Lake Casitas Recreation Area, near Ventura, California, is a bustling campground that caters to families and groups looking for a fun outdoor experience. With a variety of sites for tents, RVs, and even glamping, it’s a popular spot for those wanting to enjoy the great outdoors without sacrificing comfort.

The campground boasts clean facilities, including well-maintained restrooms and showers, which visitors appreciate after a long day of activities. Many campers have highlighted the convenience of the on-site market, where you can grab essentials like firewood and snacks, making it easy to settle in without a hassle. As one happy camper noted, “The sites are clean and the pads are very flat,” making leveling your RV a breeze.

For those looking to make a splash, there’s a water park that’s set to reopen soon, adding to the family-friendly vibe of the area. The beautiful lake is perfect for fishing and boating, though swimming isn’t allowed, so keep that in mind if you’re planning your water activities. The surrounding scenery, including views of the lake and nearby trees, creates a picturesque backdrop for your camping adventure.

While it can get busy on weekends, the lively atmosphere and range of amenities make Lake Casitas a solid choice for your next getaway. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, you’ll find plenty to keep everyone entertained and comfortable.

Lake Casitas camping offers over 400 sites, so you can choose the camping experience that suits you best. Some sites are lakeside, close enough to hear the lapping water, others are nestled among the trees, and still more are located on hillsides offering splendid views of the sparkling lake.

 We have sites to accommodate tents, tent trailers, campers and RVs, all with picnic tables and fire rings, and some with children's playgrounds close by. Shower houses with bathrooms are located at the front gate and towards the back of the park. We also have a convenient, fenced, dry storage facility for recreational vehicles, boats, canoes & kayaks

Lake Casitas Recreation Area

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There was a heyday here; people once brought their kids and little boats and caught fish and explored the lake. Now, sadly the campgrounds are half empty--so is the lake. You can see the watermark and the former robust levels amid the weeds and grasses. The winds kick up here fast so nail everything down and be ready for dust and a quiet scene. The campgrounds are neat and the facilities are clean. It's just a ghost campground....

A draught affected paradise from the past...

my husband and I loved camping here! The sites were beautiful and it was very quite. the price is a little steep, but the amenities were very nice and clean. they also have a water park attached to the campground. the staff was very nice and allowed us to drive around to find the perfect spot before paying. 

Great camping 

This campground is located in Santa Barbara County just west of Ojai. Beautiful mountain scenery. It’s great for tents and RVs.

The lake offers fishing and boating, no body contact. There are several campsites around the lake. Some lakefront and some wooded. There is a Park store conveniently located. There are coin showers and flush toilets at many sites.

The most fun is the water park. You can take a break from the heat and tube down the lazy river. Also there is a disk golf course.

So much to do and see!

You may even catch a glimpse of a rare California Condor.

This campground is great for beginners and disabled.

Family Friendly

One of our favorite weekend getaways! The lake has been very low due to the drought, but we were still able to take a boat out. Their rates for renting a pontoon boat amongst others are very reasonable and worth the money! Surrounded by nature and the mountains, this campground and lake is absolutely gorgeous! This campground can be PACKED during holidays, so make sure you get your reservations early! Bring your fishing poles and camp shades, it can get very hot! 

We were referred to Lake Casitas by several people. We went for a four day three night camping trip in July '18\. They have different camp sites depending on the needs of the campers, such as RV hookups and whatnot. We are relatively new at camping and were looking for a nice time to relax and enjoy nature. Our kids and our dogs really enjoyed it. We liked that the campsite was spacious and had lots of shade. There weren't many bug or flies, which was great. The park has a tiny water park. Cute and perfect for families with small children. My son is 11 and all he could do was the lazy river. The actual park was so big and it was filled to capacity. It was difficult to enjoy nature. There was people everywhere. Also, the weather was hot and dry, which created a lot of fine sand-like dirt lift when cars drove by. My teens loved being able to ride their bikes around. The water level in the river is so low it made me feel sad. The place has showers, but depending on your site, one might end up very far to walk. Restrooms were scarce, but in between they put potable toilets; not fun when it's nearly 100 degrees. The place is great if you enjoy meeting new people, hanging around the bonfire, and I heard it's good fishing. I did not like how packed it gets. It felt like I was in my back yard and too much noise pollution. Water park left much to be desired and wish there was swimming in the lake.

Great for Socializing!

I thought it would be quiet, being a holiday weekend. It was far from quiet. There were Porta potties and the camp site's were not large. There was a family reunion or something with many sites taken by the family. Pa systems and loud mariachi music, kids screaming.

Im sure if I had gone on another weekend it would have been fine. The boat rentals were reasonable, the lake is nice.

Easter weekend 

Large water district camping outside Ojai Ca. Full hook ups at most sites. $50 a night plus extra for tow vehicle. 8 areas to to choose from. Water park in summer, disc golf, fishing, boating, home of the ‘84 Olympic rowing competition. Gates close at 10 pm and had to park outside when I didn’t get back in time and walk in. Dirt and grass sites depending on where you choose. Many amenities

Large water district camping 

You can always get a spot here.  Close to hot springs, mountains, hiking, Ojai and ocean.  We love it here.  Just gorgeous!!!!

Love it

 Visited during Memorial Day weekend which made the park extremely busy. Would recommend visiting during a non -holiday. However the campsite we stayed at was a bit secluded from other campsites which was great for a little bit of privacy. Our site had Two picnic tables and a fire ring situated under a pine tree with excellent views of the lake. We were glad to discover the park was dog friendly. However we did encounter some ticks so be aware and wear proper repellant. Overall the park is beautiful and we had a good time.

Beautiful view of the lake. Awesome scenery. 

This is a huge campground that is broken into sections. A nice feature, (we did not take advantage of), is there is a water slide park near the entrance. As far as I know, this is a separate fee, but nothing astronomical. You can fish at Lake Casitas, and when we were there, the water levels were very low due to the drought. There was a nice playground within walking distance from where our site was that the kids enjoyed. We had a spigot nearby to wash our dishes, and there are flushing toilets and pay showers. There were also chemical toilets as well. We went in the middle of the summer, and of course, it was very hot. Thankfully we had our canopies to provide extra shade. Fire pits are at each site, as well as picnic tables. We had a nice time, but for us, this place was a little too big for our liking. I would go back, but I prefer smaller camp grounds. 

Huge Campground

Great place for families and kids  they have a water park for the kids and boat rentals to go out into the lake. Showers do close at a certain time and are coin operated which you have to purchase from the ticket stand. You aren’t allowed to get into the water unfortunately but the group boats are pretty fun and easy to handle.we go with a large group of multiple families who also have children and everyone always has a great time. 

Camping with a water park

Can be hot in summer but water park is great way to cool off. Fishing, boating (rentals avail.), hiking, biking, picnic and playground areas and a model plane airport. Great burgers at the restaurant. Small store for all the stuff you usually forget or don’t have time to pack like ice, firewood, propane. Great staff!

Lots of stuff to do. Great staff.

Pretty big place to choose camp sites from plenty to do or just relax, includes dirt and grassy campgrounds early in the season. Fair price and features a water park aswell

Nice

Mallard camp is right by the disc golf course, which makes for a great disc golf getaway. 

Great for disc golfers

Stayed at site Fox 5 (full hook-ups) for 3 nights. Nice level concrete pad and fire pit. We didn’t have any immediate neighbors and it was very quiet and felt very remote at night time. Fox camp is perfect for our kids that like to be on their bicycles and explore. There is a park store right across the street (very pricey but convenient). We had a great time here and will most likely be back. 

Great for a family with young kids

Casitas Lake near Ojai in Ventura County has something for everyone, especially parents with children off from school in the summertime. The campgrounds are spacious and clean and there are at least six different types from basic tent on dirt all the way up to executive motorhome with all hook ups. Prices vary from 35 to 55$ for tents on dirt to 65-75$ for RVs with hook ups.There is also a charge for a vehicle, boat, pet, etc.￼￼ The highlight for families though is the waterpark. Open during the summer, it’s perfect for the younger kids when it’s hot.Always check current Covid restrictions as most water parks are closed.

Camping, fishing, boating and a water park 

Showers were bolted shut!?! 
Toilet locks were broken
No hand washing facilities in toilets?!? 
Toilets were totally unusable in mallard ( where I stayed ) 

Wasn’t allowed to use my own kayak ( they wanted me to rent theirs) 
Store prices were marked up 300%
The whole place is apparently subleased to a different management company and clearly they are all about scooping the dollars and don’t give a damn about the upkeep of the site or facilities at all
Suggest avoiding at all costs!!! 
It was one night of utter hell.

Should be shut down!!

We selected our campsite based on the map and online photos. We couldn’t have been more pleased with the location we chose!! 
Our space was F -11 and after driving through all of the campgrounds, and there are many, we felt that the Fox site was best suited for us. So much so that when we return we will definitely pick another site in Fox. 

There is a small market should you forget anything and need it while on your getaway. It is stocked with practically anything you can think of!

Beware!  There are ground squirrels in abundance everywhere here and they live without fear of humans! We watched them approach as we sat right near the truck and they hopped up into the engine compartment. Luckily as far as we can tell, they didn’t do any damage. 

Our space had basic hook ups - there are two dump stations on site. There’s a big cost differential compared to a full hook up site - if that’s any concern. ;-) 

Great place for a peaceful getaway! 

Peaceful and pretty  

Before our current rig we had a class A motorhome. One of our first camping trips was to Lake Casitas recreation area.  We were able to backup to the lake and litterally fish off our rear bumper. I would recommend this place and you should add it to your list. 

Such a Beautiful place.

Casitas is always a great time. We love camping there as there’s always spots and the water park is always so much fun! They have a local store we ride our bikes to that’s stocked with all your needs and cute merch.

Always a great time

The short drive through the his is nice , has a market inside and everything is close buy store wise etc and also good for biking around everyone always out having a good time and super friendly 👍😎 small critters like foxes etc come out at night so be sure to pack away and clean up 

It's a nice closer place to go ...

Drought times were hard on this lake but when there’s water it’s beautiful. Camped in a pop up. Forgot coffee but a stones throw away was the store with fresh coffee!!

A lake and an airfield for tiny planes. 

We just camped at Lake Casita Recreational grounds this month. There are several campsites in the area. Each campsites have different features, basic campsites have water available and vaulted toilets, and some sites have hookups for RV. The recreational grounds have picnic areas/tables and beautiful view of the lake. We stayed at the Indian campgrounds which has water and electricity hookups on each site. The campsite here are very close proximity to each other and there isn’t much view of the mountain nor the lake. I would probably recommend Osprey campground which has more space in between sites and has a beautiful clear view of the lake. There are lots of bird in the area and you can bring boats or practice fishing in the lake. No swimming is allowed in the lake. The water park is closed for renovations at this time and is announced to open next summer.

Close get away from the city

I feel lake Casitas is nice for those wanting to get a nice easy day of camping. It's friendly and not too small. 

Cute calm campground

This is place is really nice and peaceful a nice get away 


Camping with friends 

The lake and surrounding area is gorgeous, especially at sunrise. There is a camp store with everything you’d need nearby. Our main complaint is with the camp culture. We stayed in the Grebe loop and campers on all sides of us stayed awake drinking loudly until 4am Friday and about 1am Saturday. 

Very pretty but not relaxed

Picked up a travel trailer in Ojai and camped at lake casitas. Had electric and water in the ‘Indian’ camp area. The place is massive. Camp store was well stocked- even had discs for the disc golf course. Located about 5 miles from Ojai. Would go back 

Had a wonderful time here  close to Ojai

Well organized and plenty of staff. Level of lake is very low. 

Overall nice campground 

This place is a dump. False advertisement, there is no lake.. Just a couple of mud puddles and no fish. Very disappointed. The facilities are outhouses, dirty, trash strewn about and very little sites to choose from as the majority of the lake was closed. Water Park: Again, save your money unless you like being stuck in a watery version of the 405.. in Mexico.. My experience was wretched. Park"policies": When I made the reservation I only wanted one day. A Saturday. I was told reservations require a two day stay regardless of whether you are going to be there or not. I figured, ok.. Its my daughters bday and I want to teach my son to fish.. Why not. When we arrive on Friday to check in, I was in my car as the RV was being serviced. I informed the man at the gate and he proceeded to charge me an additional$14.00 dollars. When I asked what the additional charge was for he said it was"policy" that additional vehicles pay$14.00. I said, okay, that makes sense. However, this is one vehicle, I had just paid$120.00, for the site and this one vehicle would be in the site one night, until the following day, I would be bringing the RV(one vehicle) and leaving the other vehicle at home. After some debate with, Abel(a manager...lol.. hardly). Heinsists if I want to use my camp site this evening either I would be paying an additional$15.00 dollars for my vehicle or my RV that I would be bring the following day. One site, one car. That makes sense. The policy is as such the pass is written once and the park management will not make any exceptions. I get it.. Its only$15.00. Its the principal of it. They nickel and dime the very patrons who keep them open. I will not be back and I highly suggest to anyone else thinking about spending their hard earned money there.

Save Your Money - CROOK ALERT!!!

This campground was HUGE! There are several site with tenting, car camping, and hookups available. It seems to get busy fast so best to book in advance. There are flushing toilets, showers, and non-potable water available. The sites at Bass are relatively large with a good amount of space between sites. Camp store, cafe, and recreation area were all open. The water was closed. Were tucked into a surrounding of trees and a lake view. Highly recommend this campsite. 

Family fun campsite

This was our first camp site as a family and it didn’t disappoint. It gets chilly at night so bundle up or pack a heater! Clean areas, clean bathrooms, friendly staff, competitive prices at the store. Highly recommended!

Awesome family oriented campground

No hook up site with our trailer was 40$. Worth it. Clean, expansive, great store, quiet in Grebe campground with view of lake. Two dump stations. 

Great Campground

Just a plain and simple campsite. Fun. Short drive to lake for fishing. Or a nice walk. Clean toilets. Clean showers. Went with a large group and everyone enjoyed it. It was just hotter than hell but the water spouts were helpful in keeping us cool. 

Plain and Simple 

The sites are clean and the pads are very flat.  Makes leveling a breeze.  Great store with a ton of stuff from wood to ice to food, wine and kids toys. 

Lake Casitas Fox campground 

This is a huge place, with lots to do.  Not a good place if you're looking for a low key, quiet, simple camping experience.  There's a water park here as well, currently closed for renovations but apparently opening soon (and apparently water park fees are rising from $17 to $23, not sure).

  

The campground is broken down into a bunch of different camping loops, each with different amenities and vibe. 

  

There's a market here with basic fun camping supplies, as well as a propane tank to refill your RV tanks.  Price of propane is high here, but really there aren't many options in the area (there's a Corner Market down the road with very slightly lower prices).

  

The lake itself is beautiful and right in the middle of the entire recreation area. I believe boating and fishing is allowed but swimming is not - double check that info if that's important to you.

  

Good cell service here at the park but the entire area is iffy and you're driving around so heads up on that.

Good for families or big groups

Economical for California and the area. Off the beaten path from all the craziness by the beach.

We are just passing through CA or it would not be my top spot. They nickel and dime a lot of things, showers pets. We paid online and we pull up and all of a sudden getting charged $5 a day extra for pets including a cat that doesn't leave the camper. Was not thrilled about that.

Otherwise, it was scenic, had a camp store, was close to restaurants, had a gate to drive into, so the place was pretty secure. Seemed like a lot of people gathered on the weekends. 

We had the dirt campground which wasn't my favorite but all that was left, while the other campgrounds had cement pads. It was still pretty level.We did have cell 
reception, nice views and they had a water park for kids during summer months, though wasn't open while we were there.

Seems like a popular place

Just to be clear, I love lake Casitas. I grew up camping here with my family. The reason I’m writing this review is to warn pet owners about the abundance of foxtails and burs. We have 2 poodle mixes with med-long hair and they both ended up with their fur filled with burs and foxtails. So much that it required a vet visit. 
This was from a weekend camp in our RV that had a large rug and they have raised dog cots. 

Nice place but dog owners beware

This is a nicely maintained municipal water reservoir with a very large lake. No swimming allowed, but boating is. Go figure.

There are campgrounds with hookups that are only available for RVs. There is one Campground -Indian- that has a mixture of tent and RV sites with hookups available but it was under maintenance when I was here this weekend. So all the rest of the areas that do have hookups do not accommodate my truck and tent rig. And there are no 110V or 30a outlets available for people who are traveling light -with solar and a minimum amount of panels, where you might need to plug in once in awhile- they can't cover you here.
Too bad no one thought of that when they were designing this place, because it's an awfully big place with a lot of sites.

So we're leaving today to find another place to weekend.

But two nights next to the lake, in the campground called Mallard was lovely as can be. Next time I'll come out with more panels to keep my pair of EcoFlow RiverPro solar generators topped up.

A beautiful Lake

The night ranger Ron is awesome 👌  totally let me shower in the middle of night when the shower was closed, even gave me a few bucks for shower tokens very kind man!!! 
Just don't be late getting out of there at checkout time they don't like it and definitely threatened to call police wich kinda killed the whole good vibe of the place.

Photos of Lake Casitas Recreation Area

Real photos from real campers