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Jalama Beach County Park
Categories: Active Life Parks Active Life Swimming Pools Hotels & Travel Campgrounds Active Life Beaches Parks, Swimming Pools, Campgrounds, Beaches [Edit]
9991 Jalama RdLompoc, CA 93436
(805) 736-3504
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
31 reviews for Jalama Beach County Park
31 reviews in English
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Review from Justine S.
Murrieta, CA
9/14/2011
I love this place. Waking up to surf and sand for 4 days was pure bliss.
My fiancé had come here when he was younger with his family and always spoke so well of the place. So we had to go with our own little family. Keep up tradition!
First off, this place is definitely "off the eaten path." A good 15 mile drive down a single lane winding road and finally you reach this little secluded pocket of beach beauty. Checking in was a breeze. So many families about and every campsite is just a mere couple yards from the water.
Only downside to the whole trip was the freak wind we had the first night. My two year old daughter was terrified because it would not let up for HOURS and there were tents and canopies flying past. Everyone was in a rush to strap every little thing down. Our poor tent split a couple poles!! We had to sleep in our car that night :(
But the next 3 days...GORGEOUS. We moved to a spot covered by more bushes and closer to the water. Bathrooms are clean and showers are roomy as well. Scouted out some of the few cabins and thinking of booking one next time. Looks promising.
Overall, will definitely be planning on returning every year. Gotta keep the tradition... -
Review from George M.
Culver City, CA
10/9/2011
Like many of the previous reviewers, my first visit to Jalama Beach dates back to the 70s when this was truly a "secret spot," but that's history. It's a beautiful spot, despite it's popularity today.
What spoils the entire Jalama experience are the incredibly rude, arrogant, insensitive park rangers. Those are the nicest words I could think of. Like Ranger Anderson that the L.A. County Lifeguards encountered, I was visiting Jalama just for lunch, along with about 12 other cars, as part of a memorial drive to honor recently deceased Vietnam Veteran. Prior notification was given to the rangers and we were told "we'd be taken well care of" during our brief visit to the park.
Upon arrival of our caravan we were warmly greeted by one very nice young ranger named Matt. We were given a receipt that we were told to get validated at the Jalama Beach Store, where we had lunch.
After lunch we all got in our cars and the memorial drive headed out of Jalama. It was at the exit gate when everything went bad. That's when Ranger Kurt Langel put on his "big boy" pants and decided to be a total A-Hole. The first four cars got out with no problem. Then Ranger Langel stops letting cars out while he starts talking to group of young girls who had walked up to the ranger station. So the caravan of cars is patiently waiting...and waiting, until finally the girls leave.
Now Ranger Langel goes back to working on the line of cars waiting to leave and says we're now over the "hour" that we had to eat lunch and it's now $10 per car to leave.
"What? We were in line to leave. If you hadn't been talking to those girls so long, we wouldn't have gone over in time."
Ranger Langel crosses arms and sternly says, "I was conducting business!"
What an asshole. What was otherwise a beautiful day to honor a wonderful soldier, was tainted by a moron in a uniform who shouldn't even be a Wal-Mart greeter. -
Review from David G.
Carson, CA
1/23/2012
Hi..My family stayed here around end of July in 2011 for 4 days. Three people in our group went up from LA at 3am to get in line at the gate for spots on a Tuesday. They got 3 spots for our group. Overall an ok campground, but what a pain in the ass for spots. I honestly think the campground uses the no reservation, first come first serve system for tent sites to favor the locals, who would throw a shit fit if this place changed to reservation system. They only have a 30 min drive from Lompoc so who do you think uses the campground most? They would otherwise lose their advantage.
OK enough about that. On this trip the mens bathrooms were nasty. Someone actually purposely took a dump right on the bathroom floor. Nasty asses. My wife said women's restrooms were clean. A couple nights there was a fight among neighboring campsites, alcohol played a part. Yelling expletives, and running through the campground.
But we did have fun in spite of the negatives. Beach was fun exploring with our daughter looking for shells and rocks. Someone had made a swing out of drift wood on the beach, pretty awesome. The playground came in handy too, our daughter played on the slide. The weather was great. Nighttime was comfortable enough for jeans and a hoodie. We basically did breakfast at our campsite, went to beach with a cooler of beer, ate lunch at our campsite, went to beach with a cooler of beer, dinner at our campsite then started a campfire and drank beer. Raccoons are smart and will open your coolers or containers and eat everything and anything if you let them. Bungee cords from one handle to the other over your coolers works well. The ground is not to rocky but would recommend a battery operated air mattress for extra comfort.
We ate at Jalama Cafe. Burger was like a burger I could get at my local charbroiled burger place. Great general store though in case you forgot anything.
Overall I would return but you try your luck getting a spot. -
Review from Hyerim L.
7/30/2011 2 photos
It seems like this place is getting more popular by the day... it's a small beach nestled between Lompoc and Santa Barbara, and truly a gem. Jalama's perfect for those looking to get away and enjoy the beach without sacrificing too much comfort. It's small but complete with ample campsites (for RV and tent), lifeguard, newly built showers and cabins, and a cafe and store if you've forgotten your toothbrush or need some eggs.
Getting here may be a bit tricky - on the PCH 1, you exit on Lompoc & Vandenberg AFB and go for about 15 miles or so until you hit Jalama Road. It's a teeny little sign with a road on the opposite side - take it and you'll see a sign. The road winds down to the beach for about 15 more miles and it ends right at the campsite. If you plan to stay just for the day, you pay a parking fee of $10 and are free to stay until sunset.
The campsites are usually first come first served and you pay up front for however many nights you'll spend. They've installed a vacancy/no vacancy neon sign at the entrance sign at Jalama Road so you're spared 15 miles if it's full. An individual site is pretty small and right next to your neighbor's, but everyone's pretty chill and friendly around here.
The beach is a bit rocky and seaweed-heavy but still great for kids. A lot of people including myself come here for the perch, which you can fish for right off the shore. Go around high tides and make sure you have a fishing license! It can also get super windy and chilly at night, so bring firewood for the pits and something warm.
Tip: You MUST see the sunset. Check out my pictures, it's unreal.
Conclusion: A true Cali beach and a great campsite, although a bit too crowded for my taste. Better to go in the off-season, as is with most places. If you're taking a roadtrip on the 1, this is a great place to include on your itinerary!Listed in: The great outdoors
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Review from Larry H.
Lawndale, CA
11/18/2011
I use to love coming to jalama back in the 70's & 80's Easy painless camping,
& always got a campspot, EZ as pie. Now It is a freaking nightmare on steroids to get a camp spot. Not bashing the beach, It's real nice, but this state has a serious over population problem! What good is a camp ground if you can't even get a camp spot.
I'll admit, other camp grounds can be tough but this one takes the cake. -
Review from Mare M.
Thousand Oaks, CA
2/15/2011
Today I drove up on a "solo scout" in my truck to Jalama Beach. Just bought an RV in Oct 2010, been doing some local camping along the coast in it. I live in Ventura County, so I go into "scout mode" some days. Today's scout took me to Jalama Beach. I didn't have the best directions, so it took me awhile to find Jalama Rd. But once on it, WOW! I saw a wild boar rooting around, beautiful foliage, birds galore, awesome colors on the mountains/rolling hills - it was an awesome drive. And when you round the bend and there's the ocean, TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY! All you can say is OH WOW!!!
So I get to the gate - nobody's around. Gate was unmanned. I had to pee, and there were PLENTY of bathrooms scattered around. The one I chose was clean and well stocked. I then headed to the camp store for one of those World Famous Jalama Burgers I'd read about. Oh MAN! The thing was awesome, and I ate every bite - wished there was more of it! The French fries were real good too.
So then I got in the truck and drove around the campsites. This was a Tuesday (Feb 15, 2011) and there were plenty of good sites available. I passed on going onto the beach today - I knew this is a spot I'll be returning to in the RV, and I'll explore it at that time. Hope to return with a companion end of March 2011 and hope to get a spot that's decent. I noted there's a dump station - thumbs up on that one.
The only possible drawback is no cell coverage, not even 3G on my iPad. There ARE two payphones. I think I could handle being totally incommunicado for a few days.
I also noticed that it looks like they are possibly adding a few more RV sites to the campground on a lower tier.. The site slabs were poured and men were working on that. Lots of hustle bustle of fixing things around there today.
This is a gorgeous, remote spot that's really calling to me. I can't believe I ate that whole burger, but I'll be back for another one for sure!!! -
Review from Oliver N.
San Francisco, CA
1/23/2011
Jalama Beach will forever occupy a warm place in my heart. I left Santa Cruz one lazy summer night at about midnight, headed south on the 1. many hours and one mountain lion encounter later, I turned off the highway on a hunch and coasted into Jalama Beach just as the Sun was making an appearance. A couple surfers in the waves, a few R.V.'s taking in the view, I took a nice shoeless walk through the sand, then folded down the rear seat of my car and spooned up with my travel companion.
What a beautiful place to wake up. -
Review from June A.
Lake Forest, CA
8/28/2011
A group of us have been going here for the past 10 years, so it does hold a special place in my heart because of the memories, but I'm beginning to find other less frustrating camping areas to make new memories.
Getting a spot at Jalama takes some effort and rules seem to change which makes it a bit challenging, but you just go with the flow and not let it get to you.
Anyway, if you want a good spot expect to come a few days before you actually want to camp. A few guys would often volunteer to arrive Sunday evening to hopefully get 3 sites by Wednesday for the rest of our group. We always got a spot, but only after being turned away Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. We usually get a place by Wednesday. There were times we were lucky to get spots by Monday. It's really a gamble.
What they do is they give you a number and they do role call each day at the flag pole at around 2pm. Things may have change since I haven't been there lately, so check with the ranger first. Make sure you are there for role call or they give your spot away! They are like the role call Natzi! There's a nearby hotel in Lompoc if you are turned away.
When you get a beach front site it's all worth it, but if you happen to get any of the non-ocean view sites near the toilet...it's pretty crappy (no pun intended :p ) and feels like you are in a parking lot. Of course, you make the most of it and you still have fun with the people you are with, but it would be nice to not smell or hear someone going #2 while you're having dinner. LOL I guess on a positive note...if you needed to hurl after witnessing all of that...the restroom is right there! :P
I wanted to give this place 5 stars, but going here is a bit of a gamble and a bit of a hassle at times. We've even tried calling to reserve and the lines are always busy when the first day to make reservations open up. I had 5 people calling one time to make sure we get through, but nope...no luck.
They also have coined showers and it really does eat up your quarter fast. We would sometimes have a contest to see who could shower with the least quarters. I was able to shower with 2 quarters & with long hair, but a guy beat me with using only 1 quarter! What the heck? Well, it was actually no contest...he had no hair! Of course he won! But hey, 2 quarters for someone w/ long hair using shampoo, conditioner, and soap? I would've been able to do it in 1 quarter hands down if I was bald like him! hahaha
Overall, Jalama is actually very beautiful, but just very difficult to find a good ocean view spot. Good luck!
Tips:
1. Bring baby oil to wipe the tar off your feet.
2. Bring a calling card for the pay phone or drive to town to make calls. There is absolutely no cell phone service.
3. Bring quarters for the showers. Lots of it unless you are bald. :P
4. It gets really windy and cold at night. I usually bring my winter snow jacket, mittens, ski mask and a hat. The guys laugh at me, but I don't care LOL. I'm warm and they're freezing their butts off trying to look all cool in their shorts pretending it's not cold. Pshh! :P -
Review from Alena M.
11/20/2010 4 photos
Let me start off by saying that I can't wait to come back when the weather is warmer. We were unlucky enough to pick cold and rainy days. With two little kids in tow, our timing was less than ideal.
Moving on, this camp site is great. You are so close to the beach and the best burgers I've ever had. There is a great playground to keep kids entertained. The bathrooms are pretty nice for campground bathrooms, too.
Yes, there are some cons: The train track is nearby and the raccoons are totally brazen, but oh well.
Hopefully I'll be back in the summertime! -
Review from Ray S.
Cheyenne, WY
8/21/2011
Oil derricks and sand castles! This beach is great if you wanna clean tar off of your feet. If you love walking around dead birds and seeing live ones that are covered in oil, I assure you my friend, that youll love this place. PS, sunblock and a towel along with some elbow grease works like a charm for removing the stickiest goo Ive ever seen. And did I mention, you can experience this magical black sand for a mere fee of $10!!
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Review from Angelique L.
Newport, OR
6/29/2010 6 photos
The reason Southern California beaches are so nice is because they face south, rather than west, and are sheltered from the wind coming off the ocean. Point Conception, just south of Jalama Beach, is where that orientation changes. I'll get to that point later. The drive out to Jalama is gorgeous. Winding roads, rolling hillsides, thick stands of trees and flower farms with rows of pink, purple and yellow. We saw a beautiful mule deer just as we were crossing the railroad tracks into Jalama.
I had read that getting a campground here was tough so we came early on a Saturday in late April, around 11am, and got one without any difficulty. But by noon the sites were filled. It is a gorgeous beach and a clean, really cute campground. We set up our tent right away and had a picnic lunch. Then we decided to walk to Point Conception, a little over five miles, on the beach.
The geology of this site is very interesting. The white coastal bluffs are made of compressed sandstone disintegrating into piles of layered rock. There are tidepools, colorful rocks and shells, sand dunes, driftwood and seaweed deposits, and sprays of tiny flowering succulents all along the beaches. It's extraordinarily beautiful but you can't sit down anywhere without having sand blasted into your face and eyes.
What characterizes Jalama Beach for me is the wind. What we didn't realize walking the five miles down was that the wind was on our backs, pushing us along. When we turned around, it was a trudge for over two hours into the wind to get back. We were exhausted! We barely made it in time to get a burger at the beach store. Who would have guessed they close at 7pm? After a five-hour walk on the beach, we were pretty grateful for hot food.
After a burger and a beer, we were feeling pretty good until we realized that our tent had now become a giant kite in the wind that was getting more and more fierce. We had to move it closer to the dune and use giant rocks outside and inside the tent to keep it from flying away! It was crazy and funny but also a bit stressful as we were racing the sun to get it secured. We sat to watch the sunset with a glass of wine but the wind kept blowing sand in our eyes so we retreated. All I wanted was to sit for a minute on this beautiful beach and enjoy the view!
Next up was a shower. Boy, they leave a lot to be desired and it was my least favorite part of the adventure - so far. Everything in my shower stall got soaking wet and I can't remember what else I cursed about because it was eclipsed by what happened next. That night, the wind wreaked havoc on us. It sounded like a bear was shaking the tent all night. Sand was coming through the fabric and falling into our eyes. My head was on a rock which I didn't realize until morning and sand was everywhere! It was the worst night of sleep of my life. The people who slept in RVs and campers and pop-tops must know that Jalama is no place for a tent. I do love the sound of the trains going by but it's probably better muffled a bit by a vehicle.
When we woke, the first words out of my mouth were: "I have an idea. Let's get the f&#* out of here!" We packed up as quickly as we could, stopped at the store for coffee and were just about to head out when we noticed the Native American settlement area. Damn. Just when I think I'm getting out, they pull me back in. What a gorgeous area this is. A watershed with a completely different topography than the beach area. The history of the people who used to live here is fascinating. If you make it through the night, definitely check this out!Listed in: From Los Angeles to San…
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Review from Ryan R.
Newbury Park, CA
12/5/2010
We came here for the burgers as the little cafe that is in the facility.
It is a beautiful place, and the drive was absolutely wonderful on a rainy/misty day.
I would like to come back here to camp but.... take heed...
The restrooms are **NASTY**.
I went in there to do the business and saw the toilet FULL of feces, the flusher was broken and i ended up going to the womens room, which wasn't much better. GROSS. -
Review from Ayesha M.
Los Angeles, CA
8/14/2011
Today i had my first disappointing day in J.B. since 1997 ! Too many people... Anything but quiet , peaceful and relaxing . Jalama is changing :-(
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Review from Jesse F.
Los Angeles, CA
10/4/2007 5 photos
This is a review I didn't want to write, but I may as well anyway.
Jalama (pronounced "Halama") is paradise on earth. I've been camping there since I was a little kid. This place is like a second home to me. The beaches are gorgeous. You can walk down the beach in either direction and find all kinds of awesome stuff (watch out for the military guys though to the north, but as long as you are on sand, you can tell them you are on navigable waters and passage is guaranteed by the California Constitution). The weather is a bit unpredictable (read windy-as-all-get-out), but anything is better than snow IMO. The road getting there winds through oak groves and is used in car commercials.
It is really heaven on earth.
So why the measly 3 stars? Cause hell is other people. See, Jalama used to be an unknown little surfer's spot (more accurately tarantula point to the south). But then came Sunset magazine. And then the Today show. Jalama has been suffering growing pains for the last 15 years now as more and more people come to visit what they think is a secret little spot.
How can it be a secret if everyone knows about it?
Basically, the place is too popular for its own good. They refuse to expand and they refuse to take reservations, so getting a spot here is a hassle and a half (during the summer of course; once the kids go back to school, Jalama is again an awesome abandoned alcove, if not a little cold).
Here is a recent example of the the hassle and bullshit that is the status quo. Basically, I came once real early. I arrived probably around 3am to a closed gate that said "Full Camp." So I waited. As the hours went by, the line got longer and longer in front of that gate. Then, when the ranger arrived, he yelled at us for blocking the road.
Alright...
So the next time, I again arrived early and just moved the "camp full" sign, parked in day use, and then went and set up chairs outside of the gate. This time, the ranger yelled at us for entering before they were open. So I confronted him, "So we can't block the road, and we can't enter before you open. What are we supposed to do?"
"Arrive after 6."
Yeah, and be behind all the people blocking the road for the roll call. Sure, whatever you say. Dick.
Anyway, so roll call, that's another fact of life at Jalama. Basically, you get on a list to see if you can get a spot. It is first come, first served. You get a number as you arrive. So at 2 o'clock at the flagpole, if they call your number, you better be ready to pick a spot. But if it is really busy, you won't get a spot and you'll have to go elsewhere for the night. Now, for someone like me who goes camping for one or two nights, this really sucks.
Some details for those wiling to risk the trip down the 14 mile road just to have to go back again: The best spots are the ones under the big cypress trees. They have hot showers, but they are like 25 cents for damn near one minute; bring a big roll of quarters. The Jalama Store makes something they call a Jalama Burger. It is really freaking good. I'd make a separate review for the Jalama Store, but it'd probably have 3 stars as well, great burgers, hit and miss other food, and the owner of the store is a total... well, let's just say him and I don't get along too well.
They recently added some new rules to prevent people from selling their spots (people were basically selling their spot, extending their reservation and adding another family as their second car, then switching themselves to the second car and leaving, basically just no good dirty dealing)... and the rules are supposed to help, but really it is just delaying the inevitable. This place needs to start taking reservations. I know a lot of die-hard Jalama fanatics who would rather die than see Jalama take reservations, but as it is now, all the shit it takes to get a spot really does take away from the fun.
Last, that's another thing I don't like about Jalama. People get this attitude. I've said, in passing, not boasting mind you, "Yeah, I used to come here as a kid." They suddenly get all like, "Oh, well, I've been coming here for 30 years and I arranged a marriage between my daughter and the ranger and I bought a house on that hill over there cause I'm a TRUE Jalama fan."
Yeah, sure, keep telling yourself that. I think I may go quietly into oblivion like the Chumash who used to have a village there.Listed in: Camping
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Review from Tina-Marie L.
Whittier, CA
7/27/2009 8 photos
We came to Santa Barbara and were told by my husband's XBox friend that we had to take a trek to Jalama Beach. He claims that it is the most beautiful beach out this way and *drumroll please* they have the most amazing burger!
So, I Yelp the beach. I see Lompoc, CA. I look to hubby and ask, "Isn't that where the prison is?" He replies, "Yes." Beach near a prison... beach near a prison... Ummmm... best burger you say? Let's go!
It was about an hour north of us and we went for it. When you take the road to the beach it's about 14 miles of windy road. As we start our trek we see the Welcome to Jalama Beach sign. http://static3.px.yelp... And they wanted to welcome those from Santa Barbara as well. http://static1.px.yelp...
We arrived, spent $8 for parking, and searched and searched for a parking spot. Many people like to camp there so there are a lot of people there for the long haul. We got our spot and headed out to the beach area to build up an appetite for, what we later found out was called, The World Famous Jalama Burger.
Beach was small and quaint. Looks like a private beach. I believe that there was only one lifeguard tower. Anyhow, the beach was a bit too cold for my liking, even with all of the families out there in the water so we just hung out in the sun for awhile. Would definitely like to his this place up again when it's warmer. -
Review from L and T S.
Redondo Beach, CA
6/24/2011
Great fries... great view... and dog friendly beach. Most ppl don't use leashes though, FYI. The Jalama burger was good requires a fork/spoon to eat all the chili. Definitely worth a long drive on a lazy day. And you have to pay to enter the park.
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Review from David G.
8/30/2007 3 photos
I consider Jalama Beach to be a haven. If you're trying to get a group of city slickers out into nature, Jalama beach is a nice way to break them in slowly. The amenities at this place are enough to make camping feel less like camping and more like partying (to a certain extent) outdoors.
Some of the more notable amenities: Hot water showers; multiple bathrooms cleaned nightly; playground for the kids; basketball court; general store and grill; reservable campsites that are larger with electrical hookups, sink running water, picnic tables, large grill and bigger firepit.
Bring your surfboards, bodyboards and skimboards as this seems to be a spot to catch some waves, but I haven't seen any decent waves.
Tip: Bring a phone card because there is no cell phone reception in the immediate area.
In regards to the tent camping, I actually prefer the larger ones and/or campsites that are more enclosed. It gets windy there and it makes it quite cumbersome trying to do the day-to-day camp activities.
The mornings/nights are cold and the afternoons have the potential to be hot and sunny so prepare accordingly. Pack some ice with the Newcastles in the cooler to beat sun's heat. And bring a couple bottles of Jameson to keep warm in the nights.
Since you're at the beach, you won't have to worry about mosquitoes like heading to the lake or river to camp. However, you do have to worry about the gophers. Those little devils will always find a way to get into your food so store them adequately overnight. -
Review from Kursten O.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
4/10/2010
After hearing how wonderful Jalama Beach is from our friends, we made this a stop on our recent vacation. We had been out for 8 days already and were weary travelers. Knowing how popular this beach is and that they operate on a first come first served basis, we were nervous pulling in at 5:30 on Wednesday night but alas, they had 2 spots left to choose from!! We got the perfect spot, on the second tier, perfectly overlooking the water.
The campground is pretty well maintained overall. The restrooms were clean, they had a nice playground for the kids, dump area, a few fresh water fill spots and quite a few trash cans and recycle bins. They don't impose a lot of rules on campers. You are allowed to walk the campground drinking an alcoholic beverage, you can park your RV kind of sideways as we did, we were handed a map with vacant spots circled so we could choose where we wanted to go and you don't have to vacate your spot until 2 PM. And, it only cost us $23 a night with AAA discount!!
I will admit that I was a little bummed with the beach as it is super rocky. You can't just set your towel down anywhere, you have to really look for a good spot. Also, it gets VERY windy here. And last, there is NO cell phone coverage. They do have 2 pay phones if you can remember how to use them!! :)Listed in: Camping trip up hwy 1
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Review from Sara B.
Los Angeles, CA
10/19/2009
I have been going to this place since i was a baby, back in 1980 and I love this beach. For a long time this place managed to stay off the radar. If you knew about the waiting list then you knew how to work it with no problems. I hate places that do reservations. But since this place has ended up in magazines, etc., it has become harder and longer to get in, during the summer. That part I hate. This place was and is an awesome get away from civilization. I will never stop coming here. Hopefully the waiting list part has made people not want to come back which is good for the long time, loyal campers of this place. I love that there is no cell phone service, it is almost 20 miles from the nearest city, and the burger are awesome. It is also beautiful.
Five stars all the way! -
Review from Mia L.
New York, NY
5/16/2007
Went here often as a wee lass. I highly recommend!
If you're from LA, it's just a couple hours' drive away. Not a boring drive either -- you'll embark on 14 miles of winding road before the coast is upon you. If you're planning on pitching a tent, try to reserve one of the beachfront rows if you can. If you're bringing your RV, there's electrical hookups.
The beach itself has a bit of a rip tide and pebbles on the sea floor, so wear some water sandals and bring your swimming skills. It's also *cold*, so I hope you're a West Coast native accustomed to that sort of thing.
Great place to stroll along by day, and relax by campfire at night. -
Review from bekah h.
Anaheim, CA
2/3/2011
So my family head out in our RV to meet some friends at jalama. It took us a good 35 minutes to get to jalama from the main road but when we came around the corner it was absolute paradise!!! Huge waves and 70 degrees in January! Hard to beat that! They don't take reservations for camping so 1st come 1st serve basis. Campsites are cheap for beach camping. $30 a night I think. Jalama burger is awesome if your not counting calories! We will be coming here for many years to come!
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Review from Julie K.
San Jose, CA
5/18/2007
The road is windy to get here and there are a lot of surfers who covet this place so take it easy on the drive.
Once there you are in for a treat. It's a small campground but well maintained and there's a great store that serves the awesome Jalama Beach Burger. After being in the sun and sand all day it really hits the spot. -
Review from Ann T.
Harbor City, CA
8/21/2011
We started going to Jalama Beach in about 1959. The last half of the road from the Highway was dirt. We looked on a map and thought that this out-of-the way beach might be easier to get into than the beaches right on the highway. It was wonderful. There was one restroom and one water faucet (you couldn't drink the water) and the store was very little and not open all the time. The sand dunes near the beach were much larger and there were no marked camp sites. It was quiet and we had many enjoyable trips there with three children. In all honesty we hated to see improvements as they were made because it wasn't as peaceful. It still was a wonderful place to camp. We had many wonderful trips with children, nieces, and grandchildren. We have not been to Jalama in a while as my husband is very ill. We do miss it. I do understand why the locals resent those of us who do not live near Jalama but is a lovely place and I am happy that all of us have a chance to enjoy Jalama.
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Review from mrs. s.
Port Hueneme, CA
12/20/2010
i love this beach and have always wanted to camp here, but didn't want to risk the disappointment. once we actually planned to camp, but the place was closed for a paddle out. we stayed in lompoc instead.
so we day trip here and try to sneak on the the ranch. i love all the mention of the jalama burger but i'm surprised no one mentioned the chili. while stuffing myself with a burger, shredded lettuce dripping off my chin, i noticed an old salt with his cup of chili. it was a usual jalama blustery day and we were storm watching out the windows. i was really full, but i'm piggie and about 2 hours away, so i got one. fabulous. i think i'll forgo the burgers from now on and just bite a piece from my husband. i was about to burst, but i slowly took in the chili on the drive out. we were just out the gate when i decided we ought to stop in lompoc (at the other shop) to get a chili to take home.
can't wait for my next trip. i prefer this place in the cold. it's beautiful and you can explore without too many people around. the surf is good but often blown. it's my place for a great drive, food and family time. -
Review from Diana L.
San Francisco, CA
9/3/2007 1 photo
breathtaking views of the ocean and Lompoc valley +
shades of waves, both green and blue +
warm weather and an equally warm, though sometimes vicious breeze +
a loved one holding your hand for a peachy, beachy stroll
.....pretty much won over the moments of....
my head's near miss of seagull poop (i heard the plop next to me) +
sand flies exploring any exposed skin +
freezing water and seaweed-laden sand.
how often do you have those priceless Mastercard moments anyways?Listed in: Central Coast Gems
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Review from d s.
Los Angeles, CA
7/2/2009
I finally visited this place after reading/hearing much about it. I was highly disappointed. Camping is impossible due to a long waiting list. They say you have to drive out there every day to put your name on the list. Who would want to do that to this "remote" place? Even if camping is available, their camping grounds are so close to each other that you could literally "sleep on the same bed" with the next camper. The whole place, I'd say, is the size of a football field, and they put 98 camp sites plus day parking lot, the "famous" store, children's park etc. etc. This is a refugee camp. Finally, the beach. Yes, it is beautiful, but not as great as everyone says it is. I believe this place has become a victim of its own popularity. Maybe it was a great place long time ago when no one knew about it. Not any more, as long as people like me keep visiting there.
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Review from Jason M.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2010
very underwhelmed after all the hoopla about how "off the beaten path" this place is...not worth the 3 hours it takes from L.A. to get there. yeah, it's nice it's not developed up and down the nearby coast, but it's very barren and dry...not a lot of foliage or variation in the terrain. in other words, it gets old...quick.
the campground is a joke...absolutely no privacy. what's the point of going to the furthest point off of highway 1 in CA and getting away from it all if you can't truly get away from it all?!?
don't waste your time... -
Review from Russell S.
Carmel, CA
5/2/2008
First of all, this is a bit of an interesting drive getting to this place. But it is so worth it. I believe it is 13 miles from the highway through some really pretty hills, farmalnd, and little canyons on some less than decent roads. Don't go too fast. I would imagine more than one bad auto accident has happened. This is an awesome place to camp once you get out there. Very friendly park rangers and a somewhat isolated location run by Santa Barbara County.
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Review from belinda n.
Los Angeles, CA
7/27/2008
i packed 2 digi cams for our camping trip.
one of the camera's had its battery on a death bed & the other one my sis just gave to me so i couldnt figure out how to use it.. (im techy illiterate... i barely figured out how to use a kodak funsaver cam, ok!)
so i have to live w/myself that i failed to capture my FIRST camping trip! all i have are sweet tender memories....
i had never heard of jalama (dont pronounce it w/a J.. its pronounced w/a an H, you non spanish speaking gringos)
so when me & the old man were looking at dog friendly beach campgrounds online, Jalama stuck out like a shiny prop on the set of "Blood Diamond"
the drive from northeast LA is 3 hours, even w/ horrendous 101 north Valley traffic.
when you exit "Lompoc/ Vandenberg" off PCH 1 , make sure you fuel up, cuz the campsite is still around 30 miles away, and Lompoc's gas stations will be your only chance to fuel up.. keep in mind, when you leave your sandy vacation headed home, you will need gas for 30 miles to get back on the 101..
and the road from Jalama Road to the beach campsites is one road, & since theres construction going on, the road turns into a one lane (scary & dangerous at night) at times..
so fuel up, as soon as you get to the civilization of lompoc.. (oh, and theres a walmart in Lompoc also.. a mile or 2 from the gas stations off the the pch1...
no reservations.
the rangers here in charge of the booking are nice, and helpful
the white trash family that runs the store/ restaurant are disgustingly trashy & never smile & are not friendly..
they sell shit i've seen at the 99 cents store for $3 but you have no choice so you buy it!
oh, and they round off. so if the items tagged at $3.78 & you give dog the bounty hunters cousin a $5, guess whos getting a single back as change?!?!
i packed a can opener of course, but it broke ( i bought it at the 99 cents store during my "shopping-for-camping-supplies-trip so i understand this situation could have been prevented had i forked over $4 at target for a good solid thick reliable can opener but i didnt!)
so i bought one at the "Gummo" store and guess what!! i paid $3.78 (in jalama beach currency, that means $4) and as soon as i started opening my can of beans, the peice of shit broke!
the bathrooms/showers here are IMPECCABLY clean.. the toilet papers 1ply so if you're going on a poop fest, pack the charmin
the showers are a quarter a minute, the water gets scalding hot.. and w/my waist length rapunzel, i only needed 2 quarters!! plus i shaved my legs!
around 6pm to 7 pm, the shower lines get annoyingly long w/kids & fat soccer moms, so bring your plastic cup filled w/booze & even your ipod (just make sure you ziplock it in your bag of stuff once you enter the shower stalls)
theres tons of dogs here.. at times, i felt like we were at a dog park!!
theres "keep dogs leashed" sign everywhere, but while my 3 canines were running free unleashed, no official ever said anything..
and it seems like on the beach, is where its mandatory for dogs to run free, so leave the leashes on the beach towels!
the signing in process to get a spot is annoying..
my bf left our house tues at 3 am, got there before the assigned time of 6 am & he said there were 20 or so parties ahead of him.. he was told to return at 3 pm that same day..
so my poor love bug had nowhere to go except lay on the beach in a flimsy shirt (no sunblock) for 9 hours!
and from 9 pm to 7 am, the beach here gets FREEZING cold.. pack your long johns, your hoodies, your socks, your beanies, your gloves.. TRUST ME!
so my love bug returns to the kiosk where the sites are assigned & he is advised to return the next day & he will get a spot of his choice..
so my bf goes to the dreary town of lompoc & drives around aimlessly wondering what hes gonna do, & he finds a wal mart, then a pizza place, then a $30 a night motel ( no phones in the room, no curtains,but rather sheets are tacked to the windows) and he smokes blunts all night watching tv & eating pizza..
(yes, the next day, he got us a spot)
ive never been camping before (i also dont know how to swim & i saw snow for the first time this year) but jalama beach is so dope, i did not wanna leave..
this place is wonderful to camp at..
oh yeah, around sunset, it gets really windy so make sure your camping stoves have those walls on the side to shield your frijoles & arroz from the wind -
Review from Patricia M.
Los Angeles, CA
5/21/2009
at first i wasn't so thrilled about the place because they didn't take reservations and that it took 20 minutes to get there when we exited the fwy. we had to travel down a long road and it felt like it took forever. but once we got there and picked out a site it was awesome. the facilities were clean. the customer service was great and there were hot running water and a general store for everything you could think of. I'm a fan of beach camping and this is definitely the place to go when you need to get out of Los Angeles without breaking a budget. very much like paradise. highly recommended.
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Review from matthew m.
San Diego, CA
7/28/2009
I have been here 3 times prior to this last trip and I guess I was always just plain lucky. The whole idea of trying to plan a trip and driving 6 hours to go someplace without a reservation is kind of absurd to me. Then they have this waiting list which gets carried over from the days before and you have to meet at the flagpole for them to declare you worthy of one of their campsites. We were told via phone to get a good spot on the list to arrive at 6 am. We showed up at 6:45 and were #50. You have to pay for a day-pass to even get on the list and each time to stay on the list you have to pay for another day pass and show up early to confirm your spot and then show up again at 3 when they announce who gets in. Then when you don't get one there's nothing around to do. There's some shitball campground in Lompoc they suggest so that you can repeat the process all over again. You have to set up camp, break it down and set it up again if you do get a spot. The 14 mile drive is only charming once trust me. And as far as the world famous Jalama Burger it's a big fish in a small pond. There's nothing else to eat around there. WOW the best burger in all of Lompoc. Fucking great... just like I am the most handsome man in the mirror. Finally the ranger was extremely rude on the phone and the ranger lady was rude and insulting in person. So as I turned in our day-pass to her and drove off into the sunset, the gate went up and I when I stopped myself from staring at the hair on her knuckles I said "Thank You Sir." And hurting someone else made me feel a little bit better about myself and the whole experience.
