Camping in Lake Casitas with a private bathroom
Cast a line or set up your tent at this sprawling Ojai-area reservoir.
- Lake Casitas
93% (14835 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Lake Casitas
Available this weekend
12 top campgrounds in Lake Casitas with a private bathroom
94%
(338)
Arber-Moore's Ranch
6 sites · RVs, Tents22 acres · Oak View, Ventura
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 !!"
from
$69
/ night
98%
(498)
Radl Ranch
7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents8 acres · Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara
Radl Ranch is a beautiful 8 acre working ranch,
AMAZING SUNRISES☀️!!! wake up early :):):):!!!!
~We are located 5 minutes from State Street- downtown SB with shopping and wonderful restaurants.
~10 minutes away from Santa Barbara beaches
property located in Mission Canyon in Santa Barbara County. The property includes
4 acres of avocado trees and newly planted fruit trees. The other 4 acres is a charming natural forest and valley.
The valley consists of 2 acres of beautiful flat area with a gorgeous newly planted garden and grass field,
for campers to use, The camping area is on the wood chips just in front of the grass, and in our lower camping spot.
We are in a box canyon, so sometimes phone service can be a bit spotty. Please message us the day of and let us know what time you will arriving.
There is a shared OUTDOOR SHOWER, with hot water and incredible water pressure. PLEASE make your self at Home :):):)
Enveloped in the property are lovely wildlife. There are deer occasionally, coyotes quite a lot,(watch your dogoooooos ) hawks, hummingbirds, ground squirrels, roadrunners among other curious critters. We also had a BEAR❤️!!!!!! Dogs are welcome to join the animal community at Radl Ranch!
We love DOGS❤️❤️❤️, bring your dogs! We are an off-leash dog ranch, so please be aware that there will be roaming dogs !!!!!- BRING YOUR DOG ONLY IF ITS A NICE DOG :)!!! But seriously, we love nice dogs!
In the evenings the valley has the most beautiful light more then just a sunset :)!!!
:):):)!!
Location:
~We are located 5 minutes from State Street- downtown SB with shopping and wonderful restaurants.
~10 minutes away from Santa Barbara beaches
~Hendry's beach great for dogs, Campus Point 15 minute drive + many others
~Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara Mission, Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara Natural History
Museum + more,
as well as
Art galleries galore are other nearby venues.
Although, once you’re inside the canyon, you wouldn’t know it! Radl Ranch seems to be tucked away from all the hustle and bustle, preserving the privacy of the forest. Sunrise and sunset are the favorite times of day and at night, the beauty is amplified by the bright starry sky.
from
$95
/ night
94%
(608)
Blue Sky Center
31 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents267 acres · New Cuyama, Santa Barbara
1948- On January 1, 1948 a wildcatter named George Hadley, who had been oil prospecting in the valley for 10 years, made the first oil strike in the Cuyama Valley. Richfield Oil Company soon moved in and extracted nearly 300 million barrels of oil in just a few short years. To accommodate an exploding workforce in the early 1950s, the company built the town of New Cuyama, its infrastructure, public buildings, the Cuyama airstrip (L88) and all the industrial structures that are now home to Blue Sky. Richfield Oil Company, later merging with Atlantic Oil Company forming the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company (ARCO), created high-paying jobs, a safe and prosperous community, and developed schools, churches, and recreational areas for the employee-residents.1973- With dwindling production in the area and new discoveries in Alaska, Atlantic-Richfield Oil Company put the town of New Cuyama and its associated infrastructure up for sale. Word of an entire town for sale made its way to entrepreneur, Russell O’Quinn of the Foundation for Airborne Relief (FAR) and Mildred Dotson, a wealthy widow from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The two worked together to acquire the townsite and adjacent land. O’Quinn, an aviator, inventor, and test pilot, aspired to use the New Cuyama airstrip and facilities as a base for humanitarian relief and a non-profit trade school. Though not fully realized, FAR’s primary vision included utilizing converted military aircraft to airlift food and medical supplies to developing countries and global disaster areas. Dotson had loftier goals. Her plans included an 18-hole fly-in golf course, expansion of the Buckhorn Restaurant and Motel, and a 40- to 50-acre lake for amphibious landing and water sports. 1986- Another visionary, Harry Kislevitz, inventor of the popular design tool Colorforms® and founder of Future City/Villages International, sought to develop the site as a “City of Friendship,” an all-electric village of 5,000 earthen homes. The dwellings were to be designed by Nader Khalili, an Iranian-born architect who specialized in earthen structures, worked with NASA on prototypes for lunar homes and received an award from the United Nations for his work towards the development of low cost, sustainable structures for human shelter in impoverished and disaster prone environments. One 628-sq-ft Khalili prototype remains on the property today ("the Cantina"). Khalili went on to form the California Institute for Earth Art and Architecture, Cal-Earth, in Hesperia, CA.1993- Recognizing the transformative potential of clean, solar power and the attractiveness of a rural destination, entrepreneur Mike Nolan worked to develop the Solar Skypark and Big Sky Guest Ranch with Santa Barbara Architect, Barry Berkus. The Sky Park included plans for sixty-five fly-in residences on one-acre lots powered completely from clean, solar energy. The Big Sky Guest Ranch was intended to function as a clubhouse for Skypark residents complete with an equestrian center, a small subsistence farm, pool and plenty of enriching recreational activities. 2012- At the end of 2011, the Zannon Family Foundation made a long-term investment in acquiring the New Cuyama Airport property with the vision of rehabilitating the site to be a low-cost resource for programs and organizations working to advance sustainable living practices and technologies. Plans began soon after towards developing a framework and organization to develop the space and coordinate with prospective programs and institutions. In 2014 Blue Sky Sustainable Living Center ("Blue Sky Center") received 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status, endeavoring to reclaim this property for the public good. Today, Blue Sky Center provides unduplicated services and technical assistance to support small businesses and entrepreneurs as well as the local food system, with core work focused on community research and advocacy led by Cuyamans. Learn more on our website and consider supporting our community work with your donation or by hosting your next special event here!
from
$35
/ night
98%
(131)
Mountain Getaway at El Deseo Ranch
2 sites · RVs, Tents160 acres · Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara
El Deseo Ranch is located in the Santa Ynez Mountains behind Santa Barbara. We are an off-grid property of 160 acres, in a wilderness area. The ranch was once a part of the Chumash tribe's native lands and then became a Spanish Land Grant. We have a small herd of dairy goats and small flock of chickens for family use. Two popular hiking trails with fantastic ocean views run through the property. There are several other hiking and biking trails near by.
from
$70
/ night
91%
(37)
Rancho de Granville
6 sites · RVs, Tents7 acres · Oak View, Ventura
Sandy yard, a tent spot with privacy near San Antonio Creek ! Challenge a friend to game of horseshoes or darts. Your neighbors are the friendly horses and the curious chickens! This was the original stage coach stop between Ventura and the small community of Nordoff (Ojai) the old bunkhouse and barn remain!
from
$62
/ night
92%
(18)
Caravan Outpost - Ojai Oasis!
1 site · Lodging6 acres · Ojai, Ventura
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!
from
$336
/ night
99%
(3911)
Cuyama Badlands
26 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents164 acres · Cuyama, Santa Barbara
If you've ever wondered what it might be like to camp on the moon, this is it. Completely removed from civilization and surrounded by a barren nature that is alive with the subtle presence of the universe. Seasonally, Spring wildflowers burst across the landscape. Cave paintings of Chumash Indians remind us of those who lived before us. This is where the deer and the antelope play.
Our Carrizo Camp is surrounded by the Carrizo Plains National Monument. This is truly a get away from it all camping. That's it. You, the coyotes and your own private moon.
Our Songdog Camps are sparsely scattered atop a 200 foot mesa that looks west over a valley offering stunning desert sunsets.
Our Ranch House and Glampsites are available on occasion. This is our home but we love to share our life in the outback. We believe it will give you a better appreciation of life's simpler side.
There are two sites where RVs are welcome.
This land was sparsely populated by the Chumash Indian and is evident by the numerous cave painting that remain here in the Caliente mountain. In the era of the California Missions, this land was a part of the Spanish land grants. Currently the property is privately owned and is adjacent to large sections of publicly held lands.
from
$40
/ night
95%
(226)
Harmony's Glamping
7 sites · Lodging90 acres · Mission Canyon, Santa Barbara
Nestled along Maria Ygnacio creek in the beautiful mountains of Santa Barbara. Immerse yourself in the great outdoors while staying cozy in a Yurt, Teepee, or one of our Geo Domes. Each is secluded with a hot shower, propane fire pit, camp kitchen and a comfortable queen bed. Wake up to the sound of the birds chirping and the creek rippling. Hike to our very own 30' ft waterfall where you can take a dip, lay out and catch some sunshine. The trail is rugged so be ready to boulder and use your hands in some places. Our wood burning hot tub is freshly filled every time, and right along the creek for a natural hot/cold plunge experience. We also offer morning yoga, and relaxing massages for a fully rejuvenating experience.
Enjoy some nearby experiences all within 30 minutes:
-Cold Springs Tavern, historical stagecoach stop, live music and delicious BBQ
-Wine Tasting in Solvang or on Stearns Wharf
-State Street, Downtown Shopping and Restaurants
-Beaches, LedBetter, East Beach, Butterfly, Hendry's Beach (Dog Friendly)
-Painted Cave, a cave full of Indian paintings
-Hikes, SaddleRock, Lizards Mouth, Hot Springs
Please note that a high clearance vehicle is recommended! This is a mountainous bumpy dirt road with steep sharp corners. A regular car can make it, just be warned you may bottom out a couple times. We do have a Jeep Wrangler available for rent on site. ($80 a day) You can add it onto your booking under extras.
We are not liable for any damage to you or your vehicle when entering our property, so do so at your own risk.
Please feel free to reach out with any further questions.
Text or Call: 805-698-8623
IG:@harmonys_glamping
from
$200
/ night
93%
(42)
Los Encinos Ranch in Ojai CA
3 sites · RVs, Tents19 acres · Ojai, Ventura
Come stay at my beautiful land!
from
$125
/ night
100%
(6)
Camp RainDale
3 sites · Tents30 acres · Santa Paula, Ventura
There is a road that leads to the site when you enter the gate the road runs between the stream and the mountain there is 1 Camp site to choose from so far. Many more on the way and you can ask if you would like to camp somewhere else on the property and we can work it out. The site runs along a flowing stream consisting of paths from camp to stream. There are many trees enclosing the entire camping area and, activities to do like playing horseshoes in the horseshoe pit.
from
$30
/ night
93%
(194)
Lisa S.’s Land
4 sites · Lodging, RVs1 acre · Solvang, Santa Barbara
This is Glamping at its best! We have two cabins that have kitchens with mini frig, microwaves and sinks. Complimentary coffee and tea as well. Very comfortable queen beds. Each cabin has a living room and table area along with gas fireplaces inside and A/C. Outdoor courtyard area with firepit, picnic tables and string lights to enjoy the days or evenings. Each cabin sleeps two but both can be rented to sleep four. Both cabins are historic to the area. All of this is in the center of the Santa Ynez valley close to Los Olivos , Santa Ynez and Solvang.Wine tasting, bike riding and hiking. Great restaurants and wineries within walking distance.
from
$75
/ night
100%
(8)
El Deseo Ranch
1 site · Lodging160 acres · Mission Canyon, Santa Barbara
El Deseo Ranch is located in the mountains above Santa Barbara CA surrounded by wilderness. There are many hiking trails nearby and opportunities for mountain biking and road biking. We live off-grid in a small community. We have a small herd of dairy goats, some chickens and 3 dogs. Although our ranch is in the mountains, it is a 35 minute drive to down town Santa Barbara and beaches.
You will need to walk about 100 feet from the parking area to get to the tipi. Our tipi sleeps 5 guests comfortably with room for 3-4 more if you bring your own sleeping bags and mattresses. The tipi has a queen sized bed with linens, an XL twin day bed with linens and two small fold-out futons used for chairs or sleeping pads. You will need to bring sleeping bags or bedding for the futons. We provide a camp stove, pots and pans, cooking utensils, dishes and clean up supplies. We have an outhouse with a simple composting toilet next to the tipi. We have solar camp shower for your use. There is a picnic table with 6 chairs and an umbrella as well as a cooking table.
There is room near the tipi for tents and room on the deck for more sleeping areas if you have a larger group.
from
$125
/ night
Under $50
Star Hosts in Lake Casitas
Dog-friendly getaways
Nearby parks
Explore the area’s public lands.
Camping in Lake Casitas with a private bathroom guide
Just outside of Ojai in the hills of Ventura County, Lake Casitas is a massive reservoir that provides drinking water to residents of the region while offering excellent opportunities for boating, fishing, and shorefront camping. Run by the municipal water board, the Lake Casitas Recreation Area has 13 campgrounds with a mix of simple tent sites, electric sites, and full hook-up sites, plus two group camps, a bike rental shop, a bait shop, a cafe, and two boat ramps. While visitors aren't allowed to swim in the lake, there is a water park right by the lake with a lazy river and splash playgrounds for kids.
Notable Campgrounds
- Best for RV campers: Fox Campground (Campground F) has sites with full hookups and 40-foot concrete parking pads.
- Best for anglers: Angler Campground (Campground A) is situated right next to a boat ramp and bait-and-tackle store.
- Best for families: Mallard Campground (Campground M) has a playground and is right by the model airstrip.
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
- You can reserve your campsite up to 90 days before your departure date either online through the Casitas Municipal Water District, over the phone, by email, or even in person.
- Summer weekends fill up early, so book as soon as you can to guarantee a spot.
- A two-night minimum applies on weekends, and a three- or four-night minimum applies during public holidays.
- If campsites are sold out for your preferred date, plenty of options sit in the immediate area, including Ventura County-run campgrounds, campsites in Los Padres National Forest, and privately owned Hipcamps.
When to Go
Lake Casitas is a year-round destination, but the best months for camping are from April through October, when there's little chance of rain and temperatures are pleasant. Note that the campgrounds are often at capacity during the summer, so visit before Memorial Day Weekend or after Labor Day to avoid crowds. Anglers should note that the lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout at various points throughout the year. Night fishing is allowed on select evenings every month, weather permitting.
Know Before You Go
- The lake is used as a source of drinking water. Therefore, swimming and other body-contact activities aren't allowed.
- You can pick up groceries and other supplies in Ojai, a 10-minute drive from the park entrance.
- You can buy shower tokens through a machine at the guest services building. Bring cash (bills only).
- Due to droughts in the area, many of the trees in the lake are dry, which increases the likelihood of branches falling. Make sure to camp away from any potential limbs.
- Bears have been spotted in the Lake Casitas Recreation Area, so it's vital that you secure your food and cookware in your car when not using it.
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