Top Glamping near Channel Islands National Park

Recent Glamping Reviews In Channel Islands National Park

166 Reviews of 10 Channel Islands National Park Campgrounds

• 

  Michelle M.

  Guide

  

  September 27, 2024

  Lake Casitas Recreation Area

  A beautiful Lake

  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.

• S

  Susie B.

  Traveler

  

  August 30, 2024

  Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

  Please Don’t Tell Anyone About This — OOPS

  This is tragi-comedy: I was invited to a wedding in Santa Barbara. It was summer and the most fleabitten motel prices were astronomical. I began to look at campsites within driving distance, I was desperate. Booked Catchuma and thought, hoorah, I’ve defeated the tourism trap. 

  Well… from the moment I arrived . . . I really could not care less about the wedding. My god. I think I’ll leave it at that. 

  Bring binos. Boat, bring your canoe/kayak.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  August 3, 2024

  Camp Comfort Park

  Nice Little Campground

  This is such a nice and small campground, it's low key and seems to be overlooked because there always seems to be sites available.

  We stayed in site #13, which is a weird "pull in" site, which in all the traveling we've done, we've never stayed in one before. So you pull in forward (not back in), because  all your hookups are to the left of the site, on the driver's side.  Which is fine, except that unless you have a long sewer hose, your hose won't reach from the back of your RV to the sewer connection. Luckily there were vacant spots when we left, so we backed into a vacant spot with a  traditional setup and dumped on our way out.

  The best part of this campground is the creek that runs behind it. It's so nice and refreshing on a hot day, and safe for little kids to splash around in. There's also a park, day use area, playground, and some sort of meeting spot adjacent to this campground. The showers were nice (coin operated) and as a full timer I always love to see laundry machines at campgrounds.

  Pricey, but that's just the norm now.  I think our one night was about $50.  Great little place.

• J

  Jane P.

  Scout

  

  July 28, 2024

  Ventura Beach RV Resort

  Worst place ever

  Crowded sites, horrible check in, rude people, owner is extremely unpleasant

• t

  tryna H.

  Scout

  

  June 5, 2024

  Lake Casitas Recreation Area

  Nice place but dog owners beware

  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.

• O

  Oscar R.

  Scout

  

  May 31, 2024

  Radl Ranch

  Amazin spot

  Great spot! Been here 2 times already!

• 

  Khaled A.

  Traveler

  

  March 6, 2024

  Ventura Ranch KOA

  Nice Getaway!

  Quiet and nice 2-day stay. Alexi from reception was super nice and courteous. We couldn’t be more grateful to her! Our lot was secluded, private and close to the entrance/exit. The only thing was the unlevel ground we were on. Our RV was a simple 30’ rental without any leveling. Many peacock’s roam around the premises and they can be very intrusive! Playgrounds, zip lining and a massive bounce pad were all on site. Make sure you hike down to the creek!

• 

  Patrick J.

  Legend

  

  February 18, 2024

  Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

  Our go to place

  This was another trip here. We needed a quick getaway, and this is always a good choice for us. Check in was easy, they even changed our site after showing all that were available. The was February, so lots of available sites. We will be back!

• 

  Kristi D.

  Legend

  

  October 29, 2023

  Lake Casitas Recreation Area

  Seems like a popular place

  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.

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  October 19, 2023

  Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

  Huge County Campground with Numerous Site Types

  The lovely county run park in the hills above the Santa Barbara coastline, is a great campground offering a wide variety of camping experiences from full hook ups to grass covered spaces under the trees along the shores of this lovely reservoir. The sites offer the usual camp picnic table and fire ring, and the many group sites offer large grills and even a few picnic shelters. 

  The sunshine is typically abundant in this California park, and even without full hook ups you can easily get all the power you need with an appropriately sized solar panel system. We’ve run on solar for over 10 years, and it saves us thousands of dollars each year for our full-time camping life. 

  The flush bathrooms are clean and spacious. Water spigots were plentiful throughout the campground. The coin operated showers got the job done, but since we were there during a chilly March, things could have been warmer. But hey, everything important got clean… 

  The lake is perfect for boating, but since it’s a drinking water reservoir, there is no body contact with this body of water. So plan on using the campground pool to cool off during the summer months. Hiking and mountain biking trails are abundant throughout the area, and kayaking, canoeing, fishing or sailing on the lake is the perfect way to spend the afternoon. 

  The campground offers some excellent yurts and cabins for nightly rent right on the shores of the lake. These are often booked out so plan ahead. 

  The camp store offers enough grocery supplies in case you forgot something, including ice, snacks, fire wood, and gas.  There is also a cool pub down by the boat ramp which offers live music in the weekends.  The nearby tourist town of Solvang offers a great day trip to sample the amazing Dutch pastry treats, pick up some groceries, wine tasting, or a night out on the town.

• 

  Bryan S.

  Guide

  

  October 14, 2023

  Ventura Ranch KOA

  Fun stuff to do

  Nice campground. Plenty of things to do. Jump pad, pool, zip line, playground, creek. Front desk staff was exceptional. Few cons. Park was a bit dirty lots of trash around and generally not very clean. Bathrooms were really gross. Facilities were a little run down. Our spot was tiny but most others seem descent sized

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  October 13, 2023

  Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

  Quiet in the off-season

  General: Many different options from tent sites to premium tent sites, water/electric, and FHU sites in addition to yurts and cabins. 

  Site Quality: Varies greatly depending on what type of site you choose. The only sites with gravel paved pads were the ones with water/electric hookups or FHU; all others were grass. Most seemed level. It was raining heavily when we were there and some of the sites were flooded. Very little to no separation/privacy between sites. We were in a w/e site, and it was long enough to easily accommodate two camper vans.

  Activities/Amenities: Off-season, everything was closed but in-season, there is a marina, boat rentals, restaurant, store, gas station, pool, and laundry. 

  Bath/Shower house: Clean but very basic. No hooks or shelves for toiletries. Cold water only. The shower looked nice but did not use so cannot comment on it. 

  IMO, the best options are the premier tent sites, yurts, and cabins as they offer the best lake views. We had not planned on camping here but after evacuating from Jalama Beach, we were told this park would honor our reservation. It rained most of the time we were there, and it was off-season, so I imagine it would be an entirely different experience in the summer when all amenities were offered and the campground was full.

• E

  Ellen G.

  Scout

  

  August 12, 2023

  Radl Ranch

  Little hidden gem

  We loved the atmosphere. Small well maintained and cute, outdoor shower was a highlight!

• 

  Jenn-X •.

  Traveler

  

  July 28, 2023

  Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

  Cachuma Lake

  Sprawling campgrounds.

• j

  jerry

  Traveler

  

  July 6, 2023

  Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

  Camp ground site 143 partial hook ups

  Stayed at camp site #143 no shade trees very dusty site. Rental boats pontoon type are brand new. Boat rental opens at 7am close at 7pm boat harbor is very nice with new boat docks. If going fishing the K boats are nice but anchor line to short to use I bring my own 50’ of anchor rope and use their anchor. Came hear to get away from all the illegal fire works where I live. Not one fireworks at the park yea the dog had a great nights sleep. Plus the swimming pool was great open from 12 noon to 5:30pm they have plenty of chairs and have life guards

• 

  Lara S.

  Guide

  

  July 5, 2023

  Camp Comfort Park

  Best RV park for tent campers

  Camped here 4th of July weekend and it was quiet and family friendly. Bathrooms were clean, people were respectful, and it was just an all around nice place to camp - expensive though.

• L

  Lana W.

  Traveler

  

  July 1, 2023

  Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

  Luxury campground near Santa Barbara

  The staff here were very pleasant, and the sites were beautiful paved, level sites with privacy hedges between each (at least where we were). The bath house was very clean and showers were spacious and clean. Kids were having a great time at the pool. I wanted to use the hot tub, but there were 5 little kids in it. There was a big, CLEAN dishwashing sink. The laundry room was small, but everything worked great. The only real negative was the cost which was astronomical, but keeps it nice.

• L

  Lana W.

  Traveler

  

  July 1, 2023

  Ventura Beach RV Resort

  Party in Ventura

  This campground had nice facilities, but the general store was minimal due to the old one burning down while trying to dry it out after the flooding. The pool was still closed and there was no pancake breakfast. The bathrooms were clean and in good working order (you need a code to get in). The sites were tightly packed together and there were lots of annoying teenagers running around and music blaring, kids on bikes and scooters, etc. It did quiet down at 10:00ish, so that you could hear the cars rushing along the freeway all night. There was a movie playing that night with free popcorn. The beach and town are a hike from the campground. The site was a double back in, but our sewer hose wasn’t long enough to reach the hookup. Even if we were looking for that atmosphere, the cost was absolutely not worth it. However, we took a tip from another reviewer and went to the Saturday farmers market which was fantastic!

• 

  Kimberly W.

  Scout

  

  June 2, 2023

  Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

  Horrible

  Horrible customer service. Beware if you try to cancel within the 14 days per the policy, they will not refund your money if you have modified your reservation at all. They stole my money and cancelled the reservation on me without me asking, after hanging up on me. Raelynn who claims to be the manger is not professional at all. This place is a joke! I will not do business with a company who operates this way. I suggest that the owners take a good look at what else shady accounting practices may be going on. I also suggest you update your cancellation policy to reflect"the rules" so that they are clear. I have never been treated so poorly. Save your money and go elsewhere.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  May 9, 2023

  Lake Casitas Recreation Area

  Good for families or big groups

  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.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  May 9, 2023

  Ventura Beach RV Resort

  Still Recovering From Storm Damage

  This RV park had some severe storm damage in early 2023, and at this time is partially open.  They are still cleaning up and fixing up the place - check their website for updates.  They are planning for a soft reopening and a grand reopening soon!  They are great at caring for their guests - they have all kinds of amenities, and they have a weekly weekend pancake breakfast.

  We love this area - it's right near the Emma Wood State Beach, and just a short walk to downtown Ventura.  Main St in Ventura is closed off to vehicles and is a fun place to walk and shop and eat and hang out and people watch. Saturday mornings there is a huge farmers market as well.

• K

  Kristine V.

  Traveler

  

  May 8, 2023

  Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

  Would stay here again!

  Lovely place and lovely staff! It’s a bit pricey but you get what you pay for. They also have heated pool and jacuzzi, clean showers, and bathrooms. Trail and dog park available. Just kinda sucks you hear the cars passing at the 101. But I’d still come back.

• 

  John C.

  Guide

  

  May 3, 2023

  Point Mugu Recreation Facility

  Great Location

  This is a wonderful campground right next to the beach however it is only available to the military and their families. The spots are all paved with most having all the hookups but it is in need of updates. You can’t beat the location though.

• 

  AM S.

  Guide

  

  April 15, 2023

  Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

  Wholesome experience

  Something for everyone, no matter your level of camping. Staff was great when my car battery died too.

• A

  Anita K.

  Traveler

  

  April 14, 2023

  Lake Casitas Recreation Area

  Lake Casitas Fox campground

  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.

• n

  nicole

  Scout

  

  April 12, 2023

  Ventura Ranch KOA

  Great for families

  We are at site 53. Close to restrooms and showers. Our kids love all the extra activities like the playground and jumping pillow. They are too short for the high ropes course but would love to do it when tall enough. The pool isn’t open yet either but they are having a great time with what is available.

• D

  Debbie M.

  Guide

  

  March 9, 2023

  Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

  Excellent location

  We stayed during the recent storm of the century in Central California so weren’t able to take advantage of what the park has to offer. The sites are very long and not too jammed together. Immaculate bathrooms and showers. Close to Los Olivos (great wine tasting) and Solvang. Disc gold course.