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
Michael G
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 047, Loop: WHEE
Great campground. Easy access. Close to Ojai.
Laura H
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: WHEE
A couple of the ranger assistants (not sure what they're called) were extremely rude to our group, which included me and about ten 20-somethings. When we mentioned we were celebrating a birthday, they immediately assumed we would be loud, drunk, and crazy and kept admonishing us before we even reached the sites to set up. What are we, high schoolers? Not only that, they also did not give us a refund on previously reserved sites that we switched to other sites and charged us again - so we were out close to $50.
The large group across from us who had more than a dozen people had kids and babies that were constantly screaming and completely unsupervised. When the assistants came around to check the toilets, I went and talked with the assistant who was the rudest to our group and pointed out how quiet we were compared to the people across from us. I also chewed her out for making baseless assumptions just because we had a group of young people.
We'd like to go back here, but the assistants obviously need sensitivity training along with training as to how to handle money transactions. They probably pocketed the $50 cash we had to give them.
BTW, in the summer (June through September), the bugs are HORRIBLE. As are all the screaming kids running around unsupervised.
Jenny K
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 052, Loop: WHEE
I hope that our experience was an exception to the rule, but I feel compelled to briefly share why we'll never come back to Wheeler Gorge. 1) the pit toilets smelled awful and the smell permeated well beyond the structures to our campsite that was several hundred feet away. (and it was October, not summertime.) 2) the lack of water was a pretty big pain, and there are plenty of other campgrounds nearby that don't have this restriction, and 3) the flies were absolutely awful buzzing in my eyes and ears the entire time the sun was up. It got so bad/frustrating that we left the campground and drove down to Ojai for lunch just to escape the bugs. 4) the site next to us had ~7 tents, and about 20-30 people (they were NOT at a group site!), and were partying/shouting/being drunk and swimming in the creek/playing amplified music until 2am. As one of my friends said, "They're not camping, they're having a house party at a campground." The campground hosts did nothing to stop them, and in fact seemed to be helping them park all of their cars despite the clear rules on # of cars (and people, tents) per site. Honestly, it seems like these dudes were friends with the hosts and so they just let these Ojai townies break all the rules and ruin the peace and quiet of the campground. At one point, my friend politely asked if they could turn down the music so that we could enjoy some quiet time around the fire (about 30 minutes after the 10pm quiet hours began), and it almost turned into a physical altercation because these guys were so belligerently drunk. Never again...
Paul D
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 009/010, Loop: WHEE
Michael G
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 047, Loop: WHEE
Great campground. Easy access. Close to Ojai.
Laura H
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: WHEE
A couple of the ranger assistants (not sure what they're called) were extremely rude to our group, which included me and about ten 20-somethings. When we mentioned we were celebrating a birthday, they immediately assumed we would be loud, drunk, and crazy and kept admonishing us before we even reached the sites to set up. What are we, high schoolers? Not only that, they also did not give us a refund on previously reserved sites that we switched to other sites and charged us again - so we were out close to $50.
The large group across from us who had more than a dozen people had kids and babies that were constantly screaming and completely unsupervised. When the assistants came around to check the toilets, I went and talked with the assistant who was the rudest to our group and pointed out how quiet we were compared to the people across from us. I also chewed her out for making baseless assumptions just because we had a group of young people.
We'd like to go back here, but the assistants obviously need sensitivity training along with training as to how to handle money transactions. They probably pocketed the $50 cash we had to give them.
BTW, in the summer (June through September), the bugs are HORRIBLE. As are all the screaming kids running around unsupervised.
Jenny K
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 052, Loop: WHEE
I hope that our experience was an exception to the rule, but I feel compelled to briefly share why we'll never come back to Wheeler Gorge. 1) the pit toilets smelled awful and the smell permeated well beyond the structures to our campsite that was several hundred feet away. (and it was October, not summertime.) 2) the lack of water was a pretty big pain, and there are plenty of other campgrounds nearby that don't have this restriction, and 3) the flies were absolutely awful buzzing in my eyes and ears the entire time the sun was up. It got so bad/frustrating that we left the campground and drove down to Ojai for lunch just to escape the bugs. 4) the site next to us had ~7 tents, and about 20-30 people (they were NOT at a group site!), and were partying/shouting/being drunk and swimming in the creek/playing amplified music until 2am. As one of my friends said, "They're not camping, they're having a house party at a campground." The campground hosts did nothing to stop them, and in fact seemed to be helping them park all of their cars despite the clear rules on # of cars (and people, tents) per site. Honestly, it seems like these dudes were friends with the hosts and so they just let these Ojai townies break all the rules and ruin the peace and quiet of the campground. At one point, my friend politely asked if they could turn down the music so that we could enjoy some quiet time around the fire (about 30 minutes after the 10pm quiet hours began), and it almost turned into a physical altercation because these guys were so belligerently drunk. Never again...
Zachary S
VerifiedJanuary 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 045, Loop: WHEE
The spot was great! I wish we had been across the street along the river, but we were close enough and the sites were very roomy and private. We also loved that it was so close to Ojai, so we could get into town for dinner or lunch. I would also highly recommend the nearby hot springs!
Zachary S
VerifiedJanuary 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 045, Loop: WHEE
The spot was great! I wish we had been across the street along the river, but we were close enough and the sites were very roomy and private. We also loved that it was so close to Ojai, so we could get into town for dinner or lunch. I would also highly recommend the nearby hot springs!
christine s
VerifiedJanuary 21, 2020 • Stayed at: 043, Loop: WHEE
Love this site! Clean, quiet, just what we need for a weekend get away. Our pup loves it too.
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 3, 2026
