USDA Forest Service · California
Los Prietos
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 38
- Hookups
- 37 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Max RV length
- 35 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 948 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon good · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- PARADISE (NFSR 5N18.1) · bituminous surface treatment · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Los Padres National Forest
- Nearest town
- SANTA BARBARA
- Address
- 5050 PARADISE ROAD, SANTA BARBARA, CA, 93105
- Phone
- 805-434-1996
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Fishing, Swimming
38 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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.
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.
Facilities
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.
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.
Nearby Attractions
The campground is located 19 miles from Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 61° | 48° | 41° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| February | 60° | 47° | 38° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| March | 62° | 49° | 38° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| April | 67° | 51° | 40° | 80° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 70° | 54° | 49° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 76° | 61° | 51° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 65° | 58° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 80° | 66° | 57° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 77° | 62° | 51° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 76° | 59° | 45° | 91° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 68° | 53° | 45° | 85° | 0 of 10 |
| December | 64° | 49° | 39° | 79° | 0 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Paradise Campground · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 15 sites
- Fremont Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 15 sites
- Sage Hill · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 5 sites
- Sage Hill · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Upper Oso Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 19 sites
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.