A couple dozen new campsites will open soon at River Park in Lompoc. City Council members voted on Nov. 18 to establish the campground’s rules and fees, which are expected to help the park stay afloat financially.
In 2022, the city renovated nine RV sites at the park. Later this month, 26 additional spots are scheduled to open for a total of 35 campsites, according to city staff, which prompted the council to update park policies in November.
River Park, owned and operated by the city of Lompoc, also has picnic tables, restrooms, waste disposal facilities, and full RV hookups for short- and long-term campers. Tent camping isn’t allowed for security reasons.
“[It] looks like there’s a great renovation going on [at] River Park to generate more revenue and provide better services to our public and to actually put Lompoc a little bit more on the map,” Councilmember Victor Vega said at the meeting.
Short-term camping is defined as a visit for 21 continuous days within a four-week period. The rate is set at $50 per day or a discounted $325 for one week. It includes space for an RV and one vehicle, but an extra vehicle can be added for a $10 daily fee.
At most, half of the 35 sites will be reserved for long-term campers, who can stay for up to one year. Applications should be submitted to park management with a letter describing campers’ needs for the spot.
Priority for these extended stays will be given to people with proof of local employment. There’s a $650 deposit, and campers must pre-pay for their site every four weeks, according to the new policies. Guests must leave the campground for at least 14 days to reapply for a long-term site.
In 2026, campers will be able to book their stays ahead of time via the Lompoc Parks and Recreation website. It’s a change from the previous first-come, first-served policy, which was the biggest complaint from visitors, Community Development Director Mario Guerrero Jr. said at the meeting.
“It was kind of hard to bring people into town without having that ability to book your site,” Guerrero said.
The River Park campground also serves as “a stable revenue stream for the Park Maintenance Division and reduces the city’s general fund subsidy,” according to the staff report. There won’t be an impact to the city’s budget during the 2025-27 fiscal years.
Councilmember Jeremy Ball remembered when the project was first discussed at meetings a couple of years ago. He was excited by the idea of turning the park into a revenue generator, taking some stress away from the city’s general fund.
“Not only do we have an upgraded park, an updated park, a place where people can come [near] Highway One and camp at a good rate, but it can help our city by taking off some of the pressures so we could use some of the general fund dollars to do some other good work,” Ball said.
The council voted 4-0 to adopt the campground’s new policies. Mayor Jim Mosby recused himself because he owns property near River Park.
Along with the vote, council members asked that staff present an update on the campground’s vacancy rate and revenue stream within 12 months.
River Park is located at Highway 246 and Sweeney Road in Lompoc. The online booking platform through the city of Lompoc’s website is scheduled to launch in early 2026, according to the city. Reservations are also accepted in person from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at the Anderson Recreation Center.
This article appears in Dec 4 – Dec 11, 2025.