Best Tent Camping near New Cuyama, CA

Recent Tent Reviews in New Cuyama

629 Reviews of 37 New Cuyama Campgrounds

• 

  Wendy S.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 6, 2024

  Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area

  Just fine, but read!

  This is a county park on a lake. The campsites are unique in that they are all pull through, but really pull along. There’s lots of space and you are not on top of each other. That said, the campground is full of pocket gophers and ground squirrels so lots of uneven ground. The bathrooms are really old. Like they have metal toilets. I travel a lot and wouldn’t choose to shower here. It’s great in November and December. I’m sure it’s hot in the summer and not a ton of shade. It’s very affordable and did the job. If the bathrooms were not so old it would have been a 4 star.

• 

  Natalie T.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 23, 2024

  Carrizzo Plain National Monument Dispersed

  Rolling Hills & Plains

  ☆ No target shooting allowed ☆ Arrived on a drizzly day & tried going further down the road to other more secluded camping spots. However the dirt road was slick & minivan, loaded down, was slipping & sliding. Backtracked to a nice spot, camaflouged by a small hill, it'll protect my gear tent. This is open castle range.

• 

  Dominik K.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 23, 2024

  El Capitán State Beach Campground

  Great place worth to visit

  Place with beautiful ocean view, a lot of space on each campsite. One star less due to Very worn sanitary facilities…… but still working :-) Very crowded on weekends

• 

  ian S.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 11, 2024

  Songdog Ranch

  Politicized campground

  Not a bad campground, but driving in, the owner has large political flags flying. In these highly divisive times, I don't want to stay at places that divide our country, I want to get away from that. Not recommended.

• 

  Spicy N.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 3, 2024

  Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach

  Not Worth staying here

  Facilities are run down. This places needs a major make over! Bathrooms are dirty, showers are gross. Sinks to wash dishes are disgusting & right next to dumpsters. You have no privacy and sites are right on top of each other…you’re basically in a parking lot. Barking dogs right next to you can get pretty annoying pretty fast. NOT WORTH the $70 a night fee. I would only stay here here as a LAST resort

• 

  Spicy N.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 3, 2024

  Anacapa Campground — Carpinteria State Beach

  For $70 a night we Expected More!

  Facilities are run down. This places needs a major make over! Bathrooms are dirty, showers are gross. Sinks to wash dishes are disgusting & right next to dumpsters. You have no privacy and sites are right on top of each other…you’re basically in a parking lot. Barking dogs right next to you can get pretty annoying pretty fast. NOT WORTH the $70 a night fee. I would only stay here here as a LAST resort

• 

  Bob H.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 25, 2024

  Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area

  Quiet campground

  Campground is full hookups. Lake was nice and not many boats. Ground was rough due to holes made by squirrel population. Some minor litter.

• 

  AnnaEvan S.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 15, 2024

  Campo Alto Campground

  Great Escape!

  This is a wonderful campground if you're looking to escape the crowds elsewhere. We were in spot 4 which was right next to the check in board. Despite the close proximity to the road the site was very big and had plenty of trees to throw our hammocks up and relax. Next time we would likely pick spots 6-8 or 13-17 as they were a little further into the campground and away from the main road.

  There is plenty of firewood to gather but I may suggest a small hatchet.

  The vault toilets were clean enough for vault toilets.

  My husband and I stayed Saturday to Monday and found that only a few hunters were left Sunday night and Monday morning and we enjoyed walking through the campground and checking out all the small viewpoints through the trees to the valleys below. The group sites looked spacious and awesome as well!

  Pine Mountain Club was close, quaint, and the people we met were friendly.

  We are keeping this spot in our back pockets for the next time we want to escape the busy city life!

• n

  nathalie

  Scout

  

  Oct. 10, 2024

  ATV Campground — Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area

  Closed until further notice

  The post fire which burned the area of 10,000 acres on June 15, 2024 has caused this area to be closed until further notice. We went to camp but were turned away. Be aware. Otherwise would have been a great place to stay as I have been there before

• 

  Michelle M.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 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.

• J

  Jason R.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 22, 2024

  Old Sierra Madre

  Lovely hillside spots

  Picked the first nook from the GPS pin but hiked up road and there are quite a few others, some shaded, some exposed. Bit of highway noise.

• 

  ArtisticArtsy A.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 22, 2024

  El Capitán State Beach Campground

  Weekend getaway

  Clean and very nice view. Easy access to the beach.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 21, 2024

  Wheeler Gorge Campground

  Peaceful and Calm!

  We loved camping here. The whole area has a really peaceful and mellow vibe. We reserved site #49 which was plenty big enough for our 26ft class c, but the drive through the campground to get to the site was a little narrow and tight, wouldn't recommend for larger RVs. This end of the campground is right next to the emergency exit, too, but they keep that gate locked, otherwise it would be an easy swoop in. Camp host was really nice, campground was huge, nice that there's a creek running through it which comes in handy in the hot summer months. You have to drive over some creek runoff at parts, no problem.

  There's zero cell reception in this entire area, the roads leading up to the campground as well.

  Fees are $35 or $37 for weekends/holidays. Pricey for what you get and for what we're used to paying for a forest service campground.

• B

  Bryce M.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 5, 2024

  Military Park Vandenberg AFB Pine Canyon Campground

  Nice and quiet

  Located on Vandenberg base which requires a membership card (military I.D.) This helps keep the camp site more private. No one goes here. It is tranquil and has trails to hike and lakes to fish in. Hunting is also allowed during select seasons. If you like quiet and keep to yourself, this is the place. There are no trash cans and a permit is required for campfire. There are a couple of port-a-pots and they are very clean. Go SpaceForce! Lastly, watch out for poison oak. Stay on the trails and all is well. Semper Fi.

• S

  Susie B.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 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.

• K

  Kim G.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 20, 2024

  Lopez Lake Recreation Area

  Not our scene: hot, crowded, buggy

  We had reservations for 2 nights on an Augugst Friday / Saturday at Lopez Lake in a full-hook-up site in Bandtail (Site 38). The reviews of this place were great, and the photos were beautiful. We arrived to find a HUGE park (yes, I should have noted how many campsites there are). Check-in involved parking our van and standing in line like Disneyland. The park employees were nice though. There were big signs all around "NO FIRES" (more on this later) and I was also told at check in that there were no fires. We found our site easily enough, only to realize how closely packed the sites were in Bandtail. Some nice folks to our right had three sites - 11 kids and 21 people between them. The kids rode their bikes all over, and even onto our site (while also running around our van chasing a chipmunk). We had our daughter's dog, so tried sitting outside in the shade, only to find that in addition to the heat (it was mid 80s), there were biting flies. :( Poor puppy got bit or stung more than once. So we went in our van and turned on the AC (it could run on low with the 20A service there). Then, after dark, a dad and his young son arrive on our other side and had to back in their boat in the dark. We got out of our rig and helped them (twice) with our portable lights and guidance. In the morning, they spoke in very loud voices and we were right next door. We did take one of the trails in the heat, but they are not at all well maintained - basically trampled grass that could easily hold a snake. While the area is pretty, it is just way too crowded for our taste. Oh, and the bathrooms were dimily lit, had a couple of non-functioning toilets, and were dirty. We were ready to get out of there and will not be back. Lastly, though the fire danger was marked as extremely high and "NO FIRES" signs at check-in, along with verbal warnings of no fires, I saw two campsites had open fires in the fire pits. This blatant lack of regard for rules and safety didn't sit well with me. And no one was enforcing the fire ban. Sad.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 3, 2024

  Faria Beach Park

  Beachy casual

  I'm giving this place 5 stars, because even though it's cramped and packed and awkward to maneuver through, it's got the casual and fun beach vibe that we love about this area.

  You're right on the beach, with easy access to the beach via stairs. This campground is very close to Rincon, but the setup is totally different. Rincon is basically just a parking space on the road, while Faria is a regular campground. The drive down from the main road is pretty steep with a sharp turn, I'm surprised more RVs don't scrape and cause damage on the way down.

  The sites here are very close together, but it doesn't matter. Everyone is friendly and happy and in a good mood. The cafe is fun and seems to be a hangout for bikers riding along Hwy 1. We love it here.

• 

  Elaine H.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 16, 2024

  Dennison Park

  Great campground and host!

  I love finding a camping spot last minute and it turns out to be amazing! Dennison Park Campground did not disappoint! Although there are beautiful upper campground spots that Overlook Ojai Valley, I chose, from the choices I had, a spot that looked spacious and offered the most shade. Nestled in the middle of upper and lower campsites, I found it to be a quiet reprieve from our day's activities -- the campfire always the highlight for me. The camp host, Dane, was friendly, helpful, and a joy to chat with. He also gave us some suggestions of other county parks to check out the next time we venture to the Ojia area! We will definitely be back to camp here!

• 

  Jeremy F.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 27, 2024

  Lopez Lake Recreation Area

  Great time with the whole family

  Large sites with plenty of room for tents and all the other camping necessities. This site backs up into the hills and there are black bears that roam the area so be sure to prepare for that. The lake is full and lots of areas to fish.

• t

  tryna H.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 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.

• K

  Kim G.

  Ranger

  

  May. 23, 2024

  El Capitán State Beach Campground

  Bluff-top beach-ish camping

  We spent two nights at El Capitan State Beach. Our site had an ocean view, which is why I give this campground a 4-star rating. There isn't much to do here (limited hiking), so that is why it isn't a 5-star review. Still, other than one windy day, we had a lovely time relaxing here, walking the limited beach bluff-top walk down to the beach and west toward Refugio. The path used to go all the way to Refugio, but it is closed right after the walk/bike-in campsites at El Capitan due to the ocean erroding away the cliffs the path sits on. The bathrooms were fairly clean and there are showers (didn't use). Like many CA parks, the area has a run-down feel. We went into Santa Barbara on our way to and from the campsite. It is about a 20-mile drive, so a bit long. One of my photos is at Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara (you can see the pier). It is a good place to park a van (up to 22 ft) or they have "motor home" spots for day parking.

• 

  Heather K.

  Ranger

  

  May. 16, 2024

  Hobson Beach County Park

  Expensive But It’s On The Beach

  I stayed here for one night. Bathrooms were clean. They seem to have a coffee and pizza shack too but they were not open when I arrived. I didn’t use the showers but they have a shower room in addition to bathrooms. It was a quiet night.

  The only negative was the people parked next to me had moved their picnic table into my spot so it made it difficult to back in and use my spot.

• M

  Mike G.

  Guide

  

  May. 3, 2024

  Foster Residence Campground

  Small Campground but Nice

  Small little campground, easy to get to and across from Foster Park. 

  There are not too many spaces, and it is a little tight, so larger RVs will not fit. 

  I got site 11, which is pretty big, but it's next to the road. At all times of the day, you get a lot of loud motorcycles coming through. 

  It's next to Foster Park, which allows swimming in the river during the summer months. 

  It's also near the Ojai Bike trail, which you can take all the way to Ojai or down to the beach in Ventura. 

  I road up to Lake Casitas and into Ojai, which was a nice short loop.

  There were no issues with safety; it felt pretty safe.

• k

  kenneth B.

  Guide

  

  May. 3, 2024

  Lost Hills RV Park

  After the wind there as calm

  When arrived the wind was blowing and the dust was a moving.. but in the evening it calmed down.. nice place every thing looks updated, facilities, pool, help is nice, right next to loves truck stop so there is traffic but not hateful.. good place to stop on I 5

• M

  Mike G.

  Guide

  

  May. 2, 2024

  Faria Beach Park

  Beach Front Camping At Its Best

  It's a nice little site. It's not too crowded, as there aren't too many sites within the campground. You are packed in like sardines, but this is conducive to every beachfront campground. 

  The place is clean and easy to get to. There are signs to lock your stuff up so it doesn't get stolen. The person next to me said they got their bike stolen the last time they were there. 

  The view is amazing of course. There is nothing else in the area, no shopping.  

  Good area if you plan to ride or run. You could ride up to Santa Barbara from here and run along the beach path.  You could also ride up to Lake Casitas and make a loop out of it.

• C

  Claudia H.

  Traveler

  

  May. 2, 2024

  Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area

  Quiet, clean, windy...

  Great spot next to the lake. Very windy at times. Lost of gopher holes in the soil.

• M

  Michael B.

  Guide

  

  May. 1, 2024

  KCL Campground

  Quiet rolling hills

  Small campground for 12 smaller than 30 ft rigs or tents. Most are much smaller. Rough bumpy road for miles ether direction on a first come, first serve campground. Has vaulted toilet with no water or other services. If full, would seek off road area on right just as you approach. Has older building of interest. There was a great horned owl in one of the few eucalyptus trees at the campsite. Quiet and nice area to take a hike or two with pretty nice views if you like the high desert landscape. Warning not to travel dirt roads after a rain as you’re likely to get stuck. Better if you come in from the north side(58) on paved roads, but would limit you to boondocking likely because unable to get to this or Selby campgrounds. Selby is another first-come site to the NW