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Circle X Ranch Group Campground

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area — ocean access, hiking

Location: Malibu, CA, CA

Price: From $35 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

Circle X Ranch Group Campground is closed until further notice. There is no estimated re-opening date. Are you searching for a weekend getaway with mountain overlooks and sunny, sandy beaches?

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/circle-x-ranch-group-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Circle X Ranch Group Campground offers access to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area with multiple trails including the popular Grotto Trail and Sandstone Peak, rated 4.8/5 stars by 175 Google reviewers who praise the hiking opportunities and scenic canyon views.

Wildlife alert: Coyotes, bobcats, rattlesnakes (Southern Pacific Rattlesnake), and kingsnakes present in the area. Poison oak reported near water areas.

Insider tips for Circle X Ranch Group Campground: Wear sturdy hiking shoes with good traction on rocky terrain Book early as this is a federal campground with limited availability Visit after winter rains when water features and vegetation are most lush

Skip Circle X Ranch Group Campground if: CAMPGROUND CURRENTLY CLOSED - No estimated reopening date per RIDB. Seeking hookups - no hookups available. Visiting outside May-October seasonal window.

Best time to visit Circle X Ranch Group Campground: May-October — Official operating season per verified data.

Nearby campgrounds: Anacapa Island (Ventura, CA), Rose Valley Campground (Ojai, CA), Middle Lion Campground (Ojai, CA), Wheeler Gorge (OJAI, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Circle X Ranch Group Campground

Cell signal at Circle X Ranch Group Campground (Malibu, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

    Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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    CamperWatch›CA›Circle X Ranch Group Campground
    Circle X Ranch Group Campground — photo 1
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    Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area — ocean access, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    Circle X Ranch Group Campground

    Share: X Facebook
    Malibu, CA, CA★ 4 (0 reviews)From $35/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
    On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

    Circle X Ranch Group Campground is closed until further notice. There is no estimated re-opening date. Are you searching for a weekend getaway with mountain overlooks and sunny, sandy beaches?

    Best for:HikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:Tent
    LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

    Verified facts

    RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    SeasonMay through October
    Stay limit14 days
    HookupsNo hookups.
    PetsAllowed
    Max/site6 people

    Amenities

    RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
    Essentials
    Fire Rings
    Recreation
    Picnic Tables

    Straight talk

    CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

    Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

    Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
    Skip it if:✕ CAMPGROUND CURRENTLY CLOSED - No estimated reopening date per RIDB✕ Seeking hookups - no hookups available✕ Visiting outside May-October seasonal window

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    Wear sturdy hiking shoes with good traction on rocky terrain

    Book early as this is a federal campground with limited availability

    Visit after winter rains when water features and vegetation are most lush

    Best: May-October

    Official operating season per verified data

    Things to do nearby

    RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

    Conditions today

    Live
    at campground coordinates

    Cell signal

    FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
    T-Mobile
    4G · 0%
    Verizon
    4G · 0%
    AT&T
    4G · 0%

    FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

    Wildlife nearby

    iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
    Alert: Coyotes, bobcats, rattlesnakes (Southern Pacific Rattlesnake), and kingsnakes present in the area. Poison oak reported near water areas.

    Location

    Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
    Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
    805-370-2301· Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
    samo_interpretation@nps.gov
    Getting there →

    Pacific Coast Highway to Yerba Buena Road. Turn inland; go 5.4 miles to Circle X Ranch contact station.

    Campground entrance

    Google Maps API

    Community

    #community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

    Pro tips

    • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area fills fast in peak season.
    • Check current road conditions at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area before arrival — seasonal closures common.

    Frequently asked questions

    RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
    How much does Circle X Ranch Group Campground cost per night?+
    Circle X Ranch Group Campground costs $35 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
    What season is Circle X Ranch Group Campground open?+
    Circle X Ranch Group Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Does Circle X Ranch Group Campground have hookups?+
    No hookups.
    What is the maximum RV length at Circle X Ranch Group Campground?+
    Circle X Ranch Group Campground is primarily a tent camping facility.
    How do I make reservations at Circle X Ranch Group Campground?+
    Circle X Ranch Group Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
    What is the cell service like at Circle X Ranch Group Campground?+
    According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Circle X Ranch Group Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
    What season is Circle X Ranch Group Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
    Circle X Ranch Group Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
    ●Data sources on this page
    Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
    recreation.gov · RIDB API
    National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
    api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
    Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
    airquality.googleapis.com
    iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
    api.inaturalist.org
    Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
    pollen.googleapis.com
    FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
    broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
    Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
    api.sunrise-sunset.org
    Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
    maps.googleapis.com
    RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
    ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

    CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

    $35 /night★ 4 (0)
    SeasonMay through October
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
    Dates full? Get an availability alert
    FAQ
    How much does Circle X Ranch Group Campground cost per night?+
    What season is Circle X Ranch Group Campground open?+
    Does Circle X Ranch Group Campground have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    Anacapa Island

    Ventura, CA

    From $15/night

    Rose Valley Campground

    Ojai, CA

    From $30/night

    Middle Lion Campground

    Ojai, CA

    From $30/night

    Wheeler Gorge

    OJAI, CA

    From $35/night

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