El Capitán State Beach — Attraction in Isla Vista

Ugh, I hate leaving 2 star reviews. But unless you like listening to trains cruise through your tent, enjoy Trash Pandas (raccoons) digging through ALL your food, POISON OAK (there are NO warnings of this anywhere, and it’s EVERYWHERE), small camp sites (some are big, but if you don’t know when booking, you’re screwed), bathrooms that got destroyed on the weekend, and some strange popping blow off valve that goes off like every hour, then this camp ground is for you. I don’t know, maybe we just had a bad experience. We were located in 1-28 and hands down the other area where you’re close the water is WAY better. The bathrooms in our area were old and run down. The bathrooms on the other side are newer and look better. The general store at the beach is only open weekends. Be warned about the Raccoons. They WILL attempt to get into everything, they WILL climb on And into your vehicles, chairs, tables, coolers and anything else you leave out. On a good note, the showers are only $0.25 for 2 min and WERE hot!!! We did not have a tar issue, the beach was great. We even managed to go diving. If you plan to use bikes and ride in the trail, DONT, the trail has been washed away and is closed down. We will be back to try the other side and give it another try, but our first trip was a bummer. I included the raccoon attack to the car and a...

October 2021 Friday thru Monday Beautiful setting where coastal chaparral covered hills meet the cliffs and beaches of southern California. Super lovely countryside makes the drive here a pleasure, no matter which direction you approach. Santa Barbara is a few miles south, so there are day excursions and shopping nearby. Bicycling is mainly in or near the park - unless you don't mind cycling down the highway (not for me). North - south running train tracks are very close nearby. I like trains - the bells, whistles and the clickety clack - so that's a 'plus' in my book. The sites are roomy and well separated on the most part. Lovely moments of solitude and beach combing await you just steps away from anywhere in the park. Stairway access to the beach is available at several convenient locations. There is a lifeguard station there, but we saw no lifeguards on duty. Campfires in fire rings are allowed, so break out the S'mores stuff. No RV sewer hookups or dump station on site. Bathrooms and pay showers are available - the men's side was clean, but not so much the women's side. I expect that was just a short time, as the campground appeared amply staffed. Not sure on electricity - but generators are...

I totally love this place. I save a lot of money every week by not going to a hotel. A day pass at $10 and a private shower on site for about $0.75 to $1.25 is only a fraction of the cost of a one night stay at any decent motel room in the surrounding towns. Be mindful that if you choose to shower here, please, don't abuse the showers with dirt, pee, or inappropriate bodily fluids. The showers are not your your stomping grounds for interludes with your significant other. They are there mostly for the campers. We are in a post Covid-19 era so taking a shower with sandals is a must. If you are passing through you can use the shower but make sure to leave the car in the day use lot and walk up to a camp site shower. Lock up your car to avoid problems with transients. Keep El Capitan clean and throw away your trash in the appropriate receptacles and not the bushes. You will have a gorgeous view of the ocean from the upper level as you look out. The mountains are nestled on the other side of the freeway, plain rolling hills that are serene and picturesque. Everyone who visits is entitled to enjoy the natural beauty here. Don't mess it up for future generations who want to...