96% (2K)
Top-rated campgrounds near Goleta
96% (2K)
Top-rated campgrounds near Goleta
Public campgrounds near Goleta
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
A
Artsiom
November 2025
18 ft Class B
With pets
good place, worm shower, have all needed connections of water and electrisity
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Conor
November 2025
18 ft pop-up camper
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
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Andres
November 2025
Tent
With pets
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.
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l
ly
November 2025
Tent
Group trip
Catherine was such a wonderful host. She made sure we were comfortable and let our kids explore her ranch. Our kids loved the horses. It was really quiet at night. We will come back.
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B
Ben
October 2025
20 ft Class B
Great spot in a beautiful setting. Would return and recommend for others.
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Mark
October 2025
30 ft travel trailer
With kids
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!
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Virginia
October 2025
20 ft campervan
I have been staying at Vivian’s property for several years now and I always enjoy my stay there..
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Gary
September 2025
35 ft travel trailer
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.
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Eric
September 2025
16 ft car
With pets
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.
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Matthew
September 2025
23 ft Class B
Beautiful property with great stargazing! Good sized sites and great amenities!
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david
September 2025
Tent
With kids
Great location for some family camping! Would definitely recommend.
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Keila
September 2025
Tent
Had an amazing time definitely coming back. Our host were amazing and it was peaceful and we had a great time they gave wood for sell there so it’s a plus!! Shower was clean a few stores around for last minute things:))
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Sandra
August 2025
25 ft Class C
With pets
Pros: hosts were awesome, decent area for camping, hot and clean shower area, fair porta potty
Cons: Lack of privacy. You can hear other conversations right across from you, as well as their movie. It played pretty loud past midnight.
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Daniel
August 2025
Tent
Has a really nice time camping at The Ford. The site is large and has lots of shaded, usable space. Tons of greenery and birds. It is close to a road and cars can be loud at night. Bring white noise or earplugs. The chickens were really fun to have nearby, and the frogs and crickets go crazy at night. Bugs are present, but not aggressive. Had a really nice stay.
See moreC
Christian
August 2025
Tent
Really enjoyed the tent camping I did on this land. The hosts clearly care about providing their campers with a comfortable experience. They maintain a clean environment, provide a really nice shower/restroom, and have plenty of space to accommodate large groups! Plus the location is very accessible and you can be back in the city in no time. Huge thank you to Vivian and David for making our trip a great experience. Definitely recommend this for future hipcampers!
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M
Marquita
August 2025
15 ft travel trailer
Perfect little camp. Nice location close Ojai and Ventura. Also near the Ojai - Ventura Bike Path, great for biking and walking/running.
If wildfire conditions weren’t so bad we could have enjoyed a camp fire.
Friendly horses and a dog. A rooster will wake you up in the early morning.
I would visit here again.
See moreK
Kevin
August 2025
Tent
Group trip
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!
See moreL
Luke
August 2025
20 ft campervan
With pets
Vivian was very welcoming. This is a nice place to stay off the beaten path. It's a bit dusty but the views are beautiful. We had never been to this part of California and were Amazed by the beauty all around us. Spots themselves are a bit Dusty and watch out for the burrs . Hey , it's camping! We did a little trouble with directions and Vivian was very prompt in her response. The views of the mountains are very nice and the place is very peaceful .
A great host!
See moreD
Dabney
August 2025
21 ft campervan
With kids
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.
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s
shannie
August 2025
10 ft travel trailer
Catherine was a lovely host! We stayed at the Ford tractor, which was beside a clear creek with tons of wild watercress. The sound of crickets and frogs at night was so soothing. Just to note: expect cell service to be limited, although we didn't mind unplugging for a few days. Will definitely be coming back!
See moreNearby public parks
Browse national and state parks near Goleta
The best waterside camping near Goleta guide
Where to go
Beach Parks on Highway 101
Drive west from Goleta and you’ll hit three beach parks in 25 miles along a stunning stretch of Highway 101: El Capitán State Beach, Refugio State Beach, and Gaviota Beach at Gaviota State Park. Each park has a campground for tent and RV camping, as well as day-use access for activities like surfing, hiking, or relaxing on the beach. You can’t go wrong at any of these sites, but highlights include sea kayaking at Refugio, the 10 miles of hiking trails at El Capitán, and Goleta Hot Springs at Gaviota.
Los Padres National Forest
Above Goleta in the Santa Ynez Mountains lies the Los Padres National Forest, a wilderness that spans nearly 2 million acres. Los Padres is snaked with hiking and mountain biking trails, rock climbing sites, waterfalls, and stunning vistas. There are also fishing, hunting, and off-roading opportunities to be found, and close to Goleta, a cluster of Los Padres campgrounds puts visitors below ancient oak trees on the banks of the Santa Ynez River: Fremont, Paradise, Sage Hill, and Los Prietos. All campgrounds feature sites with picnic tables and fire rings.
Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
Cachuma Lake is a 3,600-plus-acre reservoir in the Santa Ynez Valley about 30 minutes north of Goleta. A freshwater oasis during summer heat, Cachuma Lake has a boat launch and kayak rentals, plus its Santa Barbara County-operated Cachuma Lake campground. Campers can choose from tent camping sites, RV sites with full hookups, and glamping options.