Andrew Molera State Park Big Sur
While most of the places to go camping in Californias Big Sur get snatched up months in advance, the 1/2 mile walk to the 24 first-come, first-served campsites at Andrew Molera State Park is enough to deter some campers. This means if you arrive early enough in the day, you might just get lucky and snag a site right along the Big Sur River which runs right through the middle of the park. The campground is an open meadow, so sites dont afford a ton of privacy, but the location more than makes up for that. Plus, Andrew Molera has some of the best hiking trails in Big Sur.
Hiking in Andrew Molera State Park
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Crystal Cove Cottages State Park
Known to be one of the last remaining examples of early 20th century Southern California coastal development, Crystal Cove Cottages State Park offers a piece of history in its 46 vintage rustic coastal cottages. There are about 19 available for overnight use, but they are very difficult to reserve. You can also try Campsite Assist to receive alerts if a cottage becomes available. The park and cottages are located just north of Laguna Beach. Crystal Cove State Park also has Moro Campground , and three primitive campgrounds including Deer Canyon, Upper Moro and Lower Moro.
Some of the cottages at Crystal Cove State Park
Moro Campsite #9
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground
This campground is part of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Here, you can park your RV and set up a tent between the redwood forest and the Pacific Ocean.
Oh, a fun extra for you: You might find a herd of Roosevelt Elk partying on the beach! If you dream of an unforgettable camping experience, this might be the treat youre looking for!
Just a reminder, though, be sure you dont accidentally choose the Elk Prairie campground when making your reservations. Its not a beach, but a land campsite. Sign up for Gold Bluffs if you want to camp by the beach.
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South Carlsbad State Beach
Fantastic beaches with swimming, surfing, fishing and famous evening jogs make South Carlsbad State Beach a very popular San Diego County destination. There are 223 single-family campsites on a bluff above the beach and 138 are ocean front. Thirteen of the campsites have full hookups. Campground amenities include water, flush toilets, showers, a camp store and an RV dump station. Group camping is also available.
Sunset at South Carlsbad State Beach
South Carlsbad State Beach Campground
Nehalem Bay State Park
Occupying a four-mile sandspit between the ocean and the bay, Nehalem Bay State Park has beaches on both sides. The 265 campsites, most shady, all have electricity, and 18 yurts are available to rent, the largest concentration on the coast. Equestrian campsites are also available, with horse rentals offered during the summer. Guided kayak tours explore Nehalem Bay. The park, just two hours drive from Portland, also has an airstrip for fly-in campers.
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Top 10 Rv Parks And Campgrounds In California
Can you beat the temperate coastal climate of California? I mean, seriously, you can comfortably hike, bike, and lounge on the beach all year-round.
These top 10 RV Parks and Campgrounds will give you the amenities you need to make exploring California easy while putting you right at the center of all the action.
Crystal Cove State Park Laguna Beach
With 3.2 miles of ocean beach, bluffs, canyons, and historical areas to explore, Crystal Cove State Park has plenty to entertain the entire family. This historic and beautiful area is located between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach and encompasses over a thousand acres, not including a thousand acres of underwater park.
Obviously, surfing, swimming, and hiking are easy to enjoy at this beautiful park, but this location also has opportunities for horseback riding, scuba diving, skin diving, and mountain biking.
This historic site has been the backdrop for numerous movies. The buildings on site have great significance in Southern California history, making for a unique educational journey alongside the recreation.
Hike-in primitive sites are available for dry camping with pack-in pack-out rules, or Moro Campground has 57 RV campsites. Twenty-seven are for campers or RVs under 38 feet, and 30 are for tents or low impact soft-sided trailers under 25 feet. Sites are $50-$75 per night.
Restrooms with token showers are on-site, and if you want a night off from the RV, there are cottages for rent in the historic district.
Located near Ventura, California, Emma Wood State Park is 112 acres of pure nature escape.
There are no amenities besides some dumpsters and sometimes outhouses, depending on where you are. You must bring your own water and power sources.
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The Only California State Park Where You Can Park Your Rv On The Beach
When we were RVing along the California coast, we wanted to park as close to the ocean as possible. I wanted sand in my bed and the ocean breeze blowing through our windows. We found some great campgrounds and parks steps from the beach or a short walk or drive from the water. But we wanted to park our RV right on the beach.
There are some great lists that have some great options for camping at Californias State Beaches. But its missing one Oceano Dunes SVRA.
Video source: At Your Leisure
We were recommended by some locals to check out Oceano Dunes SVRA , just south of Pismo Beach. $10 for dry camping on the beach as close to the water as you choose? Yes please! It was such a unique experience that we would recommend to everyone.
Before you jump in your RV rental and head over there, there are 4 things you should know first.
Santa Cruz Island Channel Islands National Park
Getting to the Channel Islands requires some effort, but with the chance to encounter dolphin pods, mola molas, and whales in the Santa Barbara Channel, the one hour boat ride to Santa Cruz Island is all part of the fun. While camping is allowed year round on all 5 of the islands in Channel Islands National Park, the Scorpion Ranch Campground at Santa Cruz is the most accessible for a weekend jaunt and also has the most developed facilities.
Once the ferry lands on the island, it is a half-mile walk from the pier to the campground, which sits in a grove of trees surrounded by grasslands and coastal sage scrub. Once you get settled, there are 6 different trails that leave from the campground ranging from a quick 1/2 mile stroll to a more strenuous 8 mile hike that leads to expansive coastal vistas. What makes camping on Santa Cruz Island really unique, however, are the opportunities to get out on the water. Sea kayaking here is world-class with sea caves, rocky coastline, and kelp forests, and for an extra fee, Island Packers rents and transports kayaks out to the island. Sightings of sea lions whizzing around the kelp forest are almost guaranteed. Reservations are required and sites get booked up months in advance, so plan ahead.
Sea kayaking on Santa Cruz Island
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Paradise By The Sea Beach Rv Resort
Location: 1537 South Coast Highway, Oceanside
Amenities: Pull-through sites, equipment rentals, fire rings, grills, pool, hot tub, store, laundry facilities, shower facilities, restrooms
Activities: Surfing, recreation hall, swimming, basketball, biking, billiards, shuffleboard, ping-pong
Fees: $75$200 per night, depending on RV site
Number of sites: 90
Dogs allowed: Yes
Reservation required: Yes
The highest-rated RV resort on the entire California coast is none other than Paradise by the Sea Beach RV Resort. Just a few steps away from the beach, the RV resort along with the warm SoCal weather make for the perfect getaway. Family-owned and -operated for over 35 years, the well-maintained facility is a lovely RV park with decent equipment and lots of space to play. The pool area is stocked with plenty of chairs and tables along with a firepit for later in the night. Offering a multitude of coastal activities, this Southern California RV camping spot entices visitors to return regularly with promises of fond memories every time.
Learn more about our selection criteria and vetting process.
Families And Wildlife Enthusiasts Will Love Carpinteria State Beach Campground
One of the most popular family camping spots in Southern California, Carpinteria State Beach Campground has more than 150 plots facing calm waters. Kids can splash around with lifeguards on duty, go tide-pooling, and spot harbor seals and sea lions bathing on the sand. The Tomol Interpretive Play Area is only a few minutes walk inland. Dont miss the mile-long bluff-top hike with sweeping ocean views.
There are flush toilets at the campsite, which has several hookups available, plus hot showers, picnic tables and barbecue grills.
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Jalama Beach County Park
If you pine for a hidden beach with amazing sunsets over the Pacific, Jalama is it and some of the best beach camping in Southern California. Since its surrounded by private property and Vanderberg Air Force Base, its secluded. Dont miss the Amtraks Surfliner train chugging up and down the coast on the tracks just outside the park.
Find tent camping sites, RV sites, day-use sites along with one and two-bedroom cabins for rent. Basic sites start at $30 a night and premier sites are $50 a night. The cabins start at $190 a night. Jalama Beach features a bathhouse with hot showers along with flush toilets. You will find a stocked store with camping necessities or grab a bite at the Jalama Beach Grill.
Located at 9999 Jalama Road, about 45 minutes from Lompoc.
TIP: Check out the NASA launch schedule for Vanderburg Air Force Base.
Salton Sea State Recreation Area Campground
If you are looking for RV sites in Southern California, the Salton Sea is one of them. This site offers guests a rare view of one of the largest inland seas. Aside from that, there are six campgrounds available with hookups for RV owners. The best way to make your trip here worthwhile is to reserve a spot ahead of time.
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Sonoma Coast State Beach
This famous state beach is located between Bodega Bay and Jenner on Highway One and is a two-hour drive from San Francisco. Sonoma Coast houses some of Californias dramatic coastal scenery, with strong waves crashing against massive rock formations.
It has three campgrounds under the administration of the same state park. They can accommodate RVs that are up to 31 feet long. Thats perfect for RVers who want to camp out and have fun.
Surf At Dawn After Sleeping On The Beach At San Mateo Campground
Not strictly on the beach, this secluded campground is a little inland from the world famous San Onofre State Beach and Trestles considered by many to be the best surf spot in the world.
A 1.5-mile nature trail connects campers to the classic point break, with peeling left and right-handers and easy paddle-outs. Along with riding waves, theres rugged bluff-top walking trails and wildlife spotting and plenty of swimming opportunities on the three-mile stretch of beach.
San Mateo Campground has more than 150 pitches with fire pits, barbecues and picnic tables, plus there is water, restrooms and laundry facilities on site. Some sites have electric hookup points. A small camp store sell essentials and theres a dump station for waste. Book in advance via California Parks.
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Andrew Molera State Park
The Andrew Molera State Park is located in a pretty meadow near the Big Sur River. This location has twenty-two standard campsites and two hike-and-bike sites available for reservation. Each spot includes a picnic table, fire pit, and food storage container. Potable water is available.
They dont allow reservations with less than forty-eight hours notice, so make sure you plan ahead if youre considering this location.
Is There A Fine For Camping In California
There is no general fine for camping in California, and the situation will vary from place to place.
Penalties arenât very common due to the large homeless population in California, with many people having no choice but to camp. Itâs more likely that you will be woken up by a ranger or police officer and made to leave.
But it always possible that you will get a fine if you camp illegally.
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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 beachnothing 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 Beachs address is 9000 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California.
Los Angeles County Beach Camping
Bring Your Dog Along To Jalama Beach County Park Campground
Midway between Santa Barbara and Pismo Beach at the end of a hilly, twisting road is the secluded Jalama Beach County Park, with more than 100 campsites for tents, trailers and RVs overlooking the ocean and beach to the west and the mountains to the east.
Hikes in the area weave along towering cliffs its a prime place for whale spotting during migration season, while kite-boarders enjoy the strong winds.
Many of the tidy pitches are flanked by privacy hedges, and all have a picnic table and barbecue pit. There are also seven cabins for lucky early bookers, plus electric hookups, hot showers, restrooms and potable water. Dogs are welcome. The Jalama Beach Store and Grill serves warming clam chowder and homemade apple pie, and sells most things you might have forgotten.
Book via countyofsb.org.
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What About The Florida Keys
Do you want to hit Key West, the Everglades National Park, and all the other great things the Keys have to offer? Well, we have just the thing for you. Jennifer and I love traveling to the Keys, so weve created a complete 7-Day RV Adventure Guide: Florida Keys. This downloadable guide includes a suggested itinerary and a list of the best RV parks along the way.
We also have a 7-Day RV Adventure Guide to Floridas Atlantic Coast and Floridas Gulf Coast. If youre interested in all three, you should check out our Florida RV Travel Guide Bundle.
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.
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Oceano Dunes State Recreational Vehicle Area
Since the California State Parks systemeliminated overnight camping on the beach several years ago, a campsite on thesand has been hard to find. Only one place remains where you can drive onto the sand and camp, but you should have a four-wheel drive vehicle totry it. Oceano Dunes State Recreational Vehicle Area , a5-mile stretch of shoreline near Pismo allows camping south of Post 2 on thebeach and in the open dune area. Dont confuse the SRVA with the nearby OceanoCampground at Pismo State Beach, where the 82 sites, somewith electric hookups, are screened by dunes from the prevailing winds on theocean.
The Best Beach Camping In Northern California
Tai Power Seeff / Getty Images
It’s a dreamy idea: Take a drive along the Northern California coast, pitch a tent right beside the ocean, listen to the waves all night, and wake up to harbor seals barking nearby. This guide to places you can pitch your tent at the beach in Northern California was created by scouring the coastline to find places to camp from Santa Cruz County to California’s northernmost point. As you drive, you’ll find cliffs plunging straight into the sea and dramatic “sea stack” rock formations offshore.
Read on to discover where you can go beach camping in Northern California, in order from south to north.
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Beach Camping In Southern California
Only a small percentage of visitors to Southern California insist on camping instead of booking rooms at the many resorts and hotels near the ocean. Those who prefer camping and are lucky enough to get a spot in one of the 14 campgrounds on the Socal coast will be rewarded with one of the best experiences.
Few of these campgrounds allow camping right on the sand, but most are close enough to walk to the beach. Some are only for recreational vehicles and dont allow tent camping period. Others have spaces for tents, but none of the Southern California campgrounds are tent camping only.
Read about each campground and adjacent beach to learn rules like where campfires are allowed and where dogs can be walked. Reservations are highly recommended as these limited camp spots are highly coveted especially in the summer months.
Traveling north of Socal? Check out our list of beach camping in California.