Emma Wood State Beach
Emma Wood State Beach
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- Ventura Station • 7 min walk
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224 within 5 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
86 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
39
Average
11
Poor
5
Terrible
5
Yankeerunner
Los Angeles, CA24 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
Emma Wood is a beautiful state park and beach. It is just on the northern edge of the city of Ventura and Ventura's river bottom a.k.a Hobo Jungle. Ventura has a significant homeless and transient encampment problem in and around the river bottom. Until recently Emma Wood has been free of the transient population and the problems that follow including trash, crime and drugs. The city of Ventura has "cleaned" out the river bottom and the homeless population has migrated into Emma Wood. Emma Wood has beach front camping and nice areas for walking, surfing and biking. Emma Wood also has a wonderful running/biking trail, that on the weekends is busy with running and biking clubs. Until recently I would have considered Emma Wood a family destination, safe for kids to have fun on their own. We use the Bike path every weekend and have started to notice less runners/walkers/bikers and more homeless and transients who seem to be living in the woods on the side of the path. For the first time in years we re starting to see trash, and signs of people living inside the park, Emma Wood no longer feels safe to us. It seems that hobo jungle is slowly migrating into Emma Wood. We go to Emma Wood to be exercise and be outdoors, it is so sad to see it being trashed. I would still recommend Emma Wood for now but be careful, don't walk alone and keep your kids close...but I do hope the city does something to protect the park.
Written 13 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan Dauer
Torrance, CA26 contributions
Sept 2019
Great views, love seeing the ocean just a stone's toss away from our trailer, love the sound of ocean waves crashing on the beach. We enjoy riding our bikes into town for lunch, and coming back for a nice dinner and camp fire.
What we don't like is that our bikes were stolen while we slept. In speaking with the park rangers the next day they admit to an issue where guns have been drawn by campers and fights have broken out while catching people sneaking into the camps to forage for anything of value. Lock your bikes IN your trailer as they thieves will cut through your lock and take anything not locked down while you sleep.
What we don't like is that our bikes were stolen while we slept. In speaking with the park rangers the next day they admit to an issue where guns have been drawn by campers and fights have broken out while catching people sneaking into the camps to forage for anything of value. Lock your bikes IN your trailer as they thieves will cut through your lock and take anything not locked down while you sleep.
Written 30 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
albo6868
Gorizia, Italy108 contributions
Jul 2019
Very nice beach for walking and taking pictures. High waves, not much people in water. Not crowded place at all.
Written 4 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
socalfamilytravelers
Los Angeles, CA21 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
Just went camping for 3 nights at Emma Wood campground. My bike was stolen the 2nd night we were there. In the middle of the night, they come and cut your locks and take bikes. We had 4 nice bikes chained up with a brand new bike lock attached to our camper. They only took my bike that had disc brakes and they left the other 3 bikes with regular brakes. I reported it to the ranger and filed a police report for my new REI mountain bike they stole, was told the thieves wait until the train goes by then they cut the locks and steal things. Was also told by other campers who go there often that they will steal generators too...surely other things.
The positives are close to Ventura for restaurants and shopping, can bike into ventura (if you still have a bike!), my kids loved playing on the rocks between the camper and ocean and you can walk or bike to a very nice small sandy beach within the campground. Can watch the train go by often (also can be added as a negative if a light sleeper).
Negatives: no sand, only rocks by most campsites. No tables, no fire pits (most sites do have a rock fire pit from previous campers), train tracks very close to campsites, no fences to keep out non campers (seems like an easy fit to all the crime), no dump site, no hookups, no nothing and it costs $40 a night.
We won't be back to this campground, really wasn't fun feeling uneasy about our safety. After my bike was stolen I started researching how many others had the same problem and it seemed endless how many other people also had their bikes stolen there! One person even said just as they arrived they were unloading and someone stole things when they had their back turned.
I am just very sad about humanity right now...
The positives are close to Ventura for restaurants and shopping, can bike into ventura (if you still have a bike!), my kids loved playing on the rocks between the camper and ocean and you can walk or bike to a very nice small sandy beach within the campground. Can watch the train go by often (also can be added as a negative if a light sleeper).
Negatives: no sand, only rocks by most campsites. No tables, no fire pits (most sites do have a rock fire pit from previous campers), train tracks very close to campsites, no fences to keep out non campers (seems like an easy fit to all the crime), no dump site, no hookups, no nothing and it costs $40 a night.
We won't be back to this campground, really wasn't fun feeling uneasy about our safety. After my bike was stolen I started researching how many others had the same problem and it seemed endless how many other people also had their bikes stolen there! One person even said just as they arrived they were unloading and someone stole things when they had their back turned.
I am just very sad about humanity right now...
Written 1 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DWB64
Los Angeles, CA3 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
The woods behind Emma Woods houses some of the most dangerous criminals in the area. It's hard to police it and we were warned as we arrived with children to put all of our things in the car before bed as there is a lot of criminal activity. A few of us stayed up till light to see what we saw and there were many sightings of these woods people. We could not relax at all. We had a bike stolen while we were unloading, there was a naked man on the path to the beach in the daylight, with our 8 year old children in tow. The bathrooms are like jail. Beach showers....trains/101 noise can be managed but the lack of safety and pollution from these woods dwellers is chaos for the Parks Dept.
We complained and were re-located to a gorgeous park, McGrath. The park is currently closed due to funding/staffing limitations. This place is so beautiful and so needs campers. Parks Dept. PLEASE RE-OPEN MCGRATH while you clean up the woods at Emma Woods!!!!!
We complained and were re-located to a gorgeous park, McGrath. The park is currently closed due to funding/staffing limitations. This place is so beautiful and so needs campers. Parks Dept. PLEASE RE-OPEN MCGRATH while you clean up the woods at Emma Woods!!!!!
Written 28 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda B
Santa Clarita, CA92 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
We have stayed at Emma wood beach many times and every time we have stayed other campers had bikes, generators, ice chests and chairs stolen. On our last visit they took our bike off the back of the truck, cutting right through our cable lock. There are no night patrols so in the wee hours the Drug addicts climb out of the riverbed near by and steal your stuff with no consequence! They post a sign telling you to lock it or lose it, well it doesn’t matter, “lock it and lose it” either way should be their slogan😬 Thanks to those who voted for propositions 47 and 57.
Written 18 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rich B
Las Vegas, NV114 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
I must say that even though this is a dry camp, this was by far one of if not our favorite campsite because of it's location. Yes, you do have to be self contained, but who cares when you have a view like this. There is nothing quite like going to sleep at night with the sounds of the waves crashing to drift you off to sleep. I could go on and on with this review, but I think I will just let the pictures speak for themselves.
Written 5 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2xmintMama
Orange County, CA42 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
My family LOVED camping here. Get acquainted with the map of the campground before you book. Depending on the spot you get, you can have direct access to water, no access at all, or what for us was a perfect spot -- rocks blocking direct access to the water yet interesting enough to occupy kids with looking for shells, crabs, and various sea creatures. It offered me a piece of mind that my kids (ages 7, 7, and 2) were not just going to run out to the water), and that a sandy beach was just 8 spots down and 6 feet of rocks across away. The beach has the usual appeal of water and sand, but there are also lots of tidepools with anemonies, sea snails, crabs, etc. for kids to explore. As we pulled into the campground, we saw seals and dolphins in the water. The Pacific Surfliner tracks are about 20 yards away, and for little train lovers, it was a sure delight to see the trains go by. I cannot wait to come back.
Written 15 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J M
High Desert CA2 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
We have been driving by this beach campsite for many years and finally decided to stop and camp there. We did make reservations as you will need to in the summer time. You are right on the water in fact we were only feet away from the surf and the sound of the waves at night was wonderful. It is off the freeway and the train tracks are right behind you but you won't hear them if you have you windows off the ocean open. This is a no frills campground, no real restrooms, showers or any other comforts it is boon docking at its best so be prepared. Those who come here all the time are quick to warn you of thieves who come in at night and steal bikes, generators and anything else you may leave out so be prepared to lock your stuff up or take it in at night. Ventura seems to have a large homeless population situated nearby so be aware. We didn't have a problem as we brought or locked all up but the guy next to us had his bikes stolen even though he was warned, he didn't heed the warning.
Campsites are close no tents allowed, some sites are hard to see the ocean as there is a seawall separating you from the beach, some sites have sand and some have a lot of large rocks so check out www.campsitephotos.com before picking your site. Firepits are built from rocks and added to over the years but if you wanted you can bring your own pit. Remember this is no frills so be prepared no water or dump site at campground either. Ventura pier and town are within biking distance or if you like walking you can do that too.
We will be adding this to our list of must go campgrounds. Happy Camping.
Campsites are close no tents allowed, some sites are hard to see the ocean as there is a seawall separating you from the beach, some sites have sand and some have a lot of large rocks so check out www.campsitephotos.com before picking your site. Firepits are built from rocks and added to over the years but if you wanted you can bring your own pit. Remember this is no frills so be prepared no water or dump site at campground either. Ventura pier and town are within biking distance or if you like walking you can do that too.
We will be adding this to our list of must go campgrounds. Happy Camping.
Written 2 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marierm
Los Angeles, CA126 contributions
May 2020 • Solo
The beach here is beautiful. The railroad tracks lie between the beach and the campground. Be very careful here; there are homeless encampments and trash filling the park that lies between the campground and the Ventura river estuary. There of been many burglaries reported here, and you should always be aware of your surroundings and lock up anything you don’t want to be stolen.
Written 31 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
what type of toilet do you need I have a camper van with a lave dry flush toilet is that ok?
Written 25 May 2022
if your camping in a van what type of toilet do you need? will a lave dry flush toilet be ok?
Written 25 May 2022
Is space 48 a good site?
Or is it one of the rocky beaches
Thanks for any help
Written 25 June 2016
None of the sites, in my opinion, are good at this park. It is a State Park that is a dirty parking lot that is under the freeway. It has a concrete wall between you and a very rocky beach. This is not a place to hang out or for beach people.
There are no facilities, bathrooms are porta-potties.
I do not recommend this park
Written 26 June 2016
Does anyone have any specific recommended camp site numbers in Emma Wood or ones to avoid?
Written 20 August 2015
The end sites are the best as you don't have anyone on either side. 72, 73, 74 are smallest. Be prepared to be sandwiched in on most sites and 100% dry camping, no dump station, water, toilets etc.
Written 23 August 2015
How is the bathroom/restroom situation at Emma Beach? We will be using a group camp site. Is there electricity source? Thank you.
Written 9 March 2015
Their website says: 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
Written 10 March 2015
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