Skip to content
Upper Oso Campground in California
Hard to BookNational Forest

Upper Oso Campground

Los Padres National Forest, California

Sold out? We check Upper Oso Campground for cancellations and email you the moment a site opens.

Sold out for your dates?

Free to start. Email alerts included.

As of October 2026, Upper Oso Campground is a campground in Los Padres National Forest, California with 7 campsites. Upper Oso Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks Upper Oso Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • Upper Oso Campground is located at 34.5558ยฐ N, 119.7539ยฐ W.
people allowed on each site
8

Upper Oso Campground reservations and next available dates

October 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Campsites at Upper Oso Campground

  • Standard 5
  • Tent 2

What an RV fits

  • 32 ft3 sites

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Mountain ยท Access: Paved road.

Things to do: fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, photography, offroad, horse riding.

All sites at Upper Oso Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the UPPE loop.

SiteTypeSleepsMax RV
04Tent8-
05Tent8-
06Standard8-
07Standard8-
10Standard832 ft
11Standard832 ft
13Standard832 ft

About Upper Oso Campground

Overview

Upper Oso Campground provides ample opportunity for exploration of California's coastal mountains. It is a family-friendly campground, equipped with equestrian sites, and is close to a variety of trails and several mountain streams.

Recreation

A variety of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails begin in and around the campground, including the Santa Cruz Trail, which traverses 18 miles north to the San Rafael Wilderness. The 2.5-mile Aliso National Recreation Trail leads through scenic areas to a group campsite.

Off-road vehicle enthusiasts enjoy the Camuesa OHV Route, which loops about 10 miles through the surrounding forest.

Fishing and swimming are available at nearby White Rock Day-Use Area, less than two miles from the campground. The Santa Ynez River is stocked with trout in the springtime.

Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, a no-body-contact reservoir, is about 10 miles northwest of the campground. It offers boating, fishing and kayaking. Anglers will find an abundance of annually stocked trout. Carp and bass are also common catches there.

Facilities

The campground is open year-round and offers around two dozen sites tent or RV camping. About 10 sites are outfitted with horse corrals and extra long, paved parking spurs. Some additional sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each site is equipped with a table, campfire ring with grill and a pedestal grill. Accessible flush toilets and drinking water are provided throughout the campground. Firewood is available for purchase from the on-site campground host.

Natural Features

The campground is located in the lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area, not far from Santa Barbara. The campground has large sites scattered among plentiful oak trees that provide pleasant shade. It is situated alongside a seasonal creek, at an elevation of 1,040 feet.

Nearby Attractions

The campground is located about 25 miles north of the city of Santa Barbara.

Rules and notices at Upper Oso Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 30, 2026. Check Upper Oso Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

In order to contact our offices, please use the email: customerservice@pmcparks.com or view our website: CampOne.Com for answers to frequently asked questions.

Poison oak may be present in the area

Additional fees of $10/night per extra vehicle will be collected at the campground

All single campsite reservations are good for 6 people and 1 vehicle. Maximum number of people per single site is 8 ($10.00 additional charge per person per night after 6 people.) Maximum number of vehicles per single site is 2 ($10.00 additional charge for 2nd vehicle per night). Extra vehicle and person fees will be charged at the facility.

Changing river levels can prompt campground closures during the winter.

Learn more about Los Padres National Forest

Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.

Upper Oso Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Upper Oso Campground?

Upper Oso Campground is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at Upper Oso Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Upper Oso Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Upper Oso Campground have?

Upper Oso Campground has 7 campsites.

More campgrounds in Los Padres National Forest

Same forest, same drive. Set an alert on any of them alongside this one.

All 31 Los Padres National Forest campgrounds

Campgrounds

Browse Campsites

Monitor campsite availability across federal and state parks. Get alerts when sites open up at sold-out campgrounds.

One tick helps us more than youโ€™d think

Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our campground pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Add PermitSnag in Google

Takes less than a minute.