Gaviota State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Gaviota State Park is a lovely nature park and beach near Goleta and Santa Barbara. At this expansive and beautiful park covering nearly 2,800 acres worth of land, you'll find a wide assortment of environments to experience. From oak forests to prairies to Gaviota Beach, you'll be able to get up to all kinds of fun when you come for a visit.
The climate of the area is mild with winters being a bit rainy and summers being warm. Temperatures generally trend higher as you move farther from the coasts. One thing to note is the wind, particularly the Sundowners blowing through the canyon; these winds are fun to experience just for how powerful they are but require caution to avoid injury.
Spring 48-68 F
Summer 56-73 F
Fall 50-73 F
Winter 41-65 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Gaviota State Park
There are few things better than cruising down to a place like Gaviota State Park in a fun and convenient rental RV. Enjoy the great outdoors with all the comforts of home thanks to these machines and all they have to offer. If you've made the smart decision to vacation in an RV, check out these RV campgrounds while you're in the area for a nice place to stay at night.
Gaviota State Park Campgrounds
If a more primitive camping experience is what you like, Gaviota State Park's very own campgrounds are the place to be. Starting at around $45 per night at all 39 campsites, the park does not offer electrical hookups and other modern appliances, giving you the option to enjoy nature as our ancestors did. If you'd like, though, there are amenities like showers and restrooms. Your pets are also welcome to join in on the fun.
Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort
At the historic Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort, you can camp in style and luxury. The 310 acres of land this park sits on are an exquisite example of natural beauty rivaling even Gaviota State Park itself. Set up to be very equestrian-focused, the park is friendly to pets and horses, and the staff offers riding lessons to guests. Enjoy plenty of amenities including strong cell and Wi-Fi signals, a pool, a clubhouse, satellite TV hookups, electrical hookups and much more during the course of your stay.
Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park
Located within El Capitan State Beach, Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park is a cozy, pet-friendly RV park with tons to offer guests. Full hookups, good Wi-Fi, a heated pool and spa, showers and plenty more are just a small sampling of what you can expect from your stay. With spaces starting at $95, it's well worth it to be a part of all the community events the park staff members put on for guests throughout the year.
Ocean Mesa RV and Campground
Ocean Mesa RV and Campground is a bright and sunny RV park filled with friendly faces and a fabulous assortment of amenities. At $95 per night for the basic camping package, you can enjoy full electrical hookups, large pads for pulling through and backing out, a pool and hot tub on-site, great cell reception and Wi-Fi, a playground area and tons more that will have you feeling more at home. The grounds are also pet-friendly.
What to Do at
Gaviota State Park
Inside Gaviota State Park
Visitors to Gaviota State Park can find plenty to occupy their time. There's a total of 34 miles of trails stretching throughout the park that can be used for hiking, biking and horseback riding, among other activities. Many picnic areas are also scattered around. Along the beach, you can enjoy fishing, swimming, snorkeling and more. Windsurfing is a popular activity as is seeing the various natural sights, including Gaviota Peak and the natural hot springs.
How to Get to
Gaviota State Park
Getting to Gaviota State Park is easiest when traveling in from Santa Barbara. Just navigate onto U.S. 101 and follow the road for around 33 miles. From there, you'll see the place to turn left onto Gaviota Beach Road.
By Car
Entering Gaviota State Park
Heading down Gaviota Beach Road, you should find yourself approaching the park gate. Once you reach it, you'll be required to pay an entry fee per vehicle to get inside and enjoy the rest of the park. For day use, the park is open from 7:00 a.m. to sunset, which is typically between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. depending on the season.
Gaviota State Park Per Vehicle : $10.0
As lovers of all things outdoors, the team here at RVshare can heartily recommend Gaviota State Park as the location of your next family trip. Whether you choose to use one of RVshare's convenient rental RVs or go at it alone, the site still would like to be involved in your vacation in some way. If you don't mind, send your vacation pics to [email protected] or tag RVshare on social media so that the team can see what you get up to in the state park. RVshare might even feature you in one of its upcoming blogs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gaviota State Park
Gaviota State Park is a unique environment inhabited by a diverse selection of wildlife species. Some of the creatures you may encounter are northern elephant seals, gray foxes, California newts, western rattlesnakes, great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, and many more.
The campground at Gaviota State Park boasts 39 campsites that can accommodate RVs. While the campsites are suitable for RV camping, they don't feature any RV hookups. The campground features a camp store, drinking water, flush toilets, and showers.
The climate of Gaviota State Park varies quite a bit. The temperatures can be anywhere from 40 to 65 degrees during the winter months and anywhere from 50 to 90 during the summer.
Gaviota State Park has several features to accommodate its disabled visitors. The park offers beach wheelchairs for guests, and the park's combination restrooms with showers also feature accessible toilets and usable showers.
You're welcome to bring your pets with you to Gaviota State Park. Pets are allowed in the campground and day-use area, but they are not permitted on the park's beach.