El Capitán State Beach
Also known as El Capitan State Beach
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $3 parkingAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(805) 968-1033
Official page last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 3
Alert Camping Reservation Update: From 10/19/26-10/25/26, the A Loop of the campground will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Online reservations can be made for 10/26/26 – 11/30/26. Reservation occupation begins on October 26th. The entire park will be off reservation and… (more)
ne reservations can be made for 10/26/26 – 11/30/26. Reservation occupation begins on October 26th. The entire park will be off reservation and available on a first-come, first-served basis from 12/1/26 – 3/30/27.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Alert El Capitan State Beach is fully open for day use and partially open for camping as of 6/23/2026. The middle loops, upper loops and group camp areas are fully open on a first come first served basis through 6/28/2026. On 6/29/2026 the same areas will be open for reservations. The lower… (more)
p areas are fully open on a first come first served basis through 6/28/2026. On 6/29/2026 the same areas will be open for reservations. The lower loop (spaces 1-28) is still closed due to active trail construction in that area by the CCC and the CA State Parks trails crew. The pedestrian path into the park is partially open and there are signs designating the pedestrian walkway adjacent to the closed path.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Construction Partial Closure — ConstructionEl Capitan State Beach is fully open for day use and partially open for camping as of 6/23/2026. The middle loops, upper loops and group camp areas… (more)
El Capitan State Beach is fully open for day use and partially open for camping as of 6/23/2026. The middle loops, upper loops and group camp areas are fully open on a first come first served basis through 6/28/2026. On 6/29/2026 the same areas will be open for reservations. The lower loop (spaces 1-28) is still closed due to active trail construction in that area by the CCC and the CA State Parks trails crew. The pedestrian path into the park is partially open and there are signs designating the pedestrian walkway adjacent to the closed path.
Posted by the park 2026-06-23. Official alert
Overview
El Capitán State Beach is a 2,647-acre beach in Santa Barbara County, about 10 miles west of Goleta.
The park supports snorkeling and diving, surfing, historic sites, boating, and swimming. Water access includes a swimming beach. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
8 am to Sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hourly Parking | $3 |
| Vehicle Day Use | $10 |
| Bus, Large | $100 |
| Bus, Small | $50 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Hourly Parking: $3.00 • Vehicle Day Use: $10.00 • Bus, Large: $100.00 • Bus, Small: $50.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: beach.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed in campground and day-use area. Dogs not allowed on beach.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
El Capitán State Beach offers visitors a sandy beach, rocky tidepools, and stands of sycamore and oaks along El Capitán Creek. It’s a perfect setting for swimming, fishing, surfing, picnicking and camping. A stairway provides access from the bluffs to the beach area.
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.
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Group Campsites, Hike-and-Bike Campsites, RV Access
From the official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingPicnickingFishingHistoric sites and toursRanger and interpretive programsSnorkeling and scubaSwimmingSurfingGeocachingHikingBikingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Nature center or museum
- Park or camp store
- Parking
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
A popular family park about 20 miles west of Santa Barbara, “El Cap” provides camping, picnicking, a bike trail and all the usual beach activities. Phone (805) 968-1033 for more information.
Camping
There are 10 accessible campsites that are primarily designed for tent camping. The combination restroom/shower building adjacent to the De Anza Group Camp is accessible.
Group Camps: Drake and Ortega are accessible including parking and restroom buildings.
Picnic Area
Accessible picnic sites are provided adjacent to the beach area.
Trails
The Nature Trail is a 0.6 mile trail that starts near the park entrance station and takes visitors on a hike through a riparian corridor with large sycamore and oak trees, and offers coastal views as well as an accessible day use picnic area. Accessible parking is provided near the park entrance station. Accessible restrooms are provided at the main day use parking lot.
Read more from the park
Bluff-Top Bike Trail: Visitors to El Capitan State Beach can enjoy the views of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands from a bluff-top bike trail/walkway. Part of the trail has been closed because of coastal erosion so it is no longer possible to travel between El Capitan and Refugio State Beaches, but parts of the trail remain open. The trail has fairly level sections, and parts of it may be usable, and challenging, for strong wheelchair users. An accessible restroom is located in the day use parking lot.
Beach/Shore Access
Contact park staff at the entrance station or the Camp Host for beach wheelchair information.
Exhibits/Programs
The Campfire Center has been improved to provide accessible parking, routes, seating, and stage access.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- Hwy 101 & El Capitan State Beach Rd
Goleta, CA 93117 - Nearest town
- Goleta — about 10 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 34.4600, -120.0240
- Phone
- (805) 968-1033
- SB.SpecialEvents@parks.ca.gov
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The beach is located off Hwy 101 seventeen miles west of Santa Barbara. From Hwy 101 north- or southbound, take Exit 117 for El Capitán State Beach. Proceed south toward the ocean and the park entrance.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 30, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology