Best Cabin Camping near Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara, California, is one of the Golden State’s quintessential beach towns. With pristine beaches and immaculate ocean views, you’ll want to stop and smell the roses (and the ocean air).

The best camping near Santa Barbara is just up US Route 101 at El Capitan State Beach. If you’re looking for mountains or free camping, your next best choice is the nearby Dick Smith Wilderness. With an RV resort nearby and tent campsite options available, you should have no problem finding a place to sleep. No matter whether you prefer the beach or the mountains, you’ll find campgrounds to suit you near Santa Barbara, CA.

Best Cabin Sites Near Santa Barbara, California (14)

    1. Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    59 Reviews
    Santa Ynez, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 686-5055

    "There's a dog park, and playgrounds, and a pool (since you can't swim in the lake because it's drinking water... which was strange to us as Utahns when all reservoirs are drinking water and we still swim"

    "The lovely county run park in the hills above the Santa Barbara coastline, is a great campground offering a wide variety of camping experiences from full hook ups to grass covered spaces under the trees"

    2. Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

    19 Reviews
    Goleta, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 879-5751

    "Awesome campground 20 min from Santa Barbara. Its small and really well maintained. Pool, hiking trails, great wifi. Walk down to the beach or just chill at your site."

    "If you find yourself up near Santa Barbara, this luxury RV Resort and Campground is a real splurge."

    3. Thousand Trails Rancho Oso

    7 Reviews
    Goleta, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "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."

    "We chose it because it was near Santa Barbara. And it was affordable (with Thousand Trails). So near to Santa Barbara is a relative term. It’s a 35 minute drive on a lovely windey mountain road."

    4. Arroyo Hondo Vista Point Rest / Camp area

    11 Reviews
    Solvang, CA
    23 miles
    Website

    "This is a California Highway rest area right off the 101 just north of Goleta/Santa Barbara. As the sign says, one is allowed to park their 8 hours."

    "I would have slept in my car but I got there around 1pm and stayed til 4 then moved on. The place is beautiful and you can get down to the beach, and walk across the bridge."

    5. Flying Flags RV Resort

    21 Reviews
    Buellton, CA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 783-5247

    "Nice RV park... It's pretty big and offers several options for staying from small cabins to full RV hook up sites."

    "The resort offers RV camping, cottages Airtream rentals, canned ham rentals and safari tent glamping."

    6. El Capitan Canyon

    1 Review
    Goleta, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 685-3887

    $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!"

    7. Ventura Beach RV Resort

    15 Reviews
    Ventura, CA
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 643-9137

    "Pool, hot tub, laundry, people friendly, picnic tables, fire rings and green grass every paved site. Buttt...266.00 2 nights!"

    "It is close to the 101 freeway, you can hear the traffic, but that didn’t bother us. Just be aware, it’s not a super quiet place."

    8. Reyes Creek Campground

    15 Reviews
    Pine Mountain Club, CA
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 434-1996

    $30 - $154 / night

    "There is no running water, and the pit toilets are definitely of the smellier side, but clean nevertheless."

    "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."

    9. Camp Comfort Park

    9 Reviews
    Ojai, CA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 654-3951

    "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!"

    "The location is phenomenal - surrounded by hills that bask in a beautiful golden light before sunset, a creek runs along the edge making the area right in front of the hills like a tropical garden -green"

    10. Jalama Beach County Park

    38 Reviews
    Santa Ynez, CA
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 736-3504

    "More than likely the beachfront sites will be booked, but be sure to call the ranher station just before for last-minute availability."

    "General: Variety of sites from basic camping to those with electric hookups. Some are considered premium beachfront sites and cabins. Prices are also adjusted seasonally. "

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Cabin Reviews near Santa Barbara, CA

227 Reviews of 14 Santa Barbara Campgrounds


  • marcus K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2021

    Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

    Very nice very nice

    Awesome campground 20 min from Santa Barbara. Its small and really well maintained. Pool, hiking trails, great wifi. Walk down to the beach or just chill at your site. There is a small store in case you forgot the smores.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2023

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Huge County Campground with Numerous Site Types

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Amanda M.
    Oct. 3, 2018

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Cachuma Lake - in the heart of Los Padres National Forest

    I am a native of Santa Barbara, CA, so I grew up going to Cachuma Lake. Cachuma Lake’s main recreational area is on a bluff overlooking the lake. There you can find tent sites, yurts, cabins, and full hookups for RVs. There are also smaller campgrounds at lake level - we prefer to stay in the Mohawk Shores campground, which is at lake level. The Mohawk Shores campsites are in a more densely packed oak grove, offering more shade and more privacy than the upper-level campgrounds. A few years ago they started pricing the “lakeside” sites in Mohawk more expensively than the rest of the sites in the area; ironic though, since the lake has been so empty the last few years due to the drought, and these sites are no longer lakeside.

    The campsites each have their own picnic table and firepit with a grate, and water spigots are available in various places around the campground. Mohawk has its own bathroom with flushable toilets and coin-operated showers - the bathrooms and showers are kept clean. I prefer to shower in the showers located in the upper-level campgrounds, as they are in their own individual, lockable stalls, rather than the locker-room type set up in the bathroom in Mohawk. There are multiple dumpsters available for trash AND recycling around all of the campgrounds.

    Caution: There is a lot of poison oak around the park!

    We have rented a yurt a couple times, and hope to do so again soon. The yurts have bunk beds inside (bring your own bedding!), an overhead light, and a heater. Outside each yurt is a picnic table, charcoal barbeque, a firepit, and a water spigot.

    We will often bring an easy-up to use in the day-camp areas in the upper-level of the park. There are oak trees all over the park, but if day use site with a table under a tree gets snagged, it’s nice to have the easy-up for shade - if you have one, I would recommend bringing an easy-up if you are going to camp in the upper level campgrounds, not all of the sites have shade.

    A small but well-stocked general store is available, as well a small (expensive) gas station. Cachuma also has a pool (for an additional fee), gameroom, playgrounds/jungle-gyms, and disc golf courses available.

    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. I have gotten my best birding photos at Cachuma Lake. Deer can often be viewed on the shores of the lake, and we have even seen bobcats and foxes. Pontoon boat tours to view wildlife launch every day from the marina.

    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! Motor boats and pontoon boats are available to rent, and now they even have kayaks to rent hourly! My dad has a small 14 ft fishing boat, and we enjoy taking the boat out on the lake to fish and sightsee.

    There are endless trails around Cachuma Lake in Los Padres National Forest. There are some mellow hikes around the perimeter of the lake itself, offering nice views of the lake and the surrounding Santa Ynez and San Rafael mountains.

    Figueroa Mountain is near Los Olivos - Grass Mountain and Figueroa Mountain are both beautiful hikes, especially in the spring when the wild flowers are in bloom. Both are strenuous, steep hikes, but the views are totally worth the effort.

    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, and everywhere in between - you are in the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country! There are endless tasting rooms available inside the towns, and countless vineyards that you can visit to wine taste. A popular wine trail is on Foxen Canyon Road - it is a lovely drive on a country road with some really beautiful and quality wineries and vineyards.

    Solvang is a fun town to visit - it was originally a community full of Danish immigrants, so the Danish theme has stuck. It is very touristy, but even as a native, I still enjoy going to Solvang. There are a lot of shops, antiques, candy stores, restaurants and tasting rooms to visit. We are partial to the Solvang Restaurant, and for more than just their Danish Aebleskivers. If you don’t know what an aebleskiver is - its DELICIOUS. Aebleskivers are round Danish pancakes that are shaped like a ball - they serve them with amazing homemade raspberry jam and powdered sugar. Everything at the Solvang Restaurant is good, from their traditional breakfasts to their Scandinavian offerings to their sandwiches.

    More Food Recommendations:

    Cold Springs Tavern is a historic site dating back to the 1880s when it was a stagecoach stop. Cold Springs Tavern has a full bar and serves some quality meat selections, including famous Santa Barbara style tri-tip. If you are there on a Sunday, they start serving traditional tri-tip sandwiches around 11am - BEST tri-tip sandwiches around! They cook up the meat on giant barbeques outside, and serve the sandwiches hot off the grill - just tri-tip and fresh garlic bread, YUM. They have homemade salsa and homemade BBQ sauce to dress the sandwich with. Sundays at Cold Springs Tavern is a popular spot for locals to go have a beer or a drink with tri-tip, and there’s always a fun atmosphere.

    If you are in the mood for some quality Mexican food, Dos Carlitos in Santa Ynez is a favorite spot.

    Los Olivos Grocery has a great deli with delicious sandwiches - both hot and cold - and a good selection tasty deli side dishes. The store also has a good selection of local wines.

    CAMPSITE SPECS

    Fees: $30/night

    **Plumbed Toilets: Yes

    **Drinking Water: Yes

    **Showers: Yes (coins needed)

    **Picnic Table: Yes

    **Firepit: Yes

    **Cooking Grate: Yes

    **Shade: Yes

    **Cell Service: Yes - Limited

    Animal Bins/Food Lockers: No

    Trash: Yes

  • M
    Jul. 29, 2021

    Ventura Ranch KOA

    Family Oriented Place

    From zipline obstacle courses to tie dye classes, this KOA easily occupies kids and has teepee and cabin rentals available for glampers, but nice showers, clean bathrooms and a roomy pool area really make this campground 5 stars.

  • j O.
    May. 25, 2018

    Jalama Beach County Park

    Beachfront Seclusion

    More than likely the beachfront sites will be booked, but be sure to call the ranher station just before for last-minute availability. Gorgeous spots with fire pits and picnic tables on the sand, just before a private beach accessible via the e0 minute, winding dead-end road. Facilities, a playground, tiered campspots and cabins, and a store all sit serenely at this quiet spot.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 15, 2023

    Jalama Beach County Park

    Ruggedly beautiful beach

    General: Variety of sites from basic camping to those with electric hookups. Some are considered premium beachfront sites and cabins. Prices are also adjusted seasonally. 

    Site Quality: Some sites are concrete; some are on sand. Our site was close to the beach, however, the view of the ocean was blocked by dunes (and also by a restroom). Our site also easily accommodated two camper vans. Each site had a large picnic table and fire ring, although the picnic table was a bit warped. 

    Bath/Shower: The closest restroom to our site was very basic – one toilet each for men and women with a shared sink on the outside. Showers are in a separate building and are $ 1.00 for three minutes. 

    Activities: The beach here is ruggedly beautiful and you can walk quite a distance if you go to the left; to the right, there is a lot of driftwood but is still somewhat walkable. There is also a store/small restaurant on-site.

    We were supposed to spend two nights here but after a very stormy night, we had to evacuate as the only road in/out was unstable, but we would definitely return. If we were unable to reserve a premium beach site, we would choose a site at the top level. Although these are furthest from the beach, they provide the best view of the ocean.

  • K
    May. 25, 2018

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Peaceful & filled with life

    I have been coming to this campground annually since around 2009, and I've loved every trip. The campground is on the larger side, filled with grassy and shaded sites all throughout it. There is a general store, clean bathrooms, and showers.

    The campground is based on a peninsula that juts into the lake, therefore it has waterfront campsites on both sides, and all the sites in the middle are only a matter of 2-3 campsites from a water's edge. When you first enter the campground, there are a few day use only spots near the general store. All campsites at the base of the peninsula are the ones that families tend to stick to, as there is a pool, its close to the store, and that is the only area on the campground with full and partial hookups. As you travel up the peninsula, limited Yurts and Cabins are along the waterfront. 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. It has electricity and heat, two bunk beds, a view of the lake, a wrap- around patio with chairs, picnic table, fire pit, water source, grill, and ample parking space. I have never stayed in a cabin here before but they look really nice.

    The general store is filled with pretty much anything you could ask for. About 3 rows of dry grocery goods, 1 refrigerated section including a very impressive selection of local craft beers, ice machine, firewood, smores stuff, fishing poles/ odd's and end's, candy, trinkets and gifts, propane, camping supplies, cooking supplies, stationary, etc. The wine selection, on the other hand, is sub-par; so a stop in SB on the way up is a must if you need wine! Keep in mind the store closes week days at 4 and weekends at 5 if i'm not mistaken.

    I think the main thing that keeps this campground so peaceful (other than their strictly enforced quiet hour from 10pm-7am) is the fact that NO SWIMMING, speedboats, wake boarding or waterskiing is allowed in the lake because is is a source of drinking water in the area. That being said, you are more than welcome to rent a 4 or 6 person fishing boat or 6-10 person pontoon boat for the day or hourly at the marina fishing store. The lake is open to fish until 6pm if you have a vehicle or are on a boat- a park ranger will come around at 6 and let everyone with a car know its time to go. However, if you walk to the marina, you could fish all night for all they care. You can also purchase fishing licenses for the day, 2 days, or year, at a reasonable price (I got a year pass it was $53.74) along with endless fishing lures, bait (including live), hooks, line, and poles. In regards to actually catching fish- In the past years I always rented a boat and i caught a lot of bass and carp, an occasional rainbow trout. This time I had plenty luck from certain parts of shore! Tons of beautiful 3 lb rainbow trout and 2 lb crappie! The limit was 10 per person, and people around us definitely caught their limit, but we were conservative and only caught what we needed for the day. Some fish bite more in certain areas of the lake than others, if you don't mind to hike a mellow/ moderate journey you'll find plenty of little coves within a reasonable distance of the campground. If you're looking for a bit more strenuous of a journey word has it there is a trail that goes all the way around the perimeter of the lake- I, however, have not hiked the trail, as my husband and I were backpacking into the campsite and that was an adventure in its self and I was exhausted!

    Like I mentioned before, the bathrooms and showers are very clean. No mirrors in the bathroom, there are multiple bathroom buildings throughout the campground along with the showers. Showers are individual rooms that have a locking door. Showers are pay showers, so bring a lot of quarters if you plan to stink pretty. I think it was $1.50 for 3 minutes.

    Another note: This campground is near the water (the lake and the ocean) and you're in the mountains; which means it will be generally pretty windy (bring chapstick!). The wind dies down midday and at night. If you're trying to light a fire when the sun is setting- good luck. 20 minutes later- you're golden. It also gets very cold at night! I'm form Southern California, so by cold I mean mid to low 40's, then add wind- yikes. On the contrary, bring sun screen for the day- cause it gets pretty warm! I'm still suffering the repercussions of not wearing any after fishing all day lol.

    Overall the campground is aesthetically pleasing on many levels. From the abundance of grass (no dirt sites), trees, rolling hills of knee high grass, blooming flowers, wildlife (ground squirrels, birds including california condors, blue jays, hawks, etc.), and, of course, the gorgeous cascading mountains plummeting straight into the lake, there's not a thing about this campsite I couldn't love.

  • Penélope F.
    Sep. 5, 2020

    Flying Flags RV Resort

    Nice place for those who are looking to party!

    Nice RV park... It's pretty big and offers several options for staying from small cabins to full RV hook up sites. I personally was a little disappointed that place was packed as most places we have been staying had a 50% capacity restriction. Staff was friendly and helpful and definitely will return after pandemic is gone. Quiet time wasn't enforce which is nice for those wanting to party.

    Our site had a gas grill and fire pit which was nice for some of the chilly nights we had.

  • Sherrie R.
    Feb. 17, 2021

    Flying Flags RV Resort

    Full Service resort with close walking or biking distance activities

    The resort offers RV camping, cottages Airtream rentals, canned ham rentals and safari tent glamping. Endless amenities include soccer field, basketball court, bocce ball, pool/spa, playground, store, restaurant, LP refills, self service ice machine, firepit rentals, covered bike parking. Impeccably clean and well maintained. The site staff is very friendly, helpful and quietly accomplishes their tasks with hardly any disturbances to campers. Much appreciated. Was pleased to see roaving security regularly.


Guide to Santa Barbara

Experience the charm of cabin camping near Santa Barbara, California, where you can immerse yourself in nature while enjoying modern comforts.

Explore the Scenic Beauty of Cachuma Lake

  • The Cachuma Lake Recreation Area offers cozy cabins right on the shores of the lake, perfect for a peaceful getaway.
  • Enjoy hiking and mountain biking trails that wind through the picturesque landscape surrounding the lake.
  • The campground features a marina for boat rentals, allowing you to explore the serene waters of this beautiful reservoir.

Affordable Cabin Camping Options

  • Prices for cabin camping can range from $100 to $200 per night, making it accessible for various budgets.
  • At Thousand Trails Rancho Oso, you can find cabins nestled in a remote mountain setting, ideal for those seeking tranquility.
  • El Capitan Canyon provides a unique cabin experience with easy access to the beach, perfect for a coastal retreat.

Cabin Campers Appreciate These Amenities

  • Many campgrounds, like Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara, offer clean and spacious bathhouses, enhancing your comfort during your stay.
  • Enjoy the convenience of on-site markets at places like Flying Flags RV Resort, where you can stock up on essentials.
  • Relax by the pool or enjoy live music at the campground pub, creating a vibrant atmosphere for your cabin camping experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Santa Barbara, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Santa Barbara, CA is Cachuma Lake Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 59 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Santa Barbara, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 14 cabin camping locations near Santa Barbara, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.