Jalama Beach County Park

Camping at Jalama Beach County Park was such a fun experience and definitely one of the most beautiful beach campgrounds I’ve been to in California. The drive in alone is gorgeous, and once you arrive it feels super peaceful and secluded. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves and waking up right by the ocean was unreal.

The campground was clean, the staff was friendly, and the little store/grill was so convenient — the famous Jalama Burger definitely lived up to the hype. The beach itself is stunning and perfect for relaxing, walking, surfing, or just watching the sunset.

One thing to know before going is that it gets VERY windy, especially at night, so come prepared with extra layers and secure camping gear. Tent campers especially should expect strong winds and blowing sand. But honestly, that rugged beach atmosphere is part of what makes Jalama so special.

If you’re looking for a quiet beach camping trip that feels more off-the-grid and scenic than crowded tourist beaches, I highly recommend Jalama. I already want to go back. 🌊🏕️✨

Review by: Aaron M. Scullin

Jalama Beach County Park remains one of those"bucket list" California coastal spots that never fails to deliver—especially if you come prepared for the elements. We recently returned from another fantastic stay, and as an avid RVer and the founder of Hitched4fun.com, I’m always testing how gear holds up in real-world conditions. Jalama is the ultimate testing ground.

The Atmosphere& Amenities

The park is famous for its"Jalama Burger" at the onsite cafe, and it still lives up to the hype—the Jalama Burger with cheese is a must-order for dinner. The little camp store is exceptionally well-stocked; they clearly understand their audience, carrying all the necessities you might have overlooked while packing.

Pro-Tip: Managing the Wind& Connectivity

If you’ve been here before, you know the wind is a constant companion. While it makes for a chilly evening, it’s a dream for kite flying. We had a blast with our HQ Flapping Willie Worm kite, which handled the regular Jalama gusts perfectly.

For those of us who need to stay connected while off-grid, the geography here can make cell service a challenge. I utilized our Starlink RV Pole kit to get our Standard 4 X dish up high and clear of obstructions, which provided seamless speeds. To round out the setup, I deployed our Deluxe 22-foot Heavy Duty Fiberglass Flagpole. Despite the steady ocean breeze, the heavy-duty fiberglass stayed sturdy and gave our site a great sense of"home."

Final Verdict

We will definitely be back. My biggest piece of advice? Plan ahead. Reservations at Jalama fill up almost as soon as they open. If you can snag a spot, it’s a premier RVing experience that offers a true escape.

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.

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.

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.