Jalama Beach County Park

Jalama Beach offers great walks along a long beach that is nestled in a cozy bay. Surfers, couples & families can enjoy this beautiful place. Watch for tar on the sand & pack some petroleum jelly to help remove it in case you step on it barefoot. There’s a small freshwater stream that flows right into the shore where your pets & kids like to splash around & play. Lots of driftwood & rocks pepper the shore so bring water shoes.

General: Variety of sites from basic camping to those with electric hookups. Some are considered premium beachfront sites and cabins. Prices are also adjusted seasonally. 

Site Quality: Some sites are concrete; some are on sand. Our site was close to the beach, however, the view of the ocean was blocked by dunes (and also by a restroom). Our site also easily accommodated two camper vans. Each site had a large picnic table and fire ring, although the picnic table was a bit warped. 

Bath/Shower: The closest restroom to our site was very basic – one toilet each for men and women with a shared sink on the outside. Showers are in a separate building and are $ 1.00 for three minutes. 

Activities: The beach here is ruggedly beautiful and you can walk quite a distance if you go to the left; to the right, there is a lot of driftwood but is still somewhat walkable. There is also a store/small restaurant on-site.

We were supposed to spend two nights here but after a very stormy night, we had to evacuate as the only road in/out was unstable, but we would definitely return. If we were unable to reserve a premium beach site, we would choose a site at the top level. Although these are furthest from the beach, they provide the best view of the ocean.

Smaller campground with nice store and burger joint. Great sunsets and wide sandy beach.

Between sunset and nighttime sandstorms (which was MISERABLE in a tent) combined with a beach full of jellyfish and tarantulas… yes, for sure my least favorite camping experience.

I’m sure I could imagine a more idyllic central coast beachside campground, but it would probably look a lot like this one. The road winds for 14 miles through farms and the California coastal sage scrub ecosystem which when we were there, April, was just going off with wild flowers.  Gorgeous sunsets to boot!

There are very tightly packed full hook up sites on the upper loop, know your backing up skills, in addition to some dry camping sites down closer to the water for those running off solar power or just old-school tenting.  In a twist of irony, the lower loop sites without electricity offer more space than those with hook ups...go solar folks!  The beachfront sites are always the first to book out, and are truly lovely. 

The camp store and cafe has a few good grocery options, in addition to ice, wine and beer, and also serves the famous Jamala burger, even in a vegetarian version!  It’s a delicious option for when you don’t feel like cooking. Definitely check this place out, it’s exactly what you imagine a beach side burger to be. 

The flush bathrooms are clean and the coin operated showers were efficient - when they say 3 minutes, they mean it, but they were hot and clean.  Great dishwashing sink too!

There aren’t a lot of hiking or biking options in this park, simply the beach or walking on the road. This beach is popular with surfers and is a great spot to just walk up and down and do a little tide pooling. The Amtrak train goes through a couple of times a day, but since it’s a passenger rail it doesn’t offer the long and annoying disruptions of a freight train. 

The closest services are in Lompoc or Buellton, where you can find groceries, gas and restaurants -- everything that the camper might need -- but it's a heck of a drive there, so stock up before you come down.

Spot is spectacular and is location right in ocean. Winding 14 mile road but worth the drive and stress being on a narrow two lane road. View from our site enable us to relax.

If your directions take you somewhere before the beach just keep going until you’re there. The food at the small store/cafe is amazing. I’m in site 16 and was scared I wouldn’t have a view. Wow was I wrong, this site is what I would say is the best. Back in the corner looking down in it all!!! The spots I the middle are great but close, and close to the playground. If available I would have chosen a spot up above the cabins or on the lower loop right up against the ocean.

I love the few trains that came through & to top it all off there was a LAUNCH at Vandenburg. Top notch experience, my mother also tells me my grandparents frequented here often :)

PROS

• Really remote! Definitely a bit of a detour off the main highway. Because it’s off the beaten path, it makes it a bit of a hidden gem.

• Jamala Grill!!! It’s home of the “world famous” burgers and it’s surprisingly good. I was skeptical of the hype, but it’s super good. I love the sauce, the way the lettuce is cut, and pickled.

• The camp store is super clutch! I was really resisting purchasing anything from the store because it’s pricey (you pay a convenience up charge) but I found myself itching for snow cones and cookies. The staff is friendly and the store has almost everything you can think of for campers when you’re in a pinch!

• Showers are really nice. They are individual small stalls, but there are plenty. There was 10 showers available (at least by me, not sure if there are more) and it’s $1 for 3 minutes which is plenty if you’re efficient. They only take quarters which you can get from the store. So much better than campground that require special tokens. Each shower stall comes with a decent sized bench in the “dry room” to set your items down and plenty of hooks for hanging. They were surprisingly clean!

• Beach access! It’s sooo nice being able to walk right over the dunes and be right at the ocean. That’s prime waterfront real estate! YOU MUST CHECK OUT THE BEACH AT NIGHT! There is bioluminescent algae in the water so the waves light up bright blue as they break. It’s incredible! The highlight of my trip. UNREAL

• Plenty of “first come first serve” sites available for people looking for a place on the CA coast in a pinch. You can call the day before to check how many are still available and come the next day at 6am to claim one. I arrived on a Wednesday morning around 10am and there were 3 sites still available. Obviously your chances are slimmer closer to the weekend.

• Great place for children! They built a playground 3 years ago near the camp store and it’s amazing. It’s still very new and it’s a parent’s dream. Just pull up a camp chair, bring a cooler full of beer, and enjoy the view of the ocean while your kids entertain themselves.

CONS:

• Windyyyyyyy! My god if is insanely windy here. I have a pop up tent camper and the whole thing rattled all night. I can’t imagine sleeping in a real tent here. I heard campers waking up in the middle of the night to strap down their gear. Chairs, awnings, trash, toys are scattered everywhere in the morning. Just beware and take the extra time to tidy up your site regularly to prevent your stuff from blowing away.

• Site sizes are small and very close together. If you’re lucky, grab a spot by a hedge. I was in site 5 and it was nice because the large hedge broke the wind a little. But this place is basically a parking lot. No privacy at all.

• Sunny with very little shade to be found. Prepare for the beaming sun. We found a tarp in our gear box and made a quick canopy as protection from the sun. There are no large structures of trees (only palm trees) that provide any shade.

• No reception. The campground provides a guest Wi-Fi but the connection is very poor. It’s fine for texting and making some calls, but that’s it. Not so much a negative, but if you’re working remote, something to consider.

• Weekends are very crowded. We arrived on a Wednesday and it was so serene and quiet. By Friday the day use area was full. Not a free parking spot in site. That means the toilets are in constant use and the camp store is busy. If you want to try eating at the grill, plan ahead by ordering early.

It’s very gorgeous here, the beach and the mountains. So what this campground has plenty of clean restrooms, water, Wi-Fi, rv water and dump station, showers, and even a place to wash your dishes. They have a mini store and a burger joint. Plenty of campsites but very close together. At night it gets very windy gusting at 22mph. There is no hiking spots but only along the beach. The rest is private or federal property. I’d your lucky you get to see space x launch a middle like we did which was amazing.

Loved this place, clean & family vibes everywhere. If the place says camp is FULL just keep going in. There were plenty of Spots when we got there despite the signs. $1 showers, lots of bathrooms and great beach!! Not one complaint!

Jalama is a dream come true for camping - be sure to bring all you need to be able to rest relax, explore beaches, surf, fish, relax and restore!

Very nice area!! The beach the mountains!! Nice store and let's not forget the delicious Jalama burger!! It's beautiful all around.

I love this spot. I've been coming here since i was a kid in the 80's and then brought my family here. Excellent playground for young kids. Good for kids to skate and bike along campground roads. Great restroom and paid coin-op shower amenities. The cafe is legendary for their burgers. Store has beer/water, ice cream, ice, firewood. Best spots are on the south end along the beach, wider, larger and more private. The camping sites in the middle area is noisy, but i don't mind, most of the time.

Was able to call and snag a last minute two day Jalama site on the way south. It’s been 30 years since I’ve been there and it’s way better than I remembered. Amazing 🌅 sunsets, great beach for surfing or just a nice long walk. No phone service but the camp Wireless was actually pretty decent. Was able to make call via the connection. Our site 96 had 30 amp Hookup but had to get water from the spigot by the bathrooms before we hooked up. Also easy dump site on way out. Can get very windy and the first day was.

Went solo camping and had an amazing time. The sunset was breathtaking and so was the entire campground

GORGEOUS scenery, and wonderfully maintained campground. Would love to be back here someday, though I know it's hard to find reservations. We tent camped and there were maybe two other campers with tents. It was quiet windy, though not as windy as it can get out there! Winds were about 25 mph at the highest, which was loud in our tent and brought a lot of sand in. We were also unable to have a campfire because the fire pits were well out on the beach sand and unprotected. Though we didn't get the full camping experience with a bonfire, I can see why this campground is full through the summer time. Being right on the beach, able to swim in the ocean or tan on the beach sand and then have a fire would be absolutely wonderful.

This camp site was definitely worth the 3.5 hour drive from OC! The site was secluded with one road going in and out, and literally miles (30 min) away from the nearest town. We felt like we had the beach all to ourselves. The views from the camp site was gorgeous in every direction. From the green hills to the ocean and the sea cliffs. Can’t wait to plan another trip out here!

I scored a last minute beachfront site and it was well worth it. Gorgeous beach, and wonderful for walking. Downside was the two campsites across from me that had 9 cars and 30 people. At least they went to bed at a decent hour...

Beautiful place, well maintained. We’ll be back .

I like Jalama, but it was super windy and it's always windy there. The site was more like pitching a tent in the parking lot. We were closest to a hill so it felt a little more secluded. It has a famous restaurant, for their burgers. Good breakfast too. The hiked were just-ok. The waves too big for our kids. Yes flushing toilets, I can't remember if there were showers. The only reason I give it 3 stars is because dispite how lame the actual campground is we had a super fun trip.

Our first stop on our honeymoon road trip. We got in late and found an open spot that backed right up to the ocean (spot 64). The host was extremely friendly, the staff at the shop was wonderful and had everything you might need. We could have spent days here.

Such a beautiful and straight up magical beach! Tasty lil burger shack which sells beer and ice and anything you could have possibly forgotten. Awesome beach front sites. Hot showers, fun all year round!

Beautiful spots directly on the beach. A lot of tight spots for rv. Upper hook up spots have beautiful views. Nothing out here except a small store and grill with great burgers and onion rings.

I have been camping here since 1975!
Jalama is a gem and for us old timers, watching it get popular was hard to take!
This campground has beach front, a middle section and upper tears with some electric. It has two group sites and also cabins & trailers to rent. The store serves famous Jalama burgers and has supplies if needed! It also sells Jalama shirts, some have art on them from my friend Alan!
The beach is very big and beautiful. Sunsets are beautiful! Be prepared for winds as this campground can blow at times and it’s no joke when the Jalama winds kick up!
There are pay hot showers and a dump station for RV’s.
It has a horse shoe pit, playground and plenty of areas along the river and on the beach to explore!
There is no cell service but there is wi-fi and a pay phone. Bring a prepaid phone card if you need the phone.
I love Jalama!

Would highly recommend camping here! Remote beach camping in Santa Barbara County!

Once you turn off highway one you get a sense of what lies before you. CivilIzatIon gradually gives way to toasted meadow grass and ancient oak trees. As traffic and buildings melt in the rear view mirror along with cellular sIgnal bars on your phone, the transition to vacation begins. This campground is in high demand and usually packed, however there’s plenty of room on the beautiful beach for dogs and humans alike. the bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained. the store is well stocked. The road to town is long and windy so come prepared. Plan for wind and the best sunsets!

The campsites have no privacy, and more like a dirt parking lot. But we go so my husband can surf, the beach is beautiful and you can just let your dogs go.

One of my all time favorite campgrounds. Despite the often overcast skies and evening winds, the weather is almost always enjoyable. The drive out to Jalama is amazing, not to mention the gorgeous beach it eventually leads you to. They are dog friendly and the burger shack offers the famous “ jalama burger” that will definitely knock your socks off. Seriously, if you come all the way out to Jalama and don’t try a Jalama Burger, then you are messing up on life.

Well worth the drive. Beautiful beach. Well maintained campsites. Clean bathrooms and showers. Friendly park rangers. Delicious burgers. Gets windy at night. Bring extra tent stakes. The general store/burger shack sells just about anything you could need for a great camping trip. Store is open for breakfast and lunch.

This campground is right next to the beach and is well loved by the many return campers I spoke with. The best campsites are 63 and 64 (right on Abalone Point, with some scrubby trees you can hang a hammock in and access to the beach). There is a premium charge for these premium sites ($20 more than non-beach side). If you are hard-siding (RV), the best spots are 105, 112, and 115-117 (up top, great views of the migrating whales in early spring!!!). The showers and restrooms are older, but clean. The big claim to fame is the Jalama Burger that is served at the Store and Grill, but I can’t substantiate that as I did not try it. There is definitely a laid back California vibe here, no one was in any hurry but everyone was happy to chat, giving this campground a real homey, family, vacation feel. Even the campground rangers were relaxed and happy to be here. All the standard campsite amenities of picnic table, fire pit, and a place to park or pitch a tent. You can reserve a site, so be sure to do so!