What To Prepare For El Capitan State Beach Camping

Visitors under 18 must wear a safety helmet for bicycling, skateboarding, and scooter riding. QUIET HOURS are from 10 p.m. To ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone, please do not disturb other campers, regardless of the time of day or night.

Goleta Information & Resources

El Capitan State Beach in Goleta, California

El Capitan State Beach is state park about twenty miles west of downtown Santa Barbara. It has a large campground and a day-use parking area near the beach. At low tide you can explore both sides of the point on foot, but unfortunately at high tide there isn’t much beach exposed so consult a tide chart before going too far as you can get trapped by the rising tide. Surfers ride the right hand break on the east side of the point when conditions are right. Tide pool explorers can head to the end of the point where a bouldery beach holds marine life that is exposed at low tide. Across the highway is a hiking trail loop called the Bill Wallace Trail which is on state park property. A short hike up the trail takes you to a viewpoint, but it’s a long hike to complete the loop (over ten miles!). The El Capitan Beach Trail follows the bluff and connects to Refugio State Beach giving cyclists, runners, and walkers a way to explore the coast even when the tide is up. This path is eroding away in spots, but is paved for about three miles. Getting to El Capitan State Beach is easy. Just drive the 101 west of Santa Barbara and look for large signs to the park at Exit 117.

Address
2 El Capitan State Beach Rd
Goleta, CA 93117
Park Name
El Capitan State Beach
Owner
State Park
Activities
Surfing, Hiking, Fishing, Camping, Beach Walking, Picnicking, Birdwatching, Biking, Tidepooling
Amenities
Restrooms, Trails, Paved Bike Path, Tide Pools, Campground, Camp Store, Accessible Features
Pet Policy
No dogs allowed on the beach
Fees
Fee for camping and day-used

Goleta Hotels & Resorts

El Capitan Canyon Luxury Camping in Goleta, California

El Capitan Canyon is a natural lodging and camping property located on the inland side of Highway 101 north of Santa Barbara. They have luxurious cedar cabins and safari tents with comfortable beds and other hotel-ish amenities. Staying here is the easiest option for glamping on the central California coast. They also have an adjacent campground called Ocean Mesa for those who have their own tents or an RV. El Capitan State Beach is right across the highway from this scenic wooded property.

Address
11560 Calle Real
Goleta, CA 93117
Phone
(805) 685-3887
URL
Website
What To Prepare For El Capitan State Beach Camping

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What To Prepare For El Capitan State Beach Camping Southern California


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Nearby Beaches

  • El Capitan State Beach

    0.6 miles away, SSW

    El Capitan State Beach is state park about twenty miles west of downtown Santa Barbara. It has a large campground and a day-use parking area near the beach. At low […]

  • Ed’s Surfing Beach

    2 miles away, ESE

    Ed’s is the name of a beach and surfing area on a point below the El Capitan Ranch west of Santa Barbara. It used to be accessible through the private […]

  • Refugio State Beach

    2.4 miles away, W

    Refugio State Beach is a state park located about twenty miles from Santa Barbara. It has a large campground near the ocean that allows for longer stays, but has a […]

  • Tajiguas Beach

    3.9 miles away, W

    Tajiguas Beach is a narrow beach at the mouth of Tajiguas Creek west of Santa Barbara. There is a wider sandy spot with large rocks in the surf nearest the […]

  • Naples Point Beach

    4.2 miles away, ESE

    Naples Point is a remote surfing spot west of Santa Barbara that is difficult to access. The best way to get there these days is by walking north at low […]

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What To Prepare For El Capitan State Beach Camping

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