El Capitan Sb Group Area

Closed — Closed to all vehicles and camping due to the El Capitan State Beach Entrance Improvement Project. Only pedestrian access is available. The campground closure began in early January 2025 and will remain closed until construction is complete.

About

El Capitan State Beach Group Area provides five distinct group camping sites situated on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, seventeen miles west of Santa Barbara. The group sites accommodate between 40-100 people and offer a mix of standard and tent-only configurations. Each site includes picnic tables and fire rings, with nearby restrooms featuring hot showers. The group area shares access to El Capitan Creek, rocky tidepools, and a sandy beach via stairway from the bluffs. Group camping at El Capitan traditionally operates on a reservation-only basis through ReserveCalifornia, with check-in at 2:00 PM and check-out at noon. Sites accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet in length, though no hookups are available. The campground typically allows maximum stays of 7 consecutive days from March through November, and 15 consecutive days from December through February. The campground is currently closed to all vehicles and camping due to entrance road, bridge, and entrance kiosk improvements. Only pedestrian access to day-use areas of the park is available during construction.

Directions

From Highway 101, take Exit 117 for El Capitán State Beach. Proceed south toward the ocean to reach the park entrance.

Nearby Campgrounds