162 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options near Santa Paula, California range from established campgrounds to more primitive sites across varied terrain. Ventura Ranch KOA, located at 7400 Pine Grove Road, offers tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping accommodations in a foothill setting. Steckel Park, situated along Mistletoe Road, provides water and electric hookups for both tent and RV campers. Several campgrounds in the area feature picnic tables, fire rings, and basic amenities within a 15-minute drive of downtown Santa Paula.
Reservations are recommended for most developed campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when sites fill quickly. The area experiences mild Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. "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," noted one visitor about a nearby state beach campground. Cell service varies by location, with better coverage at campgrounds closer to town. Many campgrounds in the region require advance booking through reservation systems, while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Campers frequently mention the scenic mountain views and proximity to outdoor recreation as highlights of the Santa Paula camping experience. Kenney Grove Park, described by one visitor as "a nice little somewhat hidden spot," offers a quieter alternative to busier coastal campgrounds. The nearby Los Padres National Forest provides more remote camping opportunities with access to hiking trails and natural features. Several visitors noted the family-friendly atmosphere at Ventura Ranch KOA, with amenities like a trampoline pillow, walking trails, and adventure courses. Proximity to Santa Paula's historic downtown is another advantage, allowing campers to easily access restaurants and shops. Noise levels vary significantly between campgrounds, with those closer to highways experiencing more ambient sound than more secluded options in the surrounding hills.
"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."
"A nice feature, (we did not take advantage of), is there is a water slide park near the entrance. As far as I know, this is a separate fee, but nothing astronomical."
"There is a small play park at the base of the hill for small children to unwind, but I recommend driving a few miles further into Ojai and visiting Libbey Park."
"The closest flush toilets are closed but there are ones near the road that are nice."
from $25 - $28 / night
Check Availability"Feels far from everything, but is only a short drive from LA/SFV. The adjacent town of Santa Paula is a great place to spend time."
"This KOA is nestled in the hills of Santa Paula."
"Of course fire, candles and bug spray help but because of the nice creek nearby its kind of unavoidable. With that said, the bugs go night night at dark and a big fire helps."
"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."
from $35 - $74 / night
Check Availability"It seems the campsite attracts a rowdy crowd but that's expected so close to the city. Still, noisy neighbors was definitely the most negative aspect of our stay."
"On a Sunday night most sites are empty and our site, away from the road, is pretty quiet The full service sites were mostly full and unshaded and there was a big and loud group."
"Not crowded and a place you can rarely camp beachfront in souther California. I have to note the bathrooms are absolutely terrible."
"Not that close to the bathroom. Has a picnic table and fire pit with grate. Every site is pretty much the same other than if you’re close to the bathroom or not."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"It’s tucked away from the street and you almost wouldn’t know it’s there! Loved this small and well kept campsite. Some of the sites are very small."
"Ok, so first off driving into this place feels a little "Texas Chainsaw" but don't worry, its fine."
"It was a quick drive up the coast and onto this hidden gem. You get access to a private beach with gorgeous California hill views of PCH behind you. Perfect place for families or even RVs."
"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."
from $45 - $60 / night
Check Availability"There are no toilet facilities here (there are some portapotties at the entrance though - those might be for staff though.). The only "amenity" this place offers is trash and recycling bins. "
"We parked next to the sea wall great view of the ocean. Ocean almost comes to your door step"
from $40 / night
Check Availability"Fantastic body surfing, some good surf waves up the highway a bit. There is a backpacking access site as well up the canyon about 3 miles."
"If you love Fall and trees and the California golden sun... this place is the place to be! It has it all in one."
from $45 / night
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TravelerThis was just what I needed to break up the drive from the Bay Area to San Diego
Really nice and thoughtful staff
The park’s WiFi worked great
If you have starlink nearly every site would be good except for the back ones by the hill (like mine, 182)
182 had some shade though so that was nice!
It is next to a major roadway so keep that in mind for noise.
ScoutThe hike-in experience has captivating views and diverse environment. Really felt away from the " concrete jungle" of the city.
GuideSome of the campground seems very nice and some is the exact opposite. Pool is very nice and HUGE. But, there are entire sections of this campground that have just faded into non-existent. The bathrooms aren’t great. There are a lot of stationary campers(or what looks to be…) which isn’t really our favorite site to see. But, it was included with our membership and we aren’t going to leave to go pay for somewhere else.
ScoutI do recommend. Beautiful, peaceful place. Good folks. It’s right near Magic Mountain theme park and many useful stores nearby: Home Depot, Walmart, Target, genetic stores, movie theaters. I’ll camp here again.
GuideWe had a great spot near the river. The restrooms were clean and the hookups were great. The camp host was friendly and there were several people at the camp, but it was very quiet. We will be back.
ScoutLove this place so much that our family canceled reservations at two other places to spend a few extra nights. The views are fantastic, the bathroom and showers are so clean, and the delicious seafood restaurant a walk down the hill is just a bonus. Staff were kind and helpful at check-in. It's a great base camp to explore the LA area. We tent camped here 20 years ago and when we came back this time with our RV it was even better than we remembered.
Scoutdon’t try to reach out to this park via phone with any questions, they won’t answer you. they won’t even answer the phone when their own reservation agents are calling them. gates close strictly at 10 so if you’re camping here make sure to show up by then. showed up at 9:58 after leaving a music festival early to make sure i made it on time, and their staff was immensely rude to me about not making it on time. the morning staff is incredibly nice, apologizing for the problems and giving me advice. the night staff though has a problem and they take it out on their visitors. for how rude they were to me, somehow the campsite across from me showed up at 11pm, so seems like they pick and choose who to give problems. avoid camping here. campsites are very close together and nothing special.
TravelerThis is such a cute and non expensive spot. They allow RV's and Tent camping. It's a dry camp so no hook ups or showers. Fun hiking trails and animal friendly, with a river across from the camp ground.Each spot has a table and fire pit. Playground has only two swings and a 4 horse shoe pits. Only con is the highway is right by so you hear alot of the traffic during the day and a little through out the night. Over all we've loved it and the camp host is very friendly and keeps the property looking beautiful.
ScoutWe have camped at Carp for 30 years - brought our grandchildren this year - felt unsafe for the first time - and rangers blew us off causing us to have to camp next to an illegal homeless camper with a pitbull next to our 2 year old and 6 mth old - he screamed at all hours at his dog on a 20 ft leash - I heard say on his phone that his dog has mange - he was allowed to camp illegally in bicycle only camp site and next to the visitor center- without a tent and his worldly possessions spread out everywhere - when I complained ranger said he was sweet - I know bicycle campers rode by when they saw him in their site, pitbull and tarps and stuff spread all over site - I know others did not go to visitor center because of him - ranger told me he and his dog are “sweet” - we found him to be an intimidating freeloader - we left early
Camping spots near Santa Paula, California range from hillside retreats to beachfront experiences, with sites typically situated at elevations between 800-1,500 feet in the foothills. The region's Mediterranean climate features summer temperatures averaging 75-90°F during peak camping season, while winter camping often sees overnight lows in the 40s. The Santa Clara Valley's unique geography creates wind patterns that can affect tent camping, particularly in exposed foothill locations.
Creek exploration: 10-15 minute hike required at Wheeler Gorge Campground to reach the stream that flows through the property. "We stayed in site 21 with our friends in site 20. It was nice but a little small. Our sites were next to the road which was okay Friday night but loud Saturday night but we could hear the stream and frogs at night which was nice," reports Jennifer S.
Bird watching: Free aviary access at Steckel Park where peacocks roam freely. "This was our first time here and we loved it! Small campground that is very well kept and cozy. When you drive in you pass by a large aviary (yup you read that right!) and apparently there's wild peacocks that live here too!" notes Bower.
Bike riding: 5-8 miles of paved trails near Lake Casitas Recreation Area. "We selected our campsite based on the map and online photos. We couldn't have been more pleased with the location we chose!" writes Bower. The location offers multiple loops for cycling along with lake views.
Water sports: Daily boat rentals available at Lake Casitas for fishing and boating (no body contact with water allowed). "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," explains Shannon R.
Peaceful locations away from crowds: Kenney Grove Park offers a secluded experience. "It's one of those rare places where the light pollution is truly minimal and you can really see the stars at night. A great place to see meteor showers or simply just get away from the bustle of stuff for a while," shares Samantha W.
Activities for children: Multiple playgrounds and recreation areas throughout the region's campgrounds. "This county park campground is packed full on the weekend. Many big rigs are shoehorned in, making me feel kinda cramped. There are many trees and plantings, so it's not a parking lot," explains Tod S. about Kenney Grove Park.
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain regularly serviced restrooms. "Bathroom facilities, centrally located, were clean. Camp host available to answer question and friendly too!" reports Bower about Steckel Park. Similarly, at Kenney Grove Park, "Bathrooms were clean. Need quarters for showers."
Direct beach access: Emma Wood State Beach offers oceanfront camping. "Even though you're literally paying $40 for a parking spot, this is one of our favorite campgrounds. You are parked right on the beach, which we love so much. At high tide the ocean comes right up to your doorstep," writes Laura M.
Limited hookups at many sites: Most campgrounds offer water but not full hookups. "The campground is right off the highway; it's a quick drive through Ojai to get to. A good amount of trees at each site, some on the upper back side have an amazing view of the Ojai Valley," notes Alex P. about Dennison Park.
Fire restrictions vary seasonally: Check current rules before arrival. "There are fire pits throughout the 76 acre park, it was nice having a campfire, since so many places don't allow them anymore," explains Christina S. about Ventura Ranch KOA.
Wildlife encounters common: From peacocks to ground squirrels. "There are ground squirrels in abundance everywhere here and they live without fear of humans! We watched them approach as we sat right near the truck and they hopped up into the engine compartment," warns Bower about Lake Casitas.
Water levels fluctuate: Lake and stream accessibility changes throughout the year. "The water level in the river is so low it made me feel sad. The place has showers, but depending on your site, one might end up very far to walk," notes Yenyfer B. about Lake Casitas.
Select shaded sites during summer: Temperatures can reach 90+ degrees in peak season. "We are relatively new at camping and were looking for a nice time to relax and enjoy nature. Our kids and our dogs really enjoyed it. We liked that the campsite was spacious and had lots of shade," shares Yenyfer B. about Lake Casitas.
Pack for wind exposure: Particularly at coastal sites like Emma Wood State Beach. "The wind is extremely strong especially at night. With all of that in mind, the experience of camping literally ON THE BEACH was one of the best of my life," notes Micah S.
Consider midweek visits: Weekends often see larger crowds and higher noise levels. "Quiet hours were also not enforced. Music blasting and loud partying until midnight +," reports Campy F. about Steckel Park.
Check cell service beforehand: Coverage varies significantly across campgrounds. "There's zero cell reception in this entire area, the roads leading up to the campground as well," warns Laura M. about Wheeler Gorge Campground.
Limited RV sites at some locations: Reserve early during peak season. "We couldn't be more pleased with the location we chose!! Our space was F-11 and after driving through all of the campgrounds, and there are many, we felt that the Fox site was best suited for us," recommends Bower about Lake Casitas.
No dump stations at several parks: Plan accordingly for longer stays. "There is no dump station on site. Sites are various sizes," notes Martha H. about Kenney Grove Park.
Consider site placement: Many parks have uneven terrain. "The one thing was the unlevel ground we were on. Our RV was a simple 30' rental without any leveling," shares Khaled A. about Ventura Ranch KOA.
Narrow access roads: Large rigs may have difficulty navigating some campgrounds. "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," advises Laura M. about Wheeler Gorge Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Santa Paula, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Santa Paula, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 162 campgrounds and RV parks near Santa Paula, CA and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Santa Paula, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Santa Paula, CA is Lake Casitas Recreation Area with a 4.2-star rating from 40 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Santa Paula, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Santa Paula, CA.
What parks are near Santa Paula, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 parks near Santa Paula, CA that allow camping, notably Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Channel Islands National Park.
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