Best RV Parks & Resorts near Santa Ynez, CA

RV parks near Santa Ynez provide full-service sites for motorhomes and travel trailers. Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara features concrete pads with 50-amp electric, water, and sewer hookups, while Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton offers big rig friendly sites with similar amenities. Thousand Trails Rancho Oso accommodates RVs year-round but lacks big rig accessibility. Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park has full hookups but prohibits campfires on its compact sites. "Sites are large and spacious. Would for sure come back here again," noted one visitor about Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara.

Advance reservations are essential, particularly during summer months when coastal parks fill quickly. Most RV resorts provide sanitary dump stations, with Pismo Coast Village and Pacific Dunes Ranch offering this service to guests. Pull-through sites are limited at Earl Warren RV Park, where larger motorhomes may face tight maneuvering. Between Santa Barbara and Pismo Beach, cell service remains consistent at most developed RV parks. Pet policies vary by location, with most allowing pets but enforcing leash requirements. Winter travelers benefit from year-round operations at Pacific Dunes Ranch and Pismo Coast Village RV Resort, though rainfall may affect unpaved access roads at some locations.

Best RV Sites Near Santa Ynez, California (73)

    1. Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

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

    "Been here in all seasons. Normally very nice weather. Had back in and pull through sites, all good experience. Great trails to hike or Mt. Bike ride. Easy access to the beach. Very friendly staff."

    "Clean facility. Heated pool and jacuzzi. Concrete pads and lots of trees. Connected to El Cap Canyon that has cabins and yurts. A really great store there with events like wine tasting and concerts."

    2. Flying Flags RV Resort

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

    "Flying Flags RV Resort& Campground is one of my favorite RV resorts.  It is located in Buellton, CA very near the historic town of Solvang, as well as Lake Cachuma and Los Padres National Forest."

    "We had a premium site at $185 a night and it was nice, but it was on the main entrance road so that was a little annoying."

    3. Thousand Trails Rancho Oso

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

    "Then I made the climb up the mountains to Rancho Oso. I stayed in the 5th level that had full hookups, and it was tiered in 7 levels, with an average of 10 spaces a level."

    "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. Pacific Dunes Ranch

    11 Reviews
    Oceano, CA
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Great staff, great long term campers, great amenities! Will definitely go back for another visit!"

    "Lots of permanent campers or long term folks. They had horseback riding and a small playground. We came in late and it was hard to find our map and site reservations."

    5. Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Summerland, CA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 966-9954

    "We were hesitant at first from working remote by being so close to the highway, but the tall wall that separates the highway and the park works very well."

    "We needed an overnight in Santa Barbara and chose this convenient location. Yes, there is highway noise but it is like white noise to me."

    6. Earl Warren RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Santa Barbara, CA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 350-4556

    $70 / night

    "Just a simple RV park outside of the campgrounds! I was happy to stay here in my van while in town to work. Great hot showers and quiet. Shore power plug in."

    "Very quiet, next to the golf course. Shade available at some parts of the lot but not all."

    7. Pismo Coast Village RV Resort

    17 Reviews
    Grover Beach, CA
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 773-1811

    "This is a pricey rv park, but great location and very busy. It is competitive with the others around and think it was the best one in the area."

    "At first we were unhappy seeing we had a site close to the outside road (189), but quickly changed our minds."

    8. Pismo Sands RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Oceano, CA
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 481-3225

    $70 - $73 / night

    "Park is centrally located, close to stores etc and 5-10 min drive to Pismo Beach."

    "Heated pool and spa and clean modern laundry room.  Game room, library, and outdoor kids playground that has a mock pirate ship for the kids to climb through."

    9. Coastal Dunes RV Park & Campground

    6 Reviews
    Grover Beach, CA
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 781-4900

    $47 - $65 / night

    "The location has plenty of room for any size trailer. Great location to the beach."

    10. Holiday RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Grover Beach, CA
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (805) 773-1121

    "Want to be close to Pismo Beach downtown, the pier and the beach? This is the place for you!"

    "Huge RV park right on the beach. Always busy yet clean and well maintained. Can walk to the beach and walk to town for coffee/food with more nearby beaches and things to do if you want to drive."

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RV Park Reviews near Santa Ynez, CA

760 Reviews of 73 Santa Ynez Campgrounds


  • Patrick J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 27, 2023

    Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

    Consistently nice!

    This was our fourth stay here. Been here in all seasons. Normally very nice weather. Had back in and pull through sites, all good experience. Great trails to hike or Mt. Bike ride. Easy access to the beach. Very friendly staff. Nice amenities. One of my favorite places. Will be back again.

  • Amanda M.
    Oct. 27, 2018

    Mt. Figueroa Campground

    Figueroa Mountain

    Figueroa Campground is a 33-35 site campground behind Los Olivos, CA. It is surrounded by live oaks and gorgeous manzanita trees, so there is a lot of shade available.

    Each site has a fire ring and a picnic table. There are no hook ups, and only pit-toilets are available. Note that there is NO DRINKING WATER available at Figueroa Campground, so be sure to bring plenty of water, especially if you plan to hike or backpack through the area.

    There is a a lot of hiking trails available in the nearby area. Both Figueroa Mountain and nearby Grass Mountain are extremely popular hiking spots, especially in early spring when the wildflowers bloom in late March or early April . During the wildflower bloom, the sides of the hills and mountains can look solid vibrant ORANGE from afar - the wild California poppies grow dense in this area. Purple mountain lupine flowers are also found during the wildflower bloom.

    If you or anyone in your party does not want to/cannot hike, the top of Figueroa Mountain is completely assessable by car - all of the big lookout points for optimal wildflower viewing are accessible by car, so the wildflowers are essentially accessible to everyone, hikers or not.

    The Davy Brown Creek and Manzana Creek trails are also accessible from the Figueroa Mountain area; the area is popular for cyclists and off-road cyclists.

    WARNING: You ARE in black bear country! While it is unlikely that a black bear will enter the campground, I would suggest locking your food and coolers in your car at night, as there are no food lockers in the campground. When hiking be aware of your surroundings: Black bears, coyotes, mountain lions, bob cats, and coyotes have been seen on the trails.

    While the campground is fairly remote in the the hills, you are only 20 minutes away from Los Olivos, and 30 minutes away from Santa Ynez. Los Olivos has a great market with groceries, a bakery/coffee shop, a deli, and beer and local wine. There are many local vineyards, wineries, and breweries nearby. The Firestone Walker brewery, taproom, and Resturant is close-by - we highly recommend their food and beers!

    CAMPSITE SPECS

    Fees: $20/night (+ $10/ extra vehicle)

    Plumbed Toilets: No - vault

    Drinking Water: No

    Showers: No

    Picnic Table: Yes

    Firepit: Yes

    Cooking Grate: Yes

    Shade: Yes

    Cell Service: No

    Animal Bins/Food lockers: No

    Trash: Yes

  • Rachel A.
    Jun. 20, 2025

    Pismo Coast Village RV Resort

    Disappointing Stay– Not What Was Advertised

    We just returned from a stay at Pismo Coast RV Resort, and unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations. Check-in was fast and easy, and on our first full day, the weather was perfect. The kids enjoyed the pool and arcade, which was a great start. However, several advertised amenities were either missing or in poor condition. We went looking for the mini golf course that’s promoted on their website, only to find it completely ripped out and blocked off— very disappointing since it was one of the reasons, we booked this resort. We also searched for the ping pong tables, which appear to have been left outside and are badly warped and unusable. Another letdown. The basketball and tennis are combined into one court, so only one activity can be played at a time, and we never did find the horseshoe area. Our group included eight people and two travel trailers. We had told the kids all about the resort's amenities, which played a big part in our decision to book. It was disheartening to find that many of the features we looked forward to simply weren’t available. Dinner at the on-site restaurant was equally frustrating. Service was extremely slow, and there weren’t enough umbrellas to provide shade— we ended up sitting with the sun in our faces. One of our guests wasn’t even asked for their drink order before the server walked away. When we finished eating, it took over 25 minutes just to get our bill, despite the restaurant being nearly empty(maybe 4 tables outside, 2 inside). We felt completely ignored. The first night was peaceful, as it should be. But the following day, large RVs surrounded us and parked so close they encroached on the grass behind our spot. Some opened their toy haulers, making it feel like we had no privacy— just 5 feet from their setup. That night was extremely loud until 11:30 PM, even though quiet hours start at 10 PM. With on-site security, we expected better enforcement. It wasn’t just one or two campsites being loud— it was several, with shouting and laughter like it was a private party. If you’re looking for a quiet, family-friendly place where you can count on the advertised amenities, this is not it. We had high hopes that this would become an annual trip, but based on this experience, we won’t be returning. Really disappointed.

  • mThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 22, 2022

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Mostly a good camp

    Huge campground! Variety of sites from dry to full hookups. Anything with hookups is cramped though. We originally booked FHU and opted out for much more spacious dry site. Dry sites really vary but all are largish. Fire pit at 409 put in a strange location so that we is located on the back side of our trailer. Really no other way we could have configured it. For such a large park with so many amenities I cannot believe the dog park is downright tiny. But park during week is largely vacant so a lot of space to let your dog run (which is against policy). Sure the place is a muddy mess is the rain. Ground squirrels got the place all torn up but hey they were there first. Generally this is a great destination resort! Go see the monarch butterflies in Goleta in winter months. They overwinter there!

  • Julia M.
    Jun. 16, 2021

    Pismo Coast Village RV Resort

    Direct access to beach; great amenities

    This is a pricey rv park, but great location and very busy. It is competitive with the others around and think it was the best one in the area. There are over 400 sites and so you are very, very close to your neighbor and tight parking at your rv, but the grounds are kept very nice and there are lots of things to do at the RV park. 

    Direct access to the beach and can stroll the beach all the way to downtown. Also walkable to state park with walking trails by the water. 

    Wifi worked excellent and had good AT&T cell service so easy to work remote here. Laundry on site and pricey, but machines worked well and very clean facilities with plenty of washers and dryers.$2.75/wash,$1.75/dry 

    Close to San Luis Obispo. Awesome food at Oasis Mediterranean, the Honeymoon Cafe and Talay Thai!

  • Jan G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 18, 2022

    Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

    Loved this place!

    First: the bad… it was so windy and cold. Make sure you bring warm clothes!

    The good: nice level site, full hookup, picnic table, trees.. (hookup sites don’t have fire pits) Biking/hiking trail was nice:) And can bike and walk around campground! It’s a very big place to explore:) Great disc golf course!! Free to play! The store has camping items, some food (overpriced but that’s expected) , souvenirs, gas… We wanted to get propane when checking out, but nobody in the store knew how to do it, so we were told to come back in 1.5 hours, but we were leaving. It was too windy and cold to fish, which is why we went there:( check the forecast and any wind advisories!! Great restaurant, lots of space to explore. No human contact with the water. Don’t expect to swim.

  • 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.

  • Amanda M.
    Oct. 24, 2018

    Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach

    Carpinteria State Beach Campground

    Carpinteria State Beach Campground is a one of our frequently visited “staycation” spots. We live in nearby Santa Barbara, but will use Carp State Beach as a midway meeting point when friends from Southern California and Central California meet up.

    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 - these are intended for RV campers, but we have tent camped there in a pinch. Since we are tent campers we do prefer to camp in the grassy tent sites, but they are limited in number and tend fill up quickly. Because of the moderate year-round weather, Carpinteria State Beach Campground stays pretty full all year long!

    The campground has full hook ups, clean plumed bathrooms, and coin-operated showers. There are grocery stores and conscience stores within short walking distance for anything you might need. Train tracks run directly behind the campground, so there is some noise pollution from the passing trains.

    The campground is at the very end of downtown Carpinteria, right next to the ocean. There are no “ocean front” sites, but the beach is a quick 1-minute walk from essentially anywhere in the campground. Some small sandy dunes separate the campground from the beach, and there is an accessible paved boardwalk running along the length of the dunes. There are beautiful tide pools just south of Carpinteria State Beach Campground that are a must see. Check the tide charts on the internet to visit the tide pools at low to mid tide.

    While we really enjoy camp cooking, we tend to opt to walk into town to eat when camping in Carpinteria. Linden Avenue is right next to the campground, and is the main street in downtown Carpinteria. There is a wide variety of restaurants, breweries and coffee shops downtown. Island Brewery CO is a local favorite just on the edge of the campground - while I don’t think they have food available (yet), their beer is GREAT! Their avocado beer is a must try - I know it sounds weird, but it’s delicious (and doesn’t taste like avocados)! Rincon Brewery is a few blocks up from the campground, and also has great beer, and TASTY FOOD!

    CAMPSITE SPECS

    Fees: $45/night (normal campsite)

    Plumbed Toilets: Yes

    Drinking Water: Yes

    Showers: Yes (coin-operated)

    Picnic Table: Yes

    Firepit: Yes

    Cooking Grate: Yes

    Shade: No

    Cell Service: Yes

    Animal Bins/Food lockers: No

    Trash: Yes

  • 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


Guide to Santa Ynez

Explore the beauty of RV camping near Santa Ynez, California, where stunning landscapes and a variety of amenities await. This region offers a range of campgrounds that cater to RV enthusiasts, providing everything from scenic views to family-friendly activities.

Big rigs should check out Flying Flags RV Resort

  • The Flying Flags RV Resort is big rig friendly, featuring spacious sites and a host of amenities like electric hookups and drinking water.
  • Enjoy the convenience of reservable sites and access to showers, toilets, and a sanitary dump station, making it a practical choice for RV travelers.
  • With nearby attractions like Solvang and beautiful hiking trails, this campground is perfect for those looking to explore the area.

RVers like these nearby activities

  • At Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara, guests can enjoy a heated pool and jacuzzi, along with hiking trails that offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
  • Thousand Trails Rancho Oso provides horseback riding opportunities in a remote mountain setting, ideal for those looking to connect with nature.
  • For a unique experience, visit Pismo Coast Village RV Resort, which offers direct beach access and a variety of activities like swimming and beachcombing.

Enjoy local attractions like Carpinteria State Beach

  • The Santa Rosa Campground — Carpinteria State Beach allows campers to park right on the beach, providing breathtaking ocean views and easy access to sandy shores.
  • Experience the charm of nearby towns and local eateries while staying at Earl Warren RV Park, conveniently located near downtown Santa Barbara.
  • For those seeking a quieter retreat, Le Sage Riviera RV Park is just a short walk from the beach, offering a peaceful atmosphere with clean facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular RV campsite near Santa Ynez, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Santa Ynez, CA is Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara with a 4.5-star rating from 19 reviews.

What is the best site to find RV camping near Santa Ynez, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 73 RV camping locations near Santa Ynez, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.