El Capitan State Beach RV & Campground Guide
California
- Home
- State Parks
- California
- El Capitan State Beach
Located about 20 miles west of the popular tourist city of Santa Barbara in California, El Capitan State Beach has a large campground, nature trails, hiking, and excellent weather all year long. Surfers flock to the area during the low tides, particularly during fall and winter. The park spans more than 2,600 acres and was first opened in 1962. The area was home to the indigenous Chumash people for thousands of years before European explorers arrived. To learn more about the history of these people, take time to visit the Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park during your visit to the area.
Nearest Major Cities:
Santa Barbara, CA
Goleta, CA
Buellton, CA
Lompoc, CA
Spring 45-66 F
Summer 65-100 F
Fall 51-73 F
Winter 42-60 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in El Capitan State Beach
Campground Accommodations
El Capitan State Beach Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 42 feet
Other Amenities: Picnic tables, fire rings, grills, camp store, flush toilets, showers
El Capitan State Beach Campground
At El Capitan State Beach Campground, you can stay close to the beach. This campground has 131 sites with six sites reserved for RV campers. There are also six sites set aside for groups. The RV sites can accommodate trailers and other vehicles of up to 42 feet long. Prices start at $45 per night and come with a picnic table and a fire ring.
• Water hookups: No
• Electrical hookups: No
• Sewer hookups: No
• Wi-Fi: No
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Potable water, general store, flush toilets, horseshoe pits, charcoal grills
Ocean Mesa at El Capitan
Not far away from the state beach is Ocean Mesa at El Capitan, which has RV sites with full hookups that can accommodate vehicles of up to 50 feet. During the summer, this campground hosts concerts for guests. You'll also find daily activities scheduled, including wine tastings and movie nights. A playground and swimming pool are close to some of the hiking trails, too.
• Water hookups: Yes
• Electrical hookups: Yes
• Sewer hookups: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Scheduled activities, massage room, market
Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park
Owned and operated by a local family, Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park is popular with tourists and locals. Conveniently located right off Highway 101, the park has a large wall to block out some of the sounds of the highway. All sites come with enough space for you to turn around and include free cable television. Sites start at $65 per night.
• Water hookups: Yes
• Electrical hookups: Yes
• Sewer hookups: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Cable TV on spots, laundry facilities, private bathrooms and showers, picnic tables
Earl Warren Showgrounds RV Park
Located at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, this RV park lets you stay close to the fair and other upcoming events you want to see. Some of the sites and restrooms are handicap-accessible, and you can check in any time after 3:00 p.m. The park can accommodate groups of up to 10 RV campers and offers sites for $60 to $65 per night.
• Water hookups: Yes
• Electrical hookups: Yes
• Sewer hookups: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Showers, restrooms, late checkout
What to Do at
El Capitan State Beach
Along with swimming and surfing, the park has an excellent hiking trail and nature path to explore California's outdoors. You can ask a ranger or a lifeguard about borrowing a specially-designed beach wheelchair if needed, which makes the beach fully accessible to everyone.
Inside El Capitan State Beach
El Capitan State Beach offers fun things to do such as picnicking, surfing, swimming and fishing. If you visit in the fall, you can see the monarch butterflies flock to the beach for their breeding session. This is one of the only parks where you can see this happen. The beach also has several tide pools where you can see marine life. You'll also find a staircase that makes it easy for you to get from the beach to the bluffs and back again.
Fishing
Along with swimming and surfing, the park has an excellent hiking trail and nature path to explore California's outdoors. You can ask a ranger or a lifeguard about borrowing a specially-designed beach wheelchair if needed, which makes the beach fully accessible to everyone.
Geocaching
Although there are no official park-sanctioned geocaches at El Capitan State Beach, locals and visitors often place hidden treasures along the pathways, within the rocks along the beach, and on the Bill Wallace Trail. Check your geocache app to find where these caches are hidden, and enjoy the thrill of the hunt!
Nature Watching
Climb the bluffs during the migration season, and you might spot a gray whale off the shore. Dolphins can also be seen in the ocean if you keep an eye out. Mature sycamores and oak trees offer shade, and Willow trees line the El Capitan Creek, creating a beautiful coastal woodland environment.
Stargazing
El Capitan State Beach is in a relatively isolated spot, away from the city lights, so the stargazing is fairly good, particularly for the Southern California area. Once a month, there is an astronomer-led stargazing party where you can learn about the constellations. These events are free and open to the public.
Flora and Fauna
The oak trees at El Capitan State Beach provide lots of acorns for the squirrels to enjoy, and mule deer, opossums, and rabbits are often spotted in the area. Look to the trees to see the colorful monarch butterflies that flock to the area, particularly in the fall. Native plants like purple sage and coyote brush can also be found. If you explore the inland area away from the beach, keep in mind that Pacific Poison Oak is also abundant in some places.
Hiking
Follow the three-mile Aniso trail from El Capitan State Beach to the nearby Refugio Beach for a relatively flat and easy hike. Alternatively, take the Bill Wallace Trail and ascend nearly 1,000 feet uphill and enjoy some fantastic views along the way and from the summit.
Swimming
There's a small swimming hole near the campground, though it may be available only seasonally after heavy rains. The creeks that meander through the area also provide opportunities for a dip after a heavy rain.
Biking
The Aniso trail that connects El Capitan State Beach to Refugio State Beach is open to cyclists as well as hikers. It's roughly six miles round trip to Refugio State Beach and back. Campers also like to bring their bikes to ride around the campground loops.
How to Get to
El Capitan State Beach
Whether you are coming from the north or the south, take the 101 freeway to exit 117. After about a third of a mile, take a left onto El Capitan State Beach Road. You will see the park's entrance on the left.
By Car
Entering El Capitan State Beach
Parking is available near the park's entrance. The day-use fee is $8 per vehicle if you're not staying overnight.
El Capitan State Beach Per Car : $8.0
El Capitan State Beach offers something for everyone. Whether you want to relax on the sand and soak up the sun or enjoy a challenging hike or bike ride, you'll find gorgeous coastal scenery and adventures to be had at the park year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions About El Capitan State Beach
El Capitan State Beach is open year-round and is an excellent place to visit any time of year. If you'd like to stay overnight during the summer, make sure you make a reservation as soon as possible, as the campground is often at capacity between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The coastal bluffs provide a home for a large number of small mammals, and bird watchers can spot plenty of shore birds as well as hairy woodpeckers, American kestrels, Brown Pelicans, and red-tailed hawks. Raccoons, skunks, and squirrels are often spotted in the camping areas. Other animals you might spot at the park include bullfrogs, lizards, turkey vultures, and gopher snakes.
Yes. Some of the sites at El Capitan State Beach are reserved for tents only, but the other areas are suitable for RVs. The park has no hookups, but each site has a fire ring, picnic table, and nearby restrooms.
You can make reservations up to six months in advance. Hike-in and bike-in sites are available at a cost of just $10 per night, but expect to pay $45 to $55 per night for all of the other sites, depending on the season.
Pets are allowed in the camping areas, but they are not permitted on the trails or the beach. They must also be on a leash, and you are expected to clean up after them.
Related
Nellis AFB, Nevada RV Rental Deals Millbury, Ohio RV Rental Deals Lake Lucerne, Florida RV Rentals Lebanon, Maine RV Rentals McCarr, Kentucky RV Rental Deals Bourbon, Missouri RV Rental Deals Abbotsford, Wisconsin RV Rental Deals Quechee, Vermont RV Rentals Rosebud, Missouri RV Rental Deals Hopedale, Illinois RV Rentals