0
Pull-thru
NPSChannel Islands National Park · California
Santa Barbara Island
Overview Once visitors have scaled the rugged cliffs using the steep trail from the Landing Cove, they will be rewarded with a campground perched on the bluffs with magnificent coastal views.
Sites2110 reservable
Elev.171ft
Comf.Jan-Dec12 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Los Angeles1h44real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 171 ft, Santa Barbara Island has a 12-month comfortable window (Jan-Dec). Winter nights average around 56°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. 21 sites total: 10 reservable and 11 first-come, first-served. Of the sites, 11 walk-in. This is bear country, and food-storage lockers are provided. Within about 4 miles: 5 peaks.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on reservability and cool nights. Softest on shade.
Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.
When to go
02 · CLIMATE
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Jun
Jan-Dec
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
99%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
62°F
Average July low.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Los Angeles
78 mi
1h44
02
San Diego
156 mi
3h28
03
Fresno
298 mi
6h37
04
San Francisco
458 mi
10h11
05
Sacramento
492 mi
10h56
By drive time
Picking your site
04 · 21 SITES
Color byShow only
10 mapped sites · dot color = seclusion · click a dot for details. Basemap © OpenStreetMap.
11
Walk-in
0
50-amp
0
Accessible
0
Prime
21
Sites
★ The standout
Site 009
SANTA BARBARA ISLAND AREA · walk-in.
To neighbor
81 ft
Type
Walk-in
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Trail segments
16
Peaks
5
Water & Access
Method
We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.