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Gaviota State Park Campground

38 sites · RV, Tent

Gaviota State Park Campground is a quirky little place to call home for a night or two.

There are 40 campsites (some of which operate on a first come, first serve basis). Amenities for the campground include bathrooms, hot showers, picnic tables and barbeque pits. This is a windy area so be prepared to stake your tent into the ground (there isn’t much tree shelter here). Also, plenty of gophers will pop their heads in to say “hi”, so get ready to be social!
What this place offers
No campfire allowed
No pets allowed
No showers
No toilets
No potable water
No picnic tables
No sewage hookups
No electric hookups
38 sites
RV, Tent
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77%
22 ratings · 7 reviews
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Adela B.
4 reviews
Mixed feelings
· April 2025
Not worth the $53.25
Not the best camping experience, especially for the money. Spots are all right next to each other, on a field, under a train bridge... Amenities were ok, nothing to rave about. Beach is nice, can't actually see the sunset as it's behind the rocks (April). Host was SUPER nice though.
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Sara D.
3 years on Hipcamp
June 2021
This campsite is REALLY windy. I mean really, really, really windy. Not just the average wind that you would except when you are close to the beach. Like really really windy. My tent broke (that was well steaked) on the first day. It is a great lotion and the beach was awesome. The campsites are small. But, did I mention that it is windy?
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Kris S.
2 reviews
Mixed feelings
· July 2017
Close to the beach, which is amazing, however the entire campground is shared and everyone is very close together. I've never camped this way, but everyone was very friendly so that was a plus. Just don't expect to be camping in nature. Bathrooms were in decent condition, it's dog friendly, and they have showers.
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Brian R.
8 years on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· April 2017
open spots right under a train bridge. beautiful beach & scenery, but no privacy and noisy.
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Colleen C.
8 years on Hipcamp
November 2016
After reading some iffy reviews on Yelp, my friends and I decided to camp here anyways and we LOVED it! The beach is right next to the campsite, as well as easy access to some great hikes, including the Gaviota Hot Springs. The beach isn't too crowded and there's even a little campsite store where you can buy snacks and firewood if you run out. We didn't have trouble with the wind like people said we would, but it may have just been the weekend we were there. Regardless, we loved this campsite and would definitely go back.
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Victoria F.
3 reviews
August 2015
So I am from the Central Coast. I love this area. I love the outdoors. I was going to stay here with my then-boyfriend and his two kids, many moons ago, before they became my stepchildren. We drove into the campground. It was, to say the least, not impressive. My stepdaughter said it looked like camping in a parking lot. We did not stay. I think Refugio is better than Gaviota, and I would recommend the backcountry even more-- Los Padres National Forest. Yes, you miss the beach aspect. But you're not sleeping in a parking lot.
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David Y.
9 years on Hipcamp
August 2015
The winds can get REALLY strong in the evening and throughout the night. Try not to get the campsites that's in open area and stake your tents down.
LocationGaviota State Park Campground, Gaviota State Park, California, United States
Is anything missing?Suggest edits to improve this listing for fellow campers.
What this place offers
No campfire allowed
No pets allowed
No showers
No toilets
No potable water
No picnic tables
No sewage hookups
No electric hookups

Your guide to camping in Gaviota State Park Campground

Overview

Biking

Gaviota provides a wide selection of different types of trails for bike riders. There are single track and fire road trails, allowing riders to choose from easy going, leisurely rides through woodland to more technical climbs through mountainous terrain. You can also choose to cycle down the nearby section of highway 101 between Buellton and Goleta.

Fishing

Gaviota is home to a public fishing pier, where anglers of all skill levels come to show off their stuff. Like most piers, where you cast you reel determines what (and how easily) you catch. Closer to the shore, you can catch surf perch, while beyond the surf you can catch halibut and near the end of the pear (once you fight through the kelp beds) you can find more exotic fish such as mackerel, senorita, kelpfish and others. So...what’s for dinner?

Hiking

If you wish to hike at Gaviota, then hike you shall! This park takes hikers through its hills and onward to incredible overlooks and hot springs. Our favorite trail is the Gaviota Peak trail. Although the peak is not actually that high, it is the highest in the vicinity. The peak is pretty isolated and therefore rewards hikers with expansive views as far as their eyes can see. With 34 miles of trails, there are definitely a few different hikes worth lacing up for.

Horseback riding

Several of Gaviota’s trails allow you to travel by horseback, making the park’s natural beauty doubly as charming. If you don’t have your own horse (or didn’t bring him/her on your camping trip), there are nearby stables that offer both experts and beginners guided trail rides in the area.

Swimming

Gaviota State Park is a wonderful place to go for a swim in the ocean. Without a ton of surf, Gaviota has made a name for itself as a popular swimming hole. Visitors can wade in the ocean waters, or even hike up to the hot springs for a dip.

Wildlife watching

Since this state park brings a variety of different habitats together, it makes for a lively and diverse place to spot wildlife. Some highlights that you might see (or hear) include California legless lizards, woodpeckers, moles, bobcats, rattlesnakes, king snakes, striped skunks, coyotes, bats and more.

  1. Gaviota State Park Campground

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