Area Information
There are a number of places to stay in the nearby towns of Ojai or Santa Paula. Each is about a 20-30 minute drive to Meher Mount. The cities of Ventura and Santa Barbara are about a 45-60 minute drive.
When planning your multi-day visit to the area, be sure to book your room reservations early. Ojai, in particular, is a tourist destination with a somewhat limited number of places to stay, chiefly on weekends and during peak vacation times and festivals. Early booking gives you the most flexibility.
General Resources
In addition to the city-by-city listings below, consider the following:
Vacation rentals are available even for short stays. Visitors use Airbnb, VRBO, and FlipKey to find rentals in private rooms, apartments and houses in the area.
Travel review sites list other travelers' favorites. See Trip Advisor and Yelp for a start.
Camping is also an option. Camping at Meher Mount is not permitted. There are, however, several camping facilities nearby. In some instances, you need to bring all of your own camping equipment, other sites have furnished cabins, yurts or tents.
There is the Ventura Ranch KOA on Highway 150 which is on the way to Meher Mount if you are driving through Santa Paula from the south. This campground includes tent sties, teepees, furnished cabins and RV sites.
Near the KOA on Highway 150 is Steckel Park.
Coming from the north, Lake Casitas Recreation Area off Highway 150 between Santa Barbara and Ojai can accommodate tents, ten trailers, campers and RVs.
Off Highway 33 coming from Ventura to Ojai is Foster Park.
Other camping options include Camp Comfort (about one mile from downtown Ojai).
Closer to Meher Mount and on the way from Ojai on Highway 150 is Dennison Park.
Ojai, CA
THE SNOW-CAPPED Topa Topa Bluffs in the Ojai Valley as seen from Meher Mount.
Ojai, California is a small resort town and artists’ haven nestled in the Ojai Valley with a population of about 8,000. It is surrounded by mountains that run east to west, including the Topa Topa Bluffs, that give off a glow in the evening light known as “the pink moment.”
Early on, Ojai established a reputation as being a center of physical and mental health. It is well known for its mix of spiritual and meditation centers, making it a draw for people of various spiritual backgrounds.
Ojai Visitors Bureau: www.ojaivisitors.com
Ojai Restaurants: www.ojairestaurants.com
Visitors also use Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway and FlipKey to find rentals in private rooms, apartments and houses in the area.
There are also several retreat centers that are available for overnight accommodations: The Ojai Retreat and The Pepper Tree Retreat.
Santa Paula, CA
THE VIEW TOWARD SANTA PAULA and the Heritage Valley from Meher Mount. (Leslie Bridger photo, 2011.)
The city of Santa Paula is located in the Heritage Valley with the free-flowing Santa Clara River running through it. With a population of nearly 30,000, Santa Paula is a mix of tourism, agriculture, and Main Street businesses.
The Santa Paula area was first settled by the Chumash tribe of Native Americans around 10,000 years ago. Oil pioneers Wallace Hardison and Lyman Stewart moved to Santa Paula in 1886 and began California’s earliest oil production in nearby canyons.
Discover Santa Paula: www.discoversantapaula.com
Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau: www.heritagevalley.net
Ventura, CA
Ventura is a gateway to The Channel Islands National Park, with the foothills of the Los Padres National Forest to the north. It is located along California’s Central Coast south and west of Meher Mount and is home to one of California’s missions. It is served by Amtrak.
Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau: http://visitventuraca.com
Santa Barbara, CA
Sometimes called “The American Riviera,” Santa Barbara is located 30 miles directly west and to the north of Meher Mount on the Pacific coast. A city of approximately 200,000 people, Santa Barbara is served by Amtrak and Santa Barbara Airport. It is home to one of California’s missions.
Santa Barbara: www.santabarbaraca.com