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Upper Oso Campground
FSU.S. Forest Service — SANTA BARBARA · California · Los Padres National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Los Padres National Forest |
| Location | SANTA BARBARA · California · Los Padres National Forest · 34.55583, -119.75389 · Map |
| Sites | 19 public sites counted from the federal listing — 11 equestrian nonelectric; 3 tent only nonelectric; 3 standard nonelectric; 2 walk to |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 19 sites Water hookups at 0 of 19 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 19 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 19 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 45 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 12 sites · 30 ft: 10 sites · 35 ft: 4 sites · 40 ft: 4 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | All single campsite reservations are good for 6 people and 1 vehicle. Maximum number of people per single site is 8 ($10.00 additional charge per person per night after 6 people.) Maximum number of vehicles per single site is 2 ($10.00 additional charge for 2nd vehicle per night). Extra vehicle and person fees will be charged at the facility. |
| Check-in / out | In 3:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 19 sites, as reported |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 805-434-1996 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
Overview Upper Oso Campground provides ample opportunity for exploration of California's coastal mountains. It is a family-friendly campground, equipped with equestrian sites, and is close to a variety of trails and several mountain streams. Recreation A variety of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails begin in and around the campground, including the Santa Cruz Trail, which traverses 18 miles north to the San Rafael Wilderness. The 2.5-mile Aliso National Recreation Trail leads through scenic areas to a group campsite.
Off-road vehicle enthusiasts enjoy the Camuesa OHV Route, which loops about 10 miles through the surrounding forest.
Fishing and swimming are available at nearby White Rock Day-Use Area, less than two miles from the campground. The Santa Ynez River is stocked with trout in the springtime.
Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, a no-body-contact reservoir, is about 10 miles northwest of the campground. It offers boating, fishing and kayaking. Anglers will find an abundance of annually stocked trout. Carp and bass are also common catches there. Facilities The campground is open year-round and offers around two dozen sites tent or RV camping. About 10 sites are outfitted with horse corrals and extra long, paved parking spurs. Some additional sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each site is equipped with a table, campfire ring with grill and a pedestal grill. Accessible flush toilets and drinking water are provided throughout the campground. Firewood is available for purchase from the on-site campground host. Natural Features The campground is located in the lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area, not far from Santa Barbara. The campground has large sites scattered among plentiful oak trees that provide pleasant shade. It is situated alongside a seasonal creek, at an elevation of 1,040 feet. Nearby Attractions The campground is located about 25 miles north of the city of Santa Barbara.
Directions, from the listing
From Santa Barbara, travel north on Highway 101. Exit onto Highway 154 and continue northwest for about 10 miles. Turn east onto Paradise Road and travel about 6 miles. Turn north onto Forest Route 5N15 and continue less than two miles to the campground.
Nearest federal campgrounds
2 mi straight-line · SANTA BARBARA CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceLos Prietos
3 mi straight-line · SANTA BARBARA CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceParadise Campground
3 mi straight-line · SANTA BARBARA CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceFremont Campground
4 mi straight-line · SANTA BARBARA CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceDavy Brown Campground
18 mi straight-line · California
Trip Card — Upper Oso Campground
SANTA BARBARA · California · Los Padres National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | SANTA BARBARA · California · Los Padres National Forest |
| Fees | All single campsite reservations are good for 6 people and 1 vehicle. Maximum number of people per single site is 8 ($10.00 additional charge per person per night after 6 people.) … |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 45 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 19 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/231961 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.