About Wheeler Gorge
Number of accommodations: 63
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Views and Setting
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Rates, Sites & Availability
63 Sites Available
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Site Details
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63 Sites Available
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Reviews (865)
What Guests Are Saying
Wheeler Gorge Campground is a beautiful and well-maintained location, perfect for families and individuals seeking a peaceful getaway close to nature. The sites are spacious, clean, and many offer access to the lovely Matilija Creek, providing a serene atmosphere for relaxation and exploration. While there is no running water and some areas have poison oak, the campground hosts are friendly and helpful, making it a highly recommended destination for camping enthusiasts.
What Guests Are Saying
Wheeler Gorge Campground is a beautiful and well-maintained location, perfect for families and individuals seeking a peaceful getaway close to nature. The sites are spacious, clean, and many offer access to the lovely Matilija Creek, providing a serene atmosphere for relaxation and exploration. While there is no running water and some areas have poison oak, the campground hosts are friendly and helpful, making it a highly recommended destination for camping enthusiasts.
Review Summary
Rose A
VerifiedMay 12, 2025 • Stayed at: 055, Loop: WHEE
Although Wheelers Gorge does not have phone coverage or running water, it is one of my favorite places to camp. It allows you to disconnect from the hustle of life! I go once a year for three days and always have a great time! Take plenty of drinking and cleaning water, and you'll be fine. Also, if there is an emergency, the campground caretakers will assist you!
Steven S
VerifiedMay 11, 2025 • Stayed at: 059, Loop: WHEE
Wheeler Gorge is a really lovely place to camp. There is plenty of shade for all sites and you can hear the sounds of nature away from cars (except for your fellow campers). The only downside is that the bathrooms can be a bit overpowering if you are anywhere near them, and there is NO potable water available at all. At least the bathrooms are clean and it's only a half hour into town for water (or bring a filter and grab it from the stream). Beware of ticks, mosquitos, and poison ivy/oak.
As a bonus, you can buy firewood directly from the camp host, extra cars are an option at $10 per night, and the Los Padres visitor center is wonderful when it's open (weekends only until 3pm).
Steven S
VerifiedMay 11, 2025 • Stayed at: 059, Loop: WHEE
Wheeler Gorge is a really lovely place to camp. There is plenty of shade for all sites and you can hear the sounds of nature away from cars (except for your fellow campers). The only downside is that the bathrooms can be a bit overpowering if you are anywhere near them, and there is NO potable water available at all. At least the bathrooms are clean and it's only a half hour into town for water (or bring a filter and grab it from the stream). Beware of ticks, mosquitos, and poison ivy/oak.
As a bonus, you can buy firewood directly from the camp host, extra cars are an option at $10 per night, and the Los Padres visitor center is wonderful when it's open (weekends only until 3pm).
Crisha O
VerifiedMay 5, 2025 • Stayed at: 035, Loop: WHEE
Wheeler Gorge is a great place to get away. The campground is right next to Highway 33. Campsites include a picnic table, campfire ring with grill, and some come with a separate bbq grill. Not much in terms of amenities - firewood for sale ($10), vault toilets with tp, and no running water. Camp hosts are friendly and keep the place clean - these are the cleanest vault toilets I’ve ever encountered; they do however, leaf-blow campsites…
Campsite 35 is a gem - large, shaded, mostly flat, and right next to the creek. Although you have no adjacent neighbors, you will be able to see and hear your neighbors across the creek and the highway beyond. The restroom and garbage is a bit of a walk uphill, nothing too bad though. Overall great experience!
Crisha O
VerifiedMay 5, 2025 • Stayed at: 035, Loop: WHEE
Wheeler Gorge is a great place to get away. The campground is right next to Highway 33. Campsites include a picnic table, campfire ring with grill, and some come with a separate bbq grill. Not much in terms of amenities - firewood for sale ($10), vault toilets with tp, and no running water. Camp hosts are friendly and keep the place clean - these are the cleanest vault toilets I’ve ever encountered; they do however, leaf-blow campsites…
Campsite 35 is a gem - large, shaded, mostly flat, and right next to the creek. Although you have no adjacent neighbors, you will be able to see and hear your neighbors across the creek and the highway beyond. The restroom and garbage is a bit of a walk uphill, nothing too bad though. Overall great experience!
Dawson S
VerifiedApril 28, 2025 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: WHEE
This is a lovely campground with a sweet little river running through it. Easy to find and nice and peaceful. Highly recommend!
Dawson S
VerifiedApril 28, 2025 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: WHEE
This is a lovely campground with a sweet little river running through it. Easy to find and nice and peaceful. Highly recommend!
Rachel C
VerifiedApril 22, 2025 • Stayed at: 009/010, Loop: WHEE
sites can be really small, especially double sites—would change reservation site to less than 16 people and 4 cars. Also, really hard to reach people and get info about sites (was reaching out 6 months in advance, but only heard back the week we were arriving, and they were really helpful.).
Really hope they can have running water in the future. And bear lockers—we saw bears and thus would be helpful just for storage, bear or no bear
Rachel C
VerifiedApril 22, 2025 • Stayed at: 009/010, Loop: WHEE
sites can be really small, especially double sites—would change reservation site to less than 16 people and 4 cars. Also, really hard to reach people and get info about sites (was reaching out 6 months in advance, but only heard back the week we were arriving, and they were really helpful.).
Really hope they can have running water in the future. And bear lockers—we saw bears and thus would be helpful just for storage, bear or no bear
Molly H
VerifiedApril 13, 2025 • Stayed at: 046, Loop: WHEE
This campground is in a lovely spot. Even though it's next to a road, the road is not heavily used, especially at night. It's in a surprisingly deep ravine (no cell signal at all), with lovely trees and a stream. It's dog-friendly, and no ticks, even in April. Some sites are not very private, but many are. Site 46 is incredible, large, on the creek, and just lovely. Even with a mostly full campground, it was quiet and peaceful in the loop. Some of the other areas were much closer and noisier, however. The nearby nature trial is terrific, and there are many longer hikes nearby (but require a drive). Campground staff was awesome. We will definitely come back to this campground!
Location Wheeler Gorge
Address:
1190 E. Ojai Ave.
Ojai, CA, 93023
United States
From Ventura, take Highway 33 north about 14 miles. Turn left, continuing on Highway 33 for another 8 miles to the campground.
From Los Angeles, take I-5 north, then turn west onto Highway 126 for about 28 miles, to Santa Paula. Continue north on Highway 150 for 16 miles. Turn left onto Highway 33 and continue north approximately 8 miles to the campground.
Wheeler Gorge is accessible via Highway 33, which can be reached from Highway 126 or directly from Ventura. The campground is located about 14 miles north of Ventura and about 8 miles north of the intersection of Highway 150 and Highway 33.
Latitude & Longitude: 34.5119 / -119.274
Elevation: 551 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
10PM
- Contact the office via email or website for FAQs.
- Check-in must be completed before the gate closes.
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Utilities
- No water is available; bring your own.
Safety & rules
- Be aware that poison oak may be present.
- It's recommended to use bug spray during warm days.
Site capacity
- Single campsite reservations accommodate 6 people and 1 vehicle.
- Single sites can accommodate up to 8 people and 2 vehicles with additional fees.
- Double sites accommodate 12 people and 2 vehicles with additional fees for extra guests and vehicles.
Local regulations
- Visit the link for more information about Los Padres National Forest.
Fires & fuel
- Buy firewood locally and burn it on-site to protect forests.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 4, 2026
