Emma Wood SB

State Beach

In order to respond to current budget reductions while minimizing reductions in public access to the greatest extent possible, the Ventura River Group Camp at Emma Wood State Beach is closed until further notice. The North Beach Campground at Emma Wood State Beach remains open for camping for self-contained vehicles only. Other parks in the Channel Coast District that remain open for camping and day use at this time include Carpinteria State Beach and El Capitan State Beach.

Parks in the Channel Coast District open for day use include San Buenaventura State Beach, Carpinteria State Beach, El Capitan State Beach, Refugio State Beach, Gaviota State Park, La Purisima Mission State Historic Park and El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park.

Please go to the web pages for these parks for further information. A recorded information line at (805) 968-1033 is updated as park conditions or status change.

Moderate temperatures help make Emma Wood State Beach popular for swimming, surfing and fishing. Catches include perch, bass, cabezon and corbina. The Ventura River estuary is at the mouth of the Ventura River at the southeast end of the park. It attracts a variety of wildlife including raccoons, songbirds and great blue herons. Dolphins are occasionally seen just offshore. The park also features the crumbling ruins of a World War II coastal artillery site. The offshore Channel Islands can be seen from the beach.

Emma Wood State Beach offers family camping for self-contained vehicles only and group camping is available at Ventura River Group Camp.

Emma Wood State Beach offers primitive camping for fully self-contained vehicles ONLY. Tents are not permitted. No water, restrooms, electricity, fire rings, or phones or dump station are available. There are 90 campsites, which are not level and may contain a mixture of asphalt, dirt, cobble and ocean debris. Maximum vehicle length is 40 feet, due to small turnaround areas. The closest water and dump station is at McGrath State Beach 15 miles away.

Camping at Emma Wood State Beach is reservation only from mid-May through Labor Day. There is a one night only enroute camping at Ventura River Group Camp 2 miles South on Main Street in Ventura. During the off season, camping is on a first come first serve basis. Cost is $20 per night and extra vehicles are $8. From October 1st through March 31st, the park is open Friday through Saturday only. High tides may close the campground at any time. Railroad tracks and Highway 101 are adjacent to the campground which can be noisy. Leashed dogs are permitted in the campground only, and are prohibited on the beach. The entry and exit gate is locked from 10 pm to 6 am daily.

Group camping is available at Ventura River Group Camp, with reservations required year around. This group campground is separated by 2 freeway miles from Emma Wood State Beach. The group sites offer developed tent camping for groups of up to 30 people and primitive RV camping for groups up to 50 people and 20 vehicles. The maximum length for an RV is 45 feet.

Ventura River Group Camp offers four developed group campsites, each with a capacity of 30 people. Groups may reserve one or more campsites, subject to availability. The fee is $66 per group site. Camping gear must be carried a short distance from the parking lot to the campsites. Facilities include restrooms, water (no hook-ups), fire rings, tables, and a lighted parking lot.

A primitive RV camping area is also available for groups up to 50 people and a maximum RV length of 45'. The fee is $186 per night.

Reservations are required year-round for all camping at Ventura River Group Camp.

There is a day use area in the park, and beach access is available. A bike path connects the park to nearby Ventura and also to the coast highway to the north.

Reservations for Group Camping may be made through the California State Parks reservations system.

Location/Directions
Emma Wood State Beach is located west of Ventura. The family campsites are two miles west on Highway 101 (State Beaches off ramp). Ventura River Group Camp is at the west end of Main Street in Ventura.


Brochures Panorama Video Photos State Parks Store Day Hiker's Trails Current Weather Map of Location Accessible Features Cities near the park: California Coastline Photos: Channel Coast District Friends of Channel Coast State Parks	Emma Wood SB State Beach In order to respond to current budget reductions while minimizing reductions in public access to the greatest extent possible, the Ventura River Group Camp at Emma Wood State Beach is closed until further notice. The North Beach Campground at Emma Wood State Beach remains open for camping for self-contained vehicles only. Other parks in the Channel Coast District that remain open for camping and day use at this time include Carpinteria State Beach and El Capitan State Beach. Parks in the Channel Coast District open for day use include San Buenaventura State Beach, Carpinteria State Beach, El Capitan State Beach, Refugio State Beach, Gaviota State Park, La Purisima Mission State Historic Park and El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park. Please go to the web pages for these parks for further information. A recorded information line at (805) 968-1033 is updated as park conditions or status change. Moderate temperatures help make Emma Wood State Beach popular for swimming, surfing and fishing. Catches include perch, bass, cabezon and corbina. The Ventura River estuary is at the mouth of the Ventura River at the southeast end of the park. It attracts a variety of wildlife including raccoons, songbirds and great blue herons. Dolphins are occasionally seen just offshore. The park also features the crumbling ruins of a World War II coastal artillery site. The offshore Channel Islands can be seen from the beach. Emma Wood State Beach offers family camping for self-contained vehicles only and group camping is available at Ventura River Group Camp. Emma Wood State Beach offers primitive camping for fully self-contained vehicles ONLY. Tents are not permitted. No water, restrooms, electricity, fire rings, or phones or dump station are available. There are 90 campsites, which are not level and may contain a mixture of asphalt, dirt, cobble and ocean debris. Maximum vehicle length is 40 feet, due to small turnaround areas. The closest water and dump station is at McGrath State Beach 15 miles away. Camping at Emma Wood State Beach is reservation only from mid-May through Labor Day. There is a one night only enroute camping at Ventura River Group Camp 2 miles South on Main Street in Ventura. During the off season, camping is on a first come first serve basis. Cost is $20 per night and extra vehicles are $8. From October 1st through March 31st, the park is open Friday through Saturday only. High tides may close the campground at any time. Railroad tracks and Highway 101 are adjacent to the campground which can be noisy. Leashed dogs are permitted in the campground only, and are prohibited on the beach. The entry and exit gate is locked from 10 pm to 6 am daily. Group camping is available at Ventura River Group Camp, with reservations required year around. This group campground is separated by 2 freeway miles from Emma Wood State Beach. The group sites offer developed tent camping for groups of up to 30 people and primitive RV camping for groups up to 50 people and 20 vehicles. The maximum length for an RV is 45 feet. Ventura River Group Camp offers four developed group campsites, each with a capacity of 30 people. Groups may reserve one or more campsites, subject to availability. The fee is $66 per group site. Camping gear must be carried a short distance from the parking lot to the campsites. Facilities include restrooms, water (no hook-ups), fire rings, tables, and a lighted parking lot. A primitive RV camping area is also available for groups up to 50 people and a maximum RV length of 45'. The fee is $186 per night. Reservations are required year-round for all camping at Ventura River Group Camp. There is a day use area in the park, and beach access is available. A bike path connects the park to nearby Ventura and also to the coast highway to the north. Reservations for Group Camping may be made through the California State Parks reservations system. Location/Directions Emma Wood State Beach is located west of Ventura. The family campsites are two miles west on Highway 101 (State Beaches off ramp). Ventura River Group Camp is at the west end of Main Street in Ventura.	Park Features Icon Legend Max Camper Length: 45 Feet Max Trailer Length: 45 Feet Hours dawn ‘til dusk. County Ventura Region Central Coast Telephone 805-968-1033 email: venturahost@parks.ca.gov Emma Wood State Beach is available on reservation only from mid-May through Labor Day. The rest of the year, it is a first come, first serve availability.