Refugio State Beach

With the nearby cities of Solvang to the northeast and Santa Barbara to the southeast, Refugio State Beach is the perfect camping getaway.

Whether you are tent or RV camping Refugio State Beach is a great spot to park yourself. This beach has great waves that can turn pretty intense on a dime. Maybe that is why the surfers love it too. You will see them hugging the far edge of the beach and riding one wave after the other.

The beach varies from clean and sunny to large seaweed piles and foggy, so be sure to have some other activities planned to fill in the down times. Tide pools on the north and south ends of the beach are fun to check out and stones and shells wash up every low tide.

Palm trees line Refugio creek, which runs north of the entrance. There are plenty of picnic tables, volleyball courts, and grass great for tossing the Frisbee. A small market carries everything from firewood to sand shovels.

Camping facilities are snug. There is such a demand for spots that they have decreased the size of the spaces and areas between campsites to accommodate more campers. So, if you find yourself next to a group of revelers, you might not get much shuteye. Eventually, the ocean pounding the surf 100 feet away should lull you into a sound sleep.

There are hiking trails all around, even a paved path to take you from this campsite to El Capitan State Beach a mile or two south. The lookouts along this path are beautiful and the kids can make the trip safely on their bikes.

Solvang is about 15 miles away, the perfect place to grab lunch and peruse shops. Wine tasting is a favorite event for this town, and don’t forget to try out the Danish pastries. Santa Barbara to the south provides tours of the historical mission, a zoo and other interesting spots.

Fishing from the shore is a favorite activity, the fisherman tend to stay clear of swimming areas and usually can be found in the early morning and late afternoon along the beach.

To get there head north on the 101 from Santa Barbara or south from Paso Robles. (805) 968-1033. Refugio SB 10 Refugio Beach Road Goleta CA 93117. Be sure to reserve your spot early as this campground fills up quickly.