Camping Spots On The Beach

Two Harbors And Parsons Landing Campgrounds

• Location: Catalina Island
• Type: Hike-in tent camping

Tucked away just off the beach at the resort town of Two Harbors in Catalina Island sits the Two Harbors Campground. With views of the harbor and Pacific Ocean, its an idyllic beachside campground but also close enough to town and the ferry from San Pedro for easy accessibility, even on an island that prohibits visitors from driving cars. Campers can choose between renting a basic campsite and setting up their own equipment or reserving one of Two Harbors 12 tent cabins, which come equipped with cots, a two-burner stove, and fully charged lanterns.

For a more adventurous experience, campers can head to Parsons Landing Campground, a secluded, on-the-beach campground on the northeast side of Catalina that you can only access by hiking or kayaking. Shade and water are not provided, but you can preorder a locker with firewood and water for $20 and spare your back the extra weight.

Popular California Beach Campgrounds

Hey Campers! Whether you live in California, or if youre planning to visit, there are some great beach campsites to discover along the states coast some were willing to bet you didnt know existed. Most of the time youll enjoy sunny skies, blue water and a variety of activities like surfing, swimming, sunbathing, diving, kayaking, hiking, beach combing and biking. And although getting a campsite at these 10 popular California beach campgrounds is extremely difficult, you can always try our Campsite Assist to get notified when a site becomes available on the dates you want to camp!

Cape Henlopen State Park

Cape Henlopen State Park is located at the point where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Camp among pine-covered dunes within walking distance of the Atlantic and a five-mile stretch of beach in Lewes.

Explore all 7,000 acres of Cape Henlopen State Park! Cape Discover the beauty and diversity of Cape Henlopen coastal environment encompassing ocean and bay beaches, maritime forests, and tidal salt marshes.

The newly renovated campground offers water, 50 and 100 amp electric hook-ups, new fire rings and picnic tables, a new one-way vehicle circulation pattern, camp store, laundry facility, pull through sites, walk-in tent sites, play area, additional dump stations, a renovated registration booth and expanded overflow parking area. In addition to camping at the family campground, Cape Henlopen also has a nature center and store, bait and tackle shop, and food concessions.

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Sunset Beach State Beach

Sunset Beach Campground features pine trees, mountainous sand dunes and picnic spots along the Pacific Ocean. The park is located between the cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey making this a great getaway for families year-round. The campground has 91 campsites and is located on a bluff above the beach overlooking Monterey Bay. Amenities include water, flush toilets and showers. Firewood is also available for purchase from the camp host.

Sunset State Beach View

St George Island State Park

Just offshore from Apalachicola, youll find St. George Island, home to a magnificent state park. If nine miles of white-sand beaches sounds tempting to you, consider reserving one of its 60 campsites. The campsites, located between the Bay and Gulf, are about a half-mile from the beach. Theyre nestled under a canopy of pines, and offer electric, water and a central dump station. The park also offers primitive camping and a group camp area. The primitive camp is located at the end of a two-and-a-half mile trail, and is also accessible by canoe or kayak. There are no facilities or water at the primitive camp, while the group camp is designed for organized groups and offers a restroom and cold showers. Fishing and shelling are exceptional at the park. With a special permit and an additional fee, fishermen can access East Pass. Common catches from the beach or bay include redfish, mackerel, trout, whiting, flounder and more.

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Alder Bay Rv Park + Marina

The easiest way to get off the beaten path on Vancouver Island is to head north. This is where the roads get quieter and the scenery gets wilder.

Alder Bay is a very civilised place from which to take it all in just dont forget to watch for orca whales as you relax!

More RV-centric than the other recommendations listed here, we still found Alder Bay to be a small van / tent friendly place. There are 12 walk-in only sites located right on the water.

Alder Bay RV Park has over 80 campsites, ranging in price from $33-54/night in peak season in peak season. Most of the RV sites have services available . The campground has flush toilets, coin operated showers, laundry facilities, pay for use wi-fi, a kayak launching area and a store. Campsites can be reserved online.

El Capitan State Beach

West of Santa Barbara, El Capitan State Park lies on both sides of U.S. Route 101. You can also find El Capitan Creek in the park so it features lots of trees, particularly sycamores and oaks.

El Capitan has a sandy beach along with bluffs and tide pools. Park rangers offer interpretive programming as well.

The campground doesnt off any RV hook-ups although you will find showers. The campsites are $45 a night. The RV limit is a generous 42 feet.

Located at exit #117 off U.S. Route 101, 17 miles west of Santa Barbara.

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The Putty Beach Bouddi National Park

Putty Beach is one of the biggest campgrounds in Bouddi National Park and offers a whole range of facilities and activities to take part in. Bush-walking, fishing and swimming are just some of the activities you can partake in at this beautiful beach camping spot and includes all the amenities youll ever need.

Address: Maitland Bay Track, Bouddi NSW 2251

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area Central Florida

An hour south of St. Augustine lies this sandy beach, situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway along a barrier island. Beach fishing is popular here, as is sunbathing, swimming, or viewing the parks diverse wildlife and plant life. There are 68 campsites, some along the beach and a few along the river. Amenities include showers, water, and restrooms, as well as RV hook-ups. Reserve a campsite online for around $30 a night, depending on the season and site. Camping is possible year-round.

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Saysutshun Marine Provincial Park

Located just across the water from downtown Nanaimo, the island of Saysutshun was once host to two Salish villages. It later became the base of a fish-salting operation, sandstone quarry, shipyard and pleasure resort.

Nowadays, its a relaxing place to explore by foot or bike. Accessible via a private boat or 10 minute regularly scheduled passenger ferry, the small forested campground on Newcastle Island is only five minutes walk from the dock.

Saysutshun has 18 walk-in campsites, all available for advance reservations. There are outhouses, potable water taps and a flush toilet building with coin operated showers. Campsite fees are $18/night per camping group in 2022. There is cell phone service here.

The Outer Banks North Carolina

The outer banks is a narrow strip of island off of the coast of North Carolina. A truly unique place to visit, there is something for everyone. Here you can find your peace and quiet or be in the middle of all the action. There are various places to camp on the outer banks, with plenty of spaces for RVs.

On the outer banks, there are all kinds of things to see and do. Out here you will find several breathtaking, still-functioning 1800s-era lighthouses, a golf course, extremely unique restaurants, surf shops, big waves, dolphin tours, wild horses, fishing boats, jet ski rentals, and go-karts/mini golf, just to name a few.

Kitty Hawk, a small community on the Outer Banks, also happens to be the site of the Wright Brothers first flight. Here they honed their piloting skills until they were able to achieve the first powered flight in an aircraft. The site of their actual flight is now a national memorial with a visitors center and all that entails.

Farther south along the island you will enter into protected conservation areas, including Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Camp here if you want a quieter experience that is more out in the woods. One of the big lighthouses, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, is here as well.

The whole island is basically beach, so you wont be short on coastline to explore and surf.

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North Carolina: Camp Hatteras Rv Resort

Camp Hatteras affords ocean and sound-front websites on North Carolinas Outer Banks, which is one of the best camping spots on the east coast.

The 200 websites all have concrete pads and full hookups. Some are positioned on the aspect of Pamlico Sound and others subsequent to the Atlantic Ocean.Among the many facilities are swimming pools, a Jacuzzi, mini-golf, WaveRunner leases, and a walkway out to the seaside. In addition, they have a completely stocked retailer on-site and a dog park for pet house owners.One RVers tip: Keep on a website close to the sound, fairly than the ocean. Youll really get a view of the water and sunsets. The oceanfront websites are nearer to the seaside, however, the view may be obstructed by the dunes.

Casini Ranch Family Campground:

This campground is about 2 miles away from the California Coach and its nearby beach that is in the beautiful Sonoma Coast State Park.

This is a very popular camping spot that has you staying in a beautiful forest, by a river and another plan B option that is literally right by the beach and near Sonoma Coast State Park is Wrights Beach Campground. But if this option is taken, your next best campground would be Casini Ranch.

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Tent Camping Near The Waves

Beach camping in a tent is the most simple and basic of all camping options. It’s the classic camping trip that you might have experienced as a kid. No frills, just you, your family, and the great outdoors. One of the benefits of tent camping is you can often head to campsites you can’t get to with an RV.

What’s great about tent camping is that you really require very little to get started. Unlike RV camping , you just need a tent and some basic gear to camp. Plus, it’s a great excuse to unplug from modern life for a couple of days!

Of course, one of the biggest drawbacks of tent camping is that the weather can almost make or break your vacation. Flash downpours can put a real damper on your day and you’ll want to make sure that your camping gear is prepared to handle the rain. There’s nothing fun about being stuck inside a leaking tent!

You’ll also need to consider how you store your food while you’re tent camping. While you might enjoy tent camping because it allows you to get closer to wildlife, you likely won’t want the local wildlife to invite themselves to dinner!

Sandy Neck Beach Park Massachusetts

If youre heading out to Cape Cod, the town of Barnstable allows beach camping at Sandy Neck Beach Park. If youre taking an RV no trailers allowed it must have both a gray water and septic tank. Your vehicle may also be required to pass a beach driving test to make sure it can maneuver through the sand. If you want to backpack it, there is a primitive tenting area 3.3 miles from the parking lot. The park also offers miles of hiking trails through marshlands and a maritime forest. Download the Sandy Neck Beach Park mobile app for the up-to-date beach status.

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South Carlsbad State Beach

Bluffs line this beach thats popular for swimming and surfing. And several times a week, the park rangers offer interpretive programming, like wildlife viewing and junior ranger programming for the kids.

The beach camping sites are $50 and inland campsites are $35. Beachfront sites with hookups are $75 and inland sites with hookups are $60. The RV length limit is 35 feet.

Campground located at 7201 Carlsbad Blvd., 3 miles from Carlsbad.

Nearby: Carlsbad State Beach is just north and a day-use only beach.

surfing San Onofre by Dan Stiel from Pixabay

North Coast Holiday Park Corindi Beach

Just 30 minutes outside of Coffs Harbour, North Coast Holiday Park offers the perfect beach camping experience. Take a splash in the crystal blue waters of Corindi Beach and take in the stunning natural beauty. This coastal getaway offers large and easy to access sites with stunning ocean views. Its also pet friendly, so bring along your furry travel companions.

Address: 93 Pacific St, Corindi Beach NSW 2456Phone: 02 6649 2803

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Russian Gulch State Park :

Time and time again, I go on about how much I love the Russian Gulch State Park and the fact that there is a campground right inside it makes it even better.

You will have tons of things to do in this park , in addition to kayaking, hiking and more.

You can see my article above for a list of things you can do at Russian Gulch state park.

But overall, its a mixture of very scenic views, an absolutely stunning panorama, a beautiful beach and nice hikes to explore on the coast and in the forest near the beach .

I cant say enough about Russian Gulch and how much I love it. Its one of my favorite places in California.

And its one I plan to revisit every single time I am in the area.

Beverly Beach State Park

According to Oregon State Parks, a well-known walkway goes under the highway and emerges to the long expanse of sandy beach extending from Yaquina Head to the headlands of Otter Rock.

Oregon State Parks

This walkway is one of several things that has caused Beverly Beach State Park to be known for its mystic and magic beauty. Peoples vacations here often live up to every fantasy theyve had of the perfect beach trip.

With the colorful kites in the sky, the sand castles along the shore and surfers line the beach, youll feel caught in a dream.

Beverly Beach is a popular place for people seeking adventure to come and camp. The north beach has ample surfing opportunities while the south beach is known for its rich collection of fossils.

Where the forest and the beach meet, there is a campground that is surrounded by wind-sculpted trees. Spencer Creek runs through the campground as well.

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Ocracoke Island Cape Hatteras National Seashore

This National Park Service campground is set on Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the outermost island in the Outer Banks, with 13 miles of pristine beach. Accessed by boat, the island offers a wide variety of activities, including surfing, sandcastle building, fishing, clamming, beachcombing and boogie boarding, as well as wildlife watching, including the wild ponies that roam the shores and more than 400 species of birds. You can pitch your tent right in the dunes, and catch an ocean sunrise in the morning. Flush toilets, drinking water, cold showers and grills are all provided. In the nearby village of Ocracoke, there are a number of restaurants, grocery stores, a tackle shop and gift shops.

North Carolina: Cape Hatteras Koa

Okay, yes, North Carolina is getting two entries. We have stayed at the Cape Hatteras KOA and it was one of our all-time favorite campgrounds! This beachfront campground allowed us to combine two of our favorite things the Outer Banks and camping. We stayed in a full-hookup site and were just a stones throw from the beach. This campground was well-kept and had a big pool and a huge inflatable air pillow that the kids jumped on throughout the week. The clubhouse was big and clean and offered a cafe, a small store, laundry facilities and more. You can read our in-depth review of this campground here.

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Padre Island National Seashore Camping

Padre Island National Seashore Camping is one of our favorite summer activities.

The national park has 4 campgrounds and you can camp on the beach at 2 of them.

You can choose a campsite tucked besides the sand dunes and have fun sleeping under the stars at night.

Camping at Padre Island is really an amazing experience: the water is pristine and if you time it right, you can attend a Turtle hatchlings release.

Visitors need to pay the national park entry fees but the campsites are free.

You can pick really secluded campsites, making Padre Island one of our favorite camping destination in Texas.

Beach camping on Padre Island is the perfect relaxing getaway as there is no cell service near many of the camping areas and you can enjoy a digital and social media detox.

Heres your complete guide to beach camping at Padre Island National Seashore.

North Beach

North Beach is our recommended camping area if you dont have a 4WD vehicle.

The beach area is just 5 miles long but less popular so it is easy to find a spot on here.

While having a 4WD vehicle to drive on the beach is highly recommended, if you are going to try with a 2WD then North Beach is your best bet.

We have seen many sedans driving and camping in this part of Padre Island National Seashore.

The access road to the campsites is by the entrance / near the only cell tower in this area.

Then you can just drive along the beach road and select a campsite.

South Beach

South Beach is our personal favorite camping area.