Camping in Channel Islands National Park: Campgrounds, Reservations, and Costs

By Jocelyn Pion · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Channel Islands

Yes, you can camp in Channel Islands National Park, and it's one of the most unusual experiences a California national park has to offer. There are no roads, no cell service, and no vehicle access. You set up your tent on an island a few miles from the mainland, and the night that follows feels like nowhere else. The park has 5 campgrounds, one on each island: Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara. Reservations are made exclusively through Recreation.gov, and you have to take a boat before you can drive in your first tent stake.

Campgrounds in the park (8)

• Campground Anacapa Island Campground recreation.gov · 7 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Scorpion Canyon Campground see NPS · 31 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Del Norte Backcountry Campground recreation.gov · 4 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Water Canyon Campground recreation.gov · 15 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Santa Rosa Island Backcountry Beach Camping recreation.gov · 30 sites Directions ↗
• Campground San Miguel Island Campground recreation.gov · 9 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Santa Barbara Island Campground recreation.gov · 10 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Prisoners Harbor Campground see NPS · 0 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

Can You Camp in Channel Islands National Park?

You can camp year-round on some of the islands. The park is open 24 hours a day, and there's no entrance fee. That doesn't mean you can visit the islands freely. You have to take a boat or plane operated by an authorized concessioner, and you need to reserve your campsite well in advance. Wild camping isn't allowed outside designated campgrounds, except in backcountry areas that require a special permit.

The logistics can be demanding, but that's exactly what keeps the islands so peaceful.

Campgrounds in the Park

Each island has its own campground, and each one has a distinct character. They're all primitive campgrounds, so you'll need a tent, and there are no showers or electricity. Here's the island-by-island rundown.

Scorpion Ranch (Santa Cruz)

This is the largest and most accessible of the five campgrounds. It has about 25 tent sites, drinking water, pit toilets, and food-storage boxes at every site. Island Packers boats dock at Scorpion Anchorage, just a few minutes' walk from the campground. It's a great choice for a first trip or for families with kids. Cost: about $15 per night.

East Anacapa (Anacapa)

There are seven sites with sweeping ocean views, but no drinking water on the island, so you'll have to bring everything. From the landing, you climb about 150 steps to reach the campground. That immediately rules out campers carrying too much gear. The sea lion colony below and the historic lighthouses more than make up for the effort.

Water Canyon (Santa Rosa)

More remote and less visited, Santa Rosa offers a landscape of dunes, open grasslands, and endemic pine forests. Water Canyon Campground has about 15 sites. Water is available seasonally. The boat ride from Ventura takes about three hours. This is where you'll really feel alone in the world, which is exactly the point.

San Miguel

Access to this island depends on weather conditions, including persistent fog and high winds, and a ranger escort is required to enter the island's interior. There are about 10 primitive sites and no water on site. This campground is best for experienced campers who don't panic when a last-minute cancellation comes through.

Santa Barbara

This is the smallest island in the park open to camping, and the least frequently served. There are a few primitive sites, no water, and a long boat ride. In return, you'll get exceptional marine wildlife and almost complete isolation. Boat trips are infrequent, so reserve well ahead of time.

RV Camping in Channel Islands National Park Isn't an Option

Let's be direct. RVs have no place in Channel Islands National Park. There are no roads, no vehicle ferry, and no hookups on the islands. If you're traveling in a van or RV, leave the vehicle in the parking lot at the harbor in Ventura or Oxnard, then head to the island with a backpack and tent. This guide for RV travelers in Channel Islands National Park covers the long-term parking options available on the mainland.

Camping Nearby: Mainland Options

If weather cancels your crossing, or you'd rather spend the night on the mainland before departure, you'll find several public and private campgrounds around Ventura and Oxnard. Some offer beachfront sites with RV hookups. Details are in our overview of lodging in Channel Islands National Park and our park guide.

Backcountry Camping in Channel Islands National Park

There isn't a traditional backcountry experience in Channel Islands National Park in the same sense as Yosemite or the Rockies. The trails don't extend for dozens of miles into the backcountry. On San Miguel, the interior areas are restricted, and a ranger escort is required. In practice, that serves as a permit. For ways to explore beyond the marked trails on each island, our guide to hiking in Channel Islands National Park explains the current rules and permitted access.

How and When to Reserve a Campsite in Channel Islands National Park

Reservations are made through Recreation.gov, and most sites open for booking six months in advance. Spring weekends, from March through May, and summer vacations fill within hours of the booking window opening. Our advice is to plan a weekday departure, or choose Santa Barbara and San Miguel, which tend to have more availability because boat service is less frequent.

Keep in mind that a campground reservation isn't enough. You also need to book your boat crossing separately through Island Packers from Ventura or Oxnard, the park's official concessioner. The two reservations are independent. If Island Packers cancels the crossing because of heavy seas, the campground reservation is generally rescheduled or refunded, but check each provider's terms when you book.

Costs: How Much Does a Night of Camping in Channel Islands National Park Cost?

The park doesn't charge an entrance fee. A campsite costs about $15 per night, regardless of the island. You'll also pay for the boat crossing, which varies by destination and season. Plan on about $60 per adult round-trip to Santa Cruz, the closest island, and more for farther-flung islands such as San Miguel or Santa Barbara. Our Fees and Passes page explains entrance fees and passes.

Camping Safety and Best Practices

Wildlife: Foxes, Ravens, and Sea Lions

There are no bears in Channel Islands National Park, but don't let your guard down. The protected endemic island fox is curious and opportunistic. Leave your backpack unattended for two minutes, and it may open it. Ravens are even bolder. They steal food in broad daylight, in groups, without a second thought. Always use the food-storage boxes provided at each site, and don't leave anything outside overnight.

Sea lions are found along some shores, especially on Anacapa. Stay at least 50 feet away, and never feed them.

Water and Resupply

Drinking water is available only on some islands, mainly Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. On Anacapa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara, you need to bring all your water. Bring at least 3 to 4 liters per person per day, and more if you're hiking. There are no food-supply stops on the islands, so bring everything you'll need for the length of your stay.

Campfires

Campfires are prohibited on every island in the park. Gas stoves only. Check the current restrictions before your visit, since they can change with seasonal conditions.

Weather and Boat Crossings

The climate is Mediterranean, with steady temperatures year-round, around 64°F during the day and 50°F at night. Marine conditions can change quickly, though. Bring a waterproof windbreaker even in midsummer. Mentally plan for an extra night on the mainland. Cancellations because of heavy seas aren't unusual. To plan around the seasons and the best periods for boating, check the weather and boat-crossing calendar for Channel Islands National Park.

Which Campground Is Right for You?

First trip, family, or beginner: Scorpion Ranch on Santa Cruz. Easy access, water on site, plenty of sites, and frequent boats.

Unspoiled nature and solitude: Water Canyon on Santa Rosa, or Santa Barbara if you're more ambitious. Fewer people and more open landscapes.

Marine wildlife watching: East Anacapa, for the breeding colony of Brandt's cormorants in spring and sea lions year-round. Bring plenty of water.

Guided adventure: San Miguel, for experienced campers who want an almost untouched island with a ranger escort.

For lodging outside the campgrounds before or after your trip, including mainland hotels, see our selection of hotels near the park.

Frequently Asked Questions