- Santa Susana
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Reviews
96% Recommend69 ratings · 43 reviews
We had a great time at Mars on Earth. It's as private a site you can hope for - and it's proximity to Los Angeles is a huge plus! The hill that everyone refers to is definitely difficult to conquer without a proper vehicle. We were in a minivan, so we parked at the turn halfway up and carried our stuff the rest of the way. It was a very small price to pay for a large, private site surrounded by beautiful rocks! The tree in the middle provides great shade, as does the hammock spot up on the hill. We brought in our water to avoid the trip up and down to the water at the bottom of the hill - so we were grateful for the reviews that noted that. The wifi works perfectly if you need to be connected to work or family during your stay. One thing to note: there were lots of bees when we went in August. Nothing we couldn't handle, but something to note for anyone with allergies. We loved our stay here!
Nicholas B.
2 reviews
i have mixed feelings about Mars on Earth. Although it was a beautiful property there were things around the camp that were questionable. On the Hipcamp page it was advertised there was a cave on the property, we assumed that meant we were able to explore the cave. When we were arrived the cave was full of trash. Seems like its used as a junk yard. There was small piles of trash all over the property. For the price it seems like the trash could be picked up.
Another issue we had was one evening some teenagers drove through our campsite and then drove back through an hour later. It was fine but we had assumed we would have more privacy.
The worst part was the yellow jackets. Obviously bees are apart of nature and should be expected while camping. However, i have never seen bees like this before. We had to eat breakfast in our cars. By late morning the bees seem to disappear but would come back around sunset. We had to wait until after the sun went down to cook dinner. Charles had his wife drop off some yellow jacket traps for us to assemble and put out. The traps helped but there were SO MANY bees that it didn't help much.
Our ineractions with Charles was pleasant and the property is beautiful, the junk spinkled around the campground was a little off putting. The bathroom was very clean and the only available water is at the entrance, plan accordingly,
Shannon O.
4 reviews
Recommends
· August 2020
Visited during the day. Definitely need a truck or SUV that can handle some hard off road. I'd say 4WD a must. My RAV 4 was able to handle. Had to follow the line of an experienced driver going up and down the hill. Actual destination was awesome. And not far off the freeway. I was only there a half day to visit friends who called there over night. They had a Blast. BYO Water. Outhouse avail on site. Was clean.
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Philip C.
5 years on Hipcamp
This place is really beautiful and we had a lovely time. The fire pit is sweet and the stars and landscape are beautiful. The toilet was very clean. Just a heads up, the road in is very intense and you should have a 4 wheel drive car. There is no water at the site and the power didn’t work as we expected. There is a hose at the gate but you have to drive back on the very steep and bumpy road to get there and bring a big water container to refill and bring back.
Kasey L.
3 reviews
This is a great alternative near to the LA area! Can do plenty of rock scrambling like in Joshua tree. The stars are bright and plentiful at night. The camp host is very communicative, it was really a wonderful stay!
Desiree R.
3 reviews
Lovely getaway not too far from the city. If you just need a quick weekend recharge then this is the perfect campsite. It is very secluded and is big enough to fit a very large group. The dirt road can get very bad for lower clearance cars so I would highly recommend bringing a higher car/off-road capable vehicle or you would have to hike in with your stuff, which isn’t too pleasant if you’re car camping with a lot of gear. The tree that is onsite does wonders to keep you blocked from the sun during midday. The location of the site brings in an occasional breeze too so heat isn’t much of a factor. There are also lots of rocks and caves to explore and just a short hike up the hill and you are treated with wonderful views of the city.
Daniel S.
4 reviews
What a site and what an experience! Charles was super responsive, the site is super secluded and has lots of lovely little touches (hammock, christmas lights, porto potty, WIFI!!!). The terrain and rock formations are other-worldly and there are trails that lead to beautiful overlooks. No knock on the host or site but be forewarned....it is HOT in the summer. It was 97 degrees during the day. Thank god for the share tree in the middle of the property. But by evening is was temperate and there was a nice breeze. All in all a magical place that is well worth bearing the summer heat to experience!
Dan P.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2020
Group trip ·
Mars on Earth
You'll stay skeptical of the campsite based on how close it is to the city...right up until you drive up and down the steep and parts very rocky driveway to see the campsite. Then you'll immediately forget how close you are to the city, and feel excited for the rest of your time at this amazing gem of a getaway! Surrounded by neat rock formations and hills, you feel completely private. The only tip for other campers is to avoid Thursdays (or whenever the porta potty maintenance days are) if you don't want to be waken up by the poo truck. However, even with that my friends and I had an amazing time and would definitely come back again if/when we need a quick, easy getaway.
Yooni K.
2 reviews
Recommends
· July 2020
Group trip ·
Mars on Earth
Mars on Earth was beautiful and Charles was a great host. We would definitely return. Very spacious, great for groups to social distance.
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Andrea Y.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2020
Great quick getaway! Charles was a great host - was just a text away if we had any questions. Super private and unique campsite. Our dogs loved exploring the land and we loved the peace and quiet. Thanks Charles!
Jill M.
2 reviews
Recommends
· June 2020
Group trip ·
Mars on Earth
Amazing night in a really unexpected location , so close from our home !!
Aurélie M.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2020
Group trip ·
Mars on Earth
Charles was helpful and accommodating in planning our trip. The site was even better than we expected from the great reviews. Nestled in a quiet valley, but still close to LA, Mars on Earth was perfect for our weekend getaway.
Sam B.
9 years on Hipcamp
Amazing campground for a group. We were 11 people and had plenty of room. Great clean amenities: the fire pit and bbq are great. You can hike a trail for a great panoramic view. We had the best time and will come back.
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Marc M.
5 years on Hipcamp
Our family of six loved staying at Mars on Earth. We were grateful for the various amenities Charles has set up there (the hammock was a crowd favorite), the beautiful hike up the hill to see the vista, and so much more. We will definitely be returning!
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Leah L.
5 years on Hipcamp
Awesome place to get away for a night or two. Feels very secluded but is also very easy to get to. It could use a better spot to put a tent but we were still able to sleep comfortably.
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Austin M.
4 reviews
It's a beautiful spot and Charles was a great host. We only spoke over text, but he was very helpful and quick to respond. We were there in late May, so day time temps were hot, but the shade tree onsite works amazingly well to cool you down. The evenings were perfect though. The breeze blowing through felt great. Also, the place he recommends for fire wood is just a few minutes drive away and well worth it. The site was fairly well kept and the bathroom was clean. The cave-like formation near the site is also used for storage. It's initially a bit of an eyesore, but you don't notice after a while.
Overall, for what is offered, i feel like a $200 price tag is a little steep for a family of 4. For a large group, that would be no problem. It does have potable water, but it's right at the gate when you come in. So, if you don't trust your car to handle the rough road well, fill up on your way in so you don't have to make multiple trips.
The only other issue we had was finding a flat area to put the tent. For a large space that's seemingly used often, there weren't a lot of options for level ground. It'd be better to have a small trailer or rooftop tent here.
Over all, I'd come back. Probably during a cooler part of the year though.
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Ryan B.
10 reviews
The whole experience with this booking (contrary to my other experiences with HipCamp) was negative from start to finish. When we arrived, the site literally looked like a garbage dump. Piles of filthy trash were all over the site. We opted to drive six hours home rather than stay. When I asked for a refund, the hosts denied my request.
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Leslie P.
3 reviews
Recommends
· May 2020
Great space and cleanest port a potty I have ever used!
Kim B.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2020
Group trip ·
Mars on Earth
Mars on Earth didn't disappoint. The place is really magical. Being so close to LA, it was hard to believe that I hadn't driven hours to get there. The site was completely private and all the amenities were nicely maintained. Charles was a great host. He came in to check on us as we arrived and was more than helpful with any questions we had. The drive into the campsite was a bit rutted out (part of the fun getting there), but totally manageable if you go slow and take your time getting through it. Can't wait to get back up there! Thanks to Charles for opening up his land to the public.
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Narek S.
3 reviews
This campsite was really amazing! There really is only one large site, so it is truly private!! As mentioned by another reviewer, the drive down the dirt road may be a bit difficult for a standard car, but we have a Jeep, so we had not problem. It was a fun off-roading experience. Once you arrive, you are in a magical place. There is a port-a-potty there that is one of the cleanest I have seen. Charles was super communicative and helpful during our stay. We are looking forward to camping there again!
Carin O.
5 reviews
Recommends
· April 2020
Group trip ·
Mars on Earth
This was our second time staying on Mars and it was just as good as the first! We had an incredible couple of days in nature. Charles was super accommodating and checked in with us regularly to make sure we had everything we need. It really does feel like a little home away from home - we love it! Cannot wait to go back again.
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Katrina K.
6 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2020
What a cool campsite, just outside of LA but felt completely isolated! There were multiple awesome spots to set up at camp at the space, that can fit a super large group. We found multiple trails that you could explore for hours and great views! Charles was super quick to respond and made sure everything was great. There's great amenities, like wifi, a toilet, bbq, and firepit for you to use! I would definitely come back with a group of friends!
Jenny M.
2 reviews
Charles is the best host that you could ever imagine! He is so welcoming and caring for guest! This is our first time camping and this we had a great great time with this amazing spectacular camp site!
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Carina G.
6 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· February 2020
Group trip ·
Mars on Earth
Charles is an all round incredible host who assisted me with planning for my shoot on his property.
Ryan F.
6 years on Hipcamp
This was one of the cooler HipCamp experiences I’ve had to date. The host Charles really goes out of his way to make your stay comfortable and fun. I stayed on a cold and windy night in February, because of the high winds I couldn’t safely have a fire so he went to town just to grab a propane tank for the fire pit that is also provided. Charles even went so far as to give me a tour of the property, on which he is very knowledgable. Just a short hike up from the campsite is a spectacular view of LA. From the Hollywood Hills to Malibu, it’s a real treat. This site is great for large groups as it has plenty of space and is very private and totally soundproof. Truly Mars on Earth.
Larissa J.
5 reviews
What an amazing spot! So close to LA but feels a world away.
Charles was great and accommodated anything we needed to make our stay perfect. Would definitely go again!
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Michele F.
9 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2019
This is a super unique place and it has incredible views. However, we had a really hard time finding the place bc our GPS took us the back way. If your directions tell you to take Lilac Street DO NOT go that way- the road is dirt and has huge holes. It’s not drivable if you have a low clearance vehicle. CJ was onsite and he was a great guide and showed us around the place. The site has really cool history and artifacts.
Savannah M.
21 reviews
Recommends
· March 2019
Awesome time. We couldn't believe how close this site is to LA. Super easy to get to and was surprisingly quiet and private.
Would definitely come back!
Jordan B.
14 reviews
Mars on Earth was everything we could have imagined and more. We hosted an aerial photo shoot at this private location and it was just the perfect experience. It's such a beautiful location and the host really has everything you could need to be comfortable camping or holding an event or production there. Charles and his wife are seriously the kindest people and went above and beyond to accommodate us with our specific requests. I highly recommend this spot to camp at because it's such a magical & quiet getaway with tons of beautiful hiking options - but also for anyone looking for a beautiful outdoor location for a photo shoot or any other event. We definitely will be back!
Jenn S.
7 years on Hipcamp
Awesome site. Totally private. Cleanest porta-potty ever. Access to power and WiFi. Nice little fire pit. Non-potable water. Beautiful area to hike around. Charles is a great host. We will 100% return to Mars on Earth.
Rebecca Z.
7 reviews
Location
Santa Susana, Ventura, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Charles R.
Joined in August 2018Things to do nearby
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