RV Rentals Carpinteria, California

Popular RV Rentals Near Carpinteria, California, for Any Budget

The most popular RV rentals in Carpinteria, CA, and the surrounding areas are travel trailers. Several factors in the region contribute toward this preference, including the variety of highways, secondary roads and the number of boondocking opportunities in the area. The size of a trailer is often a determining factor in the price of its use, mainly because of the limited room for appliances and sleep areas. For instance, a 10-foot tear-drop trailer that sleeps two rents for $59 per night while a 22-foot PuP Bunkhouse that sleeps five goes for $99 per day.

RVshare’s Top Vacation Destinations Near Carpinteria, California, No Matter the Duration

RV travelers can enjoy a short trip from Oxnard, just south of Carpenteria, to Santa Monica, where great beaches and the specter of the Santa Monica Mountains bring visitors from across the country. RV travelers could stay in Santa Monica for weeks and never visit the same place twice.

Carpinteria is within a couple of hours of the theme parks in Southern California. Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Knots Berry Farm are some of the most visited theme parks worldwide.

From Santa Barbara, only 12 miles west of Carpinteria, the road trip to Cambria brings visitors to the famous Big Sur Country. These hills and sandy beaches attract people to see the impressive forests, redwood trees, and ocean views that seem to go on forever.

Explore Carpinteria, California, in an RVshare RV Rental

Nestled between Santa Barbara and Ventura, Carpinteria is a land of leisure in a location of plenty. With a population of 13,000, Carpinteria provides a small-town vibe for guests looking to make day trips into Los Angeles, Oxnard, and Santa Barbara. In 1757, Spanish explorers discovered a peaceful beach community of Native Americans that welcomed them to a beautiful beach with playful waves and intriguing canoes sealed with tar. Since this first encounter, the area has beckoned visitors looking for a peaceful spot to get away from day-to-day stresses.

Carpinteria Beach runs from east to west along this portion of the California coastline with Rincon at the eastern end and Santa Barbara on the west side. Warm and sunny weather greets visitors looking for seashells, agates, and marine life as they walk the beach. Whale watchers claim this beach to be one of the best to spot gray whales as they migrate. Seals and sea lions lay sunning on the rocks between December and May. A series of tidal pools add fun and a sense of wonder for kids and adults. 

Though Carpentaria is small, the town hosts 31 restaurants with various cuisines. A sampling of these restaurants include:

• Teddy’s By the Sea: This notable restaurant provides a unique mix of seafood and Mexican cuisine. Try the wild salmon sandwich or spicy cauliflower tacos for a memorable taste.

• Siam Elephant: The Siam Elephant provides intriguing Thai food. Full meals, like the Siamese duck, are exceptional examples of Asian cooking.

• Dang Burger: The Dang Burger is a throwback to the days when hamburgers were fat and loaded with flavor. Whether you are looking for a traditional basket of a burger and fries or an old-fashioned milkshake, this is the restaurant for you.

Carpinteria is unique in its mix of cultures. When Spaniards wandered onto the site, a rich Native American presence had existed for millennia. When the Great Migration expanded into this area, Spanish, Mexican, and Native American families were found. At the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, visitors get a taste of this cultural mix through exhibits, including artifacts and displays covering more than 5,000 years of local history.

Discover Nearby Towns and Cities

Santa Barbara, located 12 miles west of Carpinteria, is a popular vacation location. Sitting on a coastal plain between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, this town of 88,000 people has a lot to offer visitors, including:

• 400+ Restaurants

• 40+ Gas Stations

• 7 Nearby Campgrounds 

• 3 Nearby State Parks

• 5 Nearby Dump Stations

Located 23 miles southeast of Carpinteria, Ventura is home to over 106,000 people. The city sits in the shadows of undeveloped hills that pin the town to the shoreline. Once a sleepy village, Ventura is a buzz of activity, especially during the late-night hours. Visitors find many amenities here, including:

• 500+ Restaurants

• 70+ Gas Stations

• 2 Campgrounds

• 2 Nearby State Parks

• 5 Nearby Dump Stations

Best National Parks Near Carpinteria, California

The nearest national park to Carpinteria is Channel Islands National Park, located just offshore. The only way to reach these islands is by watercraft. Flora and fauna on the island chain have evolved separately from the mainland. Visitors are limited to daytime journeys.

Sequoia National Park sits 208 miles north of Carpinteria. The park features the largest tree on the face of the planet, the sequoia redwood. Sitting near the crest of the Sierra Nevada range, the park presents breathtaking views, excellent fishing streams, and a wonderful selection of hiking trails.

Journeying 217 miles north of Carpinteria, RV travelers reach Pinnacles National Park. Exploring the trails in this park, visitors find canyons beneath towering pinnacles, bat caves, woodlands, and grasslands.

Popular State Parks Near Carpinteria, California

Located on the beaches of Carpinteria, Carpinteria State Park provides an astounding view of the Pacific Ocean. It is a favorite location for whale watchers seeking a glimpse of migrating gray whales. Tidal pools and seashells entice families to spend entire days at the beach.

Located on the beaches of Ventura just 27 miles south of Carpinteria is Emma Wood State Beach. The beach stretches along the Santa Barbara Channel. Children and adults safely swim in the ocean, play in the waves, and sunbathe on an amazing stretch of sand.

Located west of Santa Barbara, El Capitan State Beach draws visitors from all over the country. The smooth sands welcome anglers and swimmers to the warm waves. In the fall, monarch butterflies gather at this beach for their breeding season.

Must-See Monuments and Landmarks Near Carpinteria, California

Once zoned and planned for the construction of an oil refinery, Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve is a landmark of citizen activism. Today, the bluffs above the ocean provide an open area where visitors walk trails that lead to cliffs overlooking the ocean. 

Carpinteria Salt Marsh is a large estuary with significant ecological impact. A quarter-mile trail leads hikers to the edges of the marsh. The estuary is home to plants adapted to live in an environment that alternates between freshwater and saltwater. 

Dedicated to the presentation of works by talented local artists, Palm Loft Gallery in Carpinteria provides a unique setting for paintings, sculptures, and photos. With the Pacific Ocean providing the background and sunny skies offering natural lighting, this gallery has become a favorite stalking ground for art connoisseurs looking for new works.

Upcoming Events Near Carpinteria, California

• California Avocado Festival: For those who love avocados, this upcoming festival presents three days of fun and food. Food trucks, chefs, and eateries vie for the coveted crown while creating imaginative uses for avocados.

• Celebration of Harvest Festival: Held in downtown Santa Barbara, this festival commemorates the diverse cultures that reside in the area. Vans and food trucks line the main street, offering a mix of cuisines.

• Tequila and Taco Music Festival: Visit Ventura for this two-day event. The focus is on Mexican culture, with food, drinks, and music presented throughout the day and evenings.

Popular POI Activities Near Carpinteria, California

• Lake Cachuma Sweetwater Trail: This five-mile trail near Santa Barbara visits the shores of Lake Cachuma sandwiched between the Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountains. Along the way, hikers and bikers travel amongst wildflowers and impressive trees to find relaxation beside a sparkling lake.

• Franklin Trail: The Franklin Trail runs 16 miles north from Carpinteria into the Santa Ynez Mountains. It climbs through a series of switchbacks from sea level to an elevation of 1,150 feet, providing incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.

• Tar Pits and Carpinteria Bluffs Loop: This easy 2.7-mile trail leads hikers along the celebrated Carpinteria Bluffs to a beach where tar oozes from the ground. The tar is the element Native Americans used to seal their ocean-going canoes.

RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks and Campgrounds

Located just off Carpinteria Beach, Carpinteria State Beach Campground offers 150 sites for RV travelers, 80 of which feature full hookups. The sites accommodate rigs up to 34 feet and provide 30-amp power. The campground offers restrooms and showers. Hiking, biking, fishing, and swimming are among the favorite activities that draw visitors to this campground.

Sitting north of Santa Barbara, Paradise Campground offers 15 RV spaces among the trees of Los Padres National Forest. Visitors camp beneath stately oak trees beside the Santa Ynez River. All RV sites are paved, and restrooms are provided. It is a perfect location to remove yourself from the crowd while only 20 minutes from the beaches.

Ventura Beach RV Resort reserves 140 RV sites for temporary guests. The sites accommodate rigs up to 60 feet long and are paved with 89 sites providing pull-through access. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, and patio. A heated swimming pool and hot tub are available for guests.

Best RV Dump Stations near Carpinteria, California

In California, nearly every RV park or campground provides a dump station with several services. For instance, the dump station at Bakersfield River Run RV Park accepts the contents of RV waste tanks and provides potable drinking water and nonpotable rinse water to top off RV water storage tanks 24 hours per day. If this isn't on your route, there are a ton of California dump stations that you can take advantage of.

Popular RV Storage Facilities Near Carpinteria, California

An example of a facility that provides RV storage near Carpinteria is Ventura Harbor Boat and Self Storage. This business provides outdoor RV storage space for 77 units up to 45 feet in length. It also provides a free RV wash area and a dump station for its space renters. The price for these services begins at $16 per day. Check out this guide to find other RV storage locations in California.