Discover the best places to camp on the beach along the Southern California coast. Enjoy fresh ocean breezes, the sound of crashing waves, and cozy nights by the campfire. With beachfront hotel prices sky-high, camping on the beach is an affordable and fun vacation option. Reservations are required for most campgrounds.
Santa Barbara County – Ventura County – Los Angeles County – Orange County – San Diego County – Beach Camping Map
Santa Barbara County Beach Camping
Jalama Beach County Park
Jalama Beach County Park is one of California’s best places to camp on the beach, with 100 ocean-view campsites and seven comfortable cottages. Jalama Beach is north of Santa Barbara, just south of Vandenberg Air Force Base. This campground is the most secluded on our list, so bring everything you need.
A small restaurant and a store on-site serve up the famous Jalama burger, but that’s the only service available. This Santa Barbara County park and campground address is 9999 Jalama Road, Lompoc, California.
Gaviota State Park Camping
Gaviota State Park is the last stop on Highway 101 before it turns inland toward Buellton and Solvang. There are e 41 developed campsites that can accommodate tents and RVs up to 27 feet. Gaviota State Park has hiking trails connected to the Los Padres National Forest.
Gaviota SP has a fishing pier along with a sandy stretch of beach. This campground is tiny, so that you will be camping close to your neighbors. Gaviota State Park’s Address is 10 Refugio Beach Road in Goleta, California.
El Capitan State Beach
El Capitan Beach is perfect for families looking for a beach camping adventure or to escape from the city for the day—Sandy Beach, rocky tidepools, and sycamore stand and oaks along El Capitan Creek. The campground has 133 campsites. Several campsites offer beautiful Pacific Ocean views from cliff-top locations. Gaviota State Beach is north of the town of Goleta along Highway 101.
El Capitan Canyon Resort
While not directly on the Beach, El Capitan Canyon Resort offers fantastic coastal views and easy walking distance to the beach. El Capitan Canyon Resort accommodations include Safari Tents, Cabins, and Yurts. Imagine going camping; the only chore you have to do is packing your suitcase.
One nice feature of the resort is that it is on the east side of Highway 101, far enough away that you don’t hear the horn of the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains as they head up or down the coast.
Refugio State Beach Camping
If you like beach camping, Refugio State Beach is a lovely area lined with palm trees that provide a relaxing day or a fun camping trip. Campsites are located very close to the beach, with some nestled in shady palm trees. Imagine falling asleep to the sounds of crashing waves. Both tent and RV campers can enjoy this scenic coastal location. 10 Refugio Beach Road, Goleta, California.
Carpinteria State Beach Camping
Carpinteria State Beach offers 216 campsites for RVs and tent camping near Carpinteria. There are four campgrounds: Anacapa, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and San Miguel. Santa Cruz and San Miguel have campsites directly on the sand, steps to the Ocean. 5361 Sixth Street Carpinteria, California.
Ventura County Beach Camping
Hobson Beach Park – Ventura County
Hobson Beach Park features 29 campsites. Numbers 13 through 28 are directly on the ocean. Camps are close, but the campground location makes up for the lack of space. Campsites can be reserved with the Ventura County Parks Online Reservation System. A small snack shop serves breakfast and lunch; restrooms and WiFi are available. 5210 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ventura, CA 93001. website.
Rincon Parkway – Ventura County
You can’t get any closer to the beach than at Ventura County’s Rincon Parkway. Situated on the old Pacific Coast Highway, campsites have spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Reservations can be made online up to 180 days before the arrival date. Every site has a fantastic idea, so it doesn’t matter where you park. Tent camping is not allowed here, and there is no day-use parking. 4668 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ventura, CA 93001. website.
Faria Beach Park – Ventura County
Faria is another small beach campground run by the county of Ventura. Situated a few miles south of Hobson Beach, Faria Beach Park features 38 campsites. Numbers 7 – 34 are directly on the ocean with unobstructed views of the Pacific. All sites are offered by reservation.
Getting a spot here can be challenging, especially during the summer and holiday weekends. There is a small cafe that serves breakfast and lunch. 4350 Old Rincon Hwy Ventura, CA 93001. Website.
Emma Wood State Beach
Emma Wood State Beach offers campers and day users an incredible place to unwind and soak up some sun with excellent beachfront camping and beautiful panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Emma Wood’s is a popular year-round destination with a 90-site self-contained campground about as close to the ocean as possible and moderate temperatures—highway 101 Ventura, California.
McGrath State Beach
(Due to flooding, as of 7/10/2019, McGrath State Beach is closed until further notice.) McGrath State Beach has 172 campsites by the beach and is next to the Santa Clara River and dunes. The campground is relatively remote by Southern California standards but far from civilization’s comforts. The beach here is wide and sandy, perfect for a stroll or laying out in the sun. 2211 North Harbor Blvd. Oxnard, California.
Point Mugu State Park Camping
There are two campgrounds at Point Mugu State Park—Thornhill Broom on the beach and Sycamore Canyon, with ocean views. Point Mugu State Park features more than 70 miles of hiking trails and five miles of pristine ocean shoreline surrounded by rocky bluffs and jagged pinnacles. 9000 W. Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, California.
Thornhill Broome Point Mugu
Thornhill Broome Beach Campground is part of Point Mugu State Park. The main attraction here is pulling up your RV and parking on the beach—nothing between you and the surf except the rocky shore. Thornhill Broom campsites are considered primitive sites and are limited to 8 people. Reservations are Non-Site-Specific. All campsites are directly on the beach. Thornhill Broome Beach’s address is 9000 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California.
Los Angeles County Beach Camping
Leo Carrillo State Park
Stretching just a mile and a half along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, Leo Carrillo State Park is a perfect destination for day use or an overnight camping trip. Leo Carrillo’s campground is inland from the beach in a canyon lined with giant sycamores. There are 135 campsites, including several group sites. Beach access is through a tunnel under the Pacific Coast Highway. 35000 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California.
Dockweiler State Beach RV Park
If you like the sound of planes, you will love Dockweiler. This state beach sits beneath the takeoff path from Los Angeles International Airport. If you can get past the noise of the planes, the beach here is wide and sandy and has plenty of fire pits. There are 118 total hook-up spaces for RVs at Dockweiler.
About half of the sites back up to the beach (1-82). No tent camping is allowed. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance. 12001 Vista del Mar Playa del Rey, California. Website.
Orange County Beach Camping
Bolsa Chica State Beach RV Camping
Bolsa Chica State Beach is between Huntington Beach and Seal Beach. Beach camping at Bolsa Chica is limited to recreational vehicles only. Be sure to bring along your bicycles when camping at Bolsa Chica. The beach trail runs south to Newport Beach and north to Long Beach. 17851 Pacific Coast Hwy. Huntington Beach, California.
Sunset Vista RV Park Huntington Beach
Sunset Vista RV Park is half a mile south of the Huntington Beach Pier. This campground is a parking lot adjacent to the beach where you can park your RV. The location is excellent. Everything you could ever want, including the Pacific Ocean, is within walking distance.
The downside is it can get very noisy, and there are a ton of fire rings on the beach, and depending on the wind, you will get a lot of smoke in the evenings. 103 Pacific Coast Hwy Huntington Beach, CA 92648. website. Their website is in dire need of an upgrade.
Newport Dunes Luxury Beach Camping
Newport Dunes Resort provides the perfect home away from home for guests to have fun in the southern California sun. While most guests arrive by RV, stopping for just a few days’ rest as they continue to their final destination or staying for an entire vacation, you don’t need an RV to stay here. There are plenty of overnight options, including tent camping and cottage rentals. Newport 1131 Back Bay Dr, Newport Beach, California.
Crystal Cove Beach Cottages
Twenty-four cottages at Crystal Cove range from beachfront to bluff top. All of the cabins have a microwave and refrigerator. ADA-accessible units have a small electric stove. If you don’t want to cook on your beach vacation, you can dine at the beachfront Beachcomber Restaurant. Crystal Cove Beach Cottages are some of California’s most sought-after beach rentals—located midway between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach along Coast Highway.
Moro Campground Crystal Cove
Moro Campground offers spectacular ocean views from all of its sixty campsites. Unlike some other beach campgrounds, there is no bad campsite. No open fires are allowed anywhere in the park. You may use compressed gas BBQs on the beach or at the campground. 8471 N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, California.
Doheny State Beach Camping
Doheny State Beach is next to Dana Point Harbor in South Orange County. Some of the campsites at Doheny are directly on the beach. There are 16 RV campsites only. To balance the campsites, you can use a tent, pop-up trailer, or the back seat of your car. There is also a separate group tent site at the far end of the campground. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, California.
San Clemente State Beach
San Clemente State Beach has 160 bluff-top campsites. Most sites do not have a beach view. However, campsites 57-72 have a partial ocean view. A paved trail leads down to the wide sandy beach. The park’s visitor center is the original 1934 ranger’s cottage. Open most weekends. The visitor center has interesting historical photos and information on native animals and plant life. 225 Avenida Calafia San Clemente, California.
San Diego County Beach Camping
San Onofre State Beach Camping
San Onofre State Beach features 3,000 acres of Southern California coastline between San Clemente and Camp Pendleton. The park includes San Onofre Bluffs, San Onofre Surf Beach, and San Mateo Campground. San Onofre Bluffs stretches along Old Highway 101, offering day-use parking and camping.
San Mateo Campground is about 1.5 miles inland from the beach. A trail connects the campground to Trestles Beach, a world-class surfing site. Basilone Road exit off I-5, San Clemente, California.
South Carlsbad State Beach
South Carlsbad State Beach is between Highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean. There are over 200 campsites here, with half listed as premium sites with ocean views. Several stairs lead down to the beach but are relatively steep. Every location has a picnic table and a fire ring. A hedge on one side of the site offers some privacy. However, the spaces are close together. The beach here is rocky, with very little sand to play on. Reservations – 7201 Carlsbad Blvd. Carlsbad, CA 92008
San Elijo State Beach
San Elijo State Beach offers bluff-top camping, with about half of the 170 campsites having uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean. Campsite assignments are made upon your arrival unless you reserve a specific site. Peak-season reservations are necessary, but you should not have problems getting an ocean-view campsite after the busy summer. 2050 South Coast Hwy 101 Cardiff, California.
Silver Strand State Beach
Silver Strand State Beach is on the sand strip that separates San Diego Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Silver Strand is San Diego’s most popular place for beach camping. Silver Strand features 136 campsites that are for self-contained vehicles only. Camping is only in the north lot #4. Spaces 041 to 061 and 081 to 095 are right on the beach. 5000 Highway 75 Coronado, California.
Roberts Cottages Oceanside
Roberts Cottages are on the strand, only steps to Oceanside’s vast sandy beach. These are primarily one-bedroom cottages that were built in 1924 as vacation homes. Today, many of these unique beach cottages can be rented. While not cheap, the location is breathtaking at an average price of $1500 per week during the summer. Oceanside is midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, making it an excellent family vacation destination.
McGrath State Beach is closed. Not sure if it’s ever going to be reopened
I added a note to the McGrath State Beach post. California has a massive $97.5 billion state budget surplus. You would think they could come up with the money to repair the flooding damage. Perhaps use some of that dollar-a-gallon gas tax money for state parks
I would love informed about trying out camping life where you get a camper delivered to the site. Ty
Here is a list of approved vendors to get a trailer delivered
Alberts RV albertsrvrental.com/ (858) 598-5829
RV Rentals on the Central Coast rvrentalscc.com/ (805) 215-4859
MLG Enterprises RV Rentals rvrentalssd.com/ 760-237-8026
Travel Time RV traveltimervrentals.com/ (800) 787-3689
The Holidays theholidaysca.com/ (Camp Trailer Rental Services) (760) 707- 9141
Reservations are needed at Rincon.
Here is the link good luck. https://www.venturaparks.org/reservation/camping/
This is an awesome list of some great spots to camp on the beach. Thanks for putting this together.
TRYING TO FIND INFO ON CAMPING..RENTING A CAMPER..CAN YOU GIVE ME HELP..WEBSITES?? LOOKING TO COME FROM IN.
Please send an email to info@daytrippen.com with more details and we will advise.
Sign up to camp at the California State Parks. Private vendors will deliver a camper to some of the parks and take it away at the end of your stay. This is a great way to try out the camping life to see if you want to buy one. San Clemente State Park is a great place to have a camper delivered. Also there are several vintage campers on-site that can be rented.
The market is glutted with used campers right now. So if you decide you like camping, you can get deals. But do your research. There’s a lot of junk out there. So many full and part time campers post videos of their experiences as well as camping tips.