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Richard H.

Traveler

Reviewed Dec. 10, 2022

Quiet Spot

This was a really cool spot recommended by a local. I had to leave early because it started to rain and there was a rough 2 mile dirt road to get to the campsite. My van isn’t 4x4 so I didn’t want to risk getting stuck in the mud. Overall the campsite is a clean quiet simple campground that I heard has great hiking views. Definitely coming back when it’s less wet.

Month of VisitDecember

(5) View All

Antonio C.

Guide

Reviewed Feb. 15, 2022

Nice and Quiet

We thought this campground was absolutely gorgeous. I guess some people don’t like to rough it a little and expect toilet paper in the bathrooms lol. Next time stay inside your RV. We spent a nice peaceful quiet night here on super bowl weekend. Don’t know why people are saying it’s remote when there’s a main highway only a few miles away and ranch houses near by and cell Service. The dirt road is in great condition and don’t need a 4x4 at all. It’s only 2 miles of dirt road to the campground and the rest is paved. Theres a nice trail that leads to the creek but unfortunately wasn’t flowing right next to camp but it was just upstream. Plenty of firewood to gather from fallen trees nearby. We didn’t see anyone the whole weekend and we had a great time. There are plenty of flat spots to set up a tent and had no problem at all.

Month of VisitFebruary

(4) View All

Hunter H.

Scout

Reviewed Jan. 11, 2022

Don’t come here

Wayy off the main road on a non-maintained dirt road, only 4x4 accessible, run down camp with no water or anything else other than picnic tables and fire pits. One of the bathrooms is destroyed and the other was absolutely disgusting, plus no toilet paper. Don’t come here. All of the sites are not flat, some are so slanted that I can’t believe someone made a campsite there.

Siteeven the best site is not flat

Month of VisitJanuary

Emily U.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 14, 2018

Very Remote

We got here late at night after not being able to find multiple other campgrounds we were looking for, and were very happy that there was signage all the way there and we didn’t have to drive through the dark for no reason because this is truly in the middle of nowhere. The road was manageable in a 4x4 although not well-maintained, but we did see a sedan driving it the next day that didn’t seem to have any problems. There were 3 sites very close to each other near the bathrooms and at least 2 other sites that were very overgrown and not flat, so we ended up having to camp pretty close to one other group. We were surprised to see anyone else there because it’s so remote. The picnic tables and fire rings were fine but we couldn’t find much wood to gather. The bathrooms were pretty nasty so we opted to pee in the woods. There were lots of mosquitos and some pretty big frogs around in early summer and we heard a larger animal come between us and the other group’s tent in the middle of the night but it didn’t disturb anything. The sunset on the drive there through the farms was beautiful and a bunny wouldn’t stop jumping in front of our car, as if it was leading us to the campground! We had a $5 adventure pass but no one came to check. All in all, it was fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are fires allowed at Bates Canyon Campground?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Bates Canyon Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does Bates Canyon Campground have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Bates Canyon Campground does not have wifi.

Is there cell phone reception at Bates Canyon Campground?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is some coverage for AT&T, no coverage for T-Mobile, and no coverage for Verizon.

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