Carpinteria State Beach
The Park is currently OPEN.
Please check the hours of operation.Park Facilities
Trailer: 35 Feet
Camper/Motorhome: 35 Feet
Camper/Motorhome: 35 Feet
En route Campsites
Family Campsites
Group Campsites
Hike or Bike Campsites
RV Sites w/Hookups
RV Dump Station
RV Access
Family Campsites
Group Campsites
Hike or Bike Campsites
RV Sites w/Hookups
RV Dump Station
RV Access
Parking
Restrooms / Showers
Restrooms
Outdoor Showers
Drinking Water Available
Wheelchair Accessible
Restrooms / Showers
Restrooms
Outdoor Showers
Drinking Water Available
Wheelchair Accessible
Carpenteria Sunset Image
General Park Information
Located within minutes of the urban centers of Santa Barbara and Ventura, Carpinteria State Beach offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy high-quality outdoor recreation in the setting of a small southern California coastal Community. With terraced bluffs, dune areas and a mile of beach for swimming, surf fishing, tidepool exploring and camping, Carpinteria State Beach is a unique treasure with a rich biological and cultural history. In 1769, the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola explored the Santa Barbara coast, eventually meeting the local Chumash people at the village of ‘Mishopshnow’ near what we now call Carpinteria Creek. Portola observed several of their plank “Tomol” canoes being constructed and the incorporation of the naturally-occurring asphaltum (tar) into its design. Members of the Spanish expedition referred to the area as La Carpinteria or ‘The Carpenter Shop,’ later to become Carpinteria.
Carpinteria State Beach In-Person School Programs
In-person field trips and classroom programs are offered from September to May for grades K – 5. We offer programs on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
For more information, please click on the program registration you wish to schedule.
School Field Trip Registration
Live Virtual PORTS Programs and Webinars
Visit our PORTS Program web page or email us at CarpinteriaSB.Interp@parks.ca.gov to reserve a virtual program.
Tar, Not Just a Nuisance!
Let’s discover the active tar seeps at Carpinteria State Beach and discuss whether this resource has been a convenience or a nuisance to the animals, plants, and humans that have inhabited this area historically and currently.
Explore Our Shore
Join us as we learn about the diverse organisms that inhabit our shore and coastal environments at Carpinteria State Beach. Habitats may include tidepools, estuaries, dunes, tar seeps, SB Channel, and more! We will use our observation skills to explore animal and plant adaptations, marine ecosystems, and other ocean fun facts.
Sharks: Fact or Fiction?
Through a fun and interactive program, students will identify facts from misconceptions about one of the ocean’s most interesting predators, sharks!
Summer Programs
Campfire and Junior Ranger Programs are offered from mid-June to the end of August. Topics explored include octopuses, sharks, whales, seals, nocturnal animals, deep sea animals, insects, and many more!
This unique playscape invites children to enjoy healthy outdoor play while they learn about California’s colorful history at the same time. The Tomol Interpretive Play Area is one of these special places. Found tucked into the northwest corner of Carpinteria State Beach in the coastal beach community of Carpinteria, this unique facility lets kids run, jump, slide and generally have fun while it encourages them to imagine living in a Chumash Indian village on the shore of the Pacific Ocean.
Now Hiring! Apply Now: Job Opportunities
Special Events
Twelve miles south of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria State Beach offers an iconic, diverse shoreline, featuring white sand and rock outcroppings. In addition to a beautiful beach, Carpinteria State Beach also hosts three potential event venues: Linden Field, the covered Ramada (picnic) areas, and a campfire center. Adjacent to the park, the City of Carpinteria offers a wide range of restaurants, breweries, and entertainment while still maintaining a small town feel. As the focal point of this quaint coastal community, the park provides excellent recreation options (swimming, surf fishing, tidepool exploring, and camping).
Further downcoast, this park also manages a parking lot and the access trail to the international renowned surf spot, Rincon Point.
Events are considered year-round except holidays. Weddings are permitted between Labor Day and Memorial Day and are not permitted in the busy summer months.
Please submit an inquiry for the quickest response. For additional questions, contact Carp.SpecialEvents@parks.ca.gov or call (805) 684-7487 to speak with the Special Event Coordinator about your event.
RV Rental Delivery Policy
ATTENTION: Trailers may be rented and delivered to the park from 101 RV Rentals. This is the only business permitted for delivery of RVs in this state park. It is illegal to conduct business in a park area without a permit, contract, or other written agreement. Renting from a business other than 101 RV Rentals may leave you without accommodations as the RV/camping equipment may be turned away upon arrival at the park. 101 RV Rentals can be contacted at (805) 210-7391.
Contact Information
SPECIAL EVENTS:
carp.specialevents@parks.ca.gov
SCHOOL GROUPS:
CarpinteriaSB.Interp@parks.ca.gov
Live HD Webcam / Surf Report:
