- Beach Camping
The best beach camping near Carpinteria
94% (811) • 1,397 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Carpinteria
Arber-Moore's Ranch
1. Arber-Moore's Ranch
92%
(593)
11mi from Carpinteria · 6 sites · Tents, RVs
Beautiful natural campsites in the Valley of the Moon (Ojai Valley). Our sites are within an eighth of a mile of walking, running, biking, and riding trails from Ojai to the beaches of Ventura. On many days you can experience Ojai’s famous pink moments. You can hike the trails above Ojai, boat, eat, or picnic at Lake Casitas. Travel to nearby Ventura to shop, fish the pier, or take a deep sea fishing charter or Island charter to Whale watch or fish around the Channel Islands.
Please note the aerial view of the camping area recently placed by Hipcamp is NOT AT ALL REPRESENTATIVE of the current camping sites and shows a photo that is many years old when the site was merely land.
That photo is without any of the existing amenities or improvements. The actual sites are all Larger than Federal Park and Statepark guidelines, with averages of 20'x30' for campsites and 20'x40' for a long RVCampsite.
We have planted many young trees and continue to plant trees and native shrubs around and near the sites. We have picnic tables, table coverings, fire pits, and camping rugs/footprints. There is also an outdoor shower, a shower tent with hot water, and an upgraded porta-potty with a sink.
Note: During times when high heat is predicted, we strongly recommend that our Hipcampers bring pop-up shade tents or canopies for their sites.
The Hipcamp is adjacent to our working ranch, and any photos of old sheds, trucks, a wood lot, or other equipment are NOT on the Hipcamp, but you will drive past that property to get to the separate Hipcamp area.
Wineries, Farmer's Markets, Craft Breweries, dispensaries, and more are within 10 to 15 minutes of our site. Our location allows moments when you may see Hawks, Owls, Geese, Swallows, Robins, Bluebirds, and more.
We offer both tent and RV camping.
The Majority of our Guests love it here:
"Vivian and Dave were exceptional hosts!
Easy to contact and find our way to their property. Also gave us a plethora of places to go and things to do in the Ojai area.
The area was open and spacious, and many trees and upgrades were in the works to make future stays more user-friendly.
Big pluses were the shower and toilet facilities—much appreciated !!"
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Rancho de Granville
2. Rancho de Granville
92%
(112)
11mi from Carpinteria · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
Midway between the ocean and Ojai, the ranch is 7 acres with plenty of trees, shade and grass. A sandy yard, a tent spot with privacy near San Antonio Creek ! Challenge a friend to game of horseshoes or darts. Your neighbors are the chickens, horses and frogs! We DO have an out house, water at each site, and tables at each site. This ranch was the original stage coach stop between Ventura and the small community of Ojai . The old bunkhouse and barn remain!!
Please plan to arrive before 8pm.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Caravan Outpost - Ojai Oasis!
3. Caravan Outpost - Ojai Oasis!
93%
(30)
16mi from Carpinteria · 1 site
Tucked away at the outskirts of Ojai, Caravan Outpost offers an unique experience hosted in one of our 10 Airstreams or 1 Tiny House on Wheels.
Learn more about this land:
This listing is for one of our 10 Airstreams located in a plush, beautiful Oasis in Ojai, California.
Caravan Outpost is a garden filled with Airstreams in Ojai, CA. One of the most unique places to stay in all of America. The Outpost is family-friendly and located on the Ojai Valley bike path. Ride one of our complimentary bikes, enjoy the beautiful botanical garden, eat at a local delicious restaurant, hike one of the many trails, listen to our vinyl collection - Relax and enjoy!
Pets
Toilets
Showers
Los Padres National Forest
4. Los Padres National Forest
95%
(466)
National forest 24mi from Carpinteria · 762 sites
From beach to mountain, California's second largest forest offers recreation in diverse ecosystems.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Emma Wood State Beach
5. Emma Wood State Beach
96%
(29)
State park 13mi from Carpinteria · 93 sites
Fish, surf, and explore WWII ruins at this Southern California beach.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Gaia Farm Campground
6. Gaia Farm Campground
96%
(132)
34mi from Carpinteria · 4 sites · Tents, Lodging
Situated on a private and peaceful non-profit farm on the Gaviota Coast, our campsites provide a unique camping experience for the whole family. The sites feature uninterrupted views of the coast, native chaparral hiking trails, and access to a farm tour (suggested donation of $25/person). Our farm raises animals such as cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, and more. We invite you to visit with the animals, hike our trails, and enjoy the natural beauty of our incredible land.
Sites are primitive camping on gravel pads along our hiking trails. Approximately a five minute hike from parking. Water and composting toilets are provided.
Toilets
Potable water
Picnic table
The Lodge at Deer Creek
7. The Lodge at Deer Creek
91%
(169)
36mi from Carpinteria · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
At The Lodge at Deer Creek you'll be nestled between the majestic Santa Monica Mountains and the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Enjoy sunsets and stargazing from this 25 acre ocean view property. During the day you can swim or surf the famous Malibu waves, hike or bike in the mountains, or enjoy shopping at Pt. Dume or Cross Creek.
Grocery, restaurants, and retail are just 15 minutes away along the beautiful coast.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
Prospector Ranch
8. Prospector Ranch
100%
(54)
40mi from Carpinteria · 5 sites · RVs, Lodging
Prospector Ranch is an 1800s style ranch located right next door to the acre used for Hipcamping.
The ranch is made up of their home and is also a venue for filming, photo shoots and small events. When not being used, camping guest are welcome to enjoy the area down around the authentic saloon, use the picnic area under large Oak trees and hike the property. We purchased the ranch 8 years ago and love being outside of the city in the mountains. Stargazing is a must when staying there!
The campsite is NEXT DOOR to Prospector Ranch, which is our 1800s-style ranch tucked away in the Santa Monica mountains, close to beaches, vineyards, amazing hiking, biking to the beach and the city! The wide open empty lot looks out at the beautiful mountains. Enjoy stunning sun sets and Picnic under the grand Oak Trees at the ranch or maybe come by the saloon next door for a cold beverage if we are around. :-). We are happy to point you in the direction for what ever you want to do.
There are so many things to do in Thousand Oaks!
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Ocean Breeze
9. Ocean Breeze
15mi from Carpinteria · 1 site
WONDERFUL CALIFORNIA COASTAL LOCATIONS NEARBY
Amazing location for ALL THE MOST LOVED SURFING, HIKING, BIKING,, ADVENTURE ENTHUSIAST, near Carpinteria and Santa Monica and OJAI! Camp anywhere you want at the nearby beaches and OJAI, Santa Monica Mountains and beyond! —why only camp at one place when you have hundreds of locations nearby to choose from!!! Then come home to a cozy living room and fireplace! And the King sized bed is aahhhmazing! Glamping can be fun, too!!!
Enjoy the OCAEAN BREEZE!! And when the suns out PalmTree sunsets from your balcony! Aloha!
Pets
Toilets
Showers
McGrath State Beach
10. McGrath State Beach
82%
(17)
State park 18mi from Carpinteria · 133 sites
Discover the natural splendor of McGrath State Beach.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Channel Islands National Park
11. Channel Islands National Park
96%
(73)
National park 34mi from Carpinteria · 95 sites
Set sail for one of the five wildlife-filled islands that make up this offshore park.
Toilets
Campfires
Potable water
El Capitán State Beach
12. El Capitán State Beach
96%
(94)
State park 30mi from Carpinteria · 133 sites
Enjoy year-round camping at this Santa Barbara-area surfer favorite.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Point Mugu State Park
13. Point Mugu State Park
93%
(69)
State park 31mi from Carpinteria · 117 sites
Sandy beaches and mountain hikes await.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
14. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
96%
(12)
National park 48mi from Carpinteria · 1 site
Discover the wild side of Los Angeles in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Leo Carrillo State Park
15. Leo Carrillo State Park
95%
(114)
State park 40mi from Carpinteria · 131 sites
Surf, sand, and sea caves tempt in this coastal wilderness.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Angeles National Forest
16. Angeles National Forest
91%
(230)
National forest 77mi from Carpinteria · 791 sites
Experience the beauty of nature without having to stray far from Los Angeles.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
Ekei
3 weeks ago
Tent
With kids
I can't recommend this campground enough! Sites are huge, our kids loved all the animals and the wildlife, and the shower was hot even on a cold morning. Vivian was an absolute sweetheart and very responsive, thank you!
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Daisy
3 weeks ago
16 ft car
preston was really helpful in guiding us to the site and it was peaceful.
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Stacy
3 weeks ago
Tent
Site #1 under the oak tree was clean and quiet compared to other public campsites I stayed at in the area. Loved the fire pit and and easy access in and out.
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Ashlee
September 2026
Tent
Amazing views and lots up space to set up camp! Only a 10 min drive from beach access
See moreDylan
September 2026
16 ft car
We had an amazing stay at Vivian’s property at the Oak Tree Site 1. Loved the big open space, the peace and quiet, and so much nature with the myriad birds, dragonflies, squirrels, and coyotes (they kept to themselves and gave us a quite an auditory show at 5am!). The tree is amazing, the water spigot super convenient, and bathroom facilities nice and well-maintained. We will definitely be coming back!
See moreLauren
September 2026
Tent
Loved the animals, the access to water and electric was great and it was so tidy! Thank you!
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Brad
September 2026
17 ft rooftop tent
We used the RV site for our rooftop camper and it was a fantastic stay with level ground. The host was incredibly welcoming and provided clear directions before/at arrival. The site had great rustic charm with plenty of space and was peaceful and quiet during our stay. Highly recommended!
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Melissa
August 2026
22 ft travel trailer
With kids
We absolutely loved our stay! The campsite was clean, spacious, incredibly peaceful, and had the most amazing sunset views. Some of the previous reviews made us a little cautious about the drive up, especially since this was our very first time towing a trailer, but we were totally fine and felt perfectly safe. The road is steep but it was very manageable for our truck and 20ft trailer—and it’s only about a 7-minute drive up from PCH! We’ll definitely stay again, and next time we’d even feel comfortable bringing a bigger trailer!
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Lydia
August 2026
16 ft truck camper
We loved camping here! The space is beautiful and ended up being the perfect spot for us to stay before venturing to Channel Islands. Feels very private. Vivian was very accommodating and helpful. Her food recommendations were perfect for us — we had the best tacos at Carmelita’s!! We really enjoyed all the farm animals too!
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Jose
August 2026
4 ft rooftop tent
With pets
I wanted to share what an amazing host Catherine was! She was incredibly kind and welcoming. She even stopped by to make sure everything was going well and shared a quick story about the stagecoach stable that still exists on her property, which was such a cool piece of history.
The campsite we stayed at was literally right next to a beautiful creek. Surprisingly, it’s still running strong even during the summer, so I can only imagine how amazing it must be in the spring!
We were also fortunate enough to experience some incredible wildlife, including owls, deer, and even a couple of foxes. They came by sniffing around our BBQ area, so we made sure to clean everything up, pick up all the trash, and dispose of it properly in the large trash bins in front of the property.
We had an amazing experience and would definitely recommend staying here. Catherine was a wonderful host, and the property was beautiful, peaceful, and full of nature and history. We would absolutely come back!
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Sasha
August 2026
Group trip
Amanda’s yurt is the most perfect place on earth. My friends and I have agreed to come back every year we can that’s how magical it is :) Amanda is the sweetest and our stays are always unforgettable!!
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Doug
August 2026
Tent
With kids
Directions were clear. Little bit of trash at site left from last folks but we cleaned it up.
Beautiful view of the lights in the valley below and of the ocean to the south in the morning.
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Brian
August 2026
With kids
Amazing hospitality, atmosphere, and scenery. Very generous hosts. A great retreat for anyone looking for peace, solitude, and immersion in nature.
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Sarah
August 2026
17 ft campervan
My daughter and I loved camping on Vivian Lee's land. It was a quiet, clean spot. We took one of the RV spots near the oak tree which had nice shade and its own port-o-potty. There was a nice shared outdoor shower and lots of wild birds like quail around. Definitely would recommend to friends.
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Jill
August 2026
With kids
Fantastic spot. So beautiful and remote and cozy. The stars were amazing. One of those unforgettably childhood moments for my kids!! ✨ we were there on a particularly warm day but once the sun went down we slept well and cozily 😊 great care and lovely people. Good and clear directions
See moreMegan
August 2026
Tent
With kids
Katherine was very kind and accommodating. Communicative. The site was set up as promised. The location couldn’t be better. The horses were definitely a hit!
See moreRod
August 2026
Tent
Great campsite on a working farm. Outdoor shower with plenty of hot water, large plots to pitch several tents. We were moto-camping with three people and this was exactly what we needed! Definitely recommended!
See moreNicole
July 2026
Tent
The campsite was clean & even had a shower on premises. We had a lovely time camping at Arber-Moore and would recommend staying here for the view especially at sunset!
See moreMelissa
July 2026
17 ft campervan
With pets
Quiet, well-appointed campsite near Ojai, Ventura, and Santa Barbara. Owner communicated very well.
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Gaea Dawn
July 2026
Weekend Trip to Prospector Ranch
This place was a true gem! Great for a local staycation. It was hot, but Malibu was the perfect spot for daily escapes to beat the heat and jump in the ocean. Meagan and her team were amazing. One night in The Fearless Mary and one night in the Wagon! Loved it and would definitely go back.
See moreCarpinteria camping guide
Where to go
California's Central Coast
It's hard to deny the beauty of the Central Coast, whether it's the cliff-lined stretches of Big Sur or the Mission-style architecture of Santa Barbara. Carpinteria is an excellent base from which to explore the entire region and its forest-filled inland areas.
The Channel Islands
Off the coast of Ventura, accessible only by boat, this chain of eight islands is a must for lovers of the natural world. Here you’ll be able to see all sorts of plants and animals that aren’t found anywhere else on the planet. Five of the islands comprise Channel Islands National Park, each with a single campground.
Southern California
From Carpinteria, it's not far to Southern California, where campers can find quiet coastal communities and lively big cities. While the region is known for its beaches, it's equally fabulous for inland exploration, including Death Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park.
When to go
Carpinteria is a year-round destination, with pleasant, moderate weather throughout the year. If coming to surf, summer and fall are ideal, despite summertime getting major crowds. To see wildlife—notably sea and sea lions—come between December and May or visit when the tide is low, revealing tide pools full of colorful sea creatures.
