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Santa Cruz Campground

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If you’re on the hunt for beachfront real estate just south of Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz Campground at Carpinteria State Beach is your stop!

Santa Cruz is bigger than its sister campground Azalea, and its proximity to the beach means that it is usually the more popular Carpinteria camping option. This tent- and RV-friendly campground has 12 premium beachfront sites available, although these, of course, fill up pretty quickly. Sites are generally long and narrow, and tend to be close together. This campground also offers three group sites. Find showers, restrooms, picnic tables, and fire rings here.

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Top-rated for location, privacy, and amenities near Carpinteria State Beach

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93%
62 ratings · 5 reviews
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Shannon B.recommends
September 19, 2018
Pack clothing for cooler weather at night and warmer weather middays
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Spencer B.doesn't recommend
September 18, 2018
Extremely busy during the summer. Beautiful beaches, but no solitude.
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Nick H.recommends
February 14, 2018
Can get cold! Bring layers
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Guiseppe L.recommends
December 8, 2017
Bring all weather clothing
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Carola B.
March 22, 2015
It's been awhile since I camped here, but I loved the tide pools! ( Look, Don't Take!) You can walk into town very easily.

Other campgrounds in Carpinteria State Beach

Your guide to camping in Santa Cruz Campground

Overview

Biking

Sunset cruises along this beautiful beach are just one of the ways cyclists can enjoy Carpinteria State Beach. There are several bike-in campsites, as well as trails that lead along the beach and through the surrounding countryside.

Boating

Motorboats are not allowed to be brought in here, but if you want more information on boating in Carpinteria, check out the kayaking & canoeing section below.

Fishing

How does wading into the surf, rod in your hand, hot sun on your back, and the entire afternoon stretched before you like a wide expanse of beautiful state beach sound? Pretty amazing? Yeah, we think so too. Check out what’s biting and be sure to get your fishing license, then get ready for a perfect afternoon trying your luck in the beautiful waters of Carpinteria State Beach (you can find the local fishing report here). The absolute worst thing that can happen is you’ll have to watch the sunset having caught nothing, which, if you ask us, is worth the time anyway.

Hiking

This park is more known for its expanses of white sand than hiking, but in addition to a lovely walk along the Pacific Ocean, visitors can also enjoy the Carpinteria Bluffs Trail, an easy hike (read: round trip and flat) that takes you to the nearby seal sanctuary (you know that sounds fun!) If you are looking for a little bit of variety to the seashore camping experience, this is a nice way to mix it up.

Paddling

Carpinteria State Beach is home to pretty much every fun activity you can do in the water, and that, of course, includes paddling your way around the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The beautiful beach makes launching a breeze, and there are rentals and lessons available at nearby Carpinteria City Beach. Delightfully, seals, whales and dolphins often join canoers and kayakers as they move through the waters, and adventurers who venture a quarter of a mile or so will be treated to a shallow rocky reef, perfect for exploring!

Surfing

Although technically the best time to surf in this county is in the winter, we are betting that you are going to find the sun-soaked beaches and inviting surf pretty hard to resist in the summer months. Expert surfers tend to gather along Rubicon Point, while Santa Claus Beach and Carpinteria State Beach create some nice waves for those at the beginner or intermediate level. Don’t know how to surf, but can’t resist the pull of the ocean? There are lessons about a mile away (we’ll see you at Rubicon Point next summer!).

Swimming

Getting into that gorgeous water is really what this park is all about. Known as one of the safest swimming beaches along the California coast, an offshore reef means waves break further offshore and a gently sloping bottom makes swimming easier and reduces the likelihood of rip tides. The park’s sunsoaked location in Southern California also means that those looking to darken their tan line (or simply warm their bones) get the chance to bake on the sparkling shoreline. Add that to the pretty much endless opportunities for beach volleyball and sandcastle competitions and we think you can go ahead and cross “fun-in-the-sun” off your list.

Wildlife watching

The coast always provides ample opportunities for wildlife spotting. Lucky paddlers have been visited by whales, seals and dolphins, while gulls and shorebirds roam the beach looking for their next meal. There are also hundreds of small frogs that love to get to singin’ around dusk, and a small lagoon near the beach makes a nice spot to check out mallards, egrets, herons, coots and other birds.

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