Jalama Beach: camping, reservations, fees and the burger

Jalama Beach quick facts

The burger

Jalama Burger™: 1/3 lb, secret sauce; grill 9:30am–4:30pm (from Sept 27, 2026)

Where

End of Jalama Road, 14.5 miles from Highway 1, west of Lompoc

Drive

From Lompoc City Hall 19.3 miles (42 min); from Solvang 39.3 miles (69 min), by OSRM

Day use

$10 per vehicle; 6am to sunset; gate staffed 6am–4pm

Camping (county fees as of Jan 4, 2023, checked Oct 17, 2026)

Basic $40 Apr–Sep, $35 Oct–Mar; beachfront $55; electric hookup $55 Apr–Sep, $50 Oct–Mar

Cabins

$200 Sun–Thu, $250 Fri–Sat and holidays, plus a $20 reservation fee; no pets

Book

Up to 6 months ahead, online or 805-568-2460 option 3 (Mon–Fri 9am–4pm, Sat 10am–2pm)

Jalama Beach Store

Store 9:30am–5pm, grill 9:30am–4:30pm (from Sept 27, 2026); 805-736-5027

Campground gate

805-736-3504

Make a day of it at Jalama

Jalama is a long way down a dead-end road, so stack the day. Drive times:

• Lunch at the Jalama Beach Store grill, open 9:30am to 4:30pm.
• On the way in or out, La Purísima Mission is 22.7 miles (50 min) from the beach; its historic buildings close at 4pm.
• Pinot Noir at Sanford on Santa Rosa Road, 23.8 miles (56 min): open daily 10am to 4pm.
• Dinner back in town: downtown Lompoc is 18.8 miles (40 min) away. Sushi, Thai, Filipino and more are in our Lompoc restaurants guide.
• Planning around a Vandenberg launch? See where to watch a launch and how to check the official schedule.

Why is the Jalama Burger so famous?

The Santa Barbara Independent called it "a world-famous hamburger stacked with lean beef, fresh-cut veggies, and pickle chips and slathered with secret sauce," and reported that it is "so coveted its creator trademarked it" (the menu prints it as Jalama Burger™). In that 2014 piece, marking the burger's 35th anniversary, owner Don Eittreim credited his late wife Kathy with inventing it, and the paper said burgers were the grill's best sellers. The store says the secret-sauce recipe is "safely locked away and not available to anyone outside his immediate family."

What you get, per the store menu: a 1/3 lb patty of 85% lean beef on a sesame bun with Jalama Secret Sauce, shredded lettuce, red onion, tomato and pickle chips. Cheese, bacon, jalapeños, grilled onions and a double patty cost extra; there's also a chili burger, a breakfast burger, and turkey and vegan options. Prices aren't posted online, so we don't list them.

Grill hours from Sept 27, 2026: 9:30am to 4:30pm (store to 5pm). Call 805-736-5027.

How do you make Jalama Beach camping reservations?

Book through Santa Barbara County Parks: online at the county reservation site, or by phone at 805-568-2460, option 3 (Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm). The county says reservations open up to 6 months in advance. Sites carry a non-refundable $10 reservation fee; cabins and yurts $20.

The county lists basic sites, including 12 beachfront sites, partial-hookup sites on a hill, two group campsites and seven cabins. Hookups at Jalama are electric only, with a public water and dump station. Tents are allowed inside hookup sites.

How much does it cost to camp at Jalama Beach?

From the county fee schedule (listed "as of January 4, 2023"):

There is no overflow parking at Jalama, and the county caps vehicles per site.

Can you visit Jalama Beach for the day?

Yes. Day use runs 6am to sunset, and the county charges $10 per vehicle ($40 for a bus). The gate is staffed 6am to 4pm, later on summer Fridays and Saturdays. Entering outside day-use hours requires a camping fee, per county rules.

Are dogs allowed at Jalama Beach?

Yes, on a leash of 6 feet or shorter, at $3 per pet per night for campers (two maximum, with proof of rabies vaccination). Pets are not allowed in the Jalama cabins, and can't be left unattended or in vehicles.

Other county rules: check-in is 3pm with no early check-in at Jalama; call the gate at 805-736-3504 if you'll arrive after 4pm. Quiet hours are 10pm to 8am, and the speed limit is 5 mph.

How far is Jalama Beach from Lompoc and Solvang?

The county describes a "scenic 14.5-mile road to the coast." By driving routes, Jalama is 19.3 miles (42 min) from Lompoc City Hall, 39.3 miles (69 min) from Solvang's Round Tower and 36.5 miles (64 min) from the Hitching Post 2 in Buellton.

Is there a Jalama Beach campground map?

Yes. The county's Jalama Beach campground map (its 2015 edition, reproduced as Exhibit 2 in a California Coastal Commission filing dated December 15, 2023) marks five kinds of site: reservable sites, walk-in sites, reservable group sites, partial hookups with electric only, and reservable cabins. The map's own fine print says reservations can't be moved to walk-in sites. For which sites are free on your dates, use the map view on the county reservation site, or call Reservation Support at 805-568-2460.

Bringing kids? Jalama is a long drive down a dead-end road, so pack for the day: the Jalama Beach Store grill is open 9:30am to 4:30pm (from Sept 27, 2026), and the beach sits at the end of Jalama Road, 14.5 miles from Highway 1.

Good to know

Is the Jalama burger worth the drive? It's the park's signature: the Santa Barbara Independent called it "world-famous," the name is trademarked, and burgers were the grill's best sellers in the paper's 2014 report. The grill is open 9:30am to 4:30pm.

How much is camping at Jalama Beach? Basic sites are $35 a night October to March and $40 April to September; beachfront sites $55; electric hookups $50–$55. Add a $10 reservation fee.

How much is day use at Jalama Beach? $10 per vehicle. Day use runs 6am to sunset.

Don’t miss

• Jalama Beach Store hours changed Sept 27, 2026: store 9:30am–5pm, grill 9:30am–4:30pm. (2026-09) source

You might also like

• La Purísima Mission · about 50 min drive (22.7 mi). The most completely restored California mission. Tip: $6 per vehicle; historic buildings 9am–4pm. Official site · source
• Sanford Winery · about 56 min drive (23.8 mi). Where Sta. Rita Hills Pinot began. Tip: Open daily 10am–4pm; reservations recommended. Official site · source

Drive times are without traffic.

Nearby: eat, taste, stay

• Solvang hotels: Base for a coast day
• Solvang restaurants: Dinner back in the valley
• Vandenberg launch viewing: Where to watch from Lompoc
• La Purísima Mission: The most restored California mission · About 50 min by road
• Sta. Rita Hills wineries: Sanford Winery is about 56 min away
• Lake Cachuma: The county's other camping park
• Lompoc beaches: Surf Beach, Point Sal, Ocean Park and the dog rules
• Lompoc: The nearest town

Quick answers

Is Jalama Beach a state park?

No. Jalama Beach County Park is run by Santa Barbara County Parks, which takes the camping reservations and sets the day-use fee. The park is at the end of Jalama Road, west of Lompoc.

How do I reserve a campsite at Jalama Beach?

Online through Santa Barbara County Parks or by phone at 805-568-2460, option 3. Reservations open up to 6 months ahead.

How much do cabins cost at Jalama Beach?

$200 a night Sunday to Thursday and $250 Friday, Saturday and holidays, plus a $20 reservation fee. Pets are not allowed in the cabins.

Are dogs allowed at Jalama Beach?

Yes, leashed (6 feet or shorter). Campers pay $3 per pet per night, two maximum. No pets in the cabins.

What are the Jalama Beach Store hours?

From Sept 27, 2026, the store is open 9:30am to 5pm and the grill 9:30am to 4:30pm. Phone 805-736-5027.

What is on the Jalama burger?

A 1/3 lb patty on a sesame bun with Jalama Secret Sauce, lettuce, red onion, tomato and pickles, per the store menu.

How far is Jalama Beach from Lompoc?

About 19 miles, roughly 42 minutes by road from Lompoc City Hall.