Jalama Beach County Park

Such a beautiful place to camp and we camped here multiple times before. Being able to camp right by the shore is always an amazing experience. Every evening we got to watch the sunset and each time it was a different experience. I appreciate how the restrooms were cleaned and they have running water. There’s even a playground for the kids also well stocked store at the site as which is a major plus and they certainly do make delicious hamburgers. This place is pretty isolated so you really have the beach for mainly just the camper or whoever wants to make the long drive through the mountains to get to this beach. There’s a lot of cool colored rocks and a lot of tar, which you don’t want to step on.

Our most favorite place to camp!!! About a 20 minute drive from Hwy 1. We camped here last week, the first week of October. Had reservations for only 3 days, because we didn't reserve months in advance. On our 2nd day we were able to add a 4th night. YAY!!! Honestly i didn't want to leave after night 4 either. Beautiful scenery, and amazing beach weather. Tables and fire pits at every site. A gift/food shop on site. Famous for the Jalama Burger 🍔, but the chorizo breakfast burrito is pretty fire too. 😋 Anything you need they have. Newly installed flush toilets, showers $1.00 for 3 minutes. (QUARTERS ONLY)We bring a roll of quarters. Some sites have electric hook ups. We tent camped with an air mattress and we're completely comfortable. Bring shade such as canopy or umbrella for day time, warm clothes and blankets for night. Lots of wood, a quality cooler. Relax, enjoy, live your best camping life at Jalama we do!!!

I've been going here for 40 years and it doesn't disappoint! It can be cold, foggy or windy, but it's always beautiful! And today was perfect! Walk far enough and you'll have the whole beach to yourself... even on a Saturday. And after that long walk, there's nothing better than a stop at the store for a cold drink and a world famous Jalama burger 😋

Love the store, they have good food and a really cool selection of drinks in the cooler. They had an AMAZING apple cake. Great place to walk and watch rocket launches. The road here is a little tricky so plan extra time.

Accidentally stumbled on this and it has been the highlight of my trip. This is a secluded quiet beach, has almost a nostalgic classic American beach feel to it. The drive to it is narrow and windy but fully paved and quite fun. The beach was wonderful great water and nice breeze. This is one of those kinds of places you want to keep to yourself because it is so good. If you come here, please be respectful of the community that lives here while driving down these roads and do your part to clean up after yourself to keep such places beautiful

Beautiful beach and the store has anything you could need plus incredible burgers. I ate here twice since it’s the best beach burger I’ve had in a while. Camp grounds are not as cozy as some others I’ve been to. Soap dispensers were empty and no electric outlets at the campsites. It’s also a commitment to come here but all in all everyone was very friendly and seemed happy to be enjoying a beautiful area.

Great beach campsite to get away from it all for a few days. The isolation of the site is a big positive, but also a slight negative. Well stocked store at the site as well is a major plus and they certainly do make a great hamburger.

Jalama beach has won my heart. Staff is nice , place is clean. Beautiful beach . Try the Jalama burger! Try the tri-tip sandwich. The phone service is non existent but they have WiFi

Jalama is so wonderful, it's like one of Californias' best kept secrets! Because of the location, it is a great destination with no distractions. The beach is so lovely and changes frequently. The little store there is a lifesaver if you are camping and need just about anything! Not to mention the prepared food there is just top rate!

Jalama Beach is such a pretty place. We camped about 20 years ago in a camper and have great memories. This time we camped in a trailer and on the second row. Didn't go up to the top area but definitely don't like the expansion. We would forego any hook ups to be closer to the water next time. This is a very pretty beach though and nicely secluded.

Annual visit. Great little hideaway. Beach vibe. We stay away from humans and simply park and spend time on the beach so it's PERFECTO!!

A must stop if you are driving up the coast.. private, clean, great beach and the burgers were awesome. Can't wait to go back and stay a few days

We scored a last minute cancellation of site 28 at Jalama beach for Labor Day weekend and had a great experience! A few things that I didn't quite catch from other reviews that I read that would have been good to know: -Even if the weather is calm and warm during the day, the wind is NUTS here at night. Extremely windy. Make sure everything is put away before bed and if you're tent camping, make sure everything is secured and anchored well. -The bathrooms are currently under construction and are porta potties. If you go to another part of the campsite, you can find a real bathroom but it's almost worse than the porta potty. We hope the new ones will be nice! -There's a dishwashing station with warm water which was fantastic. -The Jalama Beach shop and restaurant has SO many essentials should you forget something. I wish everywhere we camped had a shop like that! -The kids loved the little playground they had there. -There's a ground covering that's along the entrance into the beach that has the SPIKIEST, most painful little balls that get stuck in your feet and then your finger when you try to remove them so be careful! -There are the MOST interesting rocks all along this shore. And sand dollars too! There's tar all over the beach, too, though so be careful! The shop has a good solution to remove it if you get it stuck to you. -There's a little creek/run off areas from the ocean which is fun to play in, too! -The water is freezing, even at the end of August but it's refreshing on a hot day! My kids that love the waves in Long Beach and Newport did not brave these ones and instead played in the driftwood forts on the sand. -The Amtrak runs right through the area and is fun for the kids to check out and wave to. -There were a few unhoused people exhibiting erratic behavior we encountered throughout our stay and my child said she saw one lady pull her pants down and reveal herself before getting arrested and hauled off around 7am. -Lots of ants around so make sure everything is air tight! We didn't see a single mosquito or bee, which we usually see camping, so that was one benefit of the wind! - Site 28 is in a good location/proximity to the dishwashing, bathrooms, beach, etc, but it's not really ideal for tent camping because it's really exposed on all sides and there's no trees. Would be perfect for RV camping. The ground is too hard to stake in some areas. -There's zero cell service, which I personally think is a great thing. But there is a working pay phone that's $1 in quarters for 2 minutes if needed All in all, it was a great trip and we'll definitely be back.

Jalama Beach is a hidden gem along the coast between Santa Barbara and Lompoc. Don't be detoured with the 14 mile drive to the beach camping weekend of your dreams. Jalama campground has miles of walkable beach a camp store with tent and RV camping. You can camp on the beach in the flat almost parking lot sites and the buffs. Several cottages are also available to rent with kitchens, beds and satellite TV. The cafe store serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is stocked with necessities like firewood, bug spray, beer wine and grocery items. Free WiFi is available in the park. Tips: Give yourself 30 minutes to get to the campground once you exit Hwy 1. Take your time it's a beautiful drive. Avoid driving at night. Bring binoculars for whale, dolphin watching and Vandenberg launches in the evening. The tar wasn't bad but bring water shoes or old shoes for beach walks. The burger at the cafe is good but the clam chowder and breakfast burritos are amazing as well. The bathroom and showers have been under construction for months. Bring a portable shower and toilet if you have them to avoid the walk to the far ends of the campsite for the only working restrooms. Bring a book, unplug and walk the beach!

The burger restaurant was good. Nice selection of wine and other food. The campground was in need of some funds to get rid of the weed and rocks and here the campsites are. It's a beautiful coast line. Tough road in although it's improved. The biggest problem is the afternoon high winds that last into the evening hours.

Shame on Santa Barbara County for not putting up a notice of any kind that this beach is covered with black tar - the kind of sticky tar that stinks of gasoline and ruins everything it touches. Specifically, 3 pairs of swim shoes and several swim shirts and suits. Not to mention, I spent over an hour scrubbing my dog's feet after he got tar stuck in his paws. The neighbors in the RV next to us mentioned they didn't want to return to the beach after their dog also got tar all over his paws. While there are a lot of nice campground amenities here, like the playground and the grill, I will never camp here again because the beach itself is absolute sh-t, and I don't need my family and dogs to feel like the poor ducks in the Dawn commercials ever again.

I Love Jalama Beach County Park! We camped over Veteran's Day weekend. We stayed at space #94. It had electrical hookup. I didn't notice that there wasn't hook up for water. I looked at hubby and apologized. He wasn't fazed. We were able to fill up at the water station via a hose. You must have your own hose. There is a dump station as well. Jalama is normally very windy. We did have wind. I wish I brought my bad ass kite. Next time, right?? I love Jalama for the epic views and the fact that your dogs can go on the beach. Unbeknownst to me, I ran into 2 friends. We were all surprised to see each other. They are both surfers. They said that they love surfing here at Jalama. Everyone we met was super friendly. Everything was wonderful. The fires at night, the burgers at the store, and the stars at night are simply breathtaking. The employee at check in was super chill and helpful. It had been 15 years since I was at Jalama Beach. I intend on staying here every year.

I have loved this beach for years as a place to go for quiet and solitude. Unfortunately, like everything else in this country, it is being ruined by Neandethals and the terminally priviledged. When I went online to reserve, there was only one available space open at the south end. When I arrived, most of the spaces were empty and remained so. Apparently, those with more money than manners and regard for others, reserve and show up or not, depriving others of use of the spaces. There used to be no wi-fi or cell service here, which made it the ideal get-away. Now, it's just like everywhere else, where people are walking around staring at their phones instead of the view and scrambling to find outlets for charging. The couple next to me were also tent camping, but had a generator to power their phones and laptops. They spent the two days working, so all day I could hear him talking to clients, with every other word being "dollars." Still, they were pleasant compared to the frat boys and sorority girls on the other side of me, who I had to listen to scream and laugh at the top of their lungs for two days and two nights. They sat in the site all day and played mindless games that they found to be hilarious. I nicknamed one of the boys (I can't say men) the human bullhorn. I'm not sure they ever went down to enjoy the beach. The only way to get peace and quiet here now is to walk far, far down the beach. Like the rest of America,, Jalama is being ruined by extreme rudeness.

Beautiful clean beach, ample parking, nice staff, clean showers (bring quarters!) Beautiful drive in. We'll be back!

Nice little shopper had a great site and enjoyed our stay. The sunset was beautiful. Very friendly people. Clean restroom.

My boyfriend and I came to Jalama for a two night getaway and were more than happy with our experience! We were originally upset about not being closer to the beach, but upon setting up we're super happy to be up above on site 113. The view was in incredible (best view in the whole site actually) and it felt way more secluded than the sites down below. Either camp directly on the beach or up on the bluff. It's worth being a little fat from the showers. Make sure to check the Vandenberg rocket launch schedule before booking so you don't get evacuated!

Surf, rekax, hike and eat Jalama burgers every day! This is what keeps the doctors away.

Had a great time camping @jalama beach. But if your not camping you can go for the day and get a famous Jalama burger! They are delicious! I added bacon and pepper jack cheese to mine. They have showers you can use with quarters and a dishwashing station which is nice since they don't have full hookups. Trey do have picnic tables and bbq pits in the sites which is nice, and a few small cabins.

Beautiful views, the higher up the hill the better! The higher up sites have electric ONLY, not water. There is an RV water tank fill station at the entrance. Beach or sea level sites are all primitive. Bathrooms were old, but clean'ish. The beach is beautiful, but covered with tar!!! Be careful it gets all over your feet and your dogs paws!!! It comes off with mineral oil and scrubbing. The water is frigid, but that's a good thing! . The wind, as soon as the sun sets the wind picks up. It's strong, umbrellas and easy ups blow away often; Tents blow flat. Sometimes the wind lasts all night, sometimes only for a bit. It's worth it though. If you're towing or an RV, the road in is rough and narrow. It's only 14 miles, but you're traveling at only about 25 mph the whole way. The store and cafe there are very cool. We had the Jalama Burger, of course, it's a MUST try. We also had the ahi burger. Both meals did not disappoint, just delicious. There is a lot of other menu items I'll try when I go back. If you're frugal like me, stop in Santa Maria and load up on supplies, the Jalama store prices are outrageous! You can't blame them though, it's a LONG drive to get stuff out there. There is NO CELL SERVICE, NONE!!!! They do have a wifi set up for guests, but it had very limited in bandwidth, so most the time it doesn't work very well. When you're there you are truly disconnected. It'll be okay, you're life won't end, in fact it'll probably get better. Finally, the staff, one word, AMAZING! Everyone there was so willing and happy to help. But of course your attitude will make the difference. It's a VERY popular campground and I'm sure the staff puts up with a lot of sh**! Remember the golden rule.

Visited Jalama Beach County Park and although it was extremely windy, our entire group enjoyed the 3 day visit. From multiple hiking spots, to an updated and clean kids playground, to horseshoes, beach fishing and sitting benches, there is plenty to do. Each campsite has a dedicated table and fire ring and it has a rack that can go over top to boil water or grill, etc. The campground is kept very clean, bathrooms and showers (don't forget your quarters) are in tip top shape, the campground store has everything you can imagine. We were told that the burgers were a must try and we found them to be average. The chicken sandwich, fries and onion rings out of this world! It gets chilly at night, so make sure you bring firewood (or purchase at the store), extra layers and blankets. You will survive and you will absolutely enjoy the sounds of the ocean at night and the beautiful views during the day! The best thing about this place are the park rangers and store staff.

Wow! So beautiful! We got abalone cove group spot for the first time ever and had such a great experience. There was 3 tables, 1 fire pit, plenty of space for a large group, 3 min walk to the washroom and a beautiful walk up or down the beach. The bathrooms were very clean and easy to find. There was no cell reception but the Jalama beach rangers have free wifi that's spotty but works! It's very windy and weather can go from beautiful light breeze 70* to strong winds and cold. Bring layers. We had a camper to stay in but our friends tent camped and we're fine. We'll be back soon!

We stayed in the beach group spot and had an absolutely great time. Can't be any closer to the ocean at the Abalone Site. The campground was not packed with people and it has a little store with great food. The road in is rough as all hell but it's worth the drive. The only thing that wasn't great was the RV dump station. Its a pain to get into one side. Additionally it flooded from the light rain and there were some brown trout floating around from a irresponsible camper who dumped before us. All in all a great spot!

Nice beach! $10 per car and $3 per dog. A hidden gem- no crowds. Just you and a few others and the beach. Views are spectacular. Roads have a lot of turns getting there but worth it. A must when visiting the area!

One of the hidden gems in the area. I only say that because when we visited, there weren't many people there. Jalama Park has a beautiful mountains and a beautiful beach. There's also enough coastline if you're interested in a long hike. Beware of tar that's on the sand / rocks, it could stick on your shoes or belongings.

We had the best time dry camping. Please note that it can be hot and you need to ensure you have ways to pull in the night air if you have a rig. We have fantastic fans so it worked out great. Our friends who didn't where so hot while sleeping. It might be worth it to get a camp site at the top of the hill with electricity. The kids had so much fun at the park. Be patient with shopping at store and eating because during Covid they only allow 2 people in the store at a time. The beach has some oil slick that if you step in takes a lot to get off anything it attaches itself to. Bring goo be gone, lemon oil or buy the oil slick packets from the store to get it off and be cautious when walking on the beach. The wildlife here was so beautiful. We saw dolphins swimming in the waves every day. We went in October the winds were not bad our week but other people said the winds are no joke the rest of the year.

We just returned from our first camping trip at Jalama. We were very impressed with this park. Absolutely beautiful!!!! Everything is really easy to access and it was very clean and organized. Jalama Burger was pretty good and the store literally has everyyyything! Our dog loved it, people were friendly, and it is a very peaceful place. The staff was very nice, in particular Ranger Trevor! He was very friendly and helpful. I wish all campgrounds had a Ranger Trevor :) Looking forward to our next stay!

Camping with tent is what we do. Wish management would group the Rv generator users on one side of the park and tent campers on the other. Generator use kills the vibe and you can't even hear the surf through all that racket. At least they should tell the generators to be shut off by 8 PM.

This has to be by far our favorite campground. The 14 miles of winding road to Jalama are well worth it. After purchasing a rooftop tent, my partner and I wanted to find a campsite as close to the ocean as we could, possibly right on the beach. To our delight Jalama Beach was that so much more! We have had the opportunity of camping at Jalama Beach at three different sites this past year: 1. January Site 25 2. March Site 4 and Site 57 January camping was actually our first time there. It was very cold (at night it was in the high 20s) and very windy. Sites 1-51 can be a little tight and are a little close to each other. Since we came to Jalama for the beach we did not spend much time at our campsite except for sleeping and making meals. Faucet water is readily available and close to the campsites. I was able to use a couple of collapsible wash basins I got on Amazon to wash the few dirty dishes we generated. On certain occasions we also tried the food sold at the general store, their salmon burger is delicious! March camping was our second time here. We were able to snag Site 4 (a walk in) which is close to the beach. It was drizzling a bit during one of the mornings so I would highly recommend to bring a pop up canopy. The store does sell tarps but we didn't have a way to mount it and the closest store is in Lampoc. Camping on site 57 was actually the best. This site was very spacious and we were pretty much on the beach. Due to extending our stay, we ran out of wood and ended up purchasing wood from the store. We actually didn't like the wood they sold at the store, because it kept popping. Also although site 57 had amazing views we did noticed there were pieces of broken glass. The facilities people do a well job at cleaning the camp sites but broken glass is a little trickier to clean, so just be careful. On this occasion we also used the showers and did not have any issues with the temperature of the water. In summary if you want to disconnect from work/life and don't mind a little bit of wind Jalama is a truly hidden gem. We drive ~200 miles to come here just because we really like it a lot. Can't wait to go back and make more memories.

This was my first beach camping ever, so spend two nights at Jalama Beach County Park, the place is absolutely beautiful, clean, the staff very friendly and polite and helpful. (Please be aware if you're tent camp like me, the winds are strong after 4:00pm and it last all night long on and off also the waves are very loud)

We rented a cabin. Its equipped with a small kitchen with plates, utensils, cups, glasses, stove, pot pan, cooking utensils, fridge, coffee maker, coffee filters, toaster. Basically all you need, except salt and pepper to cook with and paper towels to clean up after yourself. Obviously its to get you to purchase those items at the Beach Store. It was petty that those items were not included while EVERYTHING else was in the kitchen. The convenience of the Beach Store is amazing. They have everything you need! The Grill has great food too! The stay was fabulous. The view was beautiful and the stay was quiet and comfortable. We will be returning with salt, pepper and paper towels.

If your idea of camping also requires some comfort then this is a great place. Hot showers for a buck, flush toilets, and electric hookups in some sites, a restaurant with great burgers and a small store for the things you forgot. They even have a dish washing station. For the RV crowd big Sites that can fit anything you can tow. A free dump station. And water to fill up your RV. I've never seen any place that lets you fill up with water when you get there. Save the weight and leave the water at home. But the real draw is the ocean and you're camping practically on it. Lots of surfing and beach walking. Even fishing from shore. The campground is in 3 levels. If you can swing the second or third level at $55 per night the views are wonderful and you don't feel so packed in. Down sides. Fills up fast. Best to reserve 6 months in advance. Wind can be wicked at times. But some days it's fine. I've done a couple 5 day stays and usually 3 days are great. Rocket launches at vandenburg mean you have to leave. When Elon wants to put up a satellite you have to leave for 3 to 13 hours. That part really stinks. We lucked out and the launch was cancelled the week we stayed. Overall it's a great camp experience. far from so cal cities so no hotels and mini malls. I imagine the place feels just like it did 50 years ago.

Had a great stay. Campsite #79, wasn't as noisy as I thought it'd be, being next to the ranger station. Clean restrooms and facilities. Short walk to the beach!

Visited again for our yearly camping trip to Jalama. We stayed in July from Sunday to Thursday. I made the reservation in January and was hoping it wouldn't be cancelled due to the epidemic. Luckily SB County re-opened the park on June 1st and kept my reservation. We couldn't return last year due to not being able to get a reservation in 2019. Not much has changed. Due to Covid most bathrooms were closed and there were port-a-pottys. While we were there the port-a's were cleaned twice within the 4 nights we were there. Most campers were respectful and kept them clean. Showers were clean and working properly. $1.00 for 3 minutes. Masks are required when going to the market. There is a 2 person maximum at a time in the market. The longest we waited was about 20 minutes, to enter. We had our burger and tried the clam chowder in a bread bowl for the first time. The chowder was really good. And we tried the fried clams. Food from Jalama Cafe was good, as always. Our campground was clean when we arrived and had campers on both sides of us. I will tell you the spaces I like and prefer. Any one of the spaces from 46 thru 49 are great. 46 and 49 have hedge or trees on one side of you so you will only have campers on one side of you if you prefer more privacy. The weather was great. Wind picked up a little but not enough to be concerning regarding our tents or canopy. When the winds get strong they can collapse a tent and lift a canopy like a kite, unless staked. The beach always has tar that seeps from the ocean floor, and always has seaweed or kelp that flies are attracted to. Flies are sometimes a problem. When you first pick a spot at the beach and set up your chairs and umbrella flies come around you but seem to leave you alone after a few minutes. We walked north on the beach to the tide pools. About a 3 mile walk. Heading south on the beach will take you to similar tide pools but also Point Conception lighthouse. Lighthouse is a 12 mile walk one way. We didn't do the 12 mile walk. We walked south until we came around a point where you could see the lighthouse from a distance. Next time maybe we'll try to make it to the lighthouse. By bike.

We camped here for the first time, 4/13-4/17.We had the upper tier Site #110 for 2 nights.These sites only have electrical hook ups.The sites up there are "L" shaped meaning you can park your rig then you have space behind the cement pad of your neighbors vehicle up to the rear end of the site &a small space for the picnic table.You also have a 2nd vehicle short cement pad to park or use. It is odd to be sitting directly behind your neighbors vehicle and to have someones BBQ almost against your rig on the other side.We watched several people towing trailers struggle to get their rigs in these spaces as there is a hill in front of them you must go up a bit with your truck in order to have space to back in.Someone almost flipped their truck doing so. It is quiet up there,the view is spectacular &there is not much traffic as the street is a cul de sac.I'd recommend sites 117,116 or 107.We then moved to second tier Site #80 for 4 nights.Electrical hook ups.This site is a huge, end site &has one of the best views in the park! There are 2 restrooms which has a water spigot behind it &a small sink with hand soap dispensers.This tier gets a fair amount of traffic as it opens up to the top tier sites at both ends.This tier overlooks the bottom sites &is a bit more noisy as you can hear the campgrounds below.All of the sites on this tier are very big &have room to park your rig, a tow vehicle &a joiner vehicle.By far our favorite tier/sites. I'd recommend all of the 2nd tier sites.The park rangers &staff are patient,polite &go out of their way to help people.All of the facilities were super clean.There are maybe 10 nice sized,hot water showers which take quarters only.Sign says $1.00 for 3 minutes but needed $1.25.You can check in at all hours of the night, even after the ranger kiosk closes, which we found to be problematic as several people arrived super late and woke us up trying to get into their sites.The top &2nd tier is back in,pull in or sideways in.The camp store is so impressive &has literally everything &anything you could possibly want,wish for &need while camping as well as items for rig repairs &beach fun.MASKS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY!The staff was super nice &accommodating!The food was freshly made to order,fairly priced &delicious!The menu is limited right now but still has a very nice variety inc breakfast.They had daily specials &the clam chowder &chili is really super tasty!! We were not impressed with the famous burger to be honest but it's not that it wasn't good.We have just had a tastier/juicier/freshly made burger elsewhere.(ROOSTER BURGER - OCEANSIDE SHOUTOUT!) It didn't open until 10am &closed promptly at 4:30pm.Be patient as they get very busy &food can take a while.There is a double dump station with plenty of room for large rigs &a separate fresh water area to fill tanks onsite.Dogs are allowed on the beach &must be leashed at all times.Although we did see a few knucklehead pet owners allowing their dogs to run around off leash.The beach although rocky,is huge with plenty of space.We didn't have issues with tar.This park is also open for day use.In the public area, there is a large playground with a grassy area &picnic tables with small upright grills for BBQ-ing.It got crazy windy at times but there were times during the day &night that it was less windy.However, never without wind.Make sure to bring weights for easy ups or tents &bungee cords to tie down your table cloths.This is definitely one of our favorite places to camp now.Be prepared for the 2 lane, small,twisty, cliff sided,14 mile drive in.It seems to go on forever,(white knuckling it the whole way),but go slow &rest assured that it will open up to paradise! We cannot wait to go back. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

My family has done our annual camping trip here for the last couple of years and each year our experience gets better. While this campsite is literally in the middle of nowhere, it is worth the drive. It's right on the beach with some sites having prime ocean views. While it is big and usually at full capacity during the summer, it's not an overwhelming amount of people. There are three main areas. The beach level has sites for both tent and RV campers. There are no RV hookups on the individual spots, but I saw an area where RVs were able to unload sewage. The second level has cabins and has a view of the ocean. However, it is a pretty steep walk to and from the beach. I would not recommend this for people with limited mobility or those who rely on motorized chairs. The top level looks like it's just for RVs. I have not been up to that level and am unsure of the amenities there. The main beach area has spots that are allotted almost like plots of land. The first year we came, it reminded me of apartments with campers being in such close proximity to each other. We also had some unpleasantly drunk neighbors the first night of our visit which made for an unpleasant experience. Lessons learned from that first trip lead to a more strategic camp site selection that is closer to the beach, with larger spots and lesser immediate neighbors. Keep away from the sites closest to the store or the showers. The prime spots are the ones to the left of the main gate entrance. There are also group sites which can accommodate larger groups. The beach level where we have camped has two sets of big bathrooms and several smaller ones. There is only one main shower facility which tends to get crowded. I find that going first thing in the morning is best because they power clean the showers at night right before they close them for the evening. Showers are not available after sunset. Due to the drought, they have disabled the outdoor showers to rinse off after coming from the beach, but they still have water spigots. There is a general store/restaurant that carries a lot of necessary items you may have forgotten plus souvenirs and snacks. The attached restaurant also has some great grub (separate review for that is in the works.) As much as I LOVED Jalama Beach, there are some cons. Like I mentioned, the location is pretty isolated. The campsite is 14 miles of winding road off the main thoroughfare. People who get motion sickness should take lots of medicine. If you get stuck behind a slow moving vehicle the drive to camp might take up to 45 minutes. If you have never driven an RV or are towing a trailer, beware! The roads are narrow with lots of twists and turns. Because of the location, there is no cell service. You lose service as soon as you turn off the main highway. For some, this is a welcome relief, but for others (myself included), it took some getting used to. There is wifi, but I was never able to successfully log on and the signal is weak unless you're right next to the general store in the middle of the night. (Don't ask me how I know). This place gets very windy! The first two nights, I wondered if our tent would stay in place. Luckily, we were prepared and brought heavy duty stakes and made sure everything was secured down. The winds lasted a couple of hours in the evening, but calmed down during the day. When near the water, watch for tar in the sand and the ocean. These things are a pain to get off and smell horrible! Also beware of pesky raccoons that will get into everything. Since we're not regular campers, we did not know to secure our stuff and they got into our coolers and tubs. Duct tape does not keep these buggers out their. (Don't ask me how I know this either.) However, all in all, I have enjoyed each time we have gone and am glad that this has become an annual tradition for our family.

This was a very nice camp ground. We only were here for day use. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was because of the OIL & SAND FLIES. There are still BLOBS OF OIL on the beach and is you step on them it's very hard to get it off your feet. Even though the camp ground was full it was not crowded on the beach. There are a lot of sea shells and Little Rocks all over the sand. Rangers were really nice & the store was small but good supply of stuff and the burgers were delicious. I Was worried about the sand flies but they actually did not bother us as much as we though. They have restrooms and a shower right by the store off the beach and a little playground.

Beautiful location, but the place is mis-managed on a whole nother level!! The rangers that run this park have never heard the words "public service" and are currently under the impression they are running a private campground, that they own. I have been staying at this park for many years, & while there was always a hint of disregard & unprofessionalism, it has now grown to a complete disdain and disrespect for the public (ie. "their employers") in every aspect of the way this park is run. The worst part is while these rangers regularly neglect the duties they are paid for (broken urinels covered over by plywood, non functioning hose spouts for rv's, untrained staff, etc...) you can be sure management will be buzzing around in golf carts creating "park law" and making threats throughout your stay. Lastly, if you want to camp at Jalama Beach you must make (and pay for) your reservations (6) months in advance which is fine EXCEPT, the staff at Jalama Beach does not actually control this park and cannot guarantee any of the reservations they are promising half a year out. At check-in this time, we were notified (by a kid with an attitude) that we would need to leave the campground for the entire day (at 6am) on the first day of our vacation because Space X "might" launch a rocket that day. The same exact thing happened on the second day of our vacation because they decided not to launch the first day, & the same thing just kept happening until we finally left. #VacationRuined To summarize, the people running this park are not in charge of (or properly maintaining) this location. In addition, there is a serious disconnect between the public & the obviously oblivious public servants "working" here. If it were not for them (and all the messy tar on the beach) it would be a great place to relax.

Love this place...family oriented. There's a playground for children, a basketball court for olders the beaches right in front of the camping site. There's a little local store in the site. they do cleaning maintenance on the restroom daily throughout the day there security in the front they keep the place clean. I would recommend this place for camping.

Took our first family Maiden RV trip here. Really cool place to be. About an hour off the 101 into a windy road into Jalama Beach. Site (107) had only electric, but there was potable water and dump stations down by the entrance that were convenient to get to with a 25ft rig. Gotta check out the Jalama store, they have pretty much everything you need One of the best burgers we've had. Beach was awesome and super easy to get to from any where from the park, just watch out for the tar that washes onto the beach (hard to get off your sandals or feet). They do sell tar remover at the store. Only down side is the cell service (ATT) is non-existent and wifi is very spotty, but its nice to be off grid for awhile. Will be back for sure and longer than 2 nights.

This was our first night of our west coast road trip. The country road getting there was beautiful and it made the anticipation to arrive at Jalama Beach even more fun. Easy to find our camping spot. The camping spots are very close together so make nice with your neighbor. Bathrooms were very clean. Going to sleep and waking up to the sound of the ocean was heavenly. The beach was a quick walk. The beach was very clean and had beautiful views. Make sure you come hungry. The general store makes to die for burgers. Would love to have another!! Yum yum!

Heard this is the cleanest camping experience I could do. It'll take me some time to soak in and understand why people camp but did it, done it finally! Activities people do here: Kite surfing Surfing Boogie boarding Kiting Biking BBQ, bonfire pits Tan Swim Games Play with dogs Apparently people usually tent camp it out, but many friends said this year had all RVs here. You need to rsvp spots, come early in the week to save a spot. Parking: Limited, 2 cars per spot. There is a small parking lot on the other side but its always filled. Bathrooms: Plenty around Showers: A couple around, $0.25 per 5minutes. Sometimes you don't get the whole 5minutes. And if you go during peak hours, you might not get warm/hot water. Closes at sunset. Pets allowed but at a charge. Drinks allowed. Hookah allowed. Smoking allowed. I came with well-prepared people. They brought a keg!! They brought electric burners, net tents to block the food from the birds. They have one store here in case you need anything. The ocean and night start views are beautiful. The ocean is blue green. The galactic view of the night stars was incredible!

It's always the best place to eat!!! JBurgers rock!!! Camping is fabulous unless the wind is gusting but that's part of the charm. Been going there since I was a kid.

It has been almost 28yrs since I first camped here as a kid. And believe me when I say it's just as beautiful, if not more then I remember... The drive in is a 2 lane rode and while many reviews say it's small for some RV's i still felt it was very safe and drive able. Along the way we saw many cows grazing the fields and random horses. All the rolling hills were just beautiful. Camped beach front right on the sand! It doesn't get any better then that. Sites were all set up with tables & firepits and well positioned to ocean. Our campsite had NO hookups but we planned for it. There are many others higher up with amazing views that have electrical. We did like others and had to try the Jalama burger...yeap! It is delicious....so good that we had it again while sitting in the restaurant watching the waves wash away. This place is paradise....

Windiest place I've ever been. All the tents blew over with the violent winds at night, and we had to lock ourselves in the car to try to escape. Not sure why they don't warn you about this when you make reservations. The ranger told me that "everyone already knows." He said Jamala in Chumash mean "land of the winds." I would go back with a RV but not a tent. The restaurant is good and the views are pretty.

It's a long windy, dangerous drive just to get to the beach from the highway. 50 minutes plus the hour from the 101 or 5 hours from the 405. Definitely a long mission for a small park with not much to offer. There are no swimming pools btw, not sure why it says so here. Juts a small beach with tons of tar! Not suitable for dogs or kids! It gets everywhere!! Also a boat crashed up the beach and spilled diesel fuel and it's still sleeping into the water and the entire beach smells.

This place is so pretty. Water is very nice. Literally camped on the beach. Their Internet is not very good. For me it was fine. I'd rather be hanging out in the surfing with kids and grandkids than surfing the Internet!!

This hidden beach spot is totes awesome! I have always heard of it growing up in SB and vta but just never gor around to camping here. We camped up top and the view is amazing, beach not crowded and the jalama burger was all it was hyped up to be! A must visit.

This is a truly out of the way beach camp in Southern California. It is surrounded by undeveloped coast. The number of camp sites and day visitors is limited, so the beach is never crowded. In my recent stay, we had RV site 114 one night and beach front site 53 the next. Both sites were only available for a single night. This is why we changed locations. The view from 53 is nothing but ocean, but it is next to the shower to clean off sand, so there was a lot of traffic next to the site. The campground is family friendly. There are playgrounds for kids. Keep a close eye on kids when they go into the water. There can be an undertow and the water is cold.

Best place ever the rangers are da coolest and feels very welcomed here I would definitely come back

OIL SPILLS ON THE BEACH AND IN THE WATER!! I'm so shocked everyone loves this spot so much. I read a good amount of reviews before going there last weekend and no one talks about the five oil rigs that are directly off the coast from this area and the huge amount of chunks of tar/oil on the beach and floating in the water! We went for a swim and as we were walking along the sand we saw all the black chunks and were like wait a minute what is this?? We had it all over us and FOUR vigorous scrubs with Dawn finally got it all off. We felt like those poor ducks in the dawn commercials. I mean this is a huge issue and no one was worried or talking about it. Where's Greenpeace when we need them? As for the grounds the showers are okay, fluctuates between cold and hot water and there was only one other person using them (2 of the 8 stalls were being used, there should have been enough warm/hot water as they do charge you for it), bathrooms functional, and really cute general store/burger shack for anything you forgot. They for some reason allow huge RVs to park in the waterfront tent spots so we had a monstrosity blocking our view and his loud generator on all night long. Thought we were getting out to nature and it turns out I was reminded of man and how we've messed it all up with our oil spills and not being able to go one night without electricity. Hazzah for humanity.

Let me start off by saying that I can't wait to come back when the weather is warmer. We were unlucky enough to pick cold and rainy days. With two little kids in tow, our timing was less than ideal. Moving on, this camp site is great. You are so close to the beach and the best burgers I've ever had. There is a great playground to keep kids entertained. The bathrooms are pretty nice for campground bathrooms, too. Yes, there are some cons: The train track is nearby and the raccoons are totally brazen, but oh well. Hopefully I'll be back in the summertime!

Have you ever dreamed of walking for miles on the beach to find amazing views, sea glass, and cool seashells? If your answer is yes, then this is your dream destination. Driving 14 miles down the windy road that leads to Jalama Beach is worth it. I promise. We came here to "camp" for two nights. And by camp I mean we slept in our car in a sleeping bag. We got in after the gate attendant was gone, but fortunately we knew our spot number. You need to reserve your spot in advance, so plan accordingly. For the first night we were in spot 63, which was right on the beach. The camper next to us was running on a generator ALL night, so it made the peaceful environment a little less enjoyable. The next morning, we asked to move our spot so we got to move to spot 57. This spot offered much more privacy; trees on both sides and not an open space with our neighbors. The facilities were clean and conveniently located. It's a pretty small campsite, but has everything you need. The wind is no joke, but the sunsets make the wind worth it.