This is a central camping spot in prime location between the Los Padres mountains in the Santa Ynez
How to get there
Lake Cachuma and the campground is about 1 hour north of Santa Barbara, 20 minutes East of Solvang, and 40 minutes outside of Gaviota, CA. The lake is 3 hours from Los Angeles and 3.5 hours from Orange County. The lake is in the Santa Ynez Valley by the Los Padres Mountains. This is a beautiful area of California and is a fun weekend camping getaway. There is no swimming or watersports in the lake because it is a domestic water supply but it is still beautiful! There
Lake Cachuma Camping Tent sites
Hundreds of different tent sites encircle the lake, and they are pretty budget, especially for California camping. This is a huge recreation area, and the sites are spread out pretty well so you don’t feel too crowded. They also have RV sites with hookups as well. There are bathrooms, showers, and water facilities near to the campsites. Each campsite has a permanent fire ring and picnic table for use. Firewood can be bought at the handy camp store for a bit more than what you would get it for outside the campground. Each campsite is not allowed to have more than 8 people, 2 vehicles, and or 4 tents. This campground allows the most people for the cheapest rate to stay at these spots. Lake Cachuma is the place to
Cost
$30/night or $60 for two nights. Most of the sites require a two night stay to reserve.
Lake Cachuma Yurts
The yurts mix tent camping with a more enclosed structure and comfort. They have platform beds that sleep 3-6 people. The yurts lock and have heating and lighting with bug screens. The yurts are on the bluff of the lake with amazing views. Lupine, Poppy, and Sage are the yurts with sunset views of the lake. Oak, Sycamore, Pine and Redwood are the yurts with the beautiful morning sunrise. Full information about the yurts and camping can be found here.
| Size | Sleeps | ADA | Tent Allowed | Table Inside | Shore Access | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak | Large (24′) | 6 | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Redwood | Large (24′) | 5 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Sycamore | Large (24′) | 6 | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Lupine | Medium (16′) | 6 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Pine | Small (16′) | 3 | No | No | Yes | No |
| Poppy | Small (14′) | 5 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Sage | Small (14′) | 5 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Yurt Sizes
Poppy, Sage, and Pine are small. Lupine is medium. Oak, Sycamore and Redwood are large.
Cost
Small yurt- $90/night and most require two night stays $180 for 2 nights.
Large yurt- 2 nights $240
Lake Cachuma Cabins
There are 3 different sizes of cabins, small, medium and large. There are 8 cabins altogether available at the lake. There are 3 cabins that sleep 6, 3 cabins that sleep 4, an ADA cabin that sleeps 4, and an ADA cabin that sleeps 2. ADA cabins are those that are conducive to
| Cabin | Sleeps | Beds |
|---|---|---|
| Condor | 6 | 1 Queen, 1 Bunk Bed, 1 Sleeper Sofa |
| Eagle | 6 | 1 Queen, 1 Bunk Bed, 1 Sleeper Sofa |
| Falcon | 6 | 1 Queen, 1 Bunk Bed, 1 Sleeper Sofa |
| Hawk ADA | 4 | 1 Queen, 1 Sleeper Sofa |
| Heron | 4 | 2 Queens |
| Kestrel | 4 | 2 Queens |
| Merlin ADA | 2 | 1 Queen |
| Raven | 4 | 2 Queens |
Cost
2 nights costs $350 for a medium cabin. There are small and large cabins as well with similar pricing.
Lake Activities
- Kayaking- rent a kayak at the boatdock for $10/hour
- Boat tours/ lake cruises- 2 hr lake cruise on a 30 passenger pontoon boat ($15/adult) Click here for booking
- Fishing
- 5 hiking trails- there is a secluded beach at the end of one of the trails
- Move nights fridays (summer)
- Star gazing parties (summer)
- For a full list of activities and programs offered click here
Things to do nearby
- Explore and hike in the Los Padres Mountains (hike the Figureoua Mountain) Read my blog here about the most beautiful wildflower hike in California.
- Visit Ojai– the cute artistic and foodie town at the base of the mountains
- Visit Solvang– the small danish village that is the Denmark of California. Read about the cute danish town Solvang in my post here.
- Visit Santa Barbara & wine country
- Gaviota Wind Caves Hike
- Gaviota Hot Springs
- Topanga Overlook Hike
- Point Mugu Hike
