El Capitan State Beach · Goleta, CA
Beachfront camping on
Santa Barbara's wildest stretch.
El Capitan is on the Santa Barbara coast. Its 130 beachfront sites book months ahead. Dibs on Dirt catches every cancellation fast.
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130
Campsites
Equestrian
Sites available
18mi
From Santa Barbara
8 a.m.
Cancellations post
Why it's hard to book
The last undeveloped stretch of Santa Barbara's coast, with 130 sites that book instantly
El Capitan State Beach occupies one of the last undeveloped canyons on the Santa Barbara coast, where sycamore and oak trees line a creek that flows to a rocky beach. The 130 sites are a mix of canyon and bluff-top spots, with some of the most sought-after oceanfront camping in Central California.
El Capitan is 18 miles from Santa Barbara proper and 2 miles from Refugio State Beach, and many campers try to book both. Equestrian sites are a niche draw for horse campers.
All frontcountry sites book fast. Dibs on Dirt monitors continuously.
How it works
Three steps to your campsite
01
Enter your email
We send a one-time login link. No password needed, ever.
02
Set your dates
Pick El Capitan, enter your check-in and check-out dates, and choose your match preference.
03
Get alerted
We monitor ReserveCalifornia around the clock. You get the evening digest free. Premium emails you the moment a site opens.
Park details
El Capitan State Beach at a glance
Location
Goleta, CA
Sites
130 campsites
Nightly fee
$35 – $65
Best months
Apr – Oct
Hookups
Some hookup sites
Equestrian
Horse camping available
Nearby
Refugio SB (2 miles west)
Reservations
ReserveCalifornia
Watch El Capitan for free
Join campers already monitoring for cancellations.
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