I'm looking for a not-too-expensive campground or place to stay overnight near Goleta, CA (N. of S first weekend in October. State parks seem to be booked. There is a rec area not too far but no reservations taken and I'm not sure how long to drive there (Cachuma Lake). Does anyone know of anything? I'm going to a trial and can take the trailer to the grounds during the day but can't camp there overnight. The alternative is a $100 Motel 6... expensive area!
We stayed there over Thanksgiving last year. It's about 20 miles from Goleta, on Hwy 154, 3 miles E. on Paradise Rd. We found it beautiful, quiet, and easy to get to.
These campsites are available to self-contained camping vehicles only. Because these areas are used as parking lots during the day, you must leave them by 9:00 a.m. the following morning. El Capitán State Beach (located off Highway 101 seventeen miles west of Santa Barbara) & Carpinteria State Beach (off U.S. 101, twelve miles south of Santa Barbara) have enroute sites. They suggest: Call ahead to make sure that your vehicle can be accommodated.
Gaviota State Park is located 33 miles west of Santa Barbara on U.S. 101. They might have a place for Enroute Camping but it was not lsited. http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=606
Refugio SB (also not listed as enroute campites) is located 20 miles West of Santa Barbara on Highway 101 at Refugio Road. 10 Refugio Beach Road
Goleta. http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=603
I would keep checking with the reservations, someone could cancil.....?
Back in the early years, 1986 I believe, we could not find a site open when we got into the area around Gaviota, etc. They told us of a private campground near by. However, I have not been about to find it. It was in a canyon, not on the beach side of 101. I assume it has gone by the way? We stayed at it, not a bad place, close together, but "a place in the storm" as they say.
__________________ DesertHawk- Las Cruces, NM USA
2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab Longbed ARE Topper
Gaviota and Refugio Campgrounds are really great, but at least 1/2 hour drive from Goleta and it is really hard to get reservations there. If you are coming from the North down the 101 it might be worth it to call to see if you can get in on someone else's cancellation, though, since it's on the way.
In my opinion the best campground near Santa Barbara is Carpinteria State Beach. It's about 15 miles south of Santa Barbara and Goleta so an easy drive in. I live close, so when my Mom visits and wants to camp, that's where she goes. It's right on the beach, but has full hookups and a nice set-up. I think it's between $22-30 a night. Call right away, though, because it's really popular too!
Gaviota and Refugio Campgrounds are really great, but at least 1/2 hour drive from Goleta and it is really hard to get reservations there. If you are coming from the North down the 101 it might be worth it to call to see if you can get in on someone else's cancellation, though, since it's on the way.
In my opinion the best campground near Santa Barbara is Carpinteria State Beach. It's about 15 miles south of Santa Barbara and Goleta so an easy drive in. I live close, so when my Mom visits and wants to camp, that's where she goes. It's right on the beach, but has full hookups and a nice set-up. I think it's between $22-30 a night. Call right away, though, because it's really popular too!
Trailer: 2008 Casita 17 ft Spirit Deluxe / 1997 Toyota 4Runner LTD (Draw-Tite WDH
Posts: 64
Google has functionality (selectMaps, top left menu on the home page for Google) that allows you to enter the FROM and TO addresses. The result gives you not only driving directions but also distance.
To use the functionality:
- after selecting "Maps", select "Get Directions"
- find a few campgrounds that are available during the period you need them
- type GOLETA on the "from" line
- type the campground's address on the "to" line
- hit "Enter to find out how far from GOLETA the campground is
Google has functionality (selectMaps, top left menu on the home page for Google) that allows you to enter the FROM and TO addresses. The result gives you not only driving directions but also distance.
To use the functionality:
- after selecting "Maps", select "Get Directions"
- find a few campgrounds that are available during the period you need them
- type GOLETA on the "from" line
- type the campground's address on the "to" line
- hit "Enter to find out how far from GOLETA the campground is
It tells you how far but not what the drive is like towing a trailer.
Bobbie, pick one or three which seem to be close enough for you, post the names here with your question about what the drive is like towing a trailer. More than likely, someone will know and let you know. To and from Santa B, Carpinteria State Beach is an easy drive on US 101, a freeway there as are the other State Parks in that area.
Photo is of one of the Campgrounds at Carpinteria State Park (2006), near the beach with electric, water & sewer hook-ups. We did not make reservations, but someone was leaving with a weeks worth of reservation left at the site. We paid them for the 7 days. There are othe campgrounds along the park, some up on a "bluff" over looking the Pacific, with a verity of hook-up options to no hook-ups. Fairly nice showers, restrooms as well.
We seldom make reservations, no we have never made reservations even in California. It is harder there, but we haven't yet. May have to some day, hope not, I really did like reservations.
DesertHawk
The other photo is of Santa Barbara County Couthouse, I assume you are not going to it: "I'm going to a trial and can take the trailer to the grounds during the day......" At least, I can not remember parking for it nearby, but could be wrong on that.
The streets to the SBC Courthouse are crowded at times, but not impossible for a trailer.
__________________ DesertHawk- Las Cruces, NM USA
2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab Longbed ARE Topper
The campgrounds by Lake Cachuma and on Paradise Road are up over a fairly steep pass where you have to go up tons of switchbacks so it's slow going with a trailer (if you are going up the 154). It's pretty back there, but not that convenient.
It seems that by October there could be cancellations at Carpinteria State Beach, or openings at El Capitan or Refugio.
Trailer: 1973 Compact II / 2001 Honda CRV SE automatic
Posts: 285
Hey Bobby,
Im sort of local to where you're aiming, so I know a little about the area. I'll share what I can...
The down with campgrounds in the Cachuma Lake area is what was mentioned earlier, a STEEP grade between Santa Barbara and there, so that cuts you out from some possibilities right there.
I've been witness myself to how trying to get reservations at Refugio State Beach is like trying to get in to see God, so that's a bummer. Not sure how difficult Gaviota and El Capitan can be. There IS also a private campground, El Capitan Canyon, on the mountain side of the freeway, and I THINK they have a campground too. Again, not sure how tough or easy those reservations are. But from Goleta to El Cap is like 20 mins I THINK. Gaviota would be more like 25 mins, and Refugio somewhere in between. All are beautiful locations.
I've never camped at Carpinteria, but I've heard it's nice.
So there are some possibilities, but it's going to take some hunting and some luck. Keep us all posted, I know everybody's sending good positive feelings your way for your hunt! hehe And I look forward to seeing you at a Rally down the road, so I can compare my Compact to your Trails West, all the various Hunter cousins really fascinate me.
Joe
I found this website for Ocean Mesa Campground at El Capitan today. U.S. 101 (Northbound), 20 minutes from Santa Barbara, take exit 117 (El Capitan State Beach). Drive past the El Capitan Canyon entrance and turn right onto Calle Real, then right on El Capitan Terrace Lane to Office/Store. 1-866-410-5783 Looks like it will be pricey?
Perhaps the "grounds" you will be there for the "trial" is the Earl Warren Show Grounds. It was listed in the above link.
For RV reservations they have a click here to download the form
and a click here for the credit card authorization form.
You can also email them for more information.
These options can be found at http://www.earlwarren.com/ews_pages_...roundinfo.html
__________________ DesertHawk- Las Cruces, NM USA
2015 Lance 1985 ~ Casita de Campo ~23' 4"
~Previously ~ 2005 16' Scamp
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab Longbed ARE Topper
Ocean Mesa is $90 a night. And the event is at a park, not the fairgrounds. It's unfortunate it isn't somewhere allowing overnight parking as most trials do. And it wasn't scheduled enough in advance to allow nearby state campground reservations, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with leaving the trailer all day at a campground when I'm nowhere around, anyway. I'll probably stay in a motel.
1970 Trails West Campster
2011 Escape 15A
first weekend in October. State parks seem to be booked. There is a rec area not too far but no reservations taken and I'm not sure how long to drive there (Cachuma Lake). Does anyone know of anything? I'm going to a trial and can take the trailer to the grounds during the day but can't camp there overnight. The alternative is a $100 Motel 6... expensive area!
DesertHawk- Las Cruces, NM USA 
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