In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
Around 290 kilometres between the Pacific and Los Padres National Forest: beach camps on the Rincon Parkway, Ojai in the evening light and ferries to the islands of the national park.
The spirit of the route
Between Santa Barbara and Oxnard the coast presses up against the mountains, and Ventura sits in between like a relaxed counterpoint to the larger cities of Southern California. In the morning the air smells of salt and freshly picked oranges, and from the sliding door you see surfers at the point and pelicans flying low. Beyond the coastal plain Highway 33 climbs into the Ojai Valley: citrus groves, pines, rocks and in the evening the Pink Moment, when the Topatopa Mountains glow pink in the backlight. Further north mobile reception vanishes in Los Padres National Forest, and in Ventura harbour the boats leave for the Channel Islands, a group of islands with sea lions, cormorants and island foxes. The route rewards early starts, a relaxed pace and booking pitches in advance.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Carpinteria to Ventura (approx. 35 km)
- The drive
- Take US-101 south along the coast, mostly two to three lanes in each direction, 65 mph; at Rincon Point the Rincon Parkway runs as a parallel route along the coast. Few bends, slow in commuter traffic. Pure driving time is about 40 minutes, half a day with stops. Petrol stations and supermarkets in Carpinteria and Ventura.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Carpinteria State Beach: a broad sandy beach with calm surf in summer; harbour seals and sea lions can be seen in winter at the nearby Seal Sanctuary, so keep your distance.
- Rincon Point: a well-known surf spot on the coastal stretch between Santa Barbara and Ventura County; park along the Rincon Parkway according to the signs.
- Ventura Pier and old town: a wooden pier with cafés, Mission San Buenaventura and Main Street with shops; easy to explore on foot.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Carpinteria State Beach: pitches behind the dunes with hook-ups on some pitches, showers and a dump station; check length limits and status beforehand with ReserveCalifornia. In Ventura County lies Faria Beach Park (county park) with pitches on the beach, likewise by reservation; check terms beforehand. Reservations up to six months in advance, quickly booked up in summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Along the Rincon Parkway (Ventura County) overnighting for self-contained motorhomes is possible at designated sections, only with a reservation (since 2018 via Ventura County Parks), for a fee and with a limited length of stay; check rules and sections beforehand with Ventura County Parks. On streets and in car parks in Ventura and Carpinteria overnighting is otherwise prohibited.
- Insider tip for campers
- US-101 between Ventura and Carpinteria is a coastal stretch with hardly any bends, but full in commuter traffic and at weekends; drive early or after 10 am. Fill up with fuel and water beforehand in Carpinteria or Ventura and use the dump station.
2Stage 2: Ventura to Ojai (approx. 35 km)
- The drive
- From Ventura take Highway 33 north through the Ventura River Valley, past Lake Casitas, then into Ojai. The road is well built, two to four lanes, gentle climbs, 45–55 mph; in Ojai itself the streets are narrow. Pure driving time is about 45 minutes. Petrol stations in Ventura and Ojai.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Ojai Valley: citrus and avocado groves, an old town with Spanish-style arcades, Libbey Park and the Ojai Valley Trail; Pink Moment shortly before sunset on clear days.
- Lake Casitas: a reservoir with fishing and boat hire, with a view of the Topatopa Mountains; check access rules and fees with the operator.
- Meditation Mount: a viewpoint above the valley with a garden and views as far as the sea; the access road is narrow, so check opening hours beforehand.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Lake Casitas Recreation Area (Casitas Municipal Water District) near Ojai: pitches with full or partial hook-ups and without, showers and dump stations (free for overnight guests); vehicles up to about 40 ft, so clarify terms and reservations with the operator beforehand. Book early in summer and on public holidays.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Ojai Valley overnighting on streets and in car parks is prohibited. Los Padres National Forest to the north allows dispersed camping under the rules, but access roads are steep, and fire bans and closures apply in summer.
- Insider tip for campers
- Ojai is small and parking in the old town is scarce for motorhomes; leave the vehicle at the campground and cycle into town on the Ojai Valley Trail. In summer temperatures are over 30 °C, and it cools noticeably in the evening.
3Stage 3: Ojai to Wheeler Gorge and back (approx. 55 km)
- The drive
- Take Highway 33 north, through Matilija Canyon and deep into Los Padres National Forest to Wheeler Gorge and Rose Valley. The road is narrow, winding and steep, with few pull-outs; 25–45 mph. Pure driving time is about 1 hour in each direction. Mobile reception drops out, and there are no petrol stations.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Matilija Canyon: a rocky gorge with streams and trails; the access to Matilija Dam is narrow, so check its condition before the drive.
- Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center (Los Padres National Forest): information on trails, camping and fire status; check opening hours beforehand.
- Rose Valley Falls: a waterfall in Los Padres National Forest, reached by a short trail from Rose Valley Campground; water level low in summer.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Wheeler Gorge Campground (Los Padres National Forest) on Highway 33: simple pitches with toilets, without drinking water, vehicles up to about 35 ft, reservations via Recreation.gov. Rose Valley Campground lies further up (about 1,000 m) on a spur road off Highway 33 and has only about a dozen pitches; it is suitable only for small campers. Check status beforehand with the Forest Service.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Los Padres National Forest dispersed camping is generally allowed, mostly for up to 14 days; in the fire season an order applies to gas stoves and fires, and a California Campfire Permit may be needed; parts of the forest are temporarily closed. Access roads are steep and narrow, so check status beforehand.
- Insider tip for campers
- Driving Highway 33 is demanding for long vehicles; anyone without experience parks in the Ojai Valley and makes the detour by car. Fill up with fuel and water and download an offline map.
4Stage 4: Ojai to Fillmore (approx. 55 km)
- The drive
- From Ojai take Highway 150 via Santa Paula and Highway 126 to Fillmore. Highway 150 is a narrow, winding mountain road over Casitas Pass, not recommended for large motorhomes; as an alternative Highway 33 leads to Ventura and on along Highway 126. Pure driving time is about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Petrol stations in Santa Paula and Fillmore.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Santa Paula: the California Oil Museum and an old town with brick façades; check opening hours before visiting.
- Fillmore: an old town with a historic railway station; the heritage railway Fillmore & Western Railway has not run since 2021, so check the town’s current offerings beforehand.
- Heritage Valley: citrus and avocado plantations along Highway 126, farm shops with fruit and juice, especially in autumn and winter.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: In Santa Paula and Fillmore there are only small, private RV parks (check status beforehand). Alternatively return to Ventura and use pitches on the coast there. Fillmore is a starting point for hikes in Los Padres National Forest.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Ventura County free camping on streets and in car parks is prohibited. Dispersed camping in Los Padres National Forest is generally allowed, with access roads partly steep, so note fire bans.
- Insider tip for campers
- On Highway 150 check the length and height of your vehicle before the drive; there are many bends and a narrow carriageway. If you want to be comfortable, take Highway 33 and Highway 126. In summer it is over 35 °C in the valley, so plan for water and air conditioning.
5Stage 5: Fillmore to Ventura Harbor (approx. 50 km)
- The drive
- Take Highway 126 west to Ventura, then to Ventura Harbor on Spinnaker Drive. Four-lane, well built, 55–65 mph. Pure driving time is about 50 minutes. Petrol stations and supermarkets in Ventura. Book a ticket beforehand for the crossing to the Channel Islands.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Channel Islands National Park: a visitor centre at Ventura harbour (1901 Spinnaker Drive) with exhibitions and views of the islands; crossings with Island Packers (book tickets beforehand, check timetables and prices). Anacapa and Santa Cruz are the most visited islands.
- Anacapa Island: an island with a lighthouse and trails, bird colonies (breeding season spring and summer); landing by a staircase, water only on board.
- Ventura Harbor Village: shops and cafés at the harbour, boat hire and whale-watching tours (season December to April, check the operator beforehand).
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Ventura Harbor has no campground of its own. The nearest sites lie on the coast: McGrath State Beach in Oxnard (pitches behind the dunes; the site has repeatedly been temporarily closed because of flooding, so be sure to check vehicle lengths and status beforehand with ReserveCalifornia) and Carpinteria State Beach. Overnighting on the islands is possible only on foot (tent sites on Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Rosa, San Miguel; reservations via Recreation.gov).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): On the islands free camping is not allowed; on the mainland in Ventura an overnight ban applies on streets and in car parks. Coastal sites such as the Rincon Parkway are the alternative (see stage 1).
- Insider tip for campers
- The weather on the channel can turn, and crossings are cancelled in heavy seas; book a flexible ticket and take seasickness remedies. On the islands there is no drinking water and there are no shops, so bring everything. The motorhome stays at the harbour or campground.
6Stage 6: Ventura Harbor to Point Mugu (approx. 60 km)
- The drive
- Take US-101 and Highway 1 south via Oxnard and Port Hueneme to Point Mugu on the Pacific Coast Highway. A flat coastal plain, then a rocky coast with bends, 45–65 mph. Pure driving time is about 1 hour. Petrol stations in Oxnard and Camarillo, only a few at Point Mugu.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard: a harbour with boats and walking paths, a departure harbour for trips to the islands (check operator and timetable beforehand).
- Point Mugu State Park: a rocky coast with trails through the Santa Monica Mountains, a beach with dunes; viewpoint at Point Mugu Rock.
- Thornhill Broome Beach: a broad sandy beach with a campground, partly flooded at high water and in heavy surf.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Point Mugu State Park, Thornhill Broome Beach: pitches on the beach, water, showers; total length according to State Parks 31 ft at most (strictly enforced), so clarify the dump station and height beforehand with ReserveCalifornia; at high water the site can be under water. McGrath State Beach in Oxnard as an alternative. Reservations up to six months in advance.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the greater Ventura and Oxnard area overnighting in your vehicle on streets and in car parks is prohibited; fines are in the three-figure dollar range. Legal alternatives are the State Parks and the Rincon Parkway.
- Insider tip for campers
- Before setting off, use the dump station and fresh water at Point Mugu. The Pacific Coast Highway between Point Mugu and Malibu is narrow and slow in commuter traffic, and rockfalls or fire damage occasionally lead to closures; check Caltrans QuickMap.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Overnighting in your vehicle outside designated sites is prohibited almost everywhere in Ventura County and on the coast; towns and counties patrol streets and car parks at night, and fines are in the three-figure dollar range.
- Exception: on the Rincon Parkway (Ventura County Parks) self-contained motorhomes can overnight at designated sections for a fee, with a limited length of stay; check the rules beforehand.
- Dispersed camping is generally allowed in Los Padres National Forest, mostly for up to 14 days; in the fire season fire orders apply, and a California Campfire Permit may be needed for gas stoves; parts of the forest are temporarily closed. Access roads are often steep and narrow.
- Many supermarket car parks prohibit overnighting; ask beforehand. Caltrans rest areas allow only limited parking, no camping.
- Wildlife: keep at least 50 yards (45 m) from harbour seals, sea lions and sea otters; feeding is prohibited. Seabirds breed on the islands, so do not leave the trails. Rattlesnakes, mountain lions and ticks in the hills; poison oak is common.
- Useful apps: iOverlander, Campendium, The Dyrt, Recreation.gov and ReserveCalifornia (State Parks up to six months in advance). Road conditions via Caltrans QuickMap, fire status from Cal Fire and Los Padres National Forest.
- If you cannot get a pitch, switch to private RV parks in Ventura, Oxnard and Ojai or to walk-in sites; reception can often tell you about short-notice vacancies.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Dump stations: Carpinteria State Beach and Lake Casitas offer disposal (clarify the stations at McGrath and Point Mugu beforehand); sanidumps.com and the apps list others, which usually charge a fee at petrol stations.
- Tap water is drinkable; in Los Padres National Forest there is sometimes no water, so take a canister. Filter lake and stream water.
- Never discharge grey water onto the ground; empty chemical toilets only at dump stations. Electricity on individual pitches at 30 or 50 A.
- Propane at petrol stations and gas dealers in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo and Ojai; European gas cylinders are usually not refilled.
- Shopping: supermarkets in Carpinteria, Ventura, Ojai, Oxnard and Camarillo; no shops in Los Padres National Forest.
- Fuel: petrol stations on the coast and in the towns; on Highway 33 north of Ojai and on Highway 150 there are no stations.
- Laundry and rubbish: coin launderettes in Ventura, Ojai and Oxnard; rubbish and recycling containers at campgrounds, some wildlife-proof.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits in mph: US-101 and Highway 126 up to 65, Highways 33 and 150 mostly 35 to 55, in towns 25 to 35; with a trailer the maximum under CVC 22406 is 55 mph. Slow vehicles must pull over under CVC 21656 once five or more vehicles are following.
- Tolls and fees: there are no tolls on the route. Day-use fees in State Parks mostly 5 to 10 USD per vehicle; crossings to the Channel Islands cost according to the operator, so check current prices with Island Packers. The America the Beautiful Pass is valid for federal land, not in State Parks.
- Dimensions and lengths: many pitches are limited to about 24 to 40 ft; check length details with ReserveCalifornia, Recreation.gov or the operator before booking. Maximum height 14 ft (4.27 m); multi-storey car parks often have limits of around 2 m. Highway 150 and Highway 33 north of Ojai are narrow for long vehicles.
- Reservations: State Parks up to six months in advance via ReserveCalifornia, Forest Service and islands via Recreation.gov; book crossings beforehand, weeks ahead in summer and on public holidays.
- Weather and season: the coast has fog (marine layer) and 18 to 24 °C in summer, over 30 °C in the Ojai Valley and in Fillmore; the weather is best from September to November. Wildfire season roughly July to December, and winds (Santa Anas) raise the danger.
- Traffic law: turning right on red after a full stop is permitted where no sign prohibits it; mobile phones at the wheel only hands-free; open alcohol containers in the vehicle prohibited. A German driving licence is sufficient, and an international one is often recommended.
- Campsite rules: quiet hours usually 10 pm to 6 am, generators only at set times, fires only in fire rings; alcohol banned on many beaches. Vehicle and trailer length are checked on arrival.
- Emergency: 911. Mobile reception is patchy in Los Padres National Forest and on the islands; use an offline map. Never underestimate sneaker waves and currents, and wear a life jacket on crossings.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Seasickness remedies and a windproof jacket for the crossing to the Channel Islands: the channel is often rough, and it is cold on deck.
- Binoculars for seabirds, sea lions and whales (December to April).
- Sun protection, a hat and a water bottle: over 30 °C in the Ojai Valley and in the valley, and hardly any shade on the islands.
- Water canister (20 l) and a drinking-water-grade hose for pitches without a connection.
- Levelling ramps for sloping coastal and forest pitches.
- Offline maps, a paper map and printouts of reservations and boat tickets: in Los Padres National Forest and on the islands mobile reception fails.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
