Los Prietos
Los Padres National Forest — lakeside, fishing
Location: SANTA BARBARA, CA, CA
Price: From $40 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (138 reviews)
Season: May through October
Los Prietos Campground is situated in the Los Padres National Forest and provides access to a variety of outdoor adventures, including water-related recreation and hiking. The family-friendly campground is green and lush and is a great place to camp in the mountains of western California.The Santa Ynez River is popular for a variety of water-related recreation. The river can be accessed at White Rock Day Use Area, less than a half-mile from the campground.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/los-prietos to be notified when sites open up.
Los Prietos Campground is situated in the lush Los Padres National Forest with access to the Santa Ynez River for water recreation and excellent hiking. Google reviewers praise the beautiful surroundings, stunning White Rock Day Use Area nearby, and amazing hiking views.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Western Bobcat, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Coast Mountain Kingsnake, and Southern Alligator Lizard documented in the area.
Insider tips for Los Prietos: White Rock Day Use Area is less than a half-mile away — excellent for a quick scenic walk. Some higher-elevation sites are more secluded but have steep terrain; choose your site carefully. Book early — this is a federal campground and fills quickly during peak season.
Skip Los Prietos if: You need full RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites; only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You prefer year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only.. You want to visit during winter months..
Best time to visit Los Prietos: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only..
Nearby campgrounds: Paradise Campground (SANTA BARBARA, CA), Fremont Campground (SANTA BARBARA, CA), Sage Hill (SANTA BARBARA, CA), Upper Oso Campground (SANTA BARBARA, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Los Prietos
Cell signal at Los Prietos (SANTA BARBARA, CA): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
Los Prietos Campground is situated in the Los Padres National Forest and provides access to a variety of outdoor adventures, including water-related recreation and hiking. The family-friendly campground is green and lush and is a great place to camp in the mountains of western California.The Santa Ynez River is popular for a variety of water-related recreation. The river can be accessed at White Rock Day Use Area, less than a half-mile from the campground.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryWhite Rock Day Use Area is less than a half-mile away
excellent for a quick scenic walk.
Some higher-elevation sites are more secluded but have steep terrain; choose your site carefully.
Book early
this is a federal campground and fills quickly during peak season.
Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Highway 101 in Santa Barbara, turn east onto Highway 154 and continue about 11 miles. Turn onto Paradise Road and travel about 3 miles to the campground.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Los Padres National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Los Padres National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Los Prietos cost per night?+
What season is Los Prietos open?+
Does Los Prietos have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Los Prietos?+
How do I make reservations at Los Prietos?+
What is the cell service like at Los Prietos?+
What season is Los Prietos open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
Nearby Campgrounds
Own a campground nearby?
List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.