Hi guys, so this is a bit of an unusual Airstream Destination review because I’m not only recommending one particular campground at Carpinteria State Beach Park, but I’m also recommending one particular RV spot.  Speaking from personal experience, if you’re in the Santa Barbara area and want to experience your Airstream like your own personal beach house, then you need to go to the Santa Cruz campground, spot 210. It is the best spot in the park by general consensus (that would be Brian and I, as well as the park ranger who was helping us).  And this is why:

Yep, that’s your own private access walk-way to a sprawling California beach right behind your Airstream.  Spot 210 is also surrounded by greenery, with the fire pit behind your parked trailer.  So it’s the most private and secluded spot in the park.  Also the bathroom is located conveniently directly in front of the spot (the bathroom has flushing toilets and hot water showers).  The rest of the spots in this campground, as you can see is a bit more like a parking lot.  If you unfortunately aren’t able to snag spot 210 in the Santa Cruz campground, then the Santa Rosa and San Miguel campgrounds (also part of Carpinteria State Beach Park) are also fronting the beach.  These campgrounds also have clean and spacious dumping stations, which will make maneuvering your trailer easy, as well as a water source to fill up your fresh water tank.

 

Now a little bit about Carpinteria.  It’s 12 miles south of Santa Barbara and is a small sleepy surf/beach town.  There’s only one street of restaurant and shops that span about two blocks and it’s conveniently located about 4 blocks from the campground, which is walkable if you’re up for a bit of exercise (or it’s a 3-minute drive).  But as tiny as the town is, there is a lot of options for dining.  The Thai restaurant, Siam Elephant there comes highly recommended, but we opted for the tacos at Casa Don Roge and it was delicious!  And in the morning, you have to hit up Ernie’s café for an all-American diner breakfast.  For a list of restaurants in Carpinteria, go here.

But what you’re really there at Carpinteria for is the beach!  In addition to some pretty amazing wildlife viewing (whale watching, seals, sea lions and shore birds to name a few), visitors can enjoy surfing, swimming, beach-combing, fishing, hiking, and biking.  Or just relax under an umbrella with a good book.

So if you’re looking to turn your Airstream rental into your own personal beach cabin, then spot 210 at Carpinteria State Beach Park is the one for you!