Santa Barbara, California
Looking for the best camping in Santa Barbara? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Santa Barbara. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Camping Spots in and near Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara County, California
Beach Camp on Santa Rosa Island
5.019.72 mi / 3097 ft gainChannel Islands National Park is California's least visited National Park. If you visit, you will see many unique plants and animals, including a rare native fox species, and Torrey Pines, only found here and in a small grove near San Diego. This adventure is not for the inexperienced. There is ...Read more -
Santa Barbara County, California
Water Canyon Campground
3.28 mi / 128 ft gainYou can get a wonderfully detailed description of what to expect from the Channel Islands/Santa Rosa Island and how to get there from fellow Explorer Michael Wigle's "Beach Camp on Santa Rosa Island" adventure (which I highly recommend you check out for the information and the photography, so I'm...Read more -
Santa Rosa Campground
East Point via the Coastal Road
13.76 mi / 486 ft gainOne could a lifetime exploring, and attempting to describe, the beauty of the Channel Islands National Park and Santa Rosa Island in particular: its wildly diverse terrain, endemic flora and fauna, and also the only of the Islands to allow backcountry beach camping. While the opportunities for di...Read more -
Frazier Park, California
Hike to Conder Observatory (Mt. Piños) from the Nordic Ski Hut
3.32 mi / 457 ft gainAny drive up the I-405N or I-5N is going to result in some pain: Either you leave early enough to avoid traffic, or you are sitting in some slowness for a while. But once you turn onto Frazier Mountain Road from the interstate, you are in a completely different world. It could be 85° in Los Angel...Read more -
Malibu, California
Hike Point Mugu Peak
4.52 mi / 1250 ft gainPoint Mugu State Park offers some amazing rolling mountains, sweeping meadows of tall grass, and beautiful coastal views. I suggest going in the spring. I recently went, and the wildflowers were blooming everywhere. There are campgrounds available in different parts of the park that you can make ...Read more -
Lompoc, California
Camp and Surf Jalama Beach
4.3Take the 101 North out of LA and follow it till it meets back up with the 1 just south of Lompoc where you make a left turn onto Jalama Rd. If you forgot supplies, continue to Lompoc where you can buy whatever you need.Follow the winding road all the way to the beach, where your only option is th...Read more -
Malibu, California
La Jolla Valley Walk-In Camps
5.010.58 mi / 2146 ft gainHello Friends! I just took a really chill overnight backpacking trip to the La Jolla Valley Backcountry campsite and I’m going to give you some details so you can have as nice of an outing as I did! The trailhead is conveniently just off of the Pacific Coast Highway, across the street from the T...Read more -
Malibu, California
Camp at Thornhill Broome State Beach
5.0Take PCH through Malibu towards Oxnard and the campground will be on your left. There is no day use here and you can drive right to your campsite.During the summer, make reservations or arrive really early to nab a site. Spaces can fill up quickly.There is access to a hiking trail across PCH.Read more -
Malibu, California
Camp at Point Mugu State Park's Thornhill Broome Campground
5.0Beach camping in California seems elusive these days, but we were able to pitch our tent just feet from the surf! We stayed for two nights and felt like we had our own private stretch of beach. First, you'll want to make reservations at www.reserveamerica.com. It was fairly easy to reserve a spot...Read more -
Malibu, California
Camp at Point Mugu's Sycamore Canyon Campground
The beach at Point Mugu State Park is just far away enough from the bustling town of Malibu and its popular beaches to feel like you are still secluded with nature. A great way to be close to the beach at Point Mugu State Park and access it easily whenever you want would be to camp at the Sycamor...Read more