List Of Southern California Campgrounds
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From Santa Barbara to San Diego, there are many choices in beach camping. Some may have campsites right at ocean level, while others have campsites up on the bluff, or back in a grove of trees.
Many of the beach campgrounds are California State Beaches campgrounds,
and these can book up well in advance. You are allowed to make reservations for the state campgrounds up to 7 months beforehand, starting on the first of the month. You can reserve sites online, by phone or by post. For phone reservations you can call 1-800-444-7275. If you're calling from out of the country, try 1-916-638-5883. The California State Parks website is at www.parks.ca.gov. Note that not all California State Parks or State Beaches have camping facilities, but the ones listed below do.
The phone numbers for other beach campgrounds are found on the California Beaches Camping page. You can also reserve most sites online through www.reserveamerica.com.
Click here to see a video of Southern California campgrounds by the beach.
The California State Beach campgrounds that operate on a first-come-first-serve basis include Emma Wood State Beach in Ventura (both north and south), and Topanga State Beach in Pacific Palisades.
LIST OF POPULAR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAMPGROUNDS
BY THE BEACH (from north to south)
- Gaviota State Park -- north of Santa Barbara
- Refugio State Beach-- north of Santa Barbara
- El Capitan State Beach-- north of Santa Barbara
- El Capitan Canyon-- north of Santa Barbara
- Carpinteria State Beach--between Ventura and Santa Barbara
- Emma Wood State Beach--in Ventura
- Ventura Beach RV Resort--in Ventura
- McGrath State Beach--between Ventura and Oxnard
- Point Mugu State Park--between Oxnard and Malibu
- Leo Carrillo State Park--between Oxnard and Malibu
- Malibu Beach RV Park--in Malibu, north of town
- Bolsa Chica State Beach--in Huntington Beach
- Doheny State Beach--just south of Dana Point
- San Clemente State Beach--south end of San Clemente
- San Onofre State Beach--further south of San Clemente
- Oceanside RV Park--in Oceanside
- South Carlsbad State Beach--in Carlsbad
- San Elijo State Beach--in Cardiff near Encinitas
- Campland On The Bay --in San Diego
- Silver Strand State Beach--on Coronado
View Southern California Campgrounds By The Beach in a larger map
Be aware that besides the nightly camping fee, there can be additional charges for showers, RV hookups, parking for extra cars, premium sites and peak season rates. All prices are subject to change.
If you like to camp with an RV, see this website: Everything About RVing -- "Whether you are new to RVing and camping or a veteran, Everything About RVing has something for you. We know that going camping in an RV is fun and we hope that visiting our site makes it even more fun. We give you excellent information about RVs, camping and the RV lifestyle."
Return to the Southern California Beaches Vacation Guide home page.
