The best waterside camping near Solvang

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Founded in the early 20th century as a Danish colony for Midwesterners in search of warmer climes, Solvang celebrates the roots of its first settlers with traditional Scandinavian architecture and local restaurants dishing up Nordic cuisine. This quirky spot is situated in the Santa Ynez Valley, making it a good base for exploring some of the region's most lauded wineries, and it's within easy day-tripping distance of both the Central California Coast and Los Padres National Forest. Most camping options and RV parks in the immediate vicinity are privately owned and include intimate Hipcamps on farms and wineries.

95% (1.8K)

Top-rated campgrounds

Arber-Moore's Ranch

1. Arber-Moore's Ranch

93%
(563)
49mi from Solvang · 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 !!"
Pets
Electrical Hookup
Toilets
from 
$69
 / night

Founded in the early 20th century as a Danish colony for Midwesterners in search of warmer climes, Solvang celebrates the roots of its first settlers with traditional Scandinavian architecture and local restaurants dishing up Nordic cuisine. This quirky spot is situated in the Santa Ynez Valley, making it a good base for exploring some of the region's most lauded wineries, and it's within easy day-tripping distance of both the Central California Coast and Los Padres National Forest. Most camping options and RV parks in the immediate vicinity are privately owned and include intimate Hipcamps on farms and wineries.

95% (1.8K)

Top-rated campgrounds

Arber-Moore's Ranch

1. Arber-Moore's Ranch

93%
(563)
49mi from Solvang · 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 !!"
Pets
Electrical Hookup
Toilets
from 
$69
 / night

Public campgrounds near Solvang

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best waterside camping near Solvang guide

Where to go

Santa Barbara County

A stay in Solvang puts you within easy reach of Santa Barbara County's most interesting towns and outdoor attractions, from the sleek city of Santa Barbara to the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. Spend a day wine tasting in Los Olivos or zip over to Buellton, where you'll find everything from a 200-year-old mission to a museum dedicated to gas station ephemera.

San Luis Obispo County

The next county up the coast from Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County offers loads of sandy beaches, golf courses, and cute towns. It's also home to Hearst Castle, an ornate mansion that now houses a museum. If you like wine, head inland to Paso Robles, where you’ll find wineries along with hot springs and an 18th-century mission.

Los Padres National Forest

This massive expanse of national forest is a great place for camping, climbing, horseback riding, and exploring many miles of hiking trails. It’s also popular for wildlife watching and backcountry camping, as much of the forest is protected wilderness.

When to go

As a popular tourist destination, Solvang is at its busiest during the summer, making late spring and fall ideal for warm weather with fewer crowds. The holidays are another busy time of year, when the annual Julefest takes place. Festivities start on Thanksgiving weekend and run until Epiphany, with highlights including a Christmas market, holiday lights, live music, and a parade, all culminating with a tree burn.