Los Prietos
Los Prietos Campground is situated in the Los Padres National Forest and provides access to a variety of outdoor adventures, including water-related recreation and hiking. The family-friendly campground is green and lush and is a great place to camp in the mountains of western California.
More like this: electric hookups in California · reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 29 |
| Tent-only | 8 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
37 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 003 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 008 | Tent only | Back-in | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 | |
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 010 | Tent only | Back-in | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 | |
| 011 | Tent only | Back-in | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
The campground offers dozens of single-family sites for tent or RV camping. No utility hookups are available at the campground. Each site is equipped with a table, campfire ring with grill and a pedestal grill. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Trash collection bins are available throughout the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Temporarily closed |
| Season | January to December |
| Forest | Los Padres National Forest |
| Booking | www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. |
| Fees | $30.00 per site, $10.00 for each extra vehicle. Interagency Senior and Acess Passes provide pass holders with 50% off of camping fees - not valid for day use or extra vehicle parking fee. |
| Rules | 8 persons per site, 14 day stay limit. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Highway 101 in Santa Barbara, turn east onto Highway 154 and continue about 11 miles. Turn onto Paradise Road and travel about 3 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Santa Barbara, California |
| Coordinates | 34.5417° N, 119.8092° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Thousand Trails ↗ | 2.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Harder RV Storage ↗ | 7.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 10.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Tour & Info Los Prietos Campground Santa Barbara Los Padres National Forest
Worth a stop
The campground is located 19 miles from Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean.
- 1.8 mi
- 1.9 mi
- 13.8 miDivide Peak Ohv Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 14.3 miMckinley Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.8 miSnyder3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miAliso Loop ↗3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 2.4 miRomero Camuesa OHV ↗11.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.6 miArroyo Burro3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.9 miSanta Cruz ↗18.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 3.5 miCamuesa Connector4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.4 miUpper Oso OHV Staging Area-Buckhorn-Camuesa OHV Rd ↗Los Padres National Forest · Season January to December
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Los Padres National Forest.
- inLos Padres National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,970,265 acres
- 9.3 miSan Rafael Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 191,104 acres
- 12.6 miDick Smith Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 71,275 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
The campground is nestled on the side of the Santa Ynez Mountains. Beautiful, mature oak trees provide ample shade, and abundant vegetation blankets the ground. The sites are roomy and allow for some privacy and separation.
Recreation
The Santa Ynez River is popular for a variety of water-related recreation. The river can be accessed at White Rock Day Use Area, less than a half-mile from the campground. Cachuma Lake Recreation Area is no-body-contact reservoir about 10 miles northwest of the campground. It offers boating, fishing and kayaking. Anglers will find an abundance of annually stocked trout. Carp and bass are also common catches. Visitors enjoy a variety of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. The Aliso National Recreation Trail is a popular, 2.5-mile loop that begins near the campground. Also nearby is the 18-mile Santa Cruz Trail, which provides access to a variety of other trails in the area. The Camuesa OHV Route and its connecting trails are available within 10 miles of the campground.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Los Prietos?
Sites at Los Prietos are reservable on Recreation.gov. www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Los Prietos?
$30.00 per site, $10.00 for each extra vehicle. Interagency Senior and Acess Passes provide pass holders with 50% off of camping fees - not valid for day use or extra vehicle parking fee.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Los Prietos?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Los Prietos open right now?
Temporarily closed as of Oct 16, 2026. Season January to December.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Los Prietos have?
38 sites, including 29 standard sites without power and 8 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Los Prietos?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Los Prietos have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Los Prietos?
Flush toilets and drinking water are provided.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Los Prietos?
Yes, pets are allowed at Los Prietos. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Los Prietos?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Los Prietos?
The Santa Ynez River is popular for a variety of water-related recreation. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Los Prietos?
Santa Barbara, California. The campground is located 19 miles from Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean.
Source: Getting there