TIGHT does not even begin to tell the whole story. These sites are literally on top of each other. Our neighbors left for the day with their awning open and we could not pull out to leave - we ended up closing their awning and leaving a note just so we could pull out of our spot. We figured it was better than the alternative of ripping off their awning with our trailer. The sites are that close together - you are literally awning to siding with each other. However, we did enjoy our time there and this will not stop us from going back - albeit we will go to the no-hookup side if we go back for a couple of days as they appear to be larger, more spread out and nicer. If we go back for more than a few days we will reserve some other spots in the full hookup section that we saw that afforded a bit more room. We are too big for any of the ocean front spots anyway. Be warned that the Amtrak train/commuter train does go throughout the night and you will hear it but it didn't bother us much. We are already planning a return trip so you can see the tight spots didn't scare us away but it is the reason I rated them a 7 and not higher We camped here in a Travel Trailer.

Other than the problem of actually getting a reservation through the state system, this campground is GREAT. Its a family friendly campground right in the middle of town that feels like you're out in the wild. Walk to the beach day or night, campfire in the fire rings at night, ride your bikes all around the 4 campgrounds or through town or get in your car and enjoy Carpenteria or Santa Barbara. The Palms Restaurant in Carp is a MUST and Sterns Wharf in Santa Barbara can't be missed. We have been coming to this Carpenteria campground for over 20 years and absolutely LOVE IT, we will definitely be back time and time again. We camped here in a Motorhome.

We have been coming here for the last 4 or so years. This is a great site to come with the kids. This is a definite must. Great for the family. Sites are quite close, but you get use to it. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.

The sites at Carpinteria State Beach are very close together. There were a few near the visitor center that had more room and were fairly big. The sites along the coast (sites 200+, I think) had great views and were on a cliff just above the water. If you don't mind listening to the pounding surf all night, these sites are wonderful. I might return if we could get an ocean view site. Otherwise, the sites were just too cramped for my taste. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.

The camping atmosphere was great with the ocean waves in the background and the occasional train passing by. Overall the campground was clean and quiet. Close to shopping and Santa Barbara. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.

We lucked into a ocean side site here, which is unusual as this is a VERY popular park - with good reason. A little pricey (like all California State Parks) but beautiful, close to a great town, and as near the ocean as you can safely be. Reserve WELL ahead during high season - which pretty much seems to be all the time here. We camped here in a Motorhome.

This is a gorgeous campground if you can get a reservation (it is very tough). The sites that do have hookups are very, very small- so if you have a larger rig- you'll have to go without any hookups. The strict generator hours (10am to roughly 5 or 6pm) make it tough to do much cooking that requires the generator- but with all that said, there are some great sites right on the beautiful and clean beach. The town is also very charming and a great place to visit. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.

You cannot beat this site when it comes to location. Every spot is just short walk to the beach. We could hear the waves crashing on the beach from our RV which was wonderful. The bathrooms were very clean and the park itself was clean. Park Rangers were everywhere and camp hosts also checked the park quite often adding a real sense of security to the place. We had noisy neighbors the first night, but after we complained to the camp host, they were virtually silent the next night. Only drawbacks to this campsite is the RV spots are VERY close together. We watched one guy in a 5th wheel take nearly a half an hour to back his trailer into his spot. He came late and night and nearly all the spots were full (yes, even in February) and so he had a tough time maneuvering into his spot. You are literally 5 feet from you neighbor, but we found everyone to be very friendly so it was OK. There is also no camp store, so come prepared! Overall, we had a great time and would recommend this campsite - if you can get a reservation! We camped here in a Motorhome.

The park was located right on the beach and we had a lovely view looking out over the setting sun. Sites were fairly close together but overall we really enjoyed the park and would have liked to stay there longer. We camped here in a Motorhome.

Not much room in each site. But then you got the beach. Bathroom, and showers were clean. Rangers very friendly. Short walk to the town, lots of interesting shops, and restaurants. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.

This is an excellent CA State park. Everything was clean. There are plenty of park rangers to patrol; so security was great. You can walk or ride your bike into town. The beaches are nice and clean. Some of the sites are a little cramped, but the ones closer to the railroad tracks have a lot of space. Saying that the train noise isn't too bad. This is definitely and annual event. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.

This is an excellent park if you want to RV along the coast near Santa Barbara. I recently stayed here in the Santa Rosa section (full hookups) on Mother's Day weekend and Memorial Day weekend. The place was full, but that's to be expected. If you are in Long Row or Beach Row, you are treated to wonderful beach views, and the sound of waves putting you to sleep at night. Long row is about 20 feet from the beach, but even Inland is just a few steps more. The beach is clean, uncrowded, and steps away. Most of the people I have met here are very friendly, and will help you back your rig in. They will even move their cars if it makes it easier to get you in (we returned the favor as well). Bathrooms are cleaned each day around 8am, so plan accordingly. For showers, you must pay quarters (about 2.5 minutes each quarter), so don't forget to bring some. Some sites are wider than others, but every site is wide enough to put up your awning. Besides access to the beach, the town of Carpinteria is wonderful to explore. The people there are very friendly and unpretentious. There is a local burger joint (The Spot), a steakhouse (The Palms), pizza (Tony's, Giovanni's, and Rusty's)-- you can even get pizza delivered to your campsite! There's even an old fashioned candy store, a Foster's Freeze, and many other shops and restaurants. There are lots of kids here, especially summer, spring break, and weekends. Bike riders tend to fill up the camp roads in the mornings and late afternoons. Nothing better than being able to spend all day at the beach, then walk back to the old RV and sit around the campfire. The pros are many, but there are a few cons to consider: First, it can be very difficult to book here. If you want to stay here on a holiday weekend, you will need to book in the first couple hours the sites become available: That is the first of the month, six months ahead of time (If the first date of your stay begins in July, then you can book it Jan 1). Lots of families come here year after year (including ours), so competition can be fierce. We always like to complain (in fun, of course) to the family that took "our spot" on holiday weekends. If you're a full-timer, it's best to avoid this place in summer (especially weekends, and ESPECIALLY holiday weekends). Second, the place gets a LOT of use and can be crowded holiday weekends. That is to say that sometimes the bathrooms can be dirty, and there's no guarantee a really loud group won't be next to you. But hey, that's the same just about everywhere. Third, there's the tar. No big deal, if you invest in a cheap pair of water shoes/water socks. Tar seeps naturally from the Santa Barbara channel, so you may step in a bit of tar from time to time. Easily cleaned with baby wipes or any oil-based liquid and a paper towel. Finally, there's the trains. The tracks pass right by the campground, and there's about a dozen or so per day. Most people make a game out of it, seeing who can be the first person to call "TRAIN!" when they hear the train go by. It's a minor annoyance, but the upside is that there's a train platform about 100 yards from the north side of the campground. We have used it in the past if someone has to come late or leave early. On the plus side, you can stay at the beach without having to pay $2,000 or more per week. The beach is wonderful and right there. The volunteers and state employees are efficient and pretty darn friendly, too. You can get away from it all, yet still be close to convenience. The sunsets are beautiful, and the sound of the waves is so soothing. Definitely worth it, which explains why we visit several times per year. We camped here in a Motorhome.

I love this campground personally. I've been camping here since 1976 with my mom and dad, and now I do it with my wife and child. Just got back from a great weekend there. This park has full-hookups as well as non-hookups. I like the non-hookups better just for the fact that in the full-hookups, you're in a parking lot type of setting. The beach is right there and it is beautiful, but you are right next to the guy next to you. It is a very well maintained park and a great place to camp! The biggext reason I enjoy it is probably because niether the campground or the town of Carpinteria has changed in the 25 plus years I've been going there. This is a highly recommended campground. We camped here in a Motorhome.

This state beach is VERY popular, especially around summer AND holidays. Reservations highly recommended, see reserveamerica.com. These book up on the first available day, 6/7 months in advance. There are several areas of the park: Anacapa/Santa Cruz, which are dry camping spots-- These have grassy areas with space between sites (except for group sites). Santa Rosa and San Miguel are for RV's, with some beachfront sites. However, the beachfront sites are rather short, nothing over 25' will fit. There is a "Long Row", which the site says will take up to a 30' rig, but we fit our 32' Storm in without a problem, and we even helped a 36' rig squeeze in. Don't try it with a 40-footer, though. Santa Rosa has W/E/S, but San Miguel has no sewer. There is a dump station at the park entrance. GREAT for families, the park is full of them. The town of Carpinteria is great for exploring. Be sure to get a burger, tostada, or special quesadilla at THE SPOT, located next to the RR tracks on Linden Ave. Kids will love Robitaille's, an old fashioned candy store just up the street. Don't feel like cooking? Call up one of the local pizza places-- they deliver right to your site. Staying awhile? There is a firewood guy by the tracks just north/west of the park, look for his flag. You can get as little as an eighth of a cord of wood, and pay a lot less than the wood in the campground. Rangers are pretty nice here, but are a little frazzled between July 4th and Labor Day. Weather is very mild year-round, which is why it also books up for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We camped here in a Motorhome.

Very popular spot just south of Santa Barbara. If you plan on coming on a weekend, better make reservations. The full hook-up sites are pretty tight, forget about putting up your awning. I actually preferred the non-hookup sites, more grassy and spacious. Some sites are right on the beach, the others pretty close. Some train noise, not too bad. Bathrooms had nice hot showers. Tidepools, swimming in the ocean and lots to do nearby. Great for a family weekend away. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.