Camping near Ventura...or?

[unrooted]

I live in Bishop Ca, (near Mammoth) and would like to spend a few days surfing/hanging on the coast, Ventura seems like a short enough drive and there are several campgrounds around there, but they don’t appear to have any reservable sites in the near future, do you happen to know if it’s easy to get a first come/first served site?

Also I’ll be needing a board rental, hopefully a noserider style... any recommendations on shops with good hard top rentals?

[billie_morini]

These are my 2 fave shops in VENT. They have existed forever, are funky cool, and nearly next door to one another. Check with them for board rental.

Ventura surf shop
88 E Thompson Blvd, Ventura, CA
805 643 1063

Wave Front surf shop
154 E Thompson Blvd, Ventura, CA
805 652 2201

Third option close by in Carpinteria.
A Frame surf shop
3785 Santa Claus Ln, Carpinteria, CA
(805) 684-8803

[billie_morini]

what kind of camping? Tent, car, van, RV? There may be some options if I know what you want / need.

[unrooted]

what kind of camping? Tent, car, van, RV? There may be some options if I know what you want / need.

My wife prefers the tent, but I prefer the back of the Tacoma...

[billie_morini]

The Ventura camping near the surf breaks serve RVs better than tents. Some of the RV locations require well kept campers and don't seem to allow sleeping in truck or SUV. But, here are several places where you can pitch a tent (list below). The first one is probably your best bet. It and the next four take reservations.

Private Tents & RV camp sites
Ventura Beach RV Resort – reservations possible; sometimes they have yurts set-up for rental
https://www.vbrvresort.com/tent-sites

Lake Casitas Recreation Area – 15 miles north of Ventura
http://www.lakecasitas.info/
You may actually have to call or email them to complete a reservation
This web page also tells you that local contractors will provide a camper trailer for you

KOA Campground – 30 miles north of Ventura
https://koa.com/campgrounds/ventura-ranch/

Something different -- they provide the AirStream trailer within a small, privately-owned downtown Santa Barbara property; 30 mile northwest of Ventura
Autocamp
https://autocamp.com/guides/location/santa-barbara/

Carpinteria State Beach – 16 miles northwest of Ventura; pretty busy & don’t think you’ll get a rental (but, you can try)
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=599
The web page also tells you that a local contractor will provide a camper trailer for you

County Tents & RV camp sites - 1st come, 1st serve during May to Memorial day. Show up on week day at just the right time. Call the parks to inquire when the right time is
Faria Beach
https://www.ventura.org/parks-departmen ... each-park/

Hobson Beach
https://www.ventura.org/parks-departmen ... each-park/

[unrooted]

The Ventura camping near the surf breaks serve RVs better than tents. Some of the RV locations require well kept campers and don't seem to allow sleeping in truck or SUV. But, here are several places where you can pitch a tent (list below). The first one is probably your best bet. It and the next four take reservations.

Private Tents & RV camp sites
Ventura Beach RV Resort – reservations possible; sometimes they have yurts set-up for rental
https://www.vbrvresort.com/tent-sites

Lake Casitas Recreation Area – 15 miles north of Ventura
http://www.lakecasitas.info/
You may actually have to call or email them to complete a reservation
This web page also tells you that local contractors will provide a camper trailer for you

KOA Campground – 30 miles north of Ventura
https://koa.com/campgrounds/ventura-ranch/

Something different -- they provide the AirStream trailer within a small, privately-owned downtown Santa Barbara property; 30 mile northwest of Ventura
Autocamp
https://autocamp.com/guides/location/santa-barbara/

Carpinteria State Beach – 16 miles northwest of Ventura; pretty busy & don’t think you’ll get a rental (but, you can try)
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=599
The web page also tells you that a local contractor will provide a camper trailer for you

County Tents & RV camp sites - 1st come, 1st serve during May to Memorial day. Show up on week day at just the right time. Call the parks to inquire when the right time is
Faria Beach
https://www.ventura.org/parks-departmen ... each-park/

Hobson Beach
https://www.ventura.org/parks-departmen ... each-park/

WOW! Thanks for the excellent beta!