4.2450 reviewsSelect a month, then check for open campsites
Price
Varies
Booking
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Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
No Pets
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
Varies
Booking
Reservable
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
No Pets
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Learn more about alerts →John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground
25.1226, -80.4080
RV campers who book months ahead and want to roll out of bed into snorkel gear. Full hookups at around $58/night, on-site kayak launches and dive charters, and an aquarium within walking distance make this a genuinely rare base camp for reef access.
Tent campers are out entirely, no tent sites exist. Traveling with a dog? Hard no. Anyone expecting a beach vacation will find small, rocky shorelines with seaweed rather than sand, and summer visits bring relentless no-see-ums and limited shade.
Context for the broader area surrounding John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
Cachuma Reservoir, formed by <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/ca10136.htm">Bradbury Dam</a>, offers a prime recreational opportunity for the south central coast area of California. The <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/cachuma.html">Cachuma Project</a> is located in the Santa Ynez Valley, the area provides an aesthetic view of the Santa Ynez mountains. The recreation area is adjacent to the Los Padres National Forest. Easily accessible from Santa Barbara, the area provide excellent camping facilities with full hookups for RV's. The lake is stocked during the winter months with trout and provides excellent bass fishing year round. The park is currently developing a recreational fisheries program in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Game. Day use areas include trails and picnic facilities.
From Santa Barbara take Highway 101 to the San Marcos Pass exit, Highway 154. The park entrance is about 20 miles from this point. From the North take Highway 101 to State Highway 154.. Cachuma Lake is about 20 miles east.
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Winter through early spring (roughly late fall to March) offers the most comfortable camping, with daytime highs around 70–80°F, lows in the mid-60s, lower humidity, and fewer bugs. This is also the best time for water visibility: calmer seas and clear conditions are ideal for snorkeling, diving, glass-bottom boat tours, and paddling. Winter is the park's busiest season, so book campsites and boat tours well in advance. Summer brings very hot, humid conditions, stronger sun, and afternoon storms, though water temperatures are excellent for snorkeling. No-see-ums and mosquitoes can be relentless in warm months, especially at dusk. Multiple reviewers stressed bringing insect repellent and planning for heat, as shade is limited at many sites.
Peak season with warm days. Most facilities open. Reserve ahead.
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