San Elijo State Beach Camping Guide: Best Sites, Tips & What to Know

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Having grown up in San Diego, I don’t think I’ve ever missed a summer of beach camping in my life. And it’s a tradition I have continued with my kids. Every summer we go camping at the San Elijo State Beach campground. It’s one of our most favorite summer campgrounds. And I know I’m not alone because beach camping in Southern California is extremely popular and downright difficult to get campsites. But I do have tips on how to improve your chances at booking a beach campsite.

If you haven’t ever gone beach camping, I highly suggest you give it a try. There’s not much better than relaxing at the beach all day and then falling asleep while listening to the waves crash just steps away from your campsite. We bring our favorite beach games, and the days just feel easy.

But there are some things you need to know ahead of time, like how to book a campsite at San Elijo beach.

San Elijo State Beach Campground: Quick Facts

• Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea (San Diego County)
• Campsites: ~170 sites (tent + RV)
• Hookups: Limited RV hookup sites available
• Beach Access: Stair access from campground, no stairs on far south end
• Reservations: Required (book 6 months in advance)
• Best Sites: Oceanfront bluff sites
• Bathrooms: Flush toilets + hot showers (token operated)
• Dog Policy: Allowed in campground (and on beach on far south side)

San Elijo Campground Reservations

All San Diego beach campgrounds are very competitive when it comes to booking campsites, and San Elijo beach campground is no exception, especially for weekends. Reservations are done on a rolling basis 6 months out from the date you want to go. What that means is that if you want to go on July 4, you need to book on January 4 at 8am.

To book a campsite at San Elijo, you’ll need to create an account on ReserveCalifornia. On the day you want to try booking, check current availability there before the 8am release. You should be logged in and ready to go by 7:50. You’ll see a countdown on the website, and at exactly 8am, you can try to secure your site, which is also where you’ll find more detailed information on dates and site options.

Each year, the reservation shifts a little. Earlier this year, they got rid of the countdown on the page. But a few months later, it was back. I always recommend doing a test run a day or two before you really want to score a site so you can come up with the best success plan.

How Hard Is It to Get a Reservation?

San Elijo State Beach is one of the hardest campgrounds to book in California, particularly in the summer months.

Reservations open 6 months in advance—and popular summer dates are often gone within seconds.

Tips to get a site:

• Log in before reservations open. If you’re logging in at 8am, you’re already too late.
• Be flexible with dates. You can try every morning until you get one.
• Check for cancellations mid-week. Use this app for alerts.
• Consider camping in the off season. San Diego weather is great in the fall, and this is one of my favorite fall campgrounds.

Amenities at San Elijo Beach Campground

San Elijo has both hook-up RV sites and non hookup sites. Campsites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 35 feet, however, the max size varies by campsite. Be sure to check that information before you book so you can plan accordingly. When you book, there will be a dropdown that shows the max length.

There are restrooms and showers among the campground facilities. Showers require tokens, which can be purchased from a machine near where you check in (cash only). There is also a dump station on site (for a fee).

The San Elijo State Beach Campground used to have a camp store and an on-site snack bar, but unfortunately those have been closed for a few years now. I hope some day they will come back. We loved walking up to the camp store for ice cream at night. And the snack bar served really good food all day long, making for a quick and easy meal option.

Best Campsites at San Elijo State Beach

Ok, here’s where things get complicated. Not all sites are equal here—choosing the right one makes a big difference. However, I always tell people to get ANYTHING because something is better than nothing. Everyone wants to try for the huge coastal sites, but those are the hardest to get.

• Oceanfront sites: Best views (most popular); tend to be large sites
• North-end sites: More privacy, great views, but more stairs down to the beach
• Far south-end sites: Level with beach, so not as great of views, but easy access to beach
• Sites near bathrooms: Convenient but busier
• Avoid: Spots in the middle of the campground (Sites 1-18) will have a lot more traffic as people are checking in each day (around 2pm).

Tip: Try to book as soon as reservations open—they go fast! You can set up cancellation alerts on this free campsite scanning app.

Is Camping at San Elijo State Beach Worth It?

If you’re looking for true beachfront camping in Southern California, San Elijo is a great spot you can book. And that’s why it’s so hard to get spots. A lot of people get angry at the booking process and vow to never camp here, but if you’re persistent (and flexible), I’m confident you can succeed.

The ocean views alone make it worth it—but there are a few trade-offs to know:

✔ Pros:

• Incredible bluff-top ocean views
• Easy beach access
• Walkable to restaurants and coffee shops
• Sandy beach that’s good for swimming, boogie boarding and surf

✘ Cons:

• Sites are close together
• Can be noisy (trains + people on walking path)
• Hard to book

Overall: If you can snag a reservation, it’s absolutely worth it—especially for families who want a classic California beach camping experience.

Why I Love Beach Camping at San Elijo

There are many popular beach campgrounds in California, but one of my favorites is San Elijo State Beach. There are many reasons I love camping at San Elijo. One, it’s convenient. That will obviously vary depending on where you are coming from, but regardless of how long it takes you to get to the campground, there are a lot of conveniences that San Elijo offers.

Parking in the Area

One perk is street parking just outside the campground. This makes it super easy for visitors to come hang out during the day or meet up with friends without having to pay $15 for a parking pass. You can’t park overnight on the street, but you can park until midnight or 2am. That setup works well for a quick beach trip without committing to an overnight stay. That’s plenty of time for guests to stay for dinner and a campfire before heading home.

Check out my tips on how to save a little money while beach camping.

Conveniences in the Area

Another convenience when beach camping at the San Elijo State Beach campground is that it is located across the street from a 7-11, a grocery store, some restaurants, and a Starbucks in the Cardiff-by-the-Sea community. VG Donut is also right across the street and is one of the most popular donut shops in San Diego.

Don’t feel like cooking even one of my easy camping meals? There are food options super close by–you can walk to pick up a meal or have it delivered, which makes it easy to spend less time cooking at camp.

The Seaside Market, where you will find the famous Cardiff Crack Tri Tip, is a grocery store with everything you might have forgotten at home. It also has an amazing food and bakery counter, making it worth a visit even if you didn’t forget anything. We love the Cali Breakfast Burrito and make a point to get that anytime we’re in the area.

Another reason I like beach camping at the San Elijo campground so much is the fact that beach access is really easy.

If you are on the far south end of the campground, you are even with the sand and have no stairs or ramps to deal with. A little further up, you have a short staircase with three flights of stairs. That easy access is especially nice for families with kids. As you go further north in the campground, the staircases get longer and longer. So if stairs are bothersome to you, you can strategize to get a campsite in the southern section of the campground and alleviate that issue.

Are Dogs Allowed at the San Elijo State Beach campground?

Yes, dogs are allowed at the campground. And if you have dogs, you might also enjoy the fact that dogs are allowed on the beach at San Elijo, but only on the far south end. This makes it so you don’t have to worry about having them contained back at camp for the entire day.

The Layout of the Campground

Another perk at of the San Elijo State Beach Campground (at least in my opinion) is the layout of the campsites. This campground has a center island in each section, offering even more campsites. This means that you might have more neighbors to deal with, but if you are coordinating with other families, you might be able to get campsites that are back to back with one another.

The San Elijo State Beach Campground used to have a camp store and an on-site snack bar, but unfortunately those have been closed for a few years now. I hope some day they will come back. We loved walking up to the camp store for ice cream at night. And the snack bar served really good food all day long, making for a quick and easy meal option.

What It’s Really Like Camping Here

Camping at San Elijo feels like having a front-row seat to the Pacific Ocean above a bluff backed stretch of sand.

You’ll fall asleep to the sound of waves and wake up to surfers heading out at sunrise, while divers explore the nearby reef. During the day, it’s a mix of beach time, biking, and relaxing at your campsite for an easy weekends-by-the-ocean feel.

It’s not a secluded campground—but that’s part of the charm. It has a lively, classic Southern California beach vibe that families love.

Looking for more camping ideas? Check out these other fun destinations:

• Best Family Campgrounds in Southern California
• Leo Carrillo State Beach Campground
• Camping in Malibu
• San Clemente State Beach Campground
• Campgrounds With Water Parks
• Best Family Campgrounds in Riverside County