Review Detail

Overall, this is a very nice campground, but I recommend it as an off-season destination. We entered through the Lompoc Gate (open 6:00 am to 9:00 p.m. daily) and received a very thorough search of our rig. Be sure to call ahead if you will arrive outside those hours. The FAMCAMP was easy to find with after-hours instructions posted for those who register when the office is closed. As other reviewers indicated, the pull-throughs are spacious sites with fairly high turnover. The other sites are located literally in two parking lots that are separated into very tiny spots with utilities located at the end of the parking spot. In the off-season, it is possible to park in the lot with plenty of room between neighbors simply due to the low occupancy. However, if the camp was crowded, you could probably hear your neighbor's TV if not his/her snoring! That said, the campground is a gem any time of year other than summer. Fall on the Central Coast is very pleasant and even winter is warm, but you may want to avoid Vandenberg during the rainy season (Jan-March). The campground has two community rooms with satellite TV. (We were not able to pick up any channels on our antenna.) There are also 2 laundry rooms, each with 2 washers and 2 dryers (total of 4 each). Washers are 50 cents a load and dryers cost a fixed $1.00 for 60 minutes. I rarely had to wait for a machine. There is an office, and you can receive mail as well as Fed Ex/UPS deliveries right at the campground. The showers/bathrooms are very clean. The only noise is from the occasional howling coyote, which we didn't mind at all. (However, be careful with smaller dogs-- the coyotes are quite bold and will walk right through the campground in daylight.) The gym is very nice and just slightly over a mile from the FAMCAMP. There is a pleasant walking/jogging trail with workout stations adjacent to the gym. The Community Center is only about a mile and a half away and includes the BX, shopette, library, post office and retiree activity center. The Commissary is farther away (2-3 miles) but is well-stocked and never crowded. The library is very FAMCAMP-friendly and even has a spot on the card application for FAMCAMP residents. High-speed internet is available at the library. I must disagree with the previous poster regarding nothing to do in the nearby area. The charming Danish town of Solvang is about 15 miles away and is well worth the trip for the bakeries alone! There are plenty of top-notch wineries in the area with tasting rooms to sample the excellent local wines. Vandenberg AFB itself is rich in history. You can visit Point Honda, site of a post-WW I naval disaster and SLC-6 which was originally planned to launch the space shuttle. Wall Beach is just 6 miles from the campground and is a beautiful beach to walk and enjoy the ocean as well as the shallow caves and natural arch. There are also several missions (La Purisima near Lompoc and Santa Inez in Solvang) that offer tours and a view of old California history. An hour drive to the north takes you to gorgeous Pismo Beach, the Melodrama in Oceano or the charm of San Luis Obispo. An hour drive to the south will put you in Santa Barbara-- great shopping, nice zoo, beautiful beaches and perhaps a glimpse of a Hollywood celebrity. If you enjoy a good steak, don't pass up the Hitching Post, featured in the movie "Sideways". The grilled artichoke is not to be missed.