Best Glamping near Lake Sherwood, CA

Looking for a place to go glamping near Lake Sherwood? Camping has always been a favorite form of travel for many, but Lake Sherwood, CA glamping is a new and unique way to do it. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a site closer to all the action, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect glamping spot.

Best Glamping Sites Near Lake Sherwood, California (21)

    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA

    1. Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    160 Photos
    1179 Saves
    Lake Sherwood, California

    Leo Carrillo State Park's Campground is fully opened. Vehicular access to North Beach remains closed at this time.

    Camping Information: **Max trailer height is 13'6" **

    Visitors will be able to reserve campsites and lodging six months in advance from the current date. Bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date – based on availability and the park’s maximum stay rules.

    Firewood Policy: Burning firewood, Duraflame, and charcoal briquettes is allowed in the fire rings only when fire level permits. Check the sign near the entrance kiosk for the day's fire level.

    Showers: The park has only token-operated showers. The token machines accept ONLY one-dollar bills. Change for larger bills is not available at this time.

    Dogs allowed in day-use areas, campground and North Beach (north of Lifeguard Tower 3). Dogs not allowed on backcountry trails or South Beach (south of Lifeguard Tower 3).

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access

    $45 - $60 / night

    Camper-submitted photo at Malibu Creek State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Malibu Creek State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Malibu Creek State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Malibu Creek State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Malibu Creek State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Malibu Creek State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA

    2. Malibu Creek State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    59 Photos
    858 Saves
    El Nido, California

    One of the best places for Malibu Camping is Malibu Creek State Park, just 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, features hiking, fishing, bird watching, mountain biking, rock climbing and horseback riding opportunities. Fourteen-mile Malibu Creek is the principal watercourse of the Santa Monica Mountains that ends at Malibu Lagoon. There are 15 miles of streamside trail through oak and sycamore woodlands on chaparral-covered slopes. Following the trail along Malibu Creek State Park, the visitor will be treated to spectacular vistas, including volcanic rock gorges, scenic pools, and breathtaking views of the Las Virgenes Valley and Malibu Canyon. Previous to being opened to the public in 1976, the park was used extensively to film numerous movies and TV shows, such as Planet of the Apes and MAS*H. Most of the park's land holdings were donated by Bob Hope, with later significant acquisitions from Ronald Reagan and 20th Century Fox.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access
    • RVs

    $45 - $225 / night

    alan P.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Lake Casitas Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Lake Casitas Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Lake Casitas Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Lake Casitas Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Lake Casitas Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Lake Casitas Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA

    3. Lake Casitas Recreation Area

    40 Reviews
    95 Photos
    456 Saves
    Oak View, California

    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

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access
    Danielle P.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Point Mugu Recreation Facility near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Point Mugu Recreation Facility near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Point Mugu Recreation Facility near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Point Mugu Recreation Facility near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Point Mugu Recreation Facility near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Point Mugu Recreation Facility near Lake Sherwood, CA

    4. Point Mugu Recreation Facility

    13 Reviews
    41 Photos
    164 Saves
    Port Hueneme, California

    UPDATE as of 10/10/20 Requires military ID and only open for Active Duty for camping at this current time. People can use the Day Use with proper identification

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access
    Camper-submitted photo at Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach near Lake Sherwood, CA

    5. Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach

    47 Reviews
    105 Photos
    932 Saves
    Carpinteria, California

    Twelve miles south of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria camping offers a mile of beach for swimming, surf fishing, tidepool exploring and camping. Although dogs are not allowed on beach, we have a great picnic area where they are allowed to enjoy the outdoors as well. Lifeguards patrol the beach year round and lifeguard towers are staffed roughly from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The Spanish named the area Carpinteria because the Chumash tribe, which lived in the area, had a large seagoing canoe-building enterprise, or "carpentry shop" here. This was because of naturally-occurring surface tar, which was used to waterproof the canoes.

    Seals and sea lions can be seen in the area December through May, as well as an occasional gray whale. Tidepools contain starfish, sea anemones, crabs, snails, octopi and sea urchins.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access

    $45 - $180 / night

    Christina  S.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Ventura Ranch KOA near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Ventura Ranch KOA near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Ventura Ranch KOA near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Ventura Ranch KOA near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Ventura Ranch KOA near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Ventura Ranch KOA near Lake Sherwood, CA

    6. Ventura Ranch KOA

    14 Reviews
    54 Photos
    147 Saves
    Santa Paula, California
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access
    Camper-submitted photo at Kenney Grove Park near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Kenney Grove Park near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Kenney Grove Park near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Kenney Grove Park near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Kenney Grove Park near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Kenney Grove Park near Lake Sherwood, CA

    7. Kenney Grove Park

    11 Reviews
    29 Photos
    84 Saves
    Fillmore, California
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • RVs
    Camper-submitted photo at Castaic Lake State Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Castaic Lake State Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Castaic Lake State Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Castaic Lake State Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Castaic Lake State Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Castaic Lake State Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA

    8. Castaic Lake State Recreation Area

    14 Reviews
    33 Photos
    305 Saves
    Valencia, California
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access
    • RVs
    Camper-submitted photo at Dockweiler Beach RV Park near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Dockweiler Beach RV Park near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Dockweiler Beach RV Park near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Dockweiler Beach RV Park near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Dockweiler Beach RV Park near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Dockweiler Beach RV Park near Lake Sherwood, CA

    9. Dockweiler Beach RV Park

    15 Reviews
    14 Photos
    485 Saves
    El Segundo, California
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access

    $55 - $80 / night

    Camper-submitted photo at Ventura Beach RV Resort near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Ventura Beach RV Resort near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Ventura Beach RV Resort near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Ventura Beach RV Resort near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Ventura Beach RV Resort near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Camper-submitted photo at Ventura Beach RV Resort near Lake Sherwood, CA

    10. Ventura Beach RV Resort

    14 Reviews
    29 Photos
    104 Saves
    Ventura, California

    Ventura Beach RV Resort is located just off the 101 freeway in Ventura, California. The resort is a lush 14 acres and offers RV and tent sites ranging from standard to ultra deluxe sites. As well as travel trailer rentals, poolside yurts, and a summer studio. The resort has a refreshing heated swimming pool and inviting hot tub. A recreational room with billiard tables, a flat screen television, an ATM and vending machine. You can also enjoy our playground and half basketball court.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access
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Showing results 1-10 of 21 campgrounds

Recent Glamping Reviews near Lake Sherwood, CA

319 Reviews of 21 Lake Sherwood Campgrounds


  • Christina  S.
    Christina  S.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Ventura Ranch KOA near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Nov. 15, 2019

    Ventura Ranch KOA

    Fun place for young kids!

    We 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 😉

  • E
    Camper-submitted photo at Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Dec. 7, 2020

    Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach

    Take the dog!

    This campground is between the beach and Amtrak train, but if noise doesn't bother you, there are some really amazing things, especially if you love camping or glamping with your dog! Directly behind the campground you must keep the dog off the beach, but two blocks away is the entrance to the Salt Marshes and the beach entrance there where you can rent sea kayaks and boards in the summer is a secret many don't know...a 1/2 a mile where fido can run free off leash and play in the surf. One of the safest beaches in CA due to the proximity of the channel islands, you won't have to worry about sharks here. And the end of the this beach is the Salt Marsh water inlet and when the time is low you can walk the deserted beach for miles and miles. Just get back before high tide or you will find yourself crossing an extremely powerful river sea. In the summer there is movies in the park which a an ample lush green field for playing frisbee or ball that separates the campground from the main palm lined street Linden. Famous for it's avo cado festival which draws nearly 80,000 people from around the world. Linden Street has a grocery, brewery, pharmacy, and diverse cuisine, everything from a burger stand, Thai, sushi, and a famous grill your steak sit and dine. There is also a lovely little Mexican bakery and candy shop for the kids. You can buy t-shirts, get a haircut, tattoo, or latte to go. There is even the local health food store with a smoothie to go bar in the back for a pick me up or detox with a straw! Carpinteria is a dog friendly town. You will dogs and bikes everywhere which incidentally, you can rent not far from the 2 campgrounds. There is a driving through lot for day travelers or RVs. You must book early online to get a camping spot because of the site's popularity. Othewise, it is a first come basis. It has showers so bring lots of quarters, especially if you want to do your laundry at Linden Street laundry mat. Fire pits and a table are at each site. Expect to also hear generators running as the sites tend to be close, but you can count on having lots to do. Cool nights, warm days, cold water. Sea glass, shells, and cool rocks. Not far from this beach is Rincon Point or what the locals call Bates Beach where surfers are there everyday. The large tide pools and stone is otherworldly, and again, bring the pooch, they are going to love it! We do! Returning! And a good time was had by all...

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Danielle P.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Point Mugu Recreation Facility near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Nov. 11, 2017

    Point Mugu Recreation Facility

    Point Mugu MWR

    The Point Mugu NAS campground is part of the military MWR program, therefore you need to be active duty or retired from one of the uniformed services, or be sponsored by someone who is.

    The campground is located right on the beach overlooking the iconic Point Mugu rock to the south, and a nice quiet estuary to the north that is full of birds, seals, and other wildlife. There is a whole spectrum of camping and lodging options svailable, from simple basic tent camping, to reserving one of their yurts, to car or RV camping with full hookups, to cabins and even a very nice beach motel. All are location by the base MWR outdoor recreation facility which has all kinds of beach and camping gear available to check out, like snorkels and surfboards and more, and staff to advise about local hiking and recreational trips in the area.

    The tent sites are very basic and very close together, but the surroundings are worth it! We didnt stay in one of the yurts but hope to next time, they are beautiful and a nice intermediate option between tenting and motel. The RV area is heavily used but clean and nicely maintained, and in a beautiful location right on the beach!. The beach motel iis adjacent, and the cabins are located in a much more secluded area off on their own to the east.

    The beach is beautiful, clean and well maintained and not as heavily used as the nearby state beaches off base, which is a real treat

    There are a few base eateries and a grocery store on the base just a few minutes drive away so it is easy to restock provisions if needed.

    The hiking opportunities within even half hour drive off base from the campground are amazing, lots of state parks, national forests, state beaches, nature preserves and more with incredible hiking trails. This location is also very convenient to Ventura where you can catch a national park ferry to the Channel Islands for day trips.

    This campground is highly recommnded, and our favorite go-to place to stay whenever we are in the LA area!

  • Brian A.
    Camper-submitted photo at Dockweiler Beach RV Park near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Dockweiler Beach RV Park

    Fires on the Beach!!!

    This is a pretty great RV campground. One of the only in Southern California/Los Angeles area where you can have a fire on the beach.

  • F
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Oct. 4, 2022

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    Excellent . Big spots

    Nice big spots, close to the beach. Very quite. Needs to reserve at California State parks website. Dump station and water fill up on your way out not on the campsite, but thats no issue for us. Wifi not working but good 4G reception. Need tokens for the shower, so showered in the RV.

  • K
    Camper-submitted photo at Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Jun. 20, 2018

    Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach

    Nice State Beach Campground

    This is a nice little spot, close to town, but not as close to the train as some of the other Southern California state beaches. The campground hosts went above and beyond to keep the bathrooms clean and even provided nice soap. The tent camping spots were a pretty good size for beach camping.

  • S
    alan P.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Lake Casitas Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Aug. 13, 2018

    Lake Casitas Recreation Area

    Family Friendly

    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.

  • Kristi D.The Dyrt PRO User
    alan P.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Lake Casitas Recreation Area near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Oct. 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.

  • Amanda M.
    Camper-submitted photo at Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Oct. 24, 2018

    Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach

    Carpinteria State Beach Campground

    Carpinteria State Beach Campground is a one of our frequently visited “staycation” spots. We live in nearby Santa Barbara, but will use Carp State Beach as a midway meeting point when friends from Southern California and Central California meet up.

    The campground is pretty large, and caters mostly to RVs and trailers. There are loops within the campground that are essentially just asphalt lots with small dirt spaces for fire pits and picnic benches - these are intended for RV campers, but we have tent camped there in a pinch. Since we are tent campers we do prefer to camp in the grassy tent sites, but they are limited in number and tend fill up quickly. Because of the moderate year-round weather, Carpinteria State Beach Campground stays pretty full all year long!

    The campground has full hook ups, clean plumed bathrooms, and coin-operated showers. There are grocery stores and conscience stores within short walking distance for anything you might need. Train tracks run directly behind the campground, so there is some noise pollution from the passing trains.

    The campground is at the very end of downtown Carpinteria, right next to the ocean. There are no “ocean front” sites, but the beach is a quick 1-minute walk from essentially anywhere in the campground. Some small sandy dunes separate the campground from the beach, and there is an accessible paved boardwalk running along the length of the dunes. There are beautiful tide pools just south of Carpinteria State Beach Campground that are a must see. Check the tide charts on the internet to visit the tide pools at low to mid tide.

    While we really enjoy camp cooking, we tend to opt to walk into town to eat when camping in Carpinteria. Linden Avenue is right next to the campground, and is the main street in downtown Carpinteria. There is a wide variety of restaurants, breweries and coffee shops downtown. Island Brewery CO is a local favorite just on the edge of the campground - while I don’t think they have food available (yet), their beer is GREAT! Their avocado beer is a must try - I know it sounds weird, but it’s delicious (and doesn’t taste like avocados)! Rincon Brewery is a few blocks up from the campground, and also has great beer, and TASTY FOOD!

    CAMPSITE SPECS

    Fees: $45/night (normal campsite)

    Plumbed Toilets: Yes

    Drinking Water: Yes

    Showers: Yes (coin-operated)

    Picnic Table: Yes

    Firepit: Yes

    Cooking Grate: Yes

    Shade: No

    Cell Service: Yes

    Animal Bins/Food lockers: No

    Trash: Yes

  • A
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Nov. 23, 2024

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    Great beach camping experience with some minor drawbacks

    Great beach camping experience with some minor drawbacks 

    We just spent 4 days at Leo Carrillo in site 128 last week. The campground is tucked away in a beautiful canyon setting with lots of shade trees, which was really nice for keeping cool. Our site was spacious enough for our two tents and had a good fire pit and picnic table setup. 

    The best part about this campground is definitely the beach access- it's about a 10-minute walk from most sites, and you can explore some amazing tide pools and caves once you get there. The kids loved searching for hermit crabs and sea anemones. Bring a wagon if you're hauling beach gear though, as the walk can feel long with all your stuff. 

    Facilities were decent- bathrooms were kept fairly clean and showers worked well, though the token system($2 for 2 minutes) takes some getting used to. The camp store was handy for forgotten supplies and firewood. Cell service is virtually non-existent in the canyon, but you can get signal up at the beach if needed. 

    Only downsides were some noisy neighbors on the weekend nights(seems pretty common here given the proximity to LA) and the sites can feel a bit close together when it's fully booked. centimeters to inches Also spotted a few rats at night, so definitely store your food properly. 

    Despite the minor issues, we'd definitely come back. It's a great escape from the city with that classic California beach camping vibe. Just book well in advance for summer weekends and maybe bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper. 

    Month of Visit: October

  • Rochelle M.
    Camper-submitted photo at Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Jul. 9, 2020

    Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach

    Things as Usual

    With all the Covid-19 guidelines in place for campgrounds to reopen, I was excited to see what that would look like. I naively thought the campgrounds wouldn’t be open to capacity and I was hoping for camping not so close to other campers. I don’t love how tightly packed everyone is on a normal summer camping day/night. So imagine my annoyance when it was just as tightly packed during this social distancing summer as it usually is!

    With that said, people were kind and our small campground worked for our family. The only problem we had was a neighboring campground deciding past quiet hours that it was a good time to start singing and playing the ukulele. Not sure why the camp host didn’t come tell them to be quiet. It lasted until 11:30pm at least.

    There is construction on one of the bathroom buildings so there were additional porta-pottys with portable hand washing stations next to them. These bathrooms were very clean! I was pleasantly surprised.

    We love the beach access right next to our campsite and the beautiful scenery of the mountains above. It really is a gorgeous place.

    Our boys loved guessing what trains (metro link or surf liner) were passing through- because yes- the train is a stones throw behind the sites and the trains runs frequently.

    My 4 star rating is for what it is. A great camping spot that will always be booked to capacity because it’s beach camping in Southern California. I wanted to write an updated review for those wondering what covid-19 looks like here. Well? It’s the same. Just some extra hand washing stations and some people wearing masks.

  • Leslie R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Aug. 6, 2018

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Matador Camera Case at Leo Carrillo State Park

    Campground review (3 of 5 stars)

    The Canyon Campground is located on a spectacular stretch of the PCH just north of Malibu. Like most other California State Parks, it is quite expensive. The sites are located in a dusty coastal sage scrub valley, often right on top of each other.  This place is packed with RVs and families on vacation during the summer, so don't expect to find peace and solitude here. There are full facilities (e.g., showers, camp store), but the $45 per night fee is the highest we've paid for any camping.

    One perk is that you can walk to the beach within minutes. Also, one of the few dog beaches in LA is only a couple minutes drive away. Luckily, dogs are allowed in the campground too. If you can look past your nearby neighbors, the views of the nearby Santa Monica Mountains are charming. It's also only a short drive to some spectacular hiking and bouldering. If you bring your crashpad and shoes, the sandbox and temporal boulders are about a 15-30 minute hike upstream, and you certainly won't have any crowds there! Finally, don't forget to reserve your site far in advance (you can do this online), especially for weekends. Otherwise the rangers recommend showing up at 8AM on a Friday or Saturday to try to snag one of the few walk-in sites or a site from cancelled or no-show reservation.

    Product review (4.5 of 5 stars)

    As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I get to test products for review for some of my camping trips. On this trip, we tested the Matador camera base layer case and the lens base layer. See our demo video, presented by my husband, the photography pro. These are two phenomenal products that offer some sleek protection for your camera and lenses. 

    Pros:

    • easily removable from bag
    • modular designs fit most cameras and lenses
    • sleek and unobtrusive
    • high-quality and durable material
    • super lightweight, adds no weight to carry

    Cons:

    • no mechanism to clip the camera base layer to the camera or strap, which can be somewhat cumbersome while attempting to take a quick shot
    • some larger DSLR cameras may have a small gap on the sides of the base layer that lacks complete protection if the lens is left attached

    Overall, these two products provide ample protection while you're trying to snap some great photos in the outdoors. I don't think they provide quite the same level of protection as larger bags with more padding, but that's not what they're aiming for. I felt a tremendous peace of mind having my camera dangling from my neck in the base layer while scurrying down the steep sand dunes, which I certainly wouldn't have felt had I not had the base layer on.

  • Caitlin G.
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Jul. 23, 2020

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    10/10 beach camping near LA

    I love camping at Leo I grew up going here, some of my best memories are riding bikes and hiking around the campground with friends. As a kid I always felt safe and my parents let me roam free. It’s crowded during the summer for obvious reasons, but I think that’s part of the charm it’s a great place to people watch and make friends with your neighbors. Highly recommend booking 6 months in advance if you want a summer weekend spot. The beach is a short walk, bike ride or drive away and the north end of the beach is dog friendly. Campers have priority at the beach parking lot. It’s only an hour drive from LA but you can see the stars and hear the waves crashing at night from your campsite. Quite time is 10 but it usually gets quite around 12. Rangers do try to enforce it but they are understanding and will give a few warnings before getting stern. Hope you get the chance to visit this cool spot...wishing I was there now!

  • J
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Jul. 29, 2020

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    Nice campsite

    We stayed one night. Nice experience. It was super quiet after 10p.m., but it was a Monday night.

    About 60% of the sites have shade. Check the ReserveCalifornia.com site pictures to see what the site looks like before you register. Open the map then click on the site to see the picture. https://www.reservecalifornia.com/CaliforniaWebHome/

    It’s a short walk to the beach. Nice beach. Dogs are only allowed on the beach north of Leo Carrillo Beach. It’s a little longer walk. A couple of notes: The Dyrt info says $12 but that’s for day use only. The tent sites are $45, plus $9 registration fee;hookup sites $60, plus $9 registration. There is a flock of South American parrots that come by and feed on the flora seeds in the area.

  • Y
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    When you want to camp close to LA

    Family camping weekend. There is a cute general store onsite. It’s small but carries plenty and has a coffee machine. It was so much fun riding our scooters and skates all over the grounds as all the sites are situated on a loop. Restrooms were nearby these two sites and had token showers. Lots of ants at our site but we set up camp right under the big tree and hey you are in nature. Beach is not far (walkable) but recommend a wagon or something similar to bring your beach gear. Water was very cold of course. Dog beach is located on the north beach. Porta-potties at the beach. Fishing allowed. Was so much fun discovering the tidepools and exploring the coastal cliffs and caves.

  • Sam & Amy inc.  L.
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Nov. 15, 2020

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    Nice size sites

    We visited here last weekend. Had reservations for site 30, which was nice. However, very loud inconsiderate neighbors. They had a huge clan of screaming children and barking dogs. Plus they ran their generator during quiet hours. We walked around the park on day 2 and saw a lot of open sites, and requested to be moved if possible. While the person at the kiosk did let us move, she was not friendly about it, and in fact was quite rude. She said they have every right to be loud in a public place. What about our right to enjoy nature in peace? If I went to a movie theater, a public place, people do not have the right to be loud and ruin my experience, right? Beware of L. Albers, she is not nice. In any case, we moved to site 118, which was beautiful, and quiet. The sites are all pretty big, and are spread out. A bit of a long walk to the beach, but we didn’t have kids, so it was ok. I would go back.

  • Jose N.
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Dec. 1, 2020

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    Great Campground for the family !

    Nice campground Very family oriented Great for kids to play, run and ride their bikes all day long Walking distance to the beach Convenient store located in campground Closest grocery store is about 10 minutes away

    Lots of Rats at night Make sure you bring rodent repellent

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Mar. 9, 2021

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    A very nice a family friendly campground.

    The best part of this campground is the quick walk to the beach. Lots of families and trees to climb for the kids. Going from the campsite to the sand was a very nice experience. I camped on a Saturday night so the campground was full but that was expected as we were so close to L.A. I will return for a quick getaway.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Mar. 23, 2021

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    Great family vacation!

    We spent our spring break here and had a great time. Me, my husband, and our 7 year old daughter enjoyed it so much we ended up extending our stay. The campground was busy but there was plenty of space between campsites. Everyone was pleasant including the staff that were very helpful and answered all of our questions.

  • R
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Jul. 3, 2021

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    Nice campground w/ beach access

    The campground is tucked away between 2 canyons amongst sycamore trees. The parking pads or trailer pads are very small, but the sites themselves have good space w/ fire pits and tables. Cel service is very scarce in the campground, you need to go out to the beach for service. The beach is within walking distance, great waves for surfing and awesome tide pools for the kiddos. There is also a dog beach and a couple rock caves to explore. Overall, a nice getaway and not too far from home.

  • H
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Apr. 4, 2022

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    Beautiful Campground

    I thought this was a great campground, although I had the only campsite (#101) that didn’t have any shade. It is a huge campground with paved pads for cars and RVs. Many of the site had huge shade trees that you could fit several tents under. Sites were spaced a good distance apart. It is well maintained. There are flush toilets, hot showers, water, a dump station and a little campground store. My only complaint was the showers. Two tokens for a dollar, two minutes of hot water per token. It took most of the first two minutes waiting for the water to get hot. I ended my shower by rinsing off with cold water.

  • Corey B.
    Sook C.'s photo of glamping accommodations at Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground near Lake Sherwood, CA
    Apr. 14, 2022

    Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground

    Great local campsite for LA

    We camped here for New Years 2016 and loved it. It was a quiet campground even on new years and had a good amount of room between sites. The site is pretty sandy so the tents get a bit messy, but otherwise the fire ring was great. 

    The beach that you can walk to is an awesome dog beach. We had a blast here. I will say be careful about tar in the sand as that ruined a good pair of hiking pants that I was wearing.


Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Lake Sherwood, CA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Lake Sherwood, CA is Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 52 reviews.

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