Outdoors
Outdoors near Santa Maria
39 national forests, lakes, parks and campgrounds within reach, by activity.
Hiking
23 places · closest 14 mi
Point Sal, Navajo Flats Campground and more
Best: year-round
Camping
26 places · closest 19 mi
Horseshoe Springs Campground, American Canyon Campground and more
Best: year-round
Fishing
11 places · closest 27 mi
Santa Margarita Lake, Cachuma Lake and more
Boating & paddling
7 places · closest 27 mi
Santa Margarita Lake, Cachuma Lake and more
Best: March–November
Biking
18 places · closest 28 mi
Turkey Flat Ohv Staging Area, La Panza Campground and more
Best: year-round
Picnic spots
5 places · closest 27 mi
Santa Margarita Lake, Cachuma Lake and more
Best: year-round
Horseback riding
15 places · closest 34 mi
Saucito Ranch, Selby Campground and more
Best: year-round
Wildlife & birding
21 places · closest 14 mi
Point Sal, Santa Margarita Lake and more
Swimming
9 places · closest 37 mi
Cerro Alto Campground, Fremont Campground and more
Best: September
Closer to home
Places come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; distances are straight-line miles from downtown.