Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara houses luxury glamping accommodations set along California's central coast, offering an elevated outdoor experience with resort-style amenities. The well-maintained grounds feature spacious sites with privacy hedges and concrete pads, creating a refined camping atmosphere near El Capitan Beach. "Lovely place and lovely staff! They also have heated pool and jacuzzi, clean showers, and bathrooms," noted one visitor. The property includes hiking and biking trails, with some accommodations offering climate control, comfortable furnishings, and private outdoor spaces. El Capitan Canyon, another glamping destination nearby, provides safari-style accommodations and yurts among sycamore and oak trees, delivering a more secluded nature experience with the comforts of upscale lodging.
Hiking trails connect directly to the glamping campsites, allowing guests to explore the native landscape and access nearby beaches. The heated swimming pool and jacuzzi at Sun Outdoors create a resort atmosphere, while on-site amenities include a playground, dog park, and dishwashing facilities—all meticulously maintained. A visitor remarked, "From check in to poolside, the staff is always on top of it. This campground is pristine." El Capitan Canyon offers unique experiences including wine tastings and concerts at their market, adding to the luxury camping experience. Both properties provide convenient access to El Capitan State Beach, just a short walk or drive away, and serve as ideal bases for exploring Santa Barbara's wine country and coastal attractions. Peak season bookings should be secured well in advance as these premium glamping destinations maintain high occupancy rates throughout summer and fall.
"Most yurts have a foot trail down to the water. The Yurt I stayed in (we camped 3 nights and had a yurt the last two) slept 4-6 people, 6 if you have kids. Yurts do not have bathrooms."
"clean spacious sites, pool, laundry, grocery store, gas. Sites have fire pit, grill grate and picnic table. Great views of the sunset from our site #287. Beer and wine for sale."
"If you find yourself up near Santa Barbara, this luxury RV Resort and Campground is a real splurge."
"We chose a premium site to be in a tad more secluded area. The pool and hot tub are nice. Our pup enjoyed the dog park. The bathrooms were clean with spacious showers with hot water."
$45 - $180 / night
"Beach is clean, swimming is mellow, the tide pools are cool, and you can walk to just about anything you need."
"I naively thought the campgrounds wouldn’t be open to capacity and I was hoping for camping not so close to other campers."
$40 - $44 / night
"Each site has a table, bbq, and fire pit. There is running water. There are flushing toilets. each site is allowed one car, but there is parking right outside the site along the road."
"Each site has an elevated grill, a fire pit with a grill, log seating around the fire, a large picnic table, and shared water access between a couple campsites."
"I played some mini golf, right next to the horseshoe pits, but other amenities you use at your own risk. The store, and kitchen are closed."
"Part of the Thousand Trails network. There is very clean bathrooms, room for RV'S, a rec center, store, pool, hot tub. There is a small creek and plenty of hiking trails."
"We had the best time renting an air stream from tgis location. It was retro and such a great experience. We had air conditioning, running water, and perfect amenities available."
"It is located in Buellton, CA very near the historic town of Solvang, as well as Lake Cachuma and Los Padres National Forest. The campsite is in a beautiful setting surrounded by green rolling hills."
$225 - $600 / night
"It was my first sleep away camp.time being away from my parents for multiple days. We stayed in cabins with bunk beds and had such a wonderful experience in nature and saw/tried so many new things!"
"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."
"We couldn’t have been more pleased with the location we chose!!"
"Lovely group of drive-up campsites. Accommodates both tent campers and RV campers. Small market on-site with most camping needs. Small Restaurant on site as well."
"This campground is right next to the beach and is well loved by the many return campers I spoke with."
$30 - $34 / night
"Beautiful drive to get to Nira with stunning views. Had a nice visit having the whole campground to ourselves, although the nearby trailheads had several cars."
"Nira is a small, primitive campground in the San Rafael wilderness behind the Santa Ynez Valley."
GuideWe had the best time renting an air stream from tgis location. It was retro and such a great experience. We had air conditioning, running water, and perfect amenities available. The site was so accommodating. There was coffee available at the front. Little shops and markets. Outdoor activities scattered around the park. Food venue available. The pool and spa were a nice addition. It was a little crowded. Close to solvang .
GuideWe recently stayed here, for the 1st time, last week. We decided to leave the travel trailer at home, and change it up! We stayed the 1st in a large teepee. It had beds for a total of six people. It was hot in the daytime, and got really cold at night, so we switched to a Glamping tent. The Glamping tent was nice! It had a very confortable queen bed, 2 lamps, a fan, a heater, a mini fridge and a microwave. It also had a futon type couch that made into a bed. Loved the Glamping tent.
Only downfall was, that the place does not enforce it quiet time rules. 10pm to 8 am. Late night loud groups, carrying on until 2 in the morning, loud obnoxious kids screaming at 6:15 in the morning...😩they have many beautiful Peafowl, and they can be loud too, but I only heard them once. The place has very nice tiled showers, with good water pressure, clean bathrooms, a big beautiful pool, but it was closed for the season.
There are fire pits throughout the 76 acre park, it was nice having a campfire, since so many places don’t allow them anymore...they have a very large jumping pillow for kiddos, my 6 year had a blast playing on it. They also have a zip line, but it was damaged in the large fire last year, and is being fixed currently. There is a stream that runs thru the property, it was fun to explore. They have a rock climbing wall, that is brought out on holiday weekends.
Lots of fun activities for kids, like crafts, making your own rocket to launch, etc. It is not the place to come, if you want a quiet, mellow place to read a book! It is busy, and loud. They do not have any laundry facilities, nor do they have a little store. The prices on everything are going up 10% on everything, next year. This means that most campsites with full hook-ups with be $ 71 a night, ( not bad ) but the large teepees will cost about $ 200 a night, and the Glamping tents, about $ 180 a night.
You can buy a KOA discount card, for just $ 30 bucks, and it gets you 10% off, each stay for a year. Valid at all KOAs in America, and some in Australia! We had a good time, and plan to go back in the summer next year. Hopefully, with our travel trailer, it will be less loud 😉
RangerFlying Flags RV Resort& Campground is one of my favorite RV resorts. It is located in Buellton, CA very near the historic town of Solvang, as well as Lake Cachuma and Los Padres National Forest. The campsite is in a beautiful setting surrounded by green rolling hills. April, May is the perfect time to visit.
The resort features a plethora of housing options, including vintage trailers and airstreams, cottages, luxury tents, and RV/tent camping spots.
Free WiFi, a full laundry facility, pools, and a hot tub, every aspect of your stay is covered. For a relaxing time, they have poolside cabanas, a communal fire pit, picnic areas, and a communal TV lounge with pool and foosball tables.
If you have children there is a playground as well as bocce and horseshoes. There is a full fitness center in case you want to get your workout in without the heat. All of the amenities are very well maintained, including the bathrooms and showers. When you get hungry the campground/resort has a few options.
There is a full fitness center in case you want to get your workout in without the heat. I rode my bicycle to Solvang, which is 4 miles away. All of the amenities are very well maintained, including the bathrooms and showers. When you get hungry the campground/resort has a few options. There is a convenience store and snack bar on-site, as well as the Campfire Cafe, an eatery with a full menu that allows you to eat in or even deliver to your site.
In case you are feeling like an adult beverage, Flying Flags has a fairly extensive wine and beer bar. There are also restaurants, convenience, and grocery stores within walking distance. The location of Flying Flags is perfect if you are looking to venture out for an evening or you are here for the wineries.
There are several museums in the area, including the Solvang vintage motorcycle museum. There are also golf courses, breweries, wineries, a casino/resort, and the Solvang farmers market. This resort and campground overall is a very nice spot to stop on a long journey, or just to get away for a while.
Well worth the trip. It seems like the RVs in the RV park are newer, the park is pretty upscale. I would assume most of the people are full-timers, retired couples who are spending some time in the park. Although it was beautiful weather, you hardly see people outside, it seems like everyone is keeping to themselves. I am not sure why that is.
GuideAt first, we thought it was a tad pricey but after you realize what all you’re paying for ya wonderful!
We had an RV, two cars. and a tent and they allowed us to use one spot, for $30 a night! Which is pretty rare!
SUPER fast wifi(if that’s your thing, we were here for a little under two weeks, so it was nice!), electric hookups, picnic table and fire pit! AMAZING bathrooms and coin showers as well as coin laundry!
The ADORABLE town of Ojai is a quick 5 min drive up the road with anything you could ever want! The camp host is an amazing older guy, who’s incredibly friendly and takes pride in this campground!
They lock the gates at night (you can still get in and out!) so you feel safe, they allow pets, and even though it’s buy a road you don’t hear any noise at night!
Perk (or maybe not a perk if you’re not into it), it’s one of the most haunted campgrounds in the US!
RangerIf you find yourself up near Santa Barbara, this luxury RV Resort and Campground is a real splurge. The grounds are beautiful, overlooking the ocean, and connecting to the El Capitan Canyon glamping resort, which offers yurts and safari tents. We enjoyed exploring the property's hiking trails and the heated pool was really nice.
If you don't feel like cooking, there's a really cute little deli and gift shop called Canyon Market that sells a nice selection of California wines, craft beers and BBQ kits for grill-your-own meals. Their breakfast burritos were really good, and they also serve tacos, burgers, sandwiches and salads throughout the day.
El Capitan State Beach is about a 20 minute walk away, so keep that in mind if you have a lot of beach gear.
My video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djcr_GYf1kc
TravelerI prefer primitive or dispersed camping because I usually like as much privacy as I can get when I'm camping, but with current fire restrictions I was limited to developed campsites if I wanted a campfire (and what's the point of camping without a campfire?). I was also planning the trip on short notice, so developed, reserveable campsites were in short supply. Then I found Reyes Creek.
The campground is very isolated. It's about a 40 minute drive from the nearest town (and therefore the nearest gas station or market - plan ahead). There is no power, or water. There's no cell service in the camp, but a 5 minute drive up the mountain there's a dirt lot they call the 'phone booth' that gets decent reception. The camp hosts were super friendly and helpful. There are 2 loops for campsites - the center of the main loop seemed pretty flat, but all the sites were visible to your neighbors. Sites on the outside of the main loop offered more privacy, but most appeared to not be very level, and not necessarily well laid out. I stayed in site 11 on the outside of the loop which was large and fairly quiet, but my 6 person tent just barely fit in between some trees which offered some shade and was only on a slight angle. The one downside was the bathrooms - vault toilets that varied in condition, but none that I used were particularly good. If bathroom condition is a major sticking point with you, you may want to look elsewhere.
As an added bonus, as isolated as the place is, right outside the entrance to the campground is a bar & grill called the Camp Scheideck Lodge. They have a full bar and great food (and the customer-only bathroom is a great step up from the campground). It just changed owners last month (second time in a couple years) and the new owner, Devin, is friendly and welcoming.
The temperature varies greatly from day to night (90's to 50's when I was there) and there are bugs a plenty, so bring repellant. Firewood is available at the camp, and ice is available at the lodge.
So if you want a little isolation with privacy, a campfire, and a friendly bar within walking distance, this place is for you. I'll definitely be coming back.
TravelerLovely group of drive-up campsites. Accommodates both tent campers and RV campers. Small market on-site with most camping needs. Small Restaurant on site as well. Beach is vIsIbke from many campsites and a short walk to the beach. Amtrak runs near the campsite, but was not a disturbance at night. Winds were high off the ocean during my stay.
TravelerWalking distance to beach. Taken well care of. Nice store on grounds. Pool and spa on site.
GuideThis site is in the Los Padres National Forest and is managed by a third party and not the USFS.
It is a clean and quiet site with lots of shade provided by huge oak trees.
Each site has a table, bbq, and fire pit. There is running water. There are flushing toilets.
each site is allowed one car, but there is parking right outside the site along the road.
The site is near many trails and about 6 miles from the red rock day use area.
It was 20.00 a night to stay. You can make reservations online but there is a 10.00 charge to do so.
Dogs are allowed must be on leash.
Camping options surrounding Goleta, California extend from the Santa Ynez Mountains to the Pacific coastline, with elevations ranging from sea level to over 4,000 feet. This coastal Mediterranean climate zone experiences warm, dry summers with temperatures averaging 75°F and mild winters rarely dropping below 40°F. Local campgrounds frequently experience afternoon wind patterns that intensify during summer months, particularly at beach locations.
Beach exploration: 20 minute walk: Visitors at Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara can take the trail down to El Capitan Beach. "Hiking and biking trails. Short hike down to very nice beach at the El Capitan State Park," notes camper Nancy L.
Wine tasting tours: 15-30 minute drive: Lake Cachuma Recreation Area serves as a base for exploring Santa Barbara wine country. "Cachuma lake is about a half an hour from the city of Santa Barbara, 15 minutes away from Santa Ynez (if you like to gamble check out the Chumash Casino), 20 minutes away from Solvang, and 20 minutes away from Los Olivos. There is fantastic wine tasting available in any of these small towns," explains Amanda M.
Horseback riding: on-site: Thousand Trails Rancho Oso specializes in equestrian activities. "They cater to horse owners, and there were at least 20 horses I saw roaming in their corrals, and I'm sure there's some nice trails around here, too," notes Tom W.
Private beach access: seasonal restrictions: At Jalama Beach County Park, the secluded shoreline is a major draw. "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," warns Kathleen D.
Year-round pool facilities: heated during cooler months: The amenities at upscale glamping facilities near Goleta provide comfort regardless of season. "Pool area is nice with a nice hot tub. Friendly staff and the grounds are well kept. Nice dog park. Not much road noise from the 101. Has all the modern conveniences," reports Rick L. about Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara.
Wildlife viewing: abundant spring through fall: The natural surroundings support diverse wildlife. "Cachuma Lake is a great place for wildlife viewing and birding. I am a photographer, and love seeing all of the birds that hang out around Cachuma - ducks, coots, Western and Clark's grebes, loons, osprey, hawks, turkey vultures, turkeys, quail, American white pelicans, cormorants, etc. Deer can often be viewed on the shores of the lake, and we have even seen bobcats and foxes," shares Amanda M.
Limited connectivity: prepare offline entertainment: Many glamping sites and campgrounds in the Goleta area have spotty cell service. At Thousand Trails Rancho Oso, "No wifi and cell service - on them. They need to fix this. The problem was the resort does not have wifi or Verizon cell service. So I had to commute daily, I work remotely. If you want remote this is good," cautions Michele.
Weather conditions: wind protection essential: Coastal camping requires preparation. "This can be an extremely windy stretch of beach. During the day it will blow onshore and at night it will blow offshore," explains Michael K. about Jalama Beach County Park.
Local dining options: plan for convenience: Many sites offer food services or nearby options. "If you don't feel like cooking, there's a really cute little deli and gift shop called Canyon Market that sells a nice selection of California wines, craft beers and BBQ kits for grill-your-own meals. Their breakfast burritos were really good," recommends Momma H. about El Capitan Canyon.
Water recreation alternatives: non-swimming lakes: Families should note that Lake Cachuma prohibits swimming. "Keep in mind that you CANNOT SWIM in Cachuma Lake. Silly, I know, but they justify it because Cachuma lake is Santa Barbara's drinking water source. You are allowed to boat, kayak, and fish on the lake, but no swimming!" explains Amanda M.
Child-friendly amenities: structured activities: Flying Flags RV Resort offers extensive facilities for younger guests. "Great place for kids and families. They have a pool, playground, 24 hour bathroom and showers included with your stay. Also have a small restaurant in case you don't feel like cooking. They have bike rentals that I believe are free to use," shares Mario R.
Space considerations: site selection matters: When camping with children at Carpinteria State Beach, choose carefully. "The tent camping spots were a pretty good size for beach camping," notes Kelly E., though others caution that "The rv campsites are to small. You have to squeeze to get in or out of your rv."
Hook-up variations: check availability: Different areas within campgrounds offer varying amenities. At Lake Cachuma, "I stayed on the 5th tier, right next to the laundry, which was very reasonable at $2.00 to wash, $1.50 to dry. All levels are full hookups, and some in another area were just E/W," explains Tom W.
Road access considerations: size restrictions: Some glamping locations near Goleta have challenging access roads. At Thousand Trails Rancho Oso, one RVer warned of a "Scary climb, lost transmission and brakes...if you do not have big diesel pusher in tip top shape, AVOID."
Site dimensions: premium locations: At Flying Flags RV Resort, "We had a premium site at $185 a night and it was nice, but it was on the main entrance road so that was a little annoying. Site 91, not very much shade from the afternoon heat, but plenty from the morning sun with a massive live oak," reports Ryan S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Goleta, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Goleta, CA is Cachuma Lake Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 61 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Goleta, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 21 glamping camping locations near Goleta, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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