Discover the best beach camping near Santa Barbara
Find beach camping below coastal mountains on the shores of Santa Barbara.
93% (947 reviews)
- Santa Barbara
93% (947 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Santa Barbara
Camper favorites near Santa Barbara
Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.
Public campgrounds near Santa Barbara
Stories from the community
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Gabriel
2 weeks ago
Tent
Group trip
Very nice and quite place, it was as described.
Meet host David , very kind and friendly, it was ready to help in case needed.
Soon I will be back
Gabriel Goldsman
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Heidi
2 weeks ago
Tent
With pets
Their place was absolutely amazing. We loved it there! It’s just enough to be camping, but enough amenities is to be comfortable. Plenty of shade and water available and not too crowded.
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Rune
2 weeks ago
20 ft campervan
With pets
Super nice hosts. The sites are not perfect. Most of them have very little coverage and are very exposed to sun. Shower is great. Site #1 is definitely the best.
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Travis
2 weeks ago
Tent
What an incredible experience! As others have noted, the views are unmatched. Even the drive up the hill had us pulling over to take photos.
The only thing better than the camp site is the hosts. I'd mentioned a special request, had to cancel and rebook, and added an order of the goat milk soap and eggs after my reservation, and the hosts were completely helpful, friendly and responsive the entire way through. We were even given a list of places to visit after our camping stay, which lead us to a bakery with the BEST bagel sandwiches that we have ever had in our lives! Plus the farm animals, the one-of-a-kind geology you'll be surrounded by, and did I mention the views? We're talking heights that will have you floating above the clouds and fog, looking down at hillsides that meet the Pacific Ocean. What a treat Gaia Farms and Amanda and her husband were! Book while you can!
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Alex
2 weeks ago
Tent
This was our second time staying on Chris’ land. Its one of our favorites on the coast. Incredible view! Secluded , quiet, and easy to access.
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Jason
2 weeks ago
Tent
Group trip
Awesome camp site with great views! Definitely recommend the farm tour.
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Jimmy
3 weeks ago
23 ft travel trailer
With pets
Provided great instructions upon arrival. Stay was private and peaceful. Location was great and close to Ojai!
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Jeremy
3 weeks ago
Tent
Stunning views. You can see the ocean in the distance and at night the sky is full of stars. The host was friendly and walked me to the site when I arrived. Overall a great place to escape the city for a short trip.
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Dawn
3 weeks ago
30 ft travel trailer
With pets
The campground itself has a limited number of sites which we absolutely loved. Vivian and Doug were the most gracious and responsive hosts we’ve ever experienced in all our years of camping!! It’s dry almost desert like on years the dam up river isn’t opened but there’s a great little spot to get wet less than a mile away. We came as guests and left as friends. Wonderful people! We will definitely be back!
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Tori
3 weeks ago
Tent
Gaia farm is absolutely gorgeous! I had a great time camping there, loved the ocean views, and the stars late at night! The pictures don’t do this place justice.
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Jodie
3 weeks ago
14 ft pop-up camper
Wonderful host. Beautiful spot overlooking the mountains. So close to the beach! We’ll be back!
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Jamie
June 2025
20 ft travel trailer
With pets
This place has a very special energy. We brought our little travel trailer, but the real magic is in the greenhouse (you can camp in there!) and the private beach. Quiet and absolutely stunning, we would definitely come back and bring more family. It’s so special that we want to share it! Thank you to our gracious hosts and for letting us know about the launch. It felt like a private Oceanside flyby!
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Donovan
June 2025
Tent
Perfect views and amazing host! The stars at night were so clear!!!
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Heather
June 2025
20 ft campervan
With kids
What a great site! Catherine was very accommodating and made us feel at home. The site has a great mix of shade and sun, plenty of space, and areas to explore.
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Carrie
June 2025
Tent
Group trip
Third time staying here and loved it just as much as the other times! It's well-kept, beautiful and they are always doing upgrades! The shower was amazing and they were kind enough to bring us some fresh eggs one morning. 10/10 would recommend!
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Jordan
June 2025
Tent
I loved tent camping on Amanda’s land! It was my first Hipcamp experience and we had to have started out strong—Amanda is so kind and was super helpful w clear directions to the farm and then helping us unload our car to get to the campsite. The views were just gorgeous!
Things I would want to know: only composting toilet for facilities with toilet paper provided. Otherwise #1 is encouraged to occur in nature. Potable water is provided. No showers on site.
Amanda’s posts mention pretty much all of this as well and she was super helpful with answering questions. And! There’s some cell service (T Mobile).
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Nico
June 2025
Tent
With kids
Love this place will be back with my family amazing host!
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alice
June 2025
Tent
I had a great time here! The hosts were extremely kind and they had a really nice piece of land!
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Kat
June 2025
Tent
With pets
This was our first time using Hipcamp and must admit it was great! I really appreciate the site being on private property, so there's peace of mind knowing that our belongings would be safe. Also, the photos and description of each location were on point!
We stayed at Riverside Site 2 and it was really private - and super huge! It was just my partner, me, and our dog and we really enjoyed the large space and not necessarily concerned about people camping next to us. Vivian was a great and informative host and hope to camp at her Hipcamp site again!
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Yessy
June 2025
Tent
I loved the campsite. Getting there was a bit of a drive through the windy almost one way road all the way up but once there it was worth it. We had a warm welcome and shown to our site. It was a short walk to the site. Wear appropriate shoes. The views from the site are gorgeous! We had a warm day and there isn’t a lot of shade unless you were in your text or you prepare for that so keep that in mind. There was a table available to cook on and eat with some chairs which was helpful. At night it gets pretty cool so take something warm. It was also a bit windy and the windmill can get loud if your sensitive to sounds. We took a tour with Nick and enjoyed hearing about the work they do and so spending time with the animals. Overall it was a great stay! We will be back
See more3 top beach campgrounds near Santa Barbara
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Discover the best beach camping near Santa Barbara guide
Overview
There are numerous public beaches to reward campers who travel to the Santa Barbara section of California's Central Coast. They include El Capitán State Beach, Refugio State Beach, Jalama Beach County Park, and Carpinteria State Beach, most of which offer beach camping not right on the sand but instead up atop bluffs overlooking the shore. A ferry to the secluded beaches of Channel Islands National Park also launches from nearby Ventura. Many state beach parks offer hookups for RVs, restrooms, fire pits, and picnic tables for campers. Elsewhere around the Santa Barbara coast, campsites range from blufftop sites with sunset views to beach campgrounds just a short walk from the sand. You can also find cabins, glamping sites, and private getaways with beach access in Santa Barbara. For the best beach camping experience, bring your own watersports equipment or opt for paddleboard, surfboard, or kayak rentals along the water. If you still have an appetite for adventure after exploring the waves, tide pools, and marine life, hit the hiking trails in nearby Los Padres National Forest.