El Capitán State Beach — Attraction in Isla Vista

Camped here with 4 other trailers recently. We knew this was a no hookup location and that was fine. However, if you have a generator, stand by! Quiet hours are from 10pm to 6am. But.....generator hours are from 8pm to 10am! At 7am they were running wood chipping machines and chain saws which were very obnoxious. But I can't run my super quiet honda generator to make my coffee? The camp "hosts" were really on it too. 8:01pm they were driving around on their golf carts and hounding people for them. The public bathroom facilities were okay. The showers were hit and miss between which one actually worked and which didn't. You have to purchase tokens for them by the way. The beach from our sites were a bit of a walk and it's a pretty steep walk back and forth. You can drive down to the beach front parking if you prefer too though. On our way to the beach we encountered a huge rattle snake coiled and nestled right along the edge of the walking path near the general store. Went to tell staff about it in hopes somebody there would actually do something to relocate it. They didn't care and said nobody would. Great way to catch a lawsuit. All in all, for the price, you get what you pay for. But if you're an avid glamper and like amenities, go across the fwy to the...

Visited based on the recommendation of a friend and we will definitely be back. We recently went to the Grand Canyon and I thought the stars out there were great. Oh my goodness the stars were phenomenal. Probably helped there was virtually no moon, regardless there is something so awe-inspiring about listening to the waves from your campsite and staring at starlit sky.

Small hill to get to and from the water. Small store next to the beach just re-opened and they had some snacks, drinks, gifts, and camping items. Went swimming during the day. Waves were pretty mild. Didn't notice it until another visitor mentioned it, but we did end up with tar on our feet. Not a deal breaker just a bummer, and it was only a little. Unfortunately, we live by the beach and that's kind of normal. Overall though, water was clear, weather was nice, and we enjoyed...

One of my favorite local “beach” campgrounds. So many great tent camping sites with ocean views and nature walks nearby. The trails are great and most are dog friendly, shaded, and peaceful (except for the actual beach/sand... no dogs allowed). The beach itself is pretty with gorgeous rock formations at the far end- definitely worth the walk. The nature trails too run along a creek and are so lush, tranquil, and serene.

Depending on what you’re looking for, if you’re coming for camping, here are my suggestions for campsites: •Very shaded and private, near cost but not visible- more about trees and nature #99, Partial sea views and trees/privacy #101, Best and Fullest ocean views but more open/no shade #105-107, Complete nature cove of green and private, nearby access to ocean...