First come, first served campites and reservable campsites.
About
The rolling green hills of Central California along the coast. The dramatic beauty of Big Sur. The mountains surrounding the artsy town of Ojai. All this gorgeousness is called Los Padres.
This national forest is split into two parts—North and South. Pick up an Adventure Pass to have access to dozens of well-maintained campgrounds. You don't need a permit to hike into the wilderness areas, which are first-come, first-served, but you will need a campfire permit for those s'mores.
You can drive into huge sections of this 1.75-million(!) acre forest, making it an ideal choice for a day trip if you're vacationing in
The rolling green hills of Central California along the coast. The dramatic beauty of Big Sur. The mountains surrounding the artsy town of Ojai. All this gorgeousness is called Los Padres.
This national forest is split into two parts—North and South. Pick up an Adventure Pass to have access to dozens of well-maintained campgrounds. You don't need a permit to hike into the wilderness areas, which are first-come, first-served, but you will need a campfire permit for those s'mores.
You can drive into huge sections of this 1.75-million(!) acre forest, making it an ideal choice for a day trip if you're vacationing in Santa Barbara or Solvang. Keep your eyes on the road through the hairpin turns up Mount Figueroa or heading into Big Sur.
You'll enjoy stunning views from many spots in the forest. Don't miss the fields of bright orange California poppies exploding in the spring.
Close to Santa Barbara, Reyes Peak Campground is a high mountain escape that offers sweeping views of the Cuyama Badlands and even the Channel Islands! Once you settle into the quaint camp, in a grove of pines and fir, you can head out on the Chorro Grande Trail, Raspberry Spring Trail, or the Reyes Peak Trail. After all that hiking, you’ll be loo Read more...
The Pacific isn’t the only aquatic attraction in the Santa Barbara area. Mere steps from the Santa Ynez River, Sage Hill Campground offers a quiet alternative to coastal camping. Just 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara, this flat campground affords fishermen prime pickings: carp, bluegill, and catfish make their home in these waters, while the occa Read more...
Fremont Campground is shady, the good kind of shady--think oak trees as your SPF from the hot summer sun. This cool campground off of California’s western coast is hiking-, biking-, horse-, and even OHV-friendly! And the sites are large to boot, which makes this a great place to bring the kiddos, friends, or just get really comfortable in your sur Read more...
Aliso Park Campground offers a good camping option for the equestrian loving adventurers. Located south of New Cuyama, these quaint campsites are located under a grove of oak. Nearby activities include hiking and horseback riding on picturesque trails. Deer hunt’n is popular in the fall.
Close to Frazier Park, Valle Vista Campground offers spacious and wide open campsites under a pine- and oak-shaded grove. The best thing about these campsites is the epic views of California’s golden rolling hills and mountain ranges!
True to the National Forest land’s tagline—‘Land Of Many Uses’—the Los Padres is no exception to this. Wagon Flat Campground is tucked away in the Central California area along with the valley oak trees and wild turkey. The best thing this site has to offer is it’s proximity to hunting, mountain biking, and off-highway vehicle opportunities. Just Read more...
The aptly named Colson Canyon Camp is located in the scenic Colson Canyon just outside of Santa Maria. This small and quaint camp is first-come, first-served and offers a peaceful base from which to explore the surrounding nature. Mountain biking, hiking, campfires, and oceans of stars await!
Traverse down dusty roads and get out into the thick of it at Horseshoe Springs Campground. Once you’re this far out you can either enjoy the solitude or whoop it up, depending on the vibe. OHV, hiking, and mountain biking abound!
A stay here has the word ‘adventure’ written all over it… no, really. You’ll need an Adventure Pass in order to stay here. Nira Campground is a beautiful site covered in oak trees and even has the Manzana River trickling through it. Practice the sport of river lounging, spend your time hiking the surrounding trails, and casting an angler or two. A Read more...
Miranda Pine is looking very fine. Take in the sweeping ridge top vistas of the Cuyama Valley—from up here you’re close enough to Santa Maria but far enough away to feel like you’re back in the wilderness. Make sure to pack in your own water and pack out your trash!
With Oak trees surrounding, and a seasonal creek that runs through it, Upper Oso Campground is pretty much a Bob Ross painting (if it isn’t already). Are you ready to log miles on California’s coastal mountains? From any of the spacious, perfectly-perched, mountainside sites, adventurers can explore from 2. 5-18 miles in a day. Whether you go for Read more...
Come chill out in a grove of Jeffrey pine at Campo Alto Campground. Campsites are spacious, the air smells pine-sweet, and you will enjoy end-of-the-road privacy. If you have a hankering for a hike, head out on the Vincent Tumameit Trailhead and enjoy them scenic mountain vistas. Bring what you’ll need.
Calling all of Southern California’s hikers, mountain bikers, and mountain-climber-likers. Mt. Pinos Campground is where it’s at! The scenery is spectacular, the campground is sweet (bring water), and Mount Pinos itself is national park-caliber recreation. Time to flee the city!
Head on the highways to Half Moon Campground—the dusty dirt highways of the Los Padres National Forest, that is! The campground is a good place for off-road’n, mountain biking, and watching the moon hang low over a grove of Jeffrey pine. Bring some agua, it’s dry out here!
Looking for some hot springs and epic camping close to Santa Barbara? Head to Mono Campground, where you can hike a short trail into the Little Caliente Hot Springs to soak your travel’n bones. The cute walk-in campsites are nestled into river banks, amidst a sea of mountain ranges. You can pitch your tent in a large meadow under the shade of oak Read more...
P-Bar Flats Campground is a popular camping spot outside of Santa Barbara. To get there is a bit of an adventure as you traverse down dirt roads, but the solitude at the spacious campsites is worth the trek. Added bonus: Big Caliente Hot Springs is four miles away!
Looking for some watery wilderness bliss? Rock Camp Campground sits on a creek where you can take a refreshing soak and keep your favorite beer icy cold. When the air cools you can head a half-mile down the road and soak in the Big Caliente Natural Hot Springs. Pinch yourself, 'cause you’re not dreaming!
Calling all OHV enthusiasts! It’s time to set out on them dusty roads and head to the rustic Ballinger Campground in the Los Padres National Forest. This spot has ample place to camp and great views of the surrounding mountains. The sun will be hot, but the beer will be cold (so long as you remember the ice).
An extremely vast terrain with all types of climates, it’s hard to know just what to expect from Los Padres National Forest. A little research before hand on the National Forest Website or a quick call to the ranger’s station at (805) 968-6640 can save a lot of headache and confusion. So too will you be saved from unwanted surprise by checking out Read more...
Grab the skillet honey cause your cooking me dinner at los Prietos Campground! Situated in Los Padres National Forest, with excellent river access to the Santa Ynez River, this campground has roomy sites perfect for a family get-a-way. The camp feature tables, campfire rings with grill, flush toilets (oh the luxury) and drinking water. Only 19 mil Read more...
There are adventures to be had at the remote Rose Valley Campground in the Los Padres National Forest. Located at an elevation of 3,450 feet, the campground offers stellar views of the steep mountains and canyons that surround it. Even better, there is a short trail that leads to Rose Valley Falls (truly spectacular). Time to put your exploring ha Read more...
Time to watch them California Condors soar at the high elevation Pine Mountain Campground. These remote and spacious sites will offer peace and solitude (and if no one is camping with you, a chance to get in touch with your wild side). If you need some inspiration, there are trails nearby that are great for wildflower and wildlife viewing.
Springtime at Figueroa Mountain is where it's at! Dust off those flower identification books because these hillsides are known for being jam packed with wildflowers. Birds come from all over during their migration to stop at this beautiful spot, and so do the people—being in such close proximity to various trailheads, this campground can be used a Read more...
Reyes Creek Campground might just be the campground of your dreams. Sites along the creek, ample hiking, the perfect hammock spots, dipping holes, and a trout-stocked stream make this place a real monster of a spot. The campground also features nice views of Pine Mountain and is right down the street from a bar and grill (woo-hee!).
Bates Canyon Campground is car camping at its best. Campsites are nestled in a grove of large oaks and sycamores with fire rings and grills. Get the fire roaring, open up the cooler, and put your culinary skills to the test. By the end of the meal you’ll be wanting s’mores!
An extremely vast terrain with all types of climates, it’s hard to know just what to expect from Los Padres National Forest. A little research before hand on the National Forest Website or a quick call to the ranger’s station at (805) 968-6640 can save a lot of headache and confusion. So too will you be saved from unwanted surprise by checking out Read more...
Be still my beating heart! Just 18 short miles outside of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean lies Paradise Campground. Nestled softly in an oak tree laden forest this hidden gem provides campers with convenient access to a variety of gnarly trails, and a quick jump off point to the Santa Ynez River. The campsites themselves are wide-open and offe Read more...
The Middle Santa Ynez Campground, close to Santa Barbara, is an outdoor enthusiast's delight! Spacious sites are placed under the shade of spreading oaks, are close to the river, and aren't far from the primitive Big Caliente Hot Spring! Swimming holes, hot springs, and Southern California stars—sounds like a winner of a spot!
Got solitude? Head to Brookshire Campground and nestle into a grove of spreading oaks if you crave it. These primitive sites are quaint and mellow. They're close to Pine Canyon and the area's hiking, mountain biking, and hunting opportunities. Good deal, huh?
Los Padres National Forest
From Ojai to Monterey, Los Padres is coastal California beauty at its best.
Sat to Sun: Closed
The rolling green hills of Central California along the coast. The dramatic beauty of Big Sur. The mountains surrounding the artsy town of Ojai. All this gorgeousness is called Los Padres.
This national forest is split into two parts—North and South. Pick up an Adventure Pass to have access to dozens of well-maintained campgrounds. You don't need a permit to hike into the wilderness areas, which are first-come, first-served, but you will need a campfire permit for those s'mores.
You can drive into huge sections of this 1.75-million(!) acre forest, making it an ideal choice for a day trip if you're vacationing in
The rolling green hills of Central California along the coast. The dramatic beauty of Big Sur. The mountains surrounding the artsy town of Ojai. All this gorgeousness is called Los Padres.
This national forest is split into two parts—North and South. Pick up an Adventure Pass to have access to dozens of well-maintained campgrounds. You don't need a permit to hike into the wilderness areas, which are first-come, first-served, but you will need a campfire permit for those s'mores.
You can drive into huge sections of this 1.75-million(!) acre forest, making it an ideal choice for a day trip if you're vacationing in Santa Barbara or Solvang. Keep your eyes on the road through the hairpin turns up Mount Figueroa or heading into Big Sur.
You'll enjoy stunning views from many spots in the forest. Don't miss the fields of bright orange California poppies exploding in the spring.
Activities in the park
62 campgrounds in Los Padres National Forest
Close to Santa Barbara, Reyes Peak Campground is a high mountain escape that offers sweeping views of the Cuyama Badlands and even the Channel Islands! Once you settle into the quaint camp, in a grove of pines and fir, you can head out on the Chorro Grande Trail, Raspberry Spring Trail, or the Reyes Peak Trail. After all that hiking, you’ll be loo Read more...
The Pacific isn’t the only aquatic attraction in the Santa Barbara area. Mere steps from the Santa Ynez River, Sage Hill Campground offers a quiet alternative to coastal camping. Just 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara, this flat campground affords fishermen prime pickings: carp, bluegill, and catfish make their home in these waters, while the occa Read more...
Fremont Campground is shady, the good kind of shady--think oak trees as your SPF from the hot summer sun. This cool campground off of California’s western coast is hiking-, biking-, horse-, and even OHV-friendly! And the sites are large to boot, which makes this a great place to bring the kiddos, friends, or just get really comfortable in your sur Read more...
Aliso Park Campground offers a good camping option for the equestrian loving adventurers. Located south of New Cuyama, these quaint campsites are located under a grove of oak. Nearby activities include hiking and horseback riding on picturesque trails. Deer hunt’n is popular in the fall.
Close to Frazier Park, Valle Vista Campground offers spacious and wide open campsites under a pine- and oak-shaded grove. The best thing about these campsites is the epic views of California’s golden rolling hills and mountain ranges!
True to the National Forest land’s tagline—‘Land Of Many Uses’—the Los Padres is no exception to this. Wagon Flat Campground is tucked away in the Central California area along with the valley oak trees and wild turkey. The best thing this site has to offer is it’s proximity to hunting, mountain biking, and off-highway vehicle opportunities. Just Read more...
The aptly named Colson Canyon Camp is located in the scenic Colson Canyon just outside of Santa Maria. This small and quaint camp is first-come, first-served and offers a peaceful base from which to explore the surrounding nature. Mountain biking, hiking, campfires, and oceans of stars await!
Traverse down dusty roads and get out into the thick of it at Horseshoe Springs Campground. Once you’re this far out you can either enjoy the solitude or whoop it up, depending on the vibe. OHV, hiking, and mountain biking abound!
A stay here has the word ‘adventure’ written all over it… no, really. You’ll need an Adventure Pass in order to stay here. Nira Campground is a beautiful site covered in oak trees and even has the Manzana River trickling through it. Practice the sport of river lounging, spend your time hiking the surrounding trails, and casting an angler or two. A Read more...
Miranda Pine is looking very fine. Take in the sweeping ridge top vistas of the Cuyama Valley—from up here you’re close enough to Santa Maria but far enough away to feel like you’re back in the wilderness. Make sure to pack in your own water and pack out your trash!
With Oak trees surrounding, and a seasonal creek that runs through it, Upper Oso Campground is pretty much a Bob Ross painting (if it isn’t already). Are you ready to log miles on California’s coastal mountains? From any of the spacious, perfectly-perched, mountainside sites, adventurers can explore from 2. 5-18 miles in a day. Whether you go for Read more...
Come chill out in a grove of Jeffrey pine at Campo Alto Campground. Campsites are spacious, the air smells pine-sweet, and you will enjoy end-of-the-road privacy. If you have a hankering for a hike, head out on the Vincent Tumameit Trailhead and enjoy them scenic mountain vistas. Bring what you’ll need.
Calling all of Southern California’s hikers, mountain bikers, and mountain-climber-likers. Mt. Pinos Campground is where it’s at! The scenery is spectacular, the campground is sweet (bring water), and Mount Pinos itself is national park-caliber recreation. Time to flee the city!
Head on the highways to Half Moon Campground—the dusty dirt highways of the Los Padres National Forest, that is! The campground is a good place for off-road’n, mountain biking, and watching the moon hang low over a grove of Jeffrey pine. Bring some agua, it’s dry out here!
Looking for some hot springs and epic camping close to Santa Barbara? Head to Mono Campground, where you can hike a short trail into the Little Caliente Hot Springs to soak your travel’n bones. The cute walk-in campsites are nestled into river banks, amidst a sea of mountain ranges. You can pitch your tent in a large meadow under the shade of oak Read more...
P-Bar Flats Campground is a popular camping spot outside of Santa Barbara. To get there is a bit of an adventure as you traverse down dirt roads, but the solitude at the spacious campsites is worth the trek. Added bonus: Big Caliente Hot Springs is four miles away!
Looking for some watery wilderness bliss? Rock Camp Campground sits on a creek where you can take a refreshing soak and keep your favorite beer icy cold. When the air cools you can head a half-mile down the road and soak in the Big Caliente Natural Hot Springs. Pinch yourself, 'cause you’re not dreaming!
Calling all OHV enthusiasts! It’s time to set out on them dusty roads and head to the rustic Ballinger Campground in the Los Padres National Forest. This spot has ample place to camp and great views of the surrounding mountains. The sun will be hot, but the beer will be cold (so long as you remember the ice).
An extremely vast terrain with all types of climates, it’s hard to know just what to expect from Los Padres National Forest. A little research before hand on the National Forest Website or a quick call to the ranger’s station at (805) 968-6640 can save a lot of headache and confusion. So too will you be saved from unwanted surprise by checking out Read more...
Grab the skillet honey cause your cooking me dinner at los Prietos Campground! Situated in Los Padres National Forest, with excellent river access to the Santa Ynez River, this campground has roomy sites perfect for a family get-a-way. The camp feature tables, campfire rings with grill, flush toilets (oh the luxury) and drinking water. Only 19 mil Read more...
There are adventures to be had at the remote Rose Valley Campground in the Los Padres National Forest. Located at an elevation of 3,450 feet, the campground offers stellar views of the steep mountains and canyons that surround it. Even better, there is a short trail that leads to Rose Valley Falls (truly spectacular). Time to put your exploring ha Read more...
Time to watch them California Condors soar at the high elevation Pine Mountain Campground. These remote and spacious sites will offer peace and solitude (and if no one is camping with you, a chance to get in touch with your wild side). If you need some inspiration, there are trails nearby that are great for wildflower and wildlife viewing.
Springtime at Figueroa Mountain is where it's at! Dust off those flower identification books because these hillsides are known for being jam packed with wildflowers. Birds come from all over during their migration to stop at this beautiful spot, and so do the people—being in such close proximity to various trailheads, this campground can be used a Read more...
Reyes Creek Campground might just be the campground of your dreams. Sites along the creek, ample hiking, the perfect hammock spots, dipping holes, and a trout-stocked stream make this place a real monster of a spot. The campground also features nice views of Pine Mountain and is right down the street from a bar and grill (woo-hee!).
Bates Canyon Campground is car camping at its best. Campsites are nestled in a grove of large oaks and sycamores with fire rings and grills. Get the fire roaring, open up the cooler, and put your culinary skills to the test. By the end of the meal you’ll be wanting s’mores!
An extremely vast terrain with all types of climates, it’s hard to know just what to expect from Los Padres National Forest. A little research before hand on the National Forest Website or a quick call to the ranger’s station at (805) 968-6640 can save a lot of headache and confusion. So too will you be saved from unwanted surprise by checking out Read more...
Be still my beating heart! Just 18 short miles outside of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean lies Paradise Campground. Nestled softly in an oak tree laden forest this hidden gem provides campers with convenient access to a variety of gnarly trails, and a quick jump off point to the Santa Ynez River. The campsites themselves are wide-open and offe Read more...
The Middle Santa Ynez Campground, close to Santa Barbara, is an outdoor enthusiast's delight! Spacious sites are placed under the shade of spreading oaks, are close to the river, and aren't far from the primitive Big Caliente Hot Spring! Swimming holes, hot springs, and Southern California stars—sounds like a winner of a spot!
Got solitude? Head to Brookshire Campground and nestle into a grove of spreading oaks if you crave it. These primitive sites are quaint and mellow. They're close to Pine Canyon and the area's hiking, mountain biking, and hunting opportunities. Good deal, huh?