Camping in Channel Islands National Park: 7 Campgrounds on 5 Islands

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

Camping in Channel Islands National Park means pitching your tent on an island just a few miles from the mainland, with no roads, cell service, or vehicle access. The park has 7 campgrounds spread across its five islands, with 106 sites in all. Every campground is primitive, with tent camping only, no electricity, and no showers, and you can reserve a site only through Recreation.gov. You have to take a boat before you can pitch that 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 in Channel Islands National Park year-round at most campgrounds. The park is open 24 hours a day, with no entrance fee. That doesn't mean you can reach the islands however you like. You must take a boat or plane operated by an authorized concessioner, and reserve your site ahead of time through Recreation.gov. Wild camping isn't allowed outside designated campgrounds.

There are two exceptions to keep in mind. San Miguel is completely closed in 2026. Santa Rosa's backcountry beach campground follows a strict seasonal schedule. The other five campgrounds stay open year-round.

Campgrounds in the Park

The seven campgrounds are spread across five islands. Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa each have two. Every one is primitive, with tent camping only, no electricity, and no showers.

Scorpion Ranch (Santa Cruz)

Scorpion Ranch Campground is the largest in the park, with 31 sites, including 6 group sites. It's also the easiest to reach, just a few minutes on foot from the landing at Scorpion Anchorage. Potable water is available on-site, along with restrooms and food lockers. Open year-round. Rate: $15 a night.

Santa Cruz also has Del Norte Campground in the backcountry, with 4 tent sites, restrooms, and food lockers, but no water on-site. It's open year-round at the same rate of $15 a night. This campground is for hikers who want to get farther from Scorpion Anchorage.

East Anacapa (Anacapa)

Anacapa Island Campground has 7 sites with ocean views. From the landing, you'll climb about 150 steps to reach it. There is no potable water on the island, so bring everything you need. Restrooms and food lockers are available. Open year-round. Rate: $15 a night.

Water Canyon (Santa Rosa)

Water Canyon Campground has 15 tent sites, with potable water, restrooms, and food lockers on-site. Open year-round. Rate: $15 a night. The boat ride from Ventura takes about three hours.

Santa Rosa also has a backcountry beach campground with 30 tent sites, restrooms, and water. The rate is $10 a night, making it the least expensive campground in the park. The season is tightly restricted, however. The campground is closed from January 1 through August 14 to protect seals, sea lions, and nesting seabirds. From August 15 through September 15, only the island's southeast quadrant, between East Point and South Point, is open for beach camping. The same schedule applies every year, so check the exact dates on Recreation.gov before booking.

San Miguel

San Miguel Island Campground has 9 tent sites and no water on-site. Restrooms and food lockers are provided. Standard rate: $15 a night.

Here's the important part. San Miguel is fully closed from January 1 through December 31, 2026, so you can't visit this year. When the island is open, you need a ranger escort to travel inland, and weather-related last-minute cancellations are common. Book well in advance and have a backup plan.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Island Campground has 10 tent sites and 1 group site. There is no potable water on the island, but restrooms and food lockers are available. Open year-round. Rate: $15 a night. Boat service is infrequent, so the island feels almost completely isolated. Book well ahead.

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

Let's be direct. RVs have no place in Channel Islands National Park. The islands have no roads, no vehicle ferry, and no hookups. If you're traveling by van or RV, leave your vehicle in the long-term parking lot at the departure port in Ventura or Oxnard, then travel light with a backpack and tent. The guide to RV camping near Channel Islands National Park covers the long-term parking options on the mainland.

Camping Nearby: Mainland Options

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

Wild Camping and Backcountry Camping in Channel Islands National Park

The park has two backcountry campgrounds: Del Norte on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa's backcountry beach campground. Neither is free-form camping. Both require reservations through Recreation.gov and follow NPS rules. Del Norte is open year-round, with 4 sites and no water. Santa Rosa's beach campground is the larger of the two, with 30 sites and water available, but its season is heavily restricted. See the Santa Rosa section above.

On San Miguel, inland areas are restricted outside the annual closure period, and a ranger escort is required. For island-by-island exploration options, our guide to hiking in Channel Islands National Park explains the current rules and which areas you can access.

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

Reservations are available through Recreation.gov, with a six-month booking window for most sites. Spring weekends, from March through May, and summer vacations fill within hours of the window opening. Choose weekdays when you can, or look at Anacapa, Santa Barbara, or Del Norte, which see fewer visitors.

Booking a campsite isn't enough. You also need to reserve your boat transportation separately through Island Packers, the park's official concessioner, departing from Ventura or Oxnard. The two reservations are independent. If Island Packers cancels the crossing because of rough seas, the campground reservation is usually rescheduled or refunded, but check each provider's terms when you book.

For Santa Rosa's backcountry beach campground, check the seasonal closure dates on the campground's Recreation.gov page before booking. The areas open to camping vary from year to year.

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

The park has no entrance fee. A night costs $15 at six of the seven campgrounds. Only Santa Rosa's backcountry beach campground costs $10 a night. Add the cost of 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 distant islands such as San Miguel or Santa Barbara. Our National park fees and passes page provides a guide to 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 six of the seven campgrounds have food lockers. Use them. The endemic, protected island fox is curious and opportunistic. Leave your backpack unattended for two minutes and it may open it. Ravens steal food in broad daylight, in groups, and without hesitation. Don't leave anything outside overnight.

Sea lions frequent some shorelines, especially on Anacapa. Stay at least 50 feet away and never feed them.

Water and Supplies

Potable water is available at only three campgrounds: Scorpion Ranch Campground on Santa Cruz, Water Canyon Campground, and Santa Rosa's backcountry beach campground. At Anacapa, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, and Del Norte, you must bring all your water. Plan on at least 3 to 4 liters per person per day, and more if you're hiking. There are no food-supply points on the islands, so bring everything you'll need for your entire 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, around 64°F during the day and 50°F at night year-round, but marine conditions can change quickly. Bring a waterproof windbreaker even in midsummer. Plan mentally for an extra night on the mainland. Crossings are canceled for rough seas more often than you might expect. To plan around the seasons and the best periods for boat travel, check the weather and boat crossing calendar for Channel Islands National Park.

Which Campground Is Right for You?

First trip, families, or beginners: Scorpion Ranch Campground on Santa Cruz. Easy access, water on-site, 31 sites including 6 group sites, and frequent boats.

Rugged nature and isolation: Water Canyon Campground on Santa Rosa or Santa Barbara Island Campground for more experienced campers. Fewer people and more open landscapes.

Marine wildlife viewing: Anacapa Island Campground, for sea lions year-round and the seabird colony in spring. Bring enough water. There isn't any on-site.

Accessible backcountry: Del Norte Campground on Santa Cruz, with 4 backcountry sites and year-round access. Bring your own water.

Guided adventure: San Miguel Island Campground, for experienced campers who are comfortable visiting an almost untouched island with a ranger escort. Closed throughout 2026. Check availability before making plans.

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

Frequently Asked Questions