While there is no lodging within Channel Islands National Park in California. There are primitive campgrounds on each campground. Because there are no services, you will need to bring all your own food and water with you and pack out what you pack in.
Lodging
The nearest lodging options will be found on the mainland:
- Ventura Visitor and Convention Bureau
- Oxnard Visitor and Convention Bureau
- Santa Barbara Visitor and Convention Bureau
Camping
Each island within the national park has a primitive campground open year-round:
- Above the Landing Cove on Santa Barbara
- On the east islet of Anacapa
- At Scorpion Canyon on Santa Cruz
- At Water Canyon on Santa Rosa
- Above Cuyler Harbor on San Miguel.
Reservations are required through Recreation.gov
No camping is allowed on The Nature Conservancy's western 76 percent of Santa Cruz Island.
Limited backcountry camping is available on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands.
Note: Santa Rosa Island is currently closed to visitors through at least June 30, 2026, due to a wildfire on the south side of the island.
Because concession boats to the islands fills more quickly than campground limits, overnight visitors to the Channel Islands must first secure transportation before finding a campsite.
For more information about camping transportation, reservations, and facilities, click here.
Below is a quick rundown of each campground. To make your reservation, click on the campground name.
Anacapa Island Campground offers seven tent sites for $15 per night per site. Picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water, cell service, or trash collection is available – pack out what you pack in. Distance from landing to campground is one-half mile (0.8 kilometers) and includes a 157-stair climb.
WARNING: Western gulls nest on Anacapa Island From April through mid-August. During this time, visitors will encounter seabird rookery conditions: guano, strong odor, constant noise, bird carcasses, and birds protecting their territory.
Santa Cruz Island Scorpion Canyon Campground offers 31 sites total: 25 tent sites accommodating a total of six people. Each site is $15 per night, and six group sites accommodating a total of 15 people for $40 per night per site. Picnic table, food storage box, potable water, and pit toilet are provided. No water, cell service, or trash collection is available – pack out what you pack in. Distance from landing to campground is one-half mile (0.8 kilometers).
Santa Rosa Island Campground offers 15 sites at $15 per night per site. Wind shelter, picnic table, food storage box, toilet, and potable water are provided. Distance from landing to campground is 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) from the pier and .25 miles (0.4 kilometers) from the airstrip.
San Miguel Island Campground offers nine sites at $15 per night per site. Wind shelter, picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water is available. Distance from landing to campground is one mile (1.61 kilometers) up a steep canyon (400-foot/122-meter climb).
Santa Barbara Island Campground offers 10 sites at $15 per night per site. Picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. No water is available. Distance from landing to campground is one-quarter mile (0.4 kilometers) and includes a steep climb.
Note: Recreation.gov shows no available campsites at this campground because of severe winter storm damage that destroyed the wharf at Landing Cove—the island's only practical public access point. Because the pier remains unsafe, standard ferry services from Island Packers have been suspended and no reopening timeline has been established.
When you camp on any of these islands, be aware of ticks. Spray your tent and clothing with a tick repellent like Sawyer-brand permethrin spray.
- By Rebecca Latson - June 11th, 2026 3:12pm
