Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara by RV

Up the coast through Malibu on PCH, then US-101 to Carpinteria next to Santa Barbara and on to El Capitán on the Gaviota Coast.

Photo: Lars0001, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Suggested length
3 nights
Round trip
231 mi
Driving
about 4 h 57 min (car, no traffic)
Best season
Year-round

Sources last checked 2026-10-28.

Itinerary

Up the coast through Malibu on PCH, then US-101 to Carpinteria next to Santa Barbara and on to El Capitán on the Gaviota Coast.

  1. Day 1 · Malibu

    Downtown LA → Malibu: 43 mi · 1 h 04 min by car

    Suggested area: Malibu · no campground chosen · choose one

  2. Day 2 · Carpinteria State Beach

    Malibu → Carpinteria State Beach: 47 mi · 1 h 00 min by car

    Suggested area: Carpinteria State Beach · no campground chosen · choose one

  3. Day 3 · El Capitán State Beach

    Carpinteria State Beach → El Capitán State Beach: 29 mi · 40 min by car

    Suggested area: El Capitán State Beach · no campground chosen · choose one

  4. Day 4 · Return

    El Capitán State Beach → Downtown LA: 112 mi · 2 h 13 min by car

Dates, travelers and nights
  1. Downtown LA → Malibu: 43 mi · 1 h 04 min by carMalibu (Leo Carrillo State Park)1 night
  2. Malibu → Carpinteria State Beach: 47 mi · 1 h 00 min by carCarpinteria State Beach1 night
  3. Carpinteria State Beach → El Capitán State Beach: 29 mi · 40 min by carEl Capitán State Beach1 night
  4. El Capitán State Beach → Downtown LA: 112 mi · 2 h 13 min by car
3 nights231 mi round trip4 h 57 min driving (car time)

Drive times are OSRM road-routing estimates for a car, without traffic; an RV is usually slower. Changing nights updates the dates, campground sections, RV prices and search link on this page.

Find an RV for this trip

Numbered: overnight areas · ⛺ recommended campgrounds · select a stop to jump to its day.

Routing: OSRM route over OpenStreetMap data (car profile), 2026-10-28. Car times; allow more in an RV.

RVs for this trip

Priced for 3 nights.

  • 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O2Class C motorhome · sleeps 7 · 24 ft$201/night listed · $603 for 3 nights before fees
  • Sunshine DaydreamClass C motorhome · sleeps 6 · 25 ft$195/night listed · $585 for 3 nights before fees
  • 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O3Class C motorhome · sleeps 7 · 24 ft$201/night listed · $603 for 3 nights before fees
  • Cruise America: Compact (19')Sleeps 3Price by quote

See all 248 matching RVs with your dates

Full RV details and vehicle considerations

A 20 ft RV matches the published length guidance at 28 of 28 route campgrounds that post a maximum length. Posted limits don’t guarantee a site; confirm your selected campsite.

Camper van

Why
  • Shorter than most motorhomes, so easier to park at beach lots and in town; check posted length and height limits.

Class C motorhome

From a rental company

Cruise America Compact (19')

Cruise America Fleet class · Ford · unit assigned at pickup

Compact (19')

Sleeps 3 · 20 ft long · 2 beds · Generator

Check with Cruise America: Name says 19 ft; specs say 20 ft. We show both rather than pick one.

Tanks: Fresh 21 gal, grey 16 gal, black 17 gal, propane 11 gal · 40 gal gas fuel

Why this fits
  • Matches published length guidance at 28 of 28 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 20 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 3

Pickup: not listed at a nearby depot; ask Cruise America

Ratenot shown; quoted by Cruise America for your dates
Mileage estimate≈ $90 for 231 mi round trip at 39¢ per mile source
Unknownnightly rate, taxes, insurance, kits, fuel

Specs and photos: Cruise America: 19' Compact RV Rental, checked 2026-10-28.

Check rates on Cruise America
Cruise America Compact Plus (20')

Cruise America Fleet class · Ford · unit assigned at pickup

Compact Plus (20')

Sleeps 4 · 20.5 ft long · 2 beds · Generator

Tanks: Fresh 21 gal, grey 16 gal, black 17 gal, propane 11 gal · 40 gal gas fuel

Why this fits
  • Matches published length guidance at 27 of 28 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 20.5 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 4

Pickup: Los Angeles (Carson) (26 min drive from downtown LA)

Ratenot shown; quoted by Cruise America for your dates
Mileage estimate≈ $90 for 231 mi round trip at 39¢ per mile source
Unknownnightly rate, taxes, insurance, kits, fuel

Specs and photos: Cruise America: Compact Plus 20' RV Rental, checked 2026-10-28.

Check rates on Cruise America
Cruise America Standard (25')

Cruise America Fleet class · Ford · unit assigned at pickup

Standard (25')

Sleeps 5 · 25 ft long · 3 beds · Generator · Solar

Tanks: Fresh 40 gal, grey 25 gal, black 25 gal, propane 12 gal · 55 gal gas fuel

Why this fits
  • Matches published length guidance at 26 of 28 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Sleeps 5

Pickup: Los Angeles (Downey) (15 min drive from downtown LA), Los Angeles (Carson) (26 min drive from downtown LA), Costa Mesa (49 min drive from downtown LA), Fillmore (1 h 11 min drive from downtown LA) +5 more

Ratenot shown; quoted by Cruise America for your dates
Mileage estimate≈ $90 for 231 mi round trip at 39¢ per mile source
Unknownnightly rate, taxes, insurance, kits, fuel

Specs and photos: Cruise America: Standard 25' RV Rental, checked 2026-10-28.

Check rates on Cruise America

From a local owner

Class C motorhome: 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O2

Outdoorsy Owner’s RV · this specific vehicle

Most popularTop rated

2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O2

Class C motorhome · Sleeps 7 · seatbelts not listed

24 ft long · 2019 · Generator · Pets allowed

Pickup: owner in Santa Ana, CA · delivers up to 100 mi★ 4.9 (32)

Why it fits Santa Barbara coast
  • Matches published length guidance at 27 of 28 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 24 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 7
  • Pets allowed
Listed price$201/night listed · $603 for 3 nights before fees
Mileageset by the owner; not in our data
Unknownservice fees, taxes, protection, deposit

Also listed on RVshare.

Check availability on Outdoorsy
Class C motorhome: Solar-Powered, Pet Friendly, Ready-to-Go Sunshine Daydream

Outdoorsy Owner’s RV · this specific vehicle

Most popularTop rated

Solar-Powered, Pet Friendly, Ready-to-Go Sunshine Daydream

Class C motorhome · Sleeps 6 · 6 seatbelts (listed)

25 ft long · 2022 · Generator · Solar · Pets allowed

Pickup: owner in Long Beach, CA · delivers up to 25 mi★ 5.0 (22)

Why it fits Santa Barbara coast
  • Matches published length guidance at 26 of 28 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Sleeps 6
  • Pets allowed
Listed price$195/night listed · $585 for 3 nights before fees
Mileageset by the owner; not in our data
Unknownservice fees, taxes, protection, deposit

Also listed on RVshare.

Check availability on Outdoorsy
Class C motorhome: 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O3

Outdoorsy Owner’s RV · this specific vehicle

Most popularDelivers to you

2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O3

Class C motorhome · Sleeps 7 · seatbelts not listed

24 ft long · 2019 · Generator · Pets allowed

Pickup: owner in Santa Ana, CA · delivers up to 100 mi★ 4.7 (25)

Why it fits Santa Barbara coast
  • Matches published length guidance at 27 of 28 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 24 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 7
  • Pets allowed
Listed price$201/night listed · $603 for 3 nights before fees
Mileageset by the owner; not in our data
Unknownservice fees, taxes, protection, deposit

Also listed on RVshare.

Check availability on Outdoorsy

Where to stay

Two or three options per overnight area. Hookups are not in our campground data, so check each listing for hookups or dry camping.

Malibu 1 night · set a start date for exact nights

  • Evergreen RV Park, listing photo
    Photo: Campspot listing
    Evergreen RV ParkOxnard · 21 mi · 28 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 42 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 42 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Most reviewed of these (21)
    Reserve on Campspot ↗
  • Leo Carrillo SP, listing photo
    Photo: Park website listing
    Leo Carrillo SP0.2 mi · 2 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 31 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 31 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Closest of these to the stop area
    Reserve on Park website ↗
  • The Lodge at Deer Creek, listing photo
    Photo: Hipcamp listing
    The Lodge at Deer CreekMalibu · 6.2 mi · 18 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 45 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 45 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    Reserve on Hipcamp ↗

5 more RV campgrounds within 20 miles in our data.

Carpinteria State Beach 1 night · set a start date for exact nights

  • Wheeler Gorge, listing photo
    Photo: Recreation.gov listing
    Wheeler GorgeOjai · 27.9 mi · 44 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 45 ft (listing data)Online availability on Recreation.gov
    • Posts sites up to 45 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Takes online reservations on Recreation.gov
    • Closest of these to the stop area
    • Most reviewed of these (391)
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
  • Paradise Campground, listing photo
    Photo: Recreation.gov listing
    Paradise CampgroundSanta Barbara · 29.6 mi · 43 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 48 ft (listing data)Online availability on Recreation.gov
    • Posts sites up to 48 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Takes online reservations on Recreation.gov
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
  • Los Prietos, listing photo
    Photo: Recreation.gov listing
    Los PrietosSanta Barbara · 29.7 mi · 43 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 35 ft (listing data)Online availability on Recreation.gov
    • Posts sites up to 35 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Takes online reservations on Recreation.gov
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗

9 more RV campgrounds within 20 miles in our data.

El Capitán State Beach 1 night · set a start date for exact nights

  • Paradise Campground, listing photo
    Photo: Recreation.gov listing
    Paradise CampgroundSanta Barbara · 26.7 mi · 37 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 48 ft (listing data)Online availability on Recreation.gov
    • Posts sites up to 48 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Takes online reservations on Recreation.gov
    • Most reviewed of these (149)

    Also suggested for Carpinteria State Beach: it could serve as a shared basecamp for both.

    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
  • Los Prietos, listing photo
    Photo: Recreation.gov listing
    Los PrietosSanta Barbara · 26.8 mi · 37 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 35 ft (listing data)Online availability on Recreation.gov
    • Posts sites up to 35 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Takes online reservations on Recreation.gov

    Also suggested for Carpinteria State Beach: it could serve as a shared basecamp for both.

    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
  • Fremont Campground, listing photo
    Photo: Recreation.gov listing
    Fremont CampgroundSanta Barbara · 26.2 mi · 36 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 34 ft (listing data)Online availability on Recreation.gov
    • Posts sites up to 34 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Takes online reservations on Recreation.gov
    • Closest of these to the stop area
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗

11 more RV campgrounds within 20 miles in our data.

Costs

RV rentalFrom $327 base subtotal ($109/night × 3, lowest listed match: Cozy Affordable Family 2018 RV (Discount… on Outdoorsy)Estimate
Rental fees, insurance, mileageSet by the provider at checkout; not included above.Unpriced
Campgrounds (3 stops)Rates are shown on each booking site.Unpriced
Fuel231 road miles round trip; fuel is not estimated here.Unpriced

There is no complete trip total: only the RV base rate is known before you get a quote.

Before you go

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