Bring the RV to Flying Flags in Buellton, 9 minutes from Solvang, or to Lake Cachuma, 20 minutes east, for hookups and showers. Tent campers head up to Figueroa Mountain in wildflower season or down Paradise Road to the river. For the beach, Refugio is 32 minutes away.
The short version
- RVers who want a pool: Flying Flags, Buellton
- Not tenting it: Lake Cachuma, from $30 a night for a basic site
- Wildflower chasers: Figueroa Campground, 3,300 feet up
- Shade seekers: Los Prietos on Paradise Road
- Winter beach campers: El Capitán, Dec 1 to Mar 30
This week
- Nov6–8Buellton Fall Festival · Visit Buellton
Avenue of the Flags; Fri 4-10pm, Sat-Sun 12-10pm; carnival rides, live music on two stages; Ales on the Avenue beer and wine tasting Sat (tickets) · Free · by City of Buellton
- FriNov 6NatureTrack Film Festival · Visit NatureTrack Foundation
8th annual; reception 6pm, program 6:45pm at the SYV Grange Hall · $25 · by NatureTrack Foundation
- SatNov 7SYV Historical Museum Vaquero Benefit Dinner & Auction · Visit Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum
42nd annual · Tickets (early bird from Aug 1) · by Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum
- SatNov 7Alma Rosa Fall Harvest Dinner · Visit Alma Rosa Winery
Winery event; check access on the listing · Not published · by Alma Rosa Winery
Go for
- Bringing the dog: Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground
- A picnic: Figueroa Campground
- A pool: Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort
Map
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RV parks in the valley
Hauling an RV? Start here: hookups, hot showers and cabins, 9 to 20 minutes from Solvang Park. Times are without traffic.
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Editor's pickRV resort, cabins, vintage trailers, tent sites · Buellton
Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground
USA Today 10Best No. 7, Best Vintage Trailer Hotel
Refurbished Airstreams, vintage trailers, cabins, safari tents and full-hookup RV sites on one property, with pools, jacuzzis, bocce and a restaurant, Feather & Fire. It's the one campground in Buellton itself, on Avenue of the Flags.
Go if the kids or the dog need a pool and a dinner menu on site; it's the lively campground, so pick another for dark skies.
Go with The dog
More details
Press No. 7, Best Vintage Trailer Hotel (USA Today 10Best awards, 2025). USA Today 10Best, 2025
- Book up to 10 months ahead
- Up to 2 dogs in pet-friendly cabins, Airstreams and trailers ($50 one-time fee); leashed dogs at RV sites
- Pools 9am to 9pm, registered guests only
- Feather & Fire restaurant on site, closed Monday
180 Avenue of the Flags, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-688-3716
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Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0 County campground: tent, hookup, cabins, yurts · Lake Cachuma (Highway 154)
Cachuma Lake Recreation AreaBook
The big one: several hundred county campsites above the valley's reservoir, with more than 100 full-hookup RV sites, eight cabins that have their own kitchens and bathrooms, and seven yurts. You can boat and fish here, but nobody swims, because the lake is drinking water.
Go if you want camping with hot showers, a dog park and boat rentals, 20 minutes from Solvang.
- From
- Basic sites $30 (Oct to Mar) to $35; hookups $45 to $55
- Getting there
- On Highway 154 at Lake Cachuma, 11.7 mi (20 min) from Solvang Park
More details
- Book up to 6 months ahead online or at 805-568-2460
- Cabins $175 weeknights, $200 Friday and Saturday
- Pets $3 a night, max 2
2225 Highway 154, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 · 805-686-5055
Figueroa Mountain campgrounds
Tent country north of Los Olivos, run by the Forest Service: big spring wildflower displays, and no hookups or drinking water to go with them. Give the last miles of slow mountain road extra time.
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Forest Service campground, 35 sites · Figueroa Mountain (Los Padres National Forest)
Figueroa Campground
At 3,300 feet in red manzanita, oaks and pines, this is the base camp for the spring wildflower show on Figueroa Mountain, with the Davy Brown and Ballard trails starting nearby and the Figueroa Lookout up the road. Bring water: there is none on site.
Go if you want a tent under the stars with poppy season on your doorstep; it suits tents and trailers up to 25 feet, no hookups.
- Getting there
- 12.5 mi up Figueroa Mountain Road from Los Olivos, about an hour from Solvang Park
Go for A picnic
More details
- 35 sites with fire rings, pedestal barbecues and picnic tables
- Vault toilets; no drinking water; no hookups
- Trailers and RVs up to 25 ft
- Loop 2 temporarily closed for hazardous conditions
Figueroa Campground, Figueroa Mountain Road, Los Olivos, CA 93441
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Forest Service campground, 13 sites · Sunset Valley Road (Los Padres National Forest)
Davy Brown Campground
A campground on Davy Brown Creek, where the Forest Service lists kingfishers, juncos and western tanagers, and the Davy Brown Trail climbs toward Figueroa Mountain. Two miles on, the Manzana trailheads lead into the San Rafael Wilderness.
Go if you're a hiker or birder who'll take a long, slow drive for it; come outside deer season (mid-August to late September), when hunters fill it.
- Getting there
- Past Cachuma Saddle on Sunset Valley Road, about 1 hr 15 min from Solvang Park
Go for A drop-in visit
More details
- 10 sites on Recreation.gov (6-month rolling window), 3 first come, first served
- No drinking water; vault toilets; no hookups
- Trailers and RVs up to 25 ft
- No fishing in Davy Brown Creek
Davy Brown Campground, Sunset Valley Road, Los Olivos, CA 93441
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Forest Service campground, 12 sites · Sunset Valley Road (Los Padres National Forest)
Nira Campground
Two miles past Davy Brown on Sunset Valley Road, Nira is the jumping-off point for the Upper Manzana Creek Trail to the Manzana Narrows in the San Rafael Wilderness. Sites 1 to 3 are for tents and car camping only.
Go if you're starting a backpacking trip or want the farthest-out car camping around. Bring cash for the first-come sites.
- Getting there
- At the end of Sunset Valley Road, about 1 hr 25 min from Solvang Park
Go for A drop-in visit
More details
- 9 sites on Recreation.gov, 3 first come, first served (cash only)
- No drinking water; two vault toilets; no hookups
- RVs under 20 ft
Nira Campground, Sunset Valley Road, Los Olivos, CA 93441
Paradise Road and the river
River camping off Highway 154, past Lake Cachuma toward Santa Barbara. The three Forest Service campgrounds on the Santa Ynez River have water; Rancho Oso has the pool.
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Forest Service campground, 38 sites · Paradise Road (Los Padres National Forest)
Los Prietos Campground
Big shady oaks, a paved road and the Santa Ynez River a quarter mile away at White Rock Day Use, so this is the river campground with water and the most sites on Paradise Road. Watch for poison oak.
Go if you want the Santa Ynez River close by and an easy paved drive in. Bring a 6-foot leash; the Forest Service requires one.
- Getting there
- 3 mi up Paradise Road off Highway 154, about 35 min from Solvang Park
Go for A drop-in visit
More details
- 35 sites on Recreation.gov (6-month window), 3 first come, first served
- Drinking water; firewood from the host
- Open all year
Los Prietos Campground, Paradise Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
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Forest Service campground, 14 sites · Paradise Road (Los Padres National Forest)
Paradise Campground
The small one with flush toilets: 14 single and double sites under oaks, paved parking spurs that fit most RVs and drinking water, a quarter mile from the river at White Rock Day Use.
Go if you want Paradise Road's river with a few more comforts and room for an RV; come self-contained: there are no hookups.
- Getting there
- Off Paradise Road from Highway 154, about 34 min from Solvang Park
Go for A drop-in visit
More details
- 12 sites on Recreation.gov, 2 first come, first served
- Accessible flush toilets and drinking water; no hookups
- Open all year; 14-day limit
Paradise Campground, Paradise Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
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Forest Service campground, 14 sites · Paradise Road (Los Padres National Forest)
Fremont Campground
The first campground you reach on Paradise Road: large, hilly sites under oaks, some a short walk from the car, with drinking water but porta-potties for now.
Go if you want the Paradise Road site closest to Highway 154 and don't mind a short carry to the tent.
- Getting there
- 2.5 mi up Paradise Road off Highway 154, about 33 min from Solvang Park
Go for A drop-in visit
More details
- 13 sites on Recreation.gov, 1 first come, first served
- Drinking water; porta-potties; no hookups
- Open all year
Fremont Campground, Paradise Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
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Private RV resort, cabins and covered wagons · Paradise Road (Santa Ynez River)
Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort
A Western-themed Thousand Trails resort on more than 310 acres: 190 sites, a cobblestone lodge, a pool and hot tub, and cabins built like Old West storefronts or covered wagons. You don't need a membership to book.
Go if you've got kids, an RV or both, and want horses and a pool instead of a bare forest site.
- Getting there
- At the end of Paradise Road, about 58 min from Solvang Park
Go for Pool time
More details
- 190 sites; open all year
- No membership needed
- Pool, hot tub, mini golf, dog park, store and restaurant listed
3750 Paradise Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Beach camping side trips
Want the ocean instead? These three sit outside the valley on the Gaviota coast, along Highway 101. Dogs are allowed in all three campgrounds but not on the beaches.
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State park, seasonal camping (side trip) · Gaviota coast (side trip)
Gaviota State Park
The closest beach camping to Solvang, by the park's railroad trestle and pier, with trails inland to natural sulfur hot springs and lookouts. Camping is seasonal, and the park shows no upcoming reservations right now.
Go if you want the closest beach to Solvang, 18 minutes away, plus a hike to the hot springs. Camping is seasonal; check reservations first.
- Booking
- Seasonal camping; no reservations open at last update
- Getting there
- Side trip: 12.8 mi (18 min) from Solvang Park via Highway 101
Go for A drop-in visit
More details
- Dogs in the campground and day-use area, not on the beach
- Day use $10 a vehicle
Gaviota State Park, Gaviota, CA 93117
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State beach campground (side trip) · Gaviota coast (side trip)
Refugio State Beach
A quiet beach that State Parks says has "a tropical island feel", with 66 campsites and three group sites about 20 miles west of Santa Barbara. One group site, Bouchard, now takes reservations all year.
Go if you want to fall asleep by the ocean and still drive back to the valley for a tasting.
- Getting there
- Side trip: 25 mi (32 min) from Solvang Park via Highway 101
More details
- 66 campsites and 3 group sites
- Dogs in the campground and day-use area, not on the beach
10 Refugio Beach Road, Goleta, CA 93117
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State beach campground (side trip) · Gaviota coast (side trip)
El Capitán State Beach
Seventeen miles west of Santa Barbara, and the one coast park where you can roll in without a booking all winter: the whole campground goes first come, first served from Dec 1 to Mar 30. Before then, the A Loop is walk-up Oct 19 to 25 and reservations run Oct 26 to Nov 30.
Go if you can go midweek in winter, when you can roll in without a reservation. The lower loop (sites 1 to 28) is closed for trail work.
- Getting there
- Side trip: 26.8 mi (36 min) from Solvang Park via Highway 101 (Exit 117)
Go for A drop-in visit
More details
- Lower loop, sites 1 to 28, closed for trail construction
- First come, first served Dec 1, 2026 to Mar 30, 2027
- Dogs in the campground and day-use area, not on the beach
El Capitán State Beach, Goleta, CA 93117
Before you go
- Fire rules: Los Padres National Forest has standing fire-use orders that limit campfires to designated sites, and they tighten in fire season. Check the forest's alerts page the week you go.
- Closed for now: Upper Oso Campground, at the end of Paradise Road, is listed as closed for storm damage.
- Booking windows: the Forest Service sites book on Recreation.gov on a 6-month rolling window, with a few first-come sites at each. Lake Cachuma books up to 6 months ahead on the county's site.
- Jalama Beach: the county beach park at the end of Jalama Road is 69 minutes from Solvang. See our Jalama Beach guide.
- Rodeo weekend: the June Old Santa Ynez Days rodeo allows no camping at the grounds, so book a site early.
Not camping after all? See Buellton hotels and Solvang hotels, or every site, cabin and yurt in our Lake Cachuma camping guide.
Plan your day
- MorningBreakfast first: Best coffee in the Santa Ynez ValleyBy town, plus where to work
- MiddayGo tasting: Santa Barbara County wine tastingAu Bon Climat in town, or the vines
- EveningBook dinner: Buellton restaurantsHitching Post 2 to wild ales
- LateNight out: Solvang happy hoursSpritzes, Industry Night, 8pm deals
- OvernightFind a bed: Buellton hotelsA windmill check-in, pea soup lore
Good to know
Does Los Prietos Campground have water? Yes. Los Prietos on Paradise Road has drinking water, firewood from the host and 38 sites, 35 of them bookable on Recreation.gov up to 6 months ahead.
Is there glamping near Santa Ynez Valley wine country? Yes. Flying Flags in Buellton rents Airstreams, vintage trailers, cabins and safari tents. Lake Cachuma has seven yurts and eight cabins with kitchens. Rancho Oso, at the end of Paradise Road, has cabins built like Old West storefronts and covered wagons.
Can you camp at the Old Santa Ynez Days rodeo? No. The rodeo says no overnight parking or camping is allowed at the grounds, and points you to the valley's RV parks and campgrounds instead.
Which beach campground is closest to Solvang? Gaviota State Park, 18 minutes away on Highway 101, but its camping is seasonal. Refugio State Beach is 32 minutes and El Capitán 36 minutes. From Dec 1 to Mar 30, El Capitán is entirely first come, first served.
Quick answers
Where can I camp or park an RV near Solvang?
Flying Flags RV Resort on Avenue of the Flags in Buellton is 9 minutes from Solvang Park and has full hookups, cabins and vintage trailers. Lake Cachuma, 20 minutes east on Highway 154, has more than 100 full-hookup sites plus cabins and yurts.
Can you tent camp at Flying Flags?
Yes, at its designated tent sites only. RV check-in starts at 12:30pm, cabins and glamping at 4pm, and checkout is 11am.
Where can you camp in Solvang?
No campground sits inside Solvang. The nearest are Flying Flags in Buellton (9 minutes) and Lake Cachuma (20 minutes). In 2025 Solvang's city council approved an ordinance banning overnight tent and vehicle camping in town, so plan on a campground.
Is Figueroa Mountain camping open?
Figueroa Campground is open, but Loop 2 is temporarily closed for hazardous conditions. It has 35 sites, no drinking water and no hookups, and fits trailers up to 25 feet. Check Los Padres fire restrictions before you light anything.
Sources
tap to open
- Flying Flags: FAQ and home page
- USA Today 10Best: Best Vintage Trailer Hotel winners
- Santa Barbara County Parks: Cachuma Lake
- USDA Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest: Figueroa, Davy Brown, Nira, Los Prietos, Paradise, Fremont, Upper Oso and alerts
- Thousand Trails: Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort
- California State Parks: Gaviota, Refugio, El Capitán
- Old Santa Ynez Days Rodeo: tickets and FAQ; KCBX: Solvang council approves ordinance to curb overnight camping (May 29, 2025)
- Drive times are routed from Solvang Park without traffic. On mountain roads, treat them as the minimum.
Last updated Nov 2, 2026. We never copy reviews or business photos. Fees, closures and fire rules change, so confirm on the official page before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
