Available sites
63 total sitesAbout Wheeler Gorge
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
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Rates, Sites & Availability
63 Sites Available
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63 Sites Available
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Reviews (925)
What Guests Are Saying
Wheeler Gorge offers a clean, peaceful, and spacious campground, perfect for families looking to disconnect and enjoy nature, with beautiful creek access and shaded sites. Campers appreciate the friendly hosts and well-maintained facilities, despite some challenges like bugs and the lack of running water. Overall, it's a highly recommended destination that many visitors are eager to return to, particularly for its relaxing atmosphere and scenic surroundings.
What Guests Are Saying
Wheeler Gorge offers a clean, peaceful, and spacious campground, perfect for families looking to disconnect and enjoy nature, with beautiful creek access and shaded sites. Campers appreciate the friendly hosts and well-maintained facilities, despite some challenges like bugs and the lack of running water. Overall, it's a highly recommended destination that many visitors are eager to return to, particularly for its relaxing atmosphere and scenic surroundings.
Review Summary
brooke s
VerifiedJanuary 30, 2020 • Stayed at: 068, Loop: WHEE
Great camping! So quiet and relaxing
Cynthia S
VerifiedJanuary 26, 2020 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: WHEE
I hate to give this a 5 Star review because it's such a hidden gem, I don't want the secret to get out, and have it be overrun. This spot is so lovely, it borders on magical. The sites are spaced far apart, the hosts are wonderful, the pit toilets are the cleanest i've ever encountered. It feels like you're far out into the woods, but actually you're only 3 mi to downtown Ojai, and fairly close to Santa Barbara and it's wine country. Being lulled to sleep by the river through the gorge, with good star-gazing at night, this place is accessible and easy while feeling a million-miles from civilization. This may become our new go-to place.
Joseph B
VerifiedJanuary 26, 2020 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: WHEE
Won’t come back for a while.
Cynthia S
VerifiedJanuary 26, 2020 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: WHEE
I hate to give this a 5 Star review because it's such a hidden gem, I don't want the secret to get out, and have it be overrun. This spot is so lovely, it borders on magical. The sites are spaced far apart, the hosts are wonderful, the pit toilets are the cleanest i've ever encountered. It feels like you're far out into the woods, but actually you're only 3 mi to downtown Ojai, and fairly close to Santa Barbara and it's wine country. Being lulled to sleep by the river through the gorge, with good star-gazing at night, this place is accessible and easy while feeling a million-miles from civilization. This may become our new go-to place.
Joseph B
VerifiedJanuary 26, 2020 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: WHEE
Won’t come back for a while.
Christine W
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 043, Loop: WHEE
Plan to get wet playing in the creek. Ranger/visitors center across the road only open Sat/Sun but worth a visit.
Christine W
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 043, Loop: WHEE
Plan to get wet playing in the creek. Ranger/visitors center across the road only open Sat/Sun but worth a visit.
Paul D
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 009/010, Loop: WHEE
Paul D
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 009/010, Loop: WHEE
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...
Location & Directions for Wheeler Gorge
1190 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023 United States
Elevation: 551 ft
Getting There
From Ventura, take Highway 33 north about 14 mi. Turn left, continuing on Highway 33 for another 8 mi to the campground.
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From Los Angeles, take I-5 north, then turn west onto Highway 126 for about 28 mi, to Santa Paula. Continue north...
From Ventura, take Highway 33 north about 14 mi. Turn left, continuing on Highway 33 for another 8 mi to the campground.
From Los Angeles, take I-5 north, then turn west onto Highway 126 for about 28 mi, to Santa Paula. Continue north on Highway 150 for 16 mi. Turn left onto Highway 33 and continue north approximately 8 mi to the campground.
Highway access
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.
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: October 18, 2026