The best cave campgrounds near Goleta, California

Welcome to Hipcamp! If you're looking for a unique camping experience near Goleta, California, with a preference for caves, we've got you covered. With over 79 options available in the area, you'll have plenty of choices to find the perfect cave camping spot. Prices start as low as $50 per night, with an average price of $130 per night. For top-rated campsites, be sure to check out Cuyama Oaks Ranch (367 reviews), Arber-Moore's Ranch (158 reviews), and Dreamy Wild Horse Ranch Cabin (47 reviews). These campsites offer popular amenities such as potable water, toilets, and trash disposal. And if you're up for some adventure, popular activities in the area include boating, fishing, and off-roading (OHV). Happy camping!

96% (970)

Top-rated campgrounds

Welcome to Hipcamp! If you're looking for a unique camping experience near Goleta, California, with a preference for caves, we've got you covered. With over 79 options available in the area, you'll have plenty of choices to find the perfect cave camping spot. Prices start as low as $50 per night, with an average price of $130 per night. For top-rated campsites, be sure to check out Cuyama Oaks Ranch (367 reviews), Arber-Moore's Ranch (158 reviews), and Dreamy Wild Horse Ranch Cabin (47 reviews). These campsites offer popular amenities such as potable water, toilets, and trash disposal. And if you're up for some adventure, popular activities in the area include boating, fishing, and off-roading (OHV). Happy camping!

96% (970)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Cuyama Oaks Ranch

99%

(770)

36mi from Goleta · 8 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · CA

Hello! Our names are Ricky and Nathan. We own and operate an 80 acre ranch that is great for family's, kids, romantic getaways, and LGBTQIA+ safe. We cannot wait to host you and your group! We're excited to share our property with those who appreciate nature and what seclusion in the mountains has to offer. Located deep in the Cuyama Valley, close to wine country, and booming local vineyards (1.25 hrs past Ojai and 45 minutes past Santa Maria) our ranch promises the getaway experience you've been looking for. The Ranch is 80 acres with majestic mountain views and vast canyons for hiking and trail access. During the spring and summer months imagine sitting in your own personal cowboy pooltub looking up at the stars. Smell the sage and wildflowers in the air while you sip wine. Surrounded by the Los Padres Mountains and located deep within the hidden valley of enchantment, this ranch gives the visitor the high-desert glamping/camping experience of their dreams. For the hikers and explorers out there, the ranch offers trails and within 30 min in every direction there are local trails. . There is a designated area for tent camping and for RV's, Trailers, Vans, and tiny homes (no electric yet for RVs). We also offer glamping sites and all inclusive yurts. The ranch is completely private and secluded, off HWY 166. We welcome all animals, big and small. We are farm! We have pigs, goats, ducks, chickens, turkeys and more!

2. Gaia Farm Campground

96%

(96)

14mi from Goleta · 4 sites · Tents, Lodging · Goleta, CA

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.

3. Arber-Moore's Ranch

93%

(563)

31mi from Goleta · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Oak View, CA

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 !!"

4. Los Padres National Forest

95%

(452)

762 sites · Mission Canyon, California

From beach to mountain, California's second largest forest offers recreation in diverse ecosystems.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

5. Channel Islands National Park

96%

(68)

95 sites · Isla Vista, California

Set sail for one of the five wildlife-filled islands that make up this offshore park.

Toilets

Campfires

Potable water

6. Sanctuary Cielo

98%

(30)

5mi from Goleta · 1 site · Tent · Santa Barbara, CA

Find your inner calm. Quiet and beautiful 5 acre, mountain forest retreat with walking paths, seating areas, yoga platforms, swings, caves, boulders and a hammock. (Our neighbors had a rooster for a short time, but they moved it on!) Our sanctuary is more like a bed and breakfast, with touches of being in a warm home environment....an outdoor living room and kitchen. Easily accessible to cliffside hiking, caves or / rock climbing and the beach. Close to the Lizard's Mouth recreational area that has acres of exquisite cliffside boulders overlooking the ocean. Close to the Playground Recreational hiking area. And close to the Chumash Painted Caves and the Santa Ynez River. Some folks like to go to Montecito to Cold Springs Hotsprings. Tent camping, ( for a small fee, we have one if you don't). Room for a camping van. We have a variety of games to choose from for the whole family. Kid friendly. We have 2 friendly kitties and a small doggie. Outdoor kitchen with grill, wash basin, outdoor shower, potable water, fire pit, electricity and wifi. Hot tub is available for a small charge. Spa upgrades such as massage are available.

Public campgrounds near Goleta

Great view once you get out from under the trees.

100%

(2)

Fremont Campground

7.8mi from Goleta · 15 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

100%

(3)

Paradise Campground

7.8mi from Goleta · 15 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Los Prietos Campground is pleasantly shady and a great site for those newer to camping.

83%

(7)

Los Prietos Campground

7.9mi from Goleta · 38 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

100%

(3)

Sage Hill Campground

8.1mi from Goleta · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

View from Upper Oso via Andy Sternberg: https://www.flickr.com/photos/revolute/

92%

(9)

Upper Oso Campground

10mi from Goleta · 19 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Mono Campground

15mi from Goleta · 3 sites · in Los Padres National Forest

P-Bar Flat Campground

16mi from Goleta · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

83%

(3)

Middle Santa Ynez Campground

17mi from Goleta · 13 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Rock Camp Campground

18mi from Goleta · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

100%

(9)

Mount Figueroa Campground

22mi from Goleta · 33 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Nice little water fall to dip in during the hot summer

100%

(2)

Davy Brown Campground

23mi from Goleta · 13 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

94%

(8)

Nira Campground

24mi from Goleta · 11 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Stories from the community

A

Amos

2 weeks ago

Tent

With kids

2 nights at Sanctuary Cielo

We had a lovely time at Sanctuary Cielo. A peaceful setting with ample amenities. There are nice walking trails around the property that we enjoyed exploring with our two year old son. The campsite is in view of the house but there’s a privacy screen to keep things feeling private. Amber the host was warm and inviting but never intrusive. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something close to Santa Barbara!

A

Artsiom

3 weeks ago

18 ft Class B

With pets

1 night at Arber-Moore's Ranch

good place, worm shower, have all needed connections of water and electrisity

C

Conor

3 weeks ago

18 ft pop-up camper

Weekend Trip to Arber-Moore's Ranch

We ended up having to leave late and so arrived to the campsite much later than expected. Vivian was extremely accommodating. The outdoor shower was hot and just what we needed after a day of surfing too. It was a beautiful site in general

A

Andres

November 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Arber-Moore's Ranch

Location is incredibly convenient to Lake Casitas, Ojai and Oak View, but still feels remote and secluded. Site was spacious, clean and beautiful, but could definitely use some improvements. More restrooms and showers, for one, and definitely a line of trees to block out the noise from the main road would be major upgrades. We were lucky to be the only group there that weekend, but I could imagine it being frustrating trying to schedule bathroom/shower time if the sites were full. From my brief conversations with the the owner, Vivian, however, it sounds like they're actively working towards those things already. Other than that, the toilet and shower were both very clean and functional. Shower was hot and pressure was good. Light pollution from Ojai is visible on the horizon, but the property itself is very dark and conducive to star gazing. Host was friendly, helpful, accommodating and communicative, but pretty hands-off otherwise.

S

Samantha

November 2025

Tent

1 night at Gaia Farm Campground

Great hospitality! The site was well set up and had a great view. I loved the animals, especially the dogs I met! Also, I left with a dozen farm fresh eggs…I would definitely recommend.

A

Alaina

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Gaia Farm Campground

I loved everything about this stay! The amazing views, warm hospitality and fun farm visit made this a treasured day for us. Ocean views, chaparral in the air, amazing stargazing landscape and friendly hosts. We even left with some farm-fresh bacon and sausage. Many thanks, we can't wait to visit again. Cheers!

E

Emily

October 2025

Tent

3 nights at Gaia Farm Campground

We loved this camp site! The host, Amanda, was super welcoming and made us feel comfortable upon arrival. Amanda and her family are located on what is truly the most magical pocket of the Gaviota coast. At night, the stars are so bright it feels like you're in your very own planetarium. We even saw an insane comet (fireball??!) in the sky during our last night!!! Even though other people were staying near us, we never felt overcrowded. Amanda was super considerate in spacing out her guests so that we each felt like we were enjoying the coast all to ourselves. Would 100% recommend this site and we hope to come back again soon!

J

Jenn

October 2025

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Cuyama Oaks Ranch

We had a small group come up to Nathan's ranch for my sister's birthday, and we rented out two of the glamping sites. We had so much fun, and it was awesome being away from the city with such amazing views. Seriously, the mountains were insane, and I don't think I've ever seen the Milky Way so clearly. Nathan was lovely, as are the animals—everyone should do the petting zoo. Definitely bring your earplugs if you're in Pink Pony #1 (the rooster is an early riser!) We'll be back for sure :)

Mark

October 2025

30 ft travel trailer

With kids

3 nights at Arber-Moore's Ranch

Nice spot! We enjoyed our stay. Was nice to have water and electricity. There’s a bit of construction going on with the property but didn’t really bother us at all. Nice views and cool to be able to have fires as well. Definitely recommend!

S

Sam

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Gaia Farm Campground

Amazing spot to stay, amazing hosts. Couldn’t recommend staying here enough. It’s spacious, beautiful, and you have to get a tour of the wonderful farm! Angela and Tracy are so sweet and welcoming, definitely check out their awesome soaps, lotions, and meat products! Will be back soon :)

V

Virginia

October 2025

20 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to Arber-Moore's Ranch

I have been staying at Vivian’s property for several years now and I always enjoy my stay there..

G

Gary

September 2025

35 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Arber-Moore's Ranch

We never actually made it there, due to unexpected events. However, we had a really good feeling about the place and what it would be like, especially after our conversations with Vivian, as we engaged with her about other aspects of the trip: planning, problem solving, cancelling the reservation. We genuinely hope to make the trip to visit with her at another time soon.

Eric

September 2025

16 ft car

With pets

3 nights at Arber-Moore's Ranch

Vivian’s ranch was a great experience to host my family’s first camping trip with kids. It was close to services and pizza for the little ones, was quiet, had lots of birds and nature sounds, and the facilities were clean and in working order. Their ranch has a lot of potential, and I’m excited to see how it improves over time with all of the hard work they’re putting into it and the trees they’ve been planting.

A

Anna

September 2025

17 ft campervan

2 nights at Cuyama Oaks Ranch

We stayed on Nathan's farm and were the only guests for two nights (benefits of not camping on the weekend!). It was quiet except for the delightful noises from the goats, pigs, and chickens. The morning and night skies were spectacular. Our campsite was clean with an eco outhouse and separate stand-alone shower. Instructions to get to the farm were easy to follow. Nathan welcomed us into the farm when we arrived. We got to experience rain on the 2nd day--lovely. We appreciated the thoughtfulness that went into the creation our campsite.

M

Matthew

September 2025

23 ft Class B

1 night at Arber-Moore's Ranch

Beautiful property with great stargazing! Good sized sites and great amenities!

Dan

September 2025

16 ft car

With pets

Weekend Trip to Cuyama Oaks Ranch

Had a great stay at Nathan's ranch! We stayed at the Jolly Rancher site and it exceeded expectations! Clean outhouse, shower and kitchen utensils provided. Nathan was super nice accommodating, friendly and we would definitely stay again!

Marc

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Sanctuary Cielo

What a wonderful property and a beautiful place to relax and get away from it all. The hosts were kind and helpful in every way. Can’t wait to come back.

C

Calvin

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Gaia Farm Campground

Amanda’s site was clean and well maintained on the family homestead. It’s a short walk from the parking area at the farm down to the site. The night we stayed was dry, warm, and calm - great full moon views of the pacific from the site. Would recommend!

K

Kevin

August 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Arber-Moore's Ranch

We wanted to take our friends camping for the first time and this was the perfect place to do it! Site #2 was nice and open, and was super convenient to stay at, with wood on premises to buy. The bathroom was clean and the shower stall was the best shower I’ve used at a campsite ever. Highly recommend this site if you want an Ojai adjacent place to stay. Vivian and her husband were wonderful hosts and we had a relaxing weekend!

D

Dabney

August 2025

21 ft campervan

With kids

1 night at Arber-Moore's Ranch

We enjoyed staying at Vivian Lee's because it was spacious, private, and we had everything we needed. The host was super helpful when I was needing assistance getting oriented when we first arrived. She had sent me an email a few days before with arrival instructions, but since I hadn't seen the email, and it wasn't on Hipcamp, I wasn't sure exactly where to go. In no time, she texted me a map with detailed instructions. We enjoyed a nice sunset walk up the dry river bed, looking at rocks. The site was just as described, on a ranch, private with beautiful mountain views and a safe and good place to pull up for the night. If you're sensitive to noise, and sleeping outside in a tent, you might want ear plugs as there are neighboring dogs who occasionally bark at night -- kind of what you'd expect for a rural setting.