Campground: Ventura Ranch KOA
Reviewed By: Robin
Location: Santa Paula, CA
Campfire Critiques has no affiliation with this campground.
Amenities
Ventura Ranch KOA offers campers a wide range of amenities designed to enhance their outdoor experience. Located in a scenic area at the foot of Topa Topa Mountain in the Los Padres National Forest, the campground features a variety of accommodations, including tent sites, RV sites, safari tents, Teepees, and deluxe cabins. Campers can enjoy the large swimming pool, nature trails, and the chance to mine for gems at the on-site mining sluice. For those seeking adventure, there’s a zip line and a climbing wall, while families will appreciate the playground, jumping pillow, and scheduled activities like movie nights and craft sessions. Additionally, the campground provides modern conveniences such as Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and a camp store stocked with essentials, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay for all visitors.
Access
Ventura Ranch KOA is conveniently located near Santa Paula, California, and is easily accessible by vehicle. If you’re coming from the Los Angeles area, take US-101 North toward Ventura. Exit onto CA-126 East toward Santa Paula. After approximately 10 miles, take the 10th Street exit and turn right onto South 10th Street. Continue on this road as it becomes Ojai Road (CA-150). Follow Ojai Road for about 4.5 miles until you reach the campground entrance, which will be on your right. The drive is scenic, passing through farmland and rolling hills, making it an enjoyable journey to the campground. The road is well-marked, and there are signs along the way to guide you to the entrance.
Atmosphere
We have stayed at this campground several times. Each time I have been pleasantly surprised at how quiet it is for being a KOA. There is a large play area that tends to be full but the sound has not seemed to travel to our site. I have also never stayed here in the summer when the pool has been open. That might change the sound level in the park. There are many oak trees that provide shade throughout the park. The Santa Paula Creek runs along the back side of the park providing a lovely ambiance when water is in it. I try to stay down by the creek in site #81 (also #80 and #82). They are small sites with little room to turn around. So larger rigs and trailers would have a difficult time camping down near the creek. My old class C was 28.5 feet long and was a cinch to maneuver in the spot with no tow vehicle. We have not taken the 30-foot class A here to try it out yet.
Environment
There are different sections of the park. Sites are on dirt. Some sites have the patio option and some sites have patches of grass. There are lots of family activities at this park like bocce ball and cornhole. On the weekend the kids can zip line. There is a rock labyrinth you can walk to find serenity.
The sites are open to each other. There is no green screening between the sites in the areas that I have stayed in. Sites are average size and come with a picnic table.
Surrounding Area
Santa Paula is just a short drive away and Ventura is just a short 30-minute drive. The adorable town of Ojai is only about 25 minutes from the campground. So there is a lot to do and see.
- Santa Paula: Just a short drive away, this charming town offers historic attractions like the Santa Paula Art Museum and California Oil Museum. Stroll through the quaint downtown area with its unique shops and restaurants.
- Ojai: Head about 25 minutes east to Ojai, known for its art galleries, boutique shopping, and beautiful parks. The town is also famous for its scenic sunsets and outdoor activities, like hiking and biking.
- Ventura Beaches: A 30-minute drive takes you to the beautiful beaches of Ventura, where you can surf, swim, or simply relax by the ocean. Ventura Harbor Village is also a great spot for dining, shopping, and boat tours. If you like to bike, the bike path is amazing here and can take you all over the town with ease. Always check the weather report. When we were here in December 2023 we were scheduled for a whale watching tour and the King tides came in. Needless to say, the company was still going to take us out but we were like heck no! It was crazy and the waves did a lot of damage. Stay safe my friends.
- Los Padres National Forest: Venture into the nearby Los Padres National Forest for more extensive hiking, mountain biking, and nature exploration opportunities.
Favorite Things…
Many of the parks that I go to I tend to use as a place to spell and do not always spend a lot of time in. This park I enjoy and feel I could just relax all day in it. It feels peaceful to me. I love getting a little patio site and relaxing by the firepit or reading a good book. Sometimes I enjoy just sitting by the creek planning my text adventure.
If I Could Change One Thing…
There really isn’t a lot I would change about this park. There are peacocks here and if you have never been around them, you may not know that they can be very noisy. You may not enjoy them if they get too vocal in the morning if you like to sleep in. That might be something you would want to change. Since I am a morning person, it does not bother me.
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