RV Campsites near Santa Barbara for December holiday camping?

[LosAngeles]

RV Campsites near Santa Barbara for December holiday camping?

Hi all

I’m looking to find an RV suitable (so no “tent only”) campsite vaguely near Santa Barbara for some camping this December around the holidays.

Hookups are not needed. We prefer quiet and scenic campsites. The more nature around the better.

We will be in a self contained 21’ travel trailer, FWIIW.

Ocean views would be a nice bonus, but not needed.

being within 30 min drive from Santa Barbara might be nice, to go into town to get some yummy food on occasions.

Am a bit worried if it is a ‘no reservations’ place - we don’t want to arrive and have it be full. :-/

Thanks for any and all suggestions

John

[CaDreamin]

Refugio State Beach- gorgeous
El capitan State Beach - very nice
Faria county park - spaces are tight but a cute beachside park with a cafe and a fun feel
Rincon - Gorgeous sites broadside to the beach. Cheap. No reservations but if you show up midweek you probably will get something. Bikes and generators go inside, they have a theft problem.

Parks that take reservations must be reserved when they are first availble. Do not wait.

[LosAngeles]

Update - it seems that both Refugio State Beach and El capitan State Beach close for some time (a seasonal thing I guess?) as of Dec 1, 2018…. for some time.
Bummer.

We are nervous to show up over the December holidays with a first come first serve thing …. thinking we would not get a site.
Both Faria County Park and Rincon (almost right next door) can't reserve it in advance.

Any other spots, maybe a bit further afield?

thanks. John

[Monica998]

Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park, Holiday Mobilehome Park and Rancho Goleta Lakeside seem much closer, but it's better to make a confirmation firstly on Nov.

[CaDreamin]

How far afield do you want to go? Do you want to be on the ocean?

Flying Flags up in Buellton always gets high marks. Private, I assume spendy. I hear good things about Lake Cachuma.

Emma Wood is just a bunch of tight parking spots on the water but it’s nice water. Sites are close together.

I wouldn’t write off Rincon. Since the sites are broadside to the water you have a lot of space for a beach site. Also if you don’t have a noise problem with the people on either side you are usually ok. If you should show up midweek like a Tuesday or a Wednesday then you’ll most likely get a spot at that time of year. Then it’s yours until you leave it or the stay limit is up. Last time I was there it was $24.


Carpinteria State Beach is very nice. Cute little town.

There are some inland places you could stay. Foster Residence (some full hookups but nothing to write home about). Lake Casitas would have some lake front sites.

[Chuck711]

Originally Posted by Monica998

Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park, Holiday Mobilehome Park and Rancho Goleta Lakeside seem much closer, but it's better to make a confirmation firstly on Nov.

Just stayed at Sunrise park a few weeks ago. A good spot.

Did a round trip from North Carolina Coast taking Route 40 to San Francisco

Then down the coast to San Diego between Christmas and New Years

US 1 was fun in our Rialta. It was like a sports car on the twisty road.

Never made any reservations until Late afternoon each day. Always found a spot.

Santa Barbara was the only city we didn't enjoy.

Our favorite was Solvang A touristy Danish/ Dutch town. Many things to do there.

We took Route 10 back along the Southern Boarder visiting the Alamo and San Antonio River Walk

Entire trip was 6400 miles. Luckily the weather was great! We got Lucky.