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Best Tent Camping near Santa Paula, CA

672 Reviews

The terrain surrounding Santa Paula, California offers a selection of tent-specific camping opportunities spanning from coastal to mountainous environments. Notable tent-only options include the Danielson Group Multi-Use Area in the Santa Monica Mountains and La Jolla Group Campsite at Point Mugu State Park, both providing designated areas for tent campers within protected natural settings. Several campgrounds in Los Padres National Forest also cater specifically to tent campers seeking more remote experiences with minimal development.

Walk-in tent sites predominate in the higher-elevation campgrounds near Santa Paula, with Pine Mountain and Reyes Peak campgrounds requiring short hikes from parking areas to reach the tent sites. Most primitive tent areas feature picnic tables and fire rings, though fire restrictions are common during dry seasons. Vault toilets are available at established tent campgrounds but often lack regular maintenance. According to one visitor at Chula Vista Campground, "The bathrooms could use some cleaning but other than that it's a beautiful area." Potable water is scarce at most tent sites, with notable exceptions being Scorpion Canyon Campground on Santa Cruz Island and La Jolla Group Campsite, both providing drinking water access for tent campers.

The tent camping experience in this region offers distinct advantages over vehicle-based camping. Tent sites at higher elevations like Pine Mountain Campground provide natural shade from pine forests and cooler temperatures during summer months. One camper described Chula Vista as "a nice way to get away from the summer heat." Walk-in tent locations typically offer more privacy and separation from neighboring sites. For more adventurous tent campers, Santa Cruz Island provides a unique experience, though it requires ferry transport and carrying gear from the landing to the campground. Channel Islands camping offers extraordinary stargazing and wildlife viewing opportunities specific to tent campers willing to make the journey. Most tent sites in the region require advance planning for water needs, with campers advised to pack adequate supplies.

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Best Tent Sites Near Santa Paula, California (45)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Santa Paula, CA

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Tent Camping Reviews near Santa Paula, CA

672 Reviews of 45 Santa Paula Campgrounds

  • Deborah C.
    May. 27, 2019

    Santa Cruz Island Scorpion Canyon Campground — Channel Islands National Park

    Channel Islands, Santa Cruz, Scorpion, May, 2019

    My husband and I are using our senior park pass to it’s fullest advantage. On our most recent trip, we decided to try Channel Islands and we were thrilled. First thing to know is that this trip requires some planning and flexibility. You must book your boat ride and camp site in advance and then check the day before to make sure weather permits the boat ride. Island packers provides the boat ride for both campers and day trips. We camped two nights. We departed at around 9 am and arrived at around 10:30. We had to check in by 8 in the parking lot at Ventura bay. You must not have water in your back pack, the propane must be out in a separate bin, and you are allowed only 60 lbs of “stuff” each. We took our Mountain House meals along with our jet boil, a few fruits, and a couple of sandwiches; our tent, sleeping bags, a Wenzel air mattress and were set. You take your stuff to the boat to load. On the day of our travel winds were gusting so severely that they cancelled the day trips, and it was rough! Lots of people got sick on the ride over. Upon arriving on the island, you form a bucket brigade to unload all the luggage/stuff, then a park ranger gives a brief overview of rules, mainly pack out all trash, no trash can be left on the island and to use the “Fox boxes” for all food stuff as the island foxes and ravens WILL take your stuff. You then take a short hike with all your stuff to your campsite - it’s about 1/4 mile or more, depending on your site. Each campground has multiple spigots on potable water, so no need to bring water with you. There are plenty of very clean vault toilets that are always filled with supplies including hand sanitizer. The hikes are spectacular and the trails are well maintained. Note, the hikes are challenging, when they say strenuous, they mean it! The park rangers are very helpful and accessible. The last day of our trip, we packed up our site and moved our stuff to a staging area so the next group could set up their tent. We watched the kayakers and snorkeling groups. The weather was very calm. The boat ride back was amazing, we saw schools of dolphins, the captain estimated over 2000 dolphins. He stopped so we could get lots of pictures. Note, there is no store on the island, we did have spotty cell coverage with AT&T.

  • Jeremiah F.
    Jul. 21, 2020

    Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos

    Great Hike-in campground with nice hiking nearby!

    At the top of the Cuddy Valley road is a large parking lot (Adventure Pass required) for the hiking trail to the top of Mt. Pinos. Off to the other side is a dirt trail on the edge of a meadow, after about 200/300 yards is Chula Vista Campground. The camp sites vary greatly in size and flatness, so check around for the good ones.

    First Come First serve camping, with some great spots overlooking the nearby meadow. The sites were clean and decently spread out, with fire rings and picnic benches.

    It can get pretty windy up here so make sure your tent is staked down well. If you don't have an Adventure Pass, Mountain View Mini Mart in Frazier Park is the closest place i know that sells them. $5 a day, or $30 for the year pass. (you can get a second year pass for only $5).

    Met a guy named Bob and helped set up his telescope in the parking lot, he let anyone who wanted check out the amazing night sky!

    Pros: Free camping!

              Great hiking nearby.

              Shady, clean sites.

              Great sky gazing!

    Cons: Lots of flies, very active during the day.

               Bathrooms were pretty messy. below average for vault toilets. Bring extra TP.

  • Dani P.
    Jul. 12, 2019

    Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos

    Hike In Gorgeous Campground with ample space

    Park at the lot up top, then walk about 1/2 mile to campground via dirt path. Plenty of sites. Old rustic bathrooms work well. Picnic tables at each site. Brought my dogs here and they had a blast, plus no ticks found. Plenty of hiking directly around this campground. Stayed here for three nights and found plenty of exploring to do nearby. Highly recommend, especially because there is no fee. Being said, Pack it in and pack it out! Leave No Trace principles are crucial to keep this place beautiful

  • Corinna B.
    Jun. 30, 2018

    Santa Cruz Island Scorpion Canyon Campground — Channel Islands National Park

    Bucket-List-Amazing Island Camping off California Coast

    This place had been on my bucket-list of camping forever and it takes a decent amount of planning because not only can you only access the campground by private boat, once there you have to walk in about a 1/2 mile with all your stuff. It's totally worth it however. Incredible views, perfect weather (in April!), amazing flowers and so much to see and do.

    The campsite itself is "basic" in that it has a vault toilet, water, and "fox boxes" (like the bear boxes in other campgrounds) to keep all the cute but quick and greedy foxes away from your food. There's also picnic tables, but other than that make sure you bring everything you need since there's no way to pop into a local store to grab something you might have forgotten. No camp fires are allowed and all garbage must be packed out (but can be stored in the fox boxes until you're ready to leave).

    At only $15/night, the camp sites are a steal, though the boat trips will add on about $80 per person round-trip (slightly less for kids). 8am is the earliest boat ride and 4:30 is the last (via Island Packers).

    Summary/Tips: Do it! Especially if you love hiking, this is an amazing place. Try to get your gear down to one well-planned backpack (or perhaps one of those foldy wagons as another reviewer recommended) so you only have to take one trip to the campsite, though you can always take more trips if needed.

  • Antonio C.
    Aug. 30, 2019

    Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos

    Summer Heat Getaway!

    It’s a nice drive to get to the campground. Nice clean area with lots of space. Love it that’s it’s a Walk in campground so no cars or RVs. Lots of Hiking trails nearby. It’s a lot cooler up here so it’s a nice way to get away from the summer heat. Awesome area for stargazing. The bathrooms could use some cleaning but other than that it’s a beautiful area.

  • T
    Dec. 13, 2018

    Santa Cruz Island - Del Norte Backcountry — Channel Islands National Park

    Amazing views, no services

    Hiked from Scorpion Harbor cross-island to Del Norte Camp, great way to see the island. Camped at site 1, had the most wind but also the best views of the ocean. Food storage locker provided to protect food from sneaky foxes. No water anywhere near the campsite. About 4 miles from Prisoners Harbor ferry landing. Shared the campground with one other group. Only 4 campsites total. Great place to camp for solitude.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 11, 2022

    Camping @ Quail Run Ostrich Ranch

    Great tour and amenities

    General: This is not an official campground but due to its proximity to the Pacific Crest Trail, the owners make it available for tent and RV campers as well as members of Harvest Host. 

    Site Quality: There are no designated sites so you can park where it best suits you on a large and level gravel lot. Since there was a strong wind advisory to last through the night into the next morning, Jessica recommended we park along the trees, and this made for an effective windbreak. There is also an additional gravel lot where the only other RV camper stayed so we had privacy. 

    Bathhouse: I was hoping for a vault toilet so was pleasantly surprised to find flush toilets with a sink, soap, and paper towels. No showers and no hot water.

    Activities/Other Amenities: Take a tour of the ostrich farm – we learned a lot and it is worth the $10pp. At the end of the tour, you can purchase ostrich oil (many benefits), ostrich eggs (sometimes sold out), local brews, local honey, and a few other items. Other amenities include a propane bbq, fire ring, picnic table, and electric outlets (located by each light pole by the stage/dance floor which is also used for weddings and other gatherings). There is also a peaceful garden and a playground. Other activities include ax throwing and archery, neither of which we tried. (A girl scout troop was doing archery when we were there). Quail Run is a family-owned business and everyone we talked with was very welcoming and communication was thorough. 

    Note: the gates are closed between 5 pm and 8 am (7 pm-7 am during the summer). If you need it, cell coverage via Verizon is available.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach

    Beautiful location. Close to town

    Beautiful location. Close to town. Walkable, hike-able, bike-able, rideable via paths. No dogs on beach. There is a dog beach further up the coast. Sites are pretty tight. Lots of families and tent camping. Need token from kiosk for showers. Train comes by every once in a while. I stayed in Santa Cruz in my 25’ motorhome with no hook ups. Had my own picnic table and fire ring. May stay again only because of the nice walkable paths. Watch where you step near the tar pits.

  • Meghan W.
    Jul. 30, 2018

    La Jolla Group Campsite — Point Mugu State Park

    Excellent Group Camping by the Ocean

    This is a good group campground with sinks, showers and flush toilets. The one downside is how exposed the campground is, there is no shade. Bring a sun canopy if you can. A nice day hike trailhead is right at the campground. Also because it’s so close the beach the wind can really whip up, stake down your tents tightly.

Guide to Santa Paula

Tent camping near Santa Paula, California, offers a variety of scenic locations and amenities for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Some prices for tent camping range from $20 to $40

  • Camping at Circle X Ranch Group Campground is budget-friendly, making it an excellent choice for larger groups looking to save while enjoying the outdoors.
  • Dutchman Campground offers a unique desert mountain experience at a reasonable price, ideal for those seeking adventure without breaking the bank.
  • La Jolla Group Campsite is another affordable option, providing essential amenities for group camping by the ocean.

Local activities to enjoy while camping

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Cross Campground located in Santa Paula?

While there isn't a designated Cross Campground in Santa Paula itself, nearby options include Rancho Nuevo Campground which is located in the Los Padres National Forest near Santa Paula. This small campground sits alongside Rancho Nuevo creek. Alternatively, Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos is accessible via Cuddy Valley road, where you park at the top lot and walk about 1/2 mile to the campground via a dirt path along the edge of a meadow.

What amenities are available at Santa Paula campgrounds for tent camping?

Tent camping options near Santa Paula offer various amenities. Santa Cruz Island Scorpion Canyon Campground provides shade, picnic tables, food storage lockers (essential for protection from island foxes), and basic facilities. Meanwhile, La Jolla Group Campsite in nearby Point Mugu State Park features sinks, showers, flush toilets, and access to hiking trails, though it lacks shade so bringing sun canopies is recommended. Other area campgrounds typically offer fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, with amenities varying by location.

Do I need a reservation for camping in Santa Paula?

Reservation requirements vary by campground in the Santa Paula area. For Reyes Peak Campground, which has only 6 sites located near the trailhead, reservations are recommended during peak seasons due to limited availability. When planning trips to Santa Cruz Island - Del Norte Backcountry, advance reservations are absolutely necessary as you must book both your boat transportation and campsite well ahead of time. For most National Forest campgrounds in the region, reservations are recommended during summer and holidays, while some may operate on a first-come, first-served basis during off-peak times.

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