Gaviota State Park Beach & Campground — Hotel in Lompoc

Wow. What a bizarre but awesome camp experience. Ms. Wind was present at 20 to 30 mph with 50-55 wind gusts from maybe six pm to six am, so bring non rotting tents and long gripped stakes and be sure to pitch your tent and stakes correctly. A hammer is a must cause the ground is hard in some places. It took a lot of energy and strength to hammer the stakes into the ground. The first day the wind was totally unexpected but the camp ranger warned us upon arrival telling us to be sure to pitch our tents well. No doubt as it had been windy in El Capitan during spring break but nothing like this. Day two we were prepared. Breakfast..fun games..head to the beach all day..with snacks for lunch. Fire on by four dinner by five. Bed time for kiddos by six…we’ll tent time..so I could wrap and pack up our bins and prepare for the wind. I also wanted the fire to be out by night fall for safety reasons. We basically had two tents. One for supplies chairs and quiet time if needed and one for sleeping. Four of us in the Coleman six person blackout and the six person lighted Coleman for supplies and retreat. The camp rangers hosts were so very nice and helpful the entire time we were there. They would circle the camp to check on all the guests on a regular basis all day. We ran out of wood and the store was closed so they offered us some of their wood. Same thing for ice. The hospitality was amazing. The bathrooms were clean in the camping area showers were :25 per two minutes and hot. The coin machine was out of order so bring your quarters. Or ask a neighbor. Which you could physically see as there are not too many trees and bushes separating the camp sites. We stayed in lot four which was very nice. Two tents fit perfectly. The ground was hard so be sure to bring your sleeping pads. But there is nothing like the Gaviota beach front. So gorgeous and quaint. And a little river on the opposite side parallel the beach that runs under the train tracks. We did not get a chance to hike cause my boys wanted to beach all day. We did s’mores the first night and could have the second..but I was a one woman camp crew so I had to prep everything for the wind. Some of the lots face the ocean which you can see. But we still loved our spot even though it faced the road and mountains. We will definitely visit camp Gaviota again. Don’t let the wind steer you away just be prepared and smart and pray for luck as this is Mother Nature in control. Definitely not us. . I put heavy objects on the perimeter of each tent to avoid the wind getting under. And I kept the doors closed at night to limit the amount of dust floating around. On the first night I visually checked our tents for places of weakness and adjusted as needed. And great waves for boogie boarding and surfing. I loved how we could simply walk to the beach without going down cliffs or it being to far. A plus for three boys. There was also a super nice lifeguard on deck watching over the beach guests. He even provided first aid materials when our friend cut his chest on the boogie board. Yes this is their job but I have been to tons of beaches where they may not be present visible or available. Secret…there is Wi-Fi in the ocean. You literally have to stand maybe five to ten feet into the ocean near the old fishing doc that is not accessible anymore . I was able to check my work emails. Handle a couple of work situations. And face time my partner. Without having to turn my car...

Tent campers beware the location is EXTREMELY WINDY (15-20 MPH) and WITH GUSTS (up to 30 MPH). We stayed two nights on the Memorial day weekend. The winds picked up every evening and continued thru night - no breaks. I think the mountains and kind of tunnel opening to ocean cause the winds at this location. The online weather info is not accurate on the winds. 3 of our 7 tents damaged and people had to move to other tents. Secure your tents properly - take additional ropes and additional strong anchors and other supplies to patch tents. Prefer short tents over tall tents.

Camp fires are possible despite the wind. Gets cold and occasional mist/drizzles during ocean breeze during night.

Besides that - daytime weather is nice (no winds). The location is beautiful and close to the beach. Beach was clean and not very crowded. Definitely recommend the hike to the wind caves. But wear long pants/sleeves to avoid itching from the vegetation on the hike. A stream flows by the campsite - fun time for kids.

Sites are well maintained. Restrooms and showers clean. Showers run hot water. Firewood available at the site. Hosts are friendly.

We had members from toddlers to seniors age range. While winds caused lots of inconvenience the daytime fun overcame it all.

The train track is not very busy - 4-5 trains a day. The winds drown the the noise of 1-2 trains that passes by at night.

The pier is permanently closed.

Nearby Costco and EV superchargers in Goleta - 22ish miles . Plenty of shops in Buellton, CA -...

Gaviota State Park offers a beautiful coastal experience with some unique features. The beach is lovely, and depending on the tide, you can walk along the shore for a couple of miles. On one of our walks, we were lucky enough to spot dolphins just offshore—definitely a highlight! Another charming feature is the train that passes overhead on a tall bridge, which is fun to watch.

The park provides well-maintained restrooms and token-operated showers, and there’s a small on-site store for basic food and sundry items. Be aware that tar on the sand is common, so it’s a good idea to bring baby oil or wipes for cleanup. Also, expect strong gusty winds in the afternoon and evening, which made it tough to enjoy a campfire. One particularly windy night, we ended up retreating to our trailer due to the dust and conditions.

The campsites are quite close together and feel more like group sites, which might be a drawback for those seeking more privacy. Day-use parking is available and was fairly busy over the weekend.

Overall, Gaviota is a great spot for a day trip or quick coastal escape—just come prepared for wind and...