Jalama Beach For A Picnic

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Friday we got out of the RV park for a while and went on a little day trip.  We had a few options on where to go and we settled on Jalama Beach County Park.  We took Pacific Coast Highway, which is a right turn out of our RV park and headed South. 

This route takes you through agricultural areas and some small towns like Guadalupe and Lompoc.  After you go past Lompoc it is a short 4 or 5 mile to the Jalama Beach Road.  This road winds through hilly terrain of agriculture and cattle lands.

                                            Fields already harvested I assume.

                                          These guys are eating their own lunch.  Dry grass, yummy!

We were surprised on this small road how many cars and RV’s were driving in both directions.  Since we had never been to Jalama Beach previously, we didn’t know exactly what we’d find out there.  Heading out on a “mystery road” is always an adventure for us. 

                                            Jalama Beach is a Santa Barbara County Park

Some of this area was part of a settlement of the native Chumash Indians for centuries.  Then as the surrounding area became more populated the local people began using Jalama for leisure time activities.  This is a public park on land that was donated to Santa Barbara County by Atlantic Richfield Oil Company in 1943 (ARCO).  All surrounding area is privately owned.  

The view as we came upon the park from above was beautiful.  There are campsites, showers, rest rooms, picnic areas, restaurant and store.

                                     We saw all sorts of RV’s and campers here at Jalama Beach Park.

We stopped at the gate and paid a Day Use fee of $8.00.  We found a parking area by some picnic tables on the beach.  Dogs are allowed if they are kept on leash.  It was a nice day and we enjoyed the ocean view while we ate our lunch.

                                            You can’t beat this view with a stick!

                                   We saw some surfers on this beach, as usual here along the coast.

After we finished eating, we got into the car and drove around the campsite areas looking things over.  We saw a few 40-foot motorhomes here as well as small rigs and lots of tents.   There are 117 dedicated campsites with some of them up on a bluff overlooking the ocean.

                                            This is the view from the upper camp area. 

                                                This gull stood very close to me as I took his picture.

There are some water and electric sites at Jalama and there is a dump station on site.  The cost for camping ranges from $20.00 for a basic no hook up site (off peak season) to $35.00 for a W/E site (peak season).   As usual for beach front campgrounds, the sites are close together. 

                                            RV’s of all types and lengths were in residence on this day.

After driving around, it was time to leave.  The Jalama Beach Road ends at the beach so you have no option but to return by the road you came in on.  We saw a few RV’s passing us on our way out.  I guess the new batch of weekenders were arriving.  With miles of sandy beach to play on, surfing possibilities, seasonal whale watching, fishing and bird watching, it is a good place to spend a few days.

              We passed some beautiful scenery on the way home, including a grape vineyard or two.

It was another great day, just scouting around in a new area.  I keep an atlas where I highlight every new road we travel on either in the RV or in the car on a day trip.  This trip gave me a new road to highlight in that atlas.   We enjoy finding those new mystery roads when we travel.

Until next time…..so long for now!