Go RVing Around the Channel Islands National Park

It’s difficult to believe that Channel Islands is one of the least-visited national parks. These serene, unspoiled islands are off the coast of otherwise-bustling Southern California, blessed with year-round sunshine and remarkable natural beauty. They’re home to an outstanding array of wildlife, whether land, sea or sky. Plus, the boat trip required to visit the islands is part of the fun!

Channel Islands National Park encompasses five gorgeous islands: Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara. Each has its own unique geography and vibe along with different seasons for visiting. Dreams of these islands are enough to make you click “book” on that RV rental and get ready to go RVing in sunny SoCal ASAP.

Enjoy Camping at Channel Islands National Park

Visitors enjoy hiking, beachcombing, birding, kayaking, and camping. Access to the islands is exclusively by boat, with year-round services run by park concessionaire Island Packers. Only tent camping is allowed on the islands, so you’ll need to give your RV a well-earned rest at one of many excellent campsites on the mainland. 

If your cruise America plans include RVing to Channel Islands National Park, the closest road trip destination is Ventura, a delightful destination in its own right. The harbors where boats depart for the islands are approximately 67 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. You might book an RV rental in Los Angeles and head north on an epic coastal California road trip, stopping to explore the Channel Islands along the way. 

Channel Islands National Park Has A Rich, Unique Ecosystem

The Channel Islands are known as “The Galapagos of North America,” a nod to their rich, unique ecosystems. The national park boasts over 2,000 plant and animal species, 150 of which are not found anywhere else in the world. From adorably miniature island foxes to behemoth blue whales, wildlife is a major attraction.

Boat trips from the mainland, which range from one to four hours each way, are an enjoyable part of the experience and often feature dolphin and whale sightings. If you love nature, wildlife, and year-round sunshine, planning an RV road trip to visit Channel Islands National Park is an excellent idea!

Trip Planning Tips

Planning starts with a general overview of the islands. The national park is informally divided into the “local” islands (Anacapa and Santa Cruz) which are closest to the mainland, and the “outer” islands (Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara).

Boat trips to Santa Rosa and San Miguel are only offered seasonally with limited departures, so you need to schedule your road trip accordingly if you want to visit those islands. 

Amenities and services are limited or non-existent, with few structures and no roads. You’ll need to bring enough provisions for your day trip including snacks, water, sun protection and layers of clothing for changing weather conditions. Drinks and snacks are generally available on Island Packers boats, along with park rangers and volunteers who can give you advice and information. 

Anacapa Island

Anacapa is the smallest of the local islands, just one square mile and mostly flat. It’s home to the largest breeding colony of western gulls in the world and also the west coast’s largest breeding population of brown pelicans. Be prepared to share the island with a cacophony of birdlife, and stick closely to the trails to avoid stepping into the birds’ territories. The island features a historic lighthouse and a visitor center inside an old Coast Guard building.

Santa Cruz Island

Santa Cruz Island is the largest in the archipelago at 96 square miles, and it’s famous for some of the largest sea caves in the world. Painted Cave is almost a quarter-mile long with a 160-foot entrance, tall enough for Island Packers boats.

The island’s topography features significant elevation changes and allows for long, strenuous hikes as well as shorter, easier ones. There is a picnic area, visitor center, some historic structures, and a long, rocky beach at Scorpion Anchorage, and a second port of entry at Prisoner’s Harbor.

Santa Rosa Island

Santa Rosa Island features rugged mountains, white-sand beaches, and an abundance of wildflowers in spring. Spending time amid its natural beauty might very well be the highlight of your road trip. There are no services and no visitor center, so prepare for self-sufficiency. (You wouldn’t go RVing if you didn’t know how to do that!) 

San Miguel Island

The most remote of the Channel Islands served by Island Packers, San Miguel is a four-hour boat ride from the mainland, and the crossing can be rough. A permit and liability waiver are required for visitors, and you must stay on the island’s trail system. Park rangers offer guided hikes. 

Getting to Channel Islands National Park Is By Reservation

Aside from private boats, the only way to get to Channel Islands National Park is through Island Packers. Advanced reservations are recommended year-round, and book early for summer departures as well as weekends and holidays. Why not book boat tickets when booking your RV rental?

Island Packers boats departs from Ventura Harbor in the city of Ventura, with a smaller number of departures from the nearby Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. The national park’s Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center is close to the dock at Ventura Harbor, so stop in before or after a trip to explore the exhibits, aquatic displays and bookstore. 

Island Packers offers round-trip transportation to Anacapa Island and Santa Cruz Island all-year-round, and both offer more frequent departures in summer.

Trips to Santa Rosa Island are available from March to November, while trips to San Miguel Island run from July to early November. Expect to climb a ladder to transfer from boat to pier upon arrival on any of the Channel Islands. 

Island Packers also offers wildlife-viewing and whale-watching trips to the national park. They don’t stop at the islands, but you’ll see the islands up close. Another way to visit Channel Islands National Park is on a sea-kayaking excursion with a local outfitter such as Santa Barbara Adventure Company.

RV Campgrounds Near Channel Islands National Park

You can’t bring your RV rental to Channel Islands National Park, but there are several top-notch state, county and private RV parks and campgrounds in Ventura. Some even promise views of the islands from oceanfront campsites on Pacific Coast Highway, an iconic road trip route.

The following RV campgrounds are within a short drive of both Ventura and Channel Islands harbors, so you can go RVing and get to your departing boat with ease.

Emma Wood State Beach

Emma Wood State Beach campsite is right next to the sand of the ocean side of Pacific Coast Highway, just 1.5 miles north of Ventura. The campground has 90 primitive sites (no hookups or amenities) and welcomes trailers and motorhomes up to 45 feet.

Reservations are required at reserveamerica.com or over the phone from May 15 to Labor Day. Sites are available first-come, first-served throughout the rest of the year.

Ventura County Beach Campgrounds

Ventura County runs three beachfront campgrounds with RV sites, all on Pacific Coast Highway north of Ventura. Reservations are available at venturaparks.org up to 180 days in advance. Check the website for more details.

• Faria County Campground has 42 sites for tents and RVs with full hookups, showers, fire rings, a playground and horseshoe pits.
• Hobson Beach County Campground offers 31 sites for tents and RVs with full hookups, showers, fire rings and Wi-Fi.
• Rincon RV Parkway is for self-contained RVs only, with 130 sites and no hookups. 

The county manages a total of 12 parks with camping for tents and RVs, so it’s easy to go RVing in Ventura. The three beach campgrounds are the closest to the harbor so you can easily access the national park, but the others are within driving distance. 

Ventura Beach RV Resort

Ventura Beach RV Resort covers 14 acres on the western edge of Ventura. It’s a full-service park with 140 RV sites with full hookups. Sites range from standard to ultra-deluxe, and both back-in and pull-through sites are available.

Amenities include WiFi, a heated pool and spa, showers, a store, laundry, playground, rec room and access to a coastal bike trail. The resort runs a complimentary seasonal shuttle to downtown Ventura and offers a complimentary Sunday pancake breakfast.

Waypoint Ventura

Waypoint Ventura is a specialist RV resort dedicated to vintage and retro-style trailers and Sprinter vans. If you have an RV rental that fits the resort’s requirements of 31-feet maximum and vintage or retro-style model, contact the resort to book one of 20 back-in sites. The resort is close to the beach and pier.

P.S. Don’t Forget RV Rentals for Your SoCal Road Trip!

RVing is one of the best ways to cruise America. 

Channel Islands National Park is one of Southern California’s most remarkable natural treasures, but there’s so much more to see on a California RV road trip. First things first: Check out your many fantastic RV rental options through RVnGO.com.

Check out America’s Top 20 National Parks for Your Summer Vacation. There are 19 other fabulous national parks to visit when you go RVing! Check them out.