Santa Barbara does not allow anyone to legally sleep in their car on city roads. This was an issue when I went up there with my car expecting to find a spot. So, I did some research and exploring. Here’s what I found.
Although car camping on streets in Santa Barbara is illegal, you can either reserve a campground or take part in dispersed camping outside of the city. Arroyo Hondo Vista Point and KCL Campground are free dispersed camping spots. Most campgrounds require paying a fee, while the dispersed campgrounds are free.
Let’s see which other dispersed camping spots there are around Santa Barbara, along with campgrounds.
Where Can You Car Camp Around Santa Barbara?
| Dispersed Camping | Reservation? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Arroyo Hondo Vista Point | No | Free |
| KCL Campground | No | Free |
| Los Padres National Forest | No | Free |
| Campgrounds | Reservation? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Carpinteria State Beach | Required | Starting at $10/night |
| El Capitan State Beach | Required | $45 on average/night |
| Refugio State Beach Campground | Required | Starting at $10/night |
| Figueroa Campground | Recommended | $20/night |
3 Dispersed Camping Spots Around Santa Babara (Free)
1. Arroyo Hondo Vista Point
Half an hour northwest of Santa Barbara, you can take the Pacific Highway and find yourself at an outlook overlooking the ocean. At Arroyo Hondo Vista Point, you can line up with other cars on the side road.
While you are technically not allowed to “camp” here, you are allowed to stay here for up to 8 hours. That’s a full night of sleep if you ask me!
While there are no amenities other than trash cans and good cell phone service, this place is unbeatable if you want to sleep along the coast.
Update: This campsite is currently temporarily closed due to recent storms.
2. KCL Campground
A little further a drive from the actual city of Santa Barbara, KCL Campground is located 2 hours away on BLM land on mountainous terrain.
This campground offers 12 sites, 2 of which are ADA accessible. There are limited amenities with no electricity, water, or garbage disposal service, but campers can enjoy fire pits, vault toilets, picnic tables, and even horse corales.
The Dyrt
KCL campground runs on a first-come, first-served basis. You can park anywhere you’d like to set up camp in your car!
If you’re looking for a spot that is immersed in nature, here’s what you’ve been looking for.
3. Los Padres National Forest
Los Padres National Forest is a part of the U.S. Forest Service. In National Forests, you can take part in dispersed camping anywhere that is outside of a campground.
All national forests offer land that is free to be explored and camped on with limited rules and regulations compared to National Parks. Without an established campground, you can expect a lack of common amenities like a bathroom, showers, fire rings, and even phone service.
To take part in dispersed camping on national forest land, research the rules to follow beforehand. Most forests have forest roads that can be trickier to find without a map and may require an off-road or high-clearance vehicle to access.
4 Campgrounds Around Santa Barbara
1. Carpinteria State Beach
In between Santa Barbara and Ventura, Carpinteria State Beach offers terraced bluffs, dune areas, a mile of beach for swimming, fishing, tidepool exploring and camping.
Carpinteria State Beach is the most popular campground in the Santa Barbara area, so it definitely has something worth visiting.
The park provides a range of amenities for visitors, including campsites equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, restrooms with coin-operated showers, and lifeguard services during peak seasons.
2. El Capitan State Beach
El Capitán State Beach is a coastal destination located near Santa Barbara, California. Nature-wise, the area is characterized by tall, rugged cliffs, a mix of sandy beaches and rocky tide pools, and sycamore and oak tree forests providing shade in its backcountry.
Nearby hiking trails give visitors an opportunity to explore the coastal terrain and connect to other regional points of interest.
The campground at El Capitán offers a variety of sites, many of which are situated directly adjacent to the shoreline.
Amenities include campfire rings, picnic tables, potable water sources, restrooms, and coin-operated hot showers. The beach is also equipped with day-use picnic areas and lifeguard stations during the summer season.
Update: Currently temporarily closed due to recent storms.
3. Refugio State Beach Campground
Less than half an hour from central Santa Barbara, Refugio State Beach Campground offers excellent coastal fishing as well as trails and picnic sites. Palm trees planted near Refugio Creek give a distinctive look to the beach and camping area.
Campers at Refugio can avail themselves of facilities such as campsites with picnic tables and fire rings, restrooms, coin-operated showers, and potable water stations. Additionally, there’s a general store on-site catering to basic camping needs.
4. Figueroa Campground
Deeper in nature and cheaper, Figueroa Campground is apart of Los Padres National Forest and is only $20 per night.
Nestled in a grove of beautiful red Manzanita and a variety of oaks and pines, lies Figueroa Campground with its 35 campsites fully equipped with fire rings, pedestal barbeques and a picnic table at every site. Hard-packed soil makes several of the sites accessible to the three, double vault, wheelchair accessible bathrooms.
There are many hiking trails right by the campsite and in the spring, there are beautiful wildflowers.