About Santa Rosa Island
Number of accommodations: 15
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Birding
Hiking
Kayaking
Swimming
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Rates, Sites & Availability
15 Sites Available
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Site Details
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15 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (223)
What Guests Are Saying
Santa Rosa Island offers a stunning natural environment with exceptional views, diverse hiking trails, and well-maintained campgrounds featuring clean facilities, including flush toilets and potable water. Many visitors appreciate the tranquility and beauty of the island, noting the abundance of wildlife and wildflowers. While there are challenges such as windy conditions and some trail maintenance issues, the overall experience is highly regarded, making it a memorable destination for camping and outdoor activities.
What Guests Are Saying
Santa Rosa Island offers a stunning natural environment with exceptional views, diverse hiking trails, and well-maintained campgrounds featuring clean facilities, including flush toilets and potable water. Many visitors appreciate the tranquility and beauty of the island, noting the abundance of wildlife and wildflowers. While there are challenges such as windy conditions and some trail maintenance issues, the overall experience is highly regarded, making it a memorable destination for camping and outdoor activities.
Review Summary
Scott E
VerifiedNovember 9, 2020 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: Sites 001-015
The only way this island could be better is if there was a Starbucks on every beach... haha. Rustic, scenic, tranquil and most importantly... almost no people.
Jennifer L
VerifiedNovember 3, 2020 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Sites 001-015
Great camping spot. Little more private than the rest of them. I wish I had brought a hammock, which are easy to set up on the built structures.
bryan c
VerifiedOctober 21, 2020 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Sites 001-015
Great site, great staff, great adventure!
sarah a
VerifiedOctober 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Sites 001-015
This is a terrific place to camp for a few days. The beaches and water are exceptionally beautiful, there are some great hikes, (Lobo Canyon and Torrey Pine Forest), and the cutest Island foxes running around. The campground feels really luxurious for tent camping, because of the shelters and picnic tables provided, as well as clean bathrooms with flushing toilets, and last but not least - the plentiful water. The 1.5-mile trek with all your gear is a fair amount of work, and it'll be in the heat of the day, but worth it. We had a lot of gear so we brought a sturdy collapsable wagon, and also had backpacks. There are some mosquitoes and a lot of flies, but we were able to manage. The wind can be an issue, though it wasn't at all windy for us. Another fun thing about this location is the boat trip out and back; we saw a blue whale and plenty of dolphins close up, and on the way back the captain motored fully into a huge sea cave. My final word is that I highly recommend camping on Santa Rosa. Have fun!
Michael A
VerifiedOctober 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: Sites 001-015
Simply one of the best trips I’ve ever taken in my life. The island is stunning with its barren, untouched coasts and the rangers on the park are so helpful and friendly unlike on Catalina Island. It’s low impact camping and I experienced nights on stretches of beach alone enjoying the moonlight. The facilities are well maintained and managed. I recommend at least five days to see the whole island, otherwise you can see an orient of it in three days. Ford Point is stunning and a 2-3 hour hike from main camp. The trails are safe and easy to follow. An amazing adventure!
David S
VerifiedOctober 9, 2020 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: Sites 001-015
No complaints! Very clean and well kept bathrooms. Multiple water spigots at the campground. Individual sites include a wall that effectively shelters tents from wind, a food box to keep the foxes out, and a large picnic bench. Campsite is about 5-7 min walk from a beautiful beach.
Paul D
VerifiedOctober 8, 2020 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Sites 001-015
I'm reluctant to rave too much about Santa Rosa Island because it is such a pristine gem of the Channel Islands and want to keep it a secret.
All the other campers were well behaved and quiet along with keeping a safe distance.
ruben a
VerifiedOctober 7, 2020 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Sites 001-015
Truly stunting isle. A magical pristine heaven away from civilisation, I dream of my return.
Ian C
VerifiedOctober 6, 2020 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Sites 001-015
SUPPER CLEAN restrooms as far as national parks go, and fresh drinkable running water. Only complaint is the actual location of the camp ground, supper windy at night and warmer than most other areas we hiked to. Otherwise AMAZING.
Ian C
VerifiedOctober 6, 2020 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Sites 001-015
SUPPER CLEAN restrooms as far as national parks go, and fresh drinkable running water. Only complaint is the actual location of the camp ground, supper windy at night and warmer than most other areas we hiked to. Otherwise AMAZING.
Location Santa Rosa Island
Address:
1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA, 93001
United States
Santa Rosa Campground is accessible via US Highway 101, located approximately 20 miles to the east.
Latitude & Longitude: 33.9911 / -120.048
Elevation: 36 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
11AM
Check out time
11AM
General
- Santa Rosa Island may only be reached by boat. Visitors are required to arrange transportation to the island before reserving a campsite. Contact Island Packers the park's authorized concessioner or bring your own private boat.
- Camping reservations are required prior to arriving on the island. There are NO walk-ups at this facility.
- One party or group may reserve a maximum of 2 individual sites per visit. There are 15 individual campsites. Max 5 people per site.
- A party or group of 46 or more may not reserve any sites through recreation.gov and must contact the park to obtain a special use permit: https://www.nps.gov/chis/learn/management/special-use-permit.htm.
- Upon arrival, meet ranger at beach, landing dock or campground. However, park staff is not always immediately available on the island. Please have confirmation letter, receipt, or campsite number with you.
- 1.5 mile from the pier to campground. Visitors must carry all their own gear.
- Primitive camping. Tent camping only, no electricity/water/sewer site hook-ups at this campground. Bring low profile tents and extra food for weather delays. Partial shade from wind shelter (8' tall, 10' deep, 14' wide at front, 8' wide at back). Picnic table, food storage box, and drinking water provided. No stores or services.
- Proper food and trash storage is required. Food/trash storage lockers are provided at each site. Recommend hard-sided container (i.e., action packer) to further protect food/garbage from animals.
- Visitors are required to pack out what they pack in, including garbage.
- No campfires or charcoal fires. Only enclosed gas camp stoves are allowed.
- Smoking is only allowed on beach area at Bechers Bay.
- Avoid contact with deer mice. Hantavirus has been found in island deer mice. For more information visit: https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/hantavirus.htm.
- To help prevent the introduction of nonnative species the following items may not be brought to the park: pets; live or potted plants; soil; cut flowers; firewood or any untreated, unfinished wood (including hiking sticks); corrugated boxes; tools or equipment with attached soil; motorized vehicles; bicycles; and single-use plastic grocery bags. Prior to departure, visitors are required to use pest-proof packing materials, inspect and clean their gear and shoes of all soil, seeds, and insects. Learn more about biosecurity and watch the required video at Protect Your Park Through Biosecurity.
- No fishing in marine reserves. California fishing license and ocean enhancement required to fish within Channel Islands National Park.
- Watersports: Due to the strong, persistent wind, swimming, snorkeling, diving, and kayaking are limited and recommended for the experienced visitor only. Ocean conditions can rapidly change, requiring expert abilities. Ocean kayaking is an inherently dangerous activity. Always check weather and do not kayak beyond your experience level.
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Last updated: June 5, 2026
