Top Tent Camping near New Cuyama, CA

If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near New Cuyama, look no further. With The Dyrt, it's easy to find New Cuyama campgrounds for you and your tent. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.

Best Tent Sites Near New Cuyama, CA (38)

    Camper-submitted photo from Bates Canyon Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Bates Canyon Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Bates Canyon Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Bates Canyon Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Bates Canyon Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Bates Canyon Campground

    1. Bates Canyon Campground

    4 Reviews
    11 Photos
    35 Saves
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    Camper-submitted photo from Miranda Pine Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Miranda Pine Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Miranda Pine Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Miranda Pine Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Miranda Pine Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Miranda Pine Campground

    2. Miranda Pine Campground

    4 Reviews
    7 Photos
    141 Saves

    Nestled in the pines. Nice vistas of the Cuyama Valley.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • ADA Access
    • Tents
    • Group
    Camper-submitted photo from Colson Canyon Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Colson Canyon Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Colson Canyon Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Colson Canyon Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Colson Canyon Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Colson Canyon Campground

    3. Colson Canyon Campground

    6 Reviews
    22 Photos
    42 Saves

    Colson Campground is a primitive campground located approximately 40 miles from the city of Santa Maria, CA. There are five campsites with tables and fire rings. There is no running water and no bathroom. Popular campground for hunters, as this campground is easy access to the Alejandro Trail. Please pack out all of your trash.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Equestrian
    • Picnic Table
    Camper-submitted photo from Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos
    Camper-submitted photo from Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos
    Camper-submitted photo from Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos
    Camper-submitted photo from Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos
    Camper-submitted photo from Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos
    Camper-submitted photo from Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos

    4. Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos

    6 Reviews
    24 Photos
    393 Saves
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Dispersed
    • Picnic Table
    • No image available

      5. Barrel Springs Campground

      2 Reviews
      37 Saves

      Adjacent to La Brea Creek. Located in canyon bottom, surrounded by oak trees.

      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Tents
      • Equestrian
      • Tent Cabin
      • Glamping
      • No image available

        6. Rancho Nuevo Campground

        1 Review
        3 Saves

        Rancho Nuevo Campground is a primitive campground with 2 sites on a grassy canyon bottom, 4-wheel drive access only. Road is subject to close in the winter.__

        • Tents
        Camper-submitted photo from San Emigdio Campground
        Camper-submitted photo from San Emigdio Campground
        Camper-submitted photo from San Emigdio Campground
        Camper-submitted photo from San Emigdio Campground
        Camper-submitted photo from San Emigdio Campground
        Camper-submitted photo from San Emigdio Campground

        7. San Emigdio Campground

        2 Reviews
        6 Photos
        12 Saves

        San Emigdio Campground is situated near the entrance to San Emigdio Canyon between the preserve's Administration Center and The Crossing. The campground includes twelve spacious tent campsites, picnic tables, potable water, flush toilet restrooms, and a dishwashing station. A small creek and pond meanders through the campground and there is plenty of shade provided by large cottonwood trees.

        Tent camping and camper vans/trucks only (max length 21 feet).

        • ADA Access
        • Tents
        • Picnic Table
        • Drinking Water
        • Toilets
        • No image available

          8. Wagon Flat Campground

          1 Review
          3 Saves

          Adjacent to La Brea Creek. Located in canyon bottom, surrounded by oak trees.

          • Pets
          • Tents
          • Equestrian
          • Standard (Tent/RV)
          • Tent Cabin
          • Glamping
          Camper-submitted photo from Reyes Peak Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Reyes Peak Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Reyes Peak Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Reyes Peak Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Reyes Peak Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Reyes Peak Campground

          9. Reyes Peak Campground

          2 Reviews
          8 Photos
          105 Saves

          Overview

          At an elevation of 7,000 feet, Reyes Peak Campground, rises above the Sespe Wilderness and is situated along a ridge with spectacular views of the Cuyama Badlands on one side and the Pacific Ocean from the other side. On clear days you can even see some of the Channel Islands!

          Recreation

          Several trails leave the Reyes Peak Campground area. Chorro Grande Trail is located at the gate just past the last campsite. Raspberry Spring Trail will lead you north on a short one-half mile walk through the pines. It starts at the parking area on the western edge of the campground. The Reyes Peak Trail (23W04) is moderately difficult. It leads eastward into the Sespe Wilderness for 5.8 miles to the Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail (22W03). Remember, no mountain bikes are allowed in the wilderness.

          Natural Features

          The landscape includes Jeffrey pines, sugar pines, white fir and ponderosa pines. Wildflowers are abundant in the spring and early summer. Be dazzled by lupine, false lupine, scarlet bugler and many others. Keep your eyes open for red-tailed hawks soaring above the trees. If you are lucky, you may see a California condor! Other birds in the area include woodpeckers and chickadees. Deer, bear, and coyote also live in the area.

          Nearby Attractions

          Hiking trails, biking and fishing are within 30 minutes. Take a day trip south along Hwy 33 to the Rose Valley Road (6N31) to the Piedra Blanca trailhead where three trails can be accessed, all located across Sespe Creek. The Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail (22W03) in the Sespe Wilderness will lead you to nearby massive white rocks, called Piedra Blanca! It is an easy walk for the first three miles. A principal attraction to this section of the Sespe is Rose Valley Falls. This trail to the falls begins just before you enter Rose Valley Campground. Follow it for a short half-mile and you will be at the base of the falls. The cliffs at the falls are arkosic sandstone and crumble easily, so tread lightly. Rose Valley Falls is the tallest waterfall in the range and while it is an easy hike to the base of the 100-foot tall lower tier of the waterfall (0.8 miles round trip with 150 feet of elevation gain), it is adventure to reach the more impressive upper tier. Please do not climb around on steep sections or get close to the edge. You will need to park outside Rose Valley Campground to hike the trails. Another trail, the Sespe River Trail (20W13) will lead you downstream into the Sespe Wilderness. You will find some swimming holes along this walk. Remember, no mountain bicycles allowed on wilderness trails. If you would like to go on a mountain bicycle ride, take the Middle Sespe Trail (22W04) that leads up river eight miles to the west to Middle Sespe Trailhead.

          • Pets
          • Fires
          • Reservable
          • Tents
          • Standard (Tent/RV)
          • Picnic Table

          $30 - $34 / night

          Camper-submitted photo from Brookshire Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Brookshire Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Brookshire Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Brookshire Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Brookshire Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Brookshire Campground

          10. Brookshire Campground

          2 Reviews
          7 Photos
          32 Saves

          Nestled in the oaks. Provides opportunity for those seeking solitude.

          • Pets
          • Fires
          • ADA Access
          • Tents
          • Group
          • Equestrian
        Showing results 1-10 of 38 campgrounds

        Recent Tent Reviews In New Cuyama

        615 Reviews of 38 New Cuyama Campgrounds


        • AnnaEvan S.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Campo Alto Campground
          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!

        • Michelle M.
          Camper-submitted photo from Lake Casitas Recreation Area
          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.

        • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Wheeler Gorge Campground
          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.

        • BThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Military Park Vandenberg AFB Pine Canyon Campground
          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
          Camper-submitted photo from Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
          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.

        • Elaine H.
          Camper-submitted photo from Dennison Park
          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.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Lopez Lake Campground
          Jun. 27, 2024

          Lopez Lake Campground

          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
          Camper-submitted photo from Lake Casitas Recreation Area
          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.

        • KThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from El Capitan State Beach
          May. 23, 2024

          El Capitan State Beach

          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.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Hobson Beach County Park
          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.

        • MThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Foster Residence Campground
          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.

        • kThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Lost Hills RV Park
          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

        • MThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Faria Beach Park
          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.

        • MThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Kcl Campground
          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

        • Jenny S.
          Camper-submitted photo from Songdog Campground
          Apr. 2, 2024

          Songdog Campground

          Spacious and beautiful private property. Friendly, accommodating hosts!

          I stayed for a quick stop overnight and found the site as described. Just a table, fire pit, and water spigot.  The hosts are very accommodating and made sure I was able to find my site after dark and were very responsive to my texts!  Cell service was fine and I felt perfectly safe as a solo female!  I really enjoyed the ranch dogs coming to hang out with me! I'll be back to try one of the other sites with more amazing views!

        • Jack J.
          Camper-submitted photo from Nettle Springs Campground
          Mar. 23, 2024

          Nettle Springs Campground

          One Night Stay

          It’s a pack in and pack out camp ground. Apache canyon trail getting is was a fun drive. I used my 4x4 but could easy done without. Not a soul was there. Could see it getting busy during the summer though.

        • Jack J.
          Camper-submitted photo from Carpinteria State Beach
          Mar. 7, 2024

          Carpinteria State Beach

          Family Tradition

          My family camps here everyone year for as long as I can remember. The beaches are always nice. The trail that goes to the end of the campground is always fun bike ride. Carp itself is one of my favorite little towns. When camping, we also stop at Robitaille's Fine Candy shop.

        • Patrick J.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Ocean Mesa Campground at El Capitan
          Feb. 18, 2024

          Ocean Mesa Campground at El Capitan

          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.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Lake Casitas Recreation Area
          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.



        Guide to New Cuyama

        Camping near New Cuyama, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.

        What to do:

        • Beach Access: Enjoy the sandy shores at Oceano County Campground — Pismo State Beach. "The beach is a short walk away," says one camper, making it easy to soak up the sun and surf.
        • Hiking and Biking: Explore the trails around Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. One visitor noted, "Hiking and mountain biking trails are abundant throughout the area," perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.
        • Wildlife Watching: At Jalama Beach County Park, keep an eye out for local wildlife. A camper mentioned, "Surfers, couples & families can enjoy this beautiful place," highlighting the diverse activities available.

        What campers like:

        • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. "The flush bathrooms are clean and spacious," one reviewer remarked, making it a comfortable stay.
        • Scenic Views: Many love the stunning views at El Capitán State Beach Campground. A visitor shared, "Our site had an ocean view," which adds to the overall experience.
        • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Families enjoy the welcoming vibe at Lake Casitas Recreation Area. One reviewer said, "This is a huge place, with lots to do," making it ideal for family outings.

        What you should know:

        • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Emma Wood State Beach, have minimal facilities. A camper noted, "Completely dry camping with no showers or bathrooms," so be prepared for a more rustic experience.
        • Wildlife Precautions: At Wheeler Gorge Campground, bears are known to roam. One camper warned, "They let us know there was a bear in the area," so keep food secured.
        • Crowded During Peak Season: Campers at Lopez Lake Recreation Area noted that it can get busy. "Check-in involved parking our van and standing in line like Disneyland," one visitor shared, so plan accordingly.

        Tips for camping with families:

        • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots like Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, where one reviewer mentioned, "The lake is perfect for boating," providing fun for kids.
        • Pack for Activities: Bring bikes or scooters for the kids. A camper at Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach said, "The trail that goes to the end of the campground is always a fun bike ride."
        • Plan for Meals: Make sure to pack easy-to-cook meals. A visitor at Jalama Beach County Park mentioned, "There’s a small freshwater stream that flows right into the shore," perfect for a picnic spot.

        Tips from RVers:

        • Check Site Sizes: RVers at Oceano County Campground — Pismo State Beach noted, "It does have the more typical RV/parking lot feel," so ensure your site can accommodate your rig.
        • Bring Cash for Showers: At Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, showers require tokens. One camper advised, "Make sure you have some dollars," to avoid surprises.
        • Be Mindful of Noise: Campers at El Capitán State Beach Campground mentioned noise from the nearby freeway. A visitor said, "It can be slightly noisy if your site is on the back side," so choose your spot wisely.

        Camping near New Cuyama, California, has something for everyone, from stunning views to family-friendly activities. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

        Frequently Asked Questions

        • Which is the most popular tent campsite near New Cuyama, CA?

          According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near New Cuyama, CA is Bates Canyon Campground with a 3.3-star rating from 4 reviews.

        • What is the best site to find tent camping near New Cuyama, CA?

          TheDyrt.com has all 38 tent camping locations near New Cuyama, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.