Santa Barbara Camping....

[Kestrell]

My wife and I are planning a short trip up to Santa Barbara but neither one of us has ever visited before. Could anyone suggest some good campsites that don't require months of advanced booking to get into? Most of our trips have been south of where we live and this would be our first stream' trip north. Willing to do alittle boondocking for a good site but hook-ups are perferable. Any ideas?

[The A Team]

We enjoy the Flying Flag RV Park in Buellton, 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara, just off hwy 101. Very nice, with grassy pull-thru sites. It is a very short drive to the quaint Danish village of Solvang. We have always been able to get in without too much advance notice. The only other places in the Santa Barbara area that we are familiar with are Lake Cachuma and Lake Casitas, both at higher elevations and further away from sightseeing, if that's what you want to do. You can check them out on line. Have a grand time 'streamin' up north. We will be right behind you (in about a month).

[markparker22]

There is a first come, first serve county RV area at the beach 20 miles south of Santa Barbara. Do a google search for Ventura County Campgrounds. The best is right on the beach frontage, honor pay system, about $30 a night, no hookups, portapotties and trash dumpsters available. There is also a state beach park nearby, Emma Woods State Park, no hookups. You may try Carpenteria State Beach Park online....but they usually book up early, sites with and without hookups.

Good luck!

[Bucky]

Go to www.campgroundreviews.com, look under Santa Barbara & you will find Los Padres Nat. Park, Arroyo Seco camp. All info & directions there-about 10miles out of SB. Bucky

[uwe]

Also El Capitan State Beach, a nice place to spend a few days. No hookups, though.
Refugio is very nice and flat, but books early. Refugio is about 3-4 miles north of El Capitan.

[SilverSurfer]

Another great spot is Jalama Beach Park, about 45 minutes north of SB.

http://www.sbparks.org/docs/jalama.html

The beach is beautiful and they have some sites with hookups. It's a little secluded, but really neat. Refugio and El Capitan are closer, but really hard to get in this time of year.

Good Luck!

[scottanlily]

You can go up to lake cachuma ,many many good campsites and a
small general store .Has boating and fishing ,no swimming .The lake level
is up this year .You go up highway 101 north thru santa barabara ,you can stop at refugio state park ,on the way,or keep going north past buelton,to
the cachuma lake exit ,turn right and follow the road ,it will take say 20
or so minutes to reach the turnoff to the lake.They have full hookup ,and
dry camps and water and electrical as well .If you decided to go for the weekend ,you would want to be there thursday night or friday morning
this time of year ,and you can call ahead to check on the sights available.
A nice drive to get there !! Jalama beach is another great spot .We frequent
cachuma on the weekends pretty regular ,so its a nice getaway.

Scott from santa barbara