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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.
Self registration and payment of fees is required at the entrance stations. Please use iron ranger and envelopes provided.
Dogs are to be kept on leashes no longer than six feet, and in a tent or enclosed vehicle at night. Only registered service dogs are allowed in park buildings, on trails or on the beach.
Lifeguard services are provided during peak summer season. For information on when services are provided and how to obtain a lifeguard services for large groups or off season events call (805) 648-3321.
Beach wheelchairs are available by contacting (805) 648-3321.
Getting There
Emma Wood State Beach is located west of Ventura. The 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.
The Day Use Annual Pass is accepted at this park.
Emma Wood State Beach is located west of Ventura. The 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.
The Day Use Annual Pass is accepted at this park.
Operating Hours & Contact
During peak season Emma Wood Group Camp is open for day use from 8am until dusk.
Emma Wood North Beach is open daily 8am until dusk.
Lifeguard services are provided during peak summer season. For information on when services are provided and how to obtain a lifeguard services for large groups or off season events call (805) 648-3321.
Beach wheelchairs are available by contacting (805) 648-3321.
For a recorded message about this park call: 805-968-1033
During peak season Emma Wood Group Camp is open for day use from 8am until dusk.
Emma Wood North Beach is open daily 8am until dusk.
Lifeguard services are provided during peak summer season. For information on when services are provided and how to obtain a lifeguard services for large groups or off season events call (805) 648-3321.
Beach wheelchairs are available by contacting (805) 648-3321.
For a recorded message about this park call: 805-968-1033
Camping
Emma Wood State Beach – North Beach Campground provides only basic campsite, no amenities. Vehicles must be 100% self-contained. No tents.
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.
Camping at Emma Wood State Beach is reservation only from mid-May through Labor Day. There is a one night only en-route camping at Ventura River Group Camp two miles south on Main Street in Ventura. During the off-season, camping is on a first-come, first-served basis. 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.
Group camping is available at Ventura River Group Camp, with reservations required year around. This group campground is separated by two 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. Shower facilities are limited to an outdoor cold water shower.
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. 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'.
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.
Make Campground Reservations
Visit these pages for camping and day-use fees.
Emma Wood State Beach – North Beach Campground provides only basic campsite, no amenities. Vehicles must be 100% self-contained. No tents.
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.
Camping at Emma Wood State Beach is reservation only from mid-May through Labor Day. There is a one night only en-route camping at Ventura River Group Camp two miles south on Main Street in Ventura. During the off-season, camping is on a first-come, first-served basis. 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.
Group camping is available at Ventura River Group Camp, with reservations required year around. This group campground is separated by two 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. Shower facilities are limited to an outdoor cold water shower.
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. 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'.
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.
Make Campground Reservations
Visit these pages for camping and day-use fees.
Accessible Features
Disclaimer
We are working to improve accessibility throughout our parks but we regret that there are currently no (wheelchair) accessible activities at this park. This may be an undeveloped park, or there may be terrain, historic or resource protection issues or other limiting factors. However, there may be some wheelchair accessible features, such as parking areas, restrooms, and routes of travel, that meet some of the current accessibility guidelines. Call the park or email us at access@parks.ca.gov for details.
Disclaimer
We are working to improve accessibility throughout our parks but we regret that there are currently no (wheelchair) accessible activities at this park. This may be an undeveloped park, or there may be terrain, historic or resource protection issues or other limiting factors. However, there may be some wheelchair accessible features, such as parking areas, restrooms, and routes of travel, that meet some of the current accessibility guidelines. Call the park or email us at access@parks.ca.gov for details.
Community Trips
This is one of my favorite walks. We start out at a small lot where the surfers park, then walk east on the bike path for about a mile...looking for the path where everyone crosses over the railroad tracks. Then we walk back through the Emma Wood State Beach campground, up the surfers path to our vehicle.Started out by trying to get close enough to two different birds in trees with my...
