Ultimate Guide to Beach Camping in SoCal

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SoCal beach camping is such a novelty. There’s really nothing like it. That’s why there’s a ton of competition to get beach campsites, especially during the summer months. It’s definitely one of the best places for a family camping trip. And if you’ve been wanting to try beach camping, but have no idea where to begin, you’ve stumbled across the right place.

How to Book Beach Campgrounds

Most California beach campgrounds can be reserved online six months in advance. The sites are released on a rolling basis, meaning if you want to camp on July 4, you need to make the reservation on Jan. 4. If you want July 5, you try reserving on Jan. 5 and so on.

You’ll need to make an account and be logged in before 8am on reservation day. I go into more detail and offer a few tips in my other blog post, tips on getting campsites at hard-to-get campgrounds. I also love using this campsite scanning app to help snag cancellations throughout the year.

SoCal beach campsites are very competitive, so they will be gone in a matter of minutes. If you log in at 8:01, you will have already missed your shot. I also recommend that you do a trial run a day or two before you want to book. Each year there are minor website changes (or glitches) that you need to be aware of, so doing a trial run will better prepare you more than any blog post I can write.

Another tip I suggest is that you start off trying for non-premium sites. The oceanfront premium beach sites tend to have a lot more competition. I get campsites every year, but very rarely get a premium site. Even though those oceanfront sites are beautiful, the most important goal for me is to actually get a site. If that means being street side, so be it.

Campsites during non-peak seasons can be easier to reserve. And because weather in Southern California stays nice most of the year, beach camping in SoCal is also a great fall camping destination, and we’ve had fun beach camping in the winter.

Beach Camping SoCal Campgrounds

There are many popular beach campgrounds in Southern California. The following campgrounds are not inclusive of every campground, but I offer details on some of the most popular Orange County and San Diego beach campgrounds so you can decide which ones might best meet your needs.

SoCal Beach Camping: South Carlsbad State Beach

With 215 campsites, South Carlsbad is one of the largest SoCal beach campgrounds. Half of the sites are perched along the cliffside, offering sweeping ocean views, and many have hookups.

Quick Facts:

• Location: Carlsbad, CA (San Diego County)
• Campsites: 215 total, about half oceanfront, mix of hookup and non-hookup
• Access: Long staircases (or ramp on the south end) down to a wide beach; sometimes a long walk to access the stair cases.
• Best For: RVs, tent campers, and families wanting ocean views
• On‑Site Restaurant & Live Music:
  • The Camp Store offers wood‑stone pizzas, flatbreads, salads, soups, snacks, coffee, beer & wine, all with bluff‑top ocean views.
  • Live music is featured Wednesday through Sunday, typically around sunset, with a casual stage and fire‑pit seating setup.
• Extras: On‑site store sells groceries, supplies, board rentals, firewood & ice
• Reservations: ReserveCalifornia.com

Note: Dogs are allowed at this campground, but not down on the beach.

Doheny State Beach– SoCal Beach Camping on the Sand

This 118-site campground is one of the few SoCal beach campgrounds where you camp directly on the sand. Premium sites get fire pits on the beach, but there are no hookups in this campground.

Camping on the beach is amazing, but in full disclosure, I will say that the actual beach at Doheny doesn’t tend to be our favorite. It’s pretty rocky in the water, and the waves aren’t great for surfing. But it is still a gorgeous beach, and I know plenty of families who choose to go here year after year.

Quick Facts:

• Location: Dana Point, CA (Orange County)
• Campsites: 118 total, all steps from the beach, no hookups
• Access: Level with the ocean—no cliffs or stairs
• Best For: Tent campers and small RVs (sites are compact)
• Perks: Premium beachfront sites with fire pits right on the sand
• Things to Know: Rocky beach and smaller waves—not ideal for surfing
• Reservations: ReserveCalifornia.com

Like most of these campgrounds, dogs are allowed in the campground, but not on the beach.

SoCal Beach Camping at San Elijo State Beach

Located in Solana Beach just south of Carlsbad, San Elijo offers 156 campsites with a mix of coastal, street-side, and interior spots. Premium oceanfront sites are very hard to snag.

Quick Facts:

• Location: Solana Beach, CA (North San Diego)
• Campsites: 156 total, some hookups, coastal sites are the largest; there is a group campsite here.
• Access: Multiple staircases to the beach (shorter on the south end)
• Nearby: 7-11, Seaside Market, Starbucks, and restaurants across the street
• Best For: Families, tent campers, and RVs under 35 feet
• Perks: Dogs allowed on the far south end of the beach near the lagoon
• Reservations: ReserveCalifornia.com

For more information about this campground, check out my other blog post specifically about the ins and outs of camping at San Elijo.

San Clemente State Beach

This 160-site campground has nearly half full-hookup spots, a steep (but stair-free) walk to the beach, and a more peaceful, natural feel despite being near the freeway.

Quick Facts:

• Location: San Clemente, CA (Orange County)
• Campsites: ~160 total, nearly half with full hookups; group sites available.
• Access: Steep path down to the beach, no stairs
• Best For: RVs and tent campers who want a quieter feel
• Perks: Some sites with ocean views, spacious layout (except RV section)
• Reservations: ReserveCalifornia.com

Dogs are allowed in the campground, but not at the beach.

San Onofre State Beach Campground

If you have commuted from San Diego to Orange County on the 5 freeway, you have likely noticed that campground that is right along the freeway just south of San Clemente, north of Pendleton. That is part of the San Onofre campground. And it’s a little bit less competitive to book than some of the other beach camping options in SoCal.

San Onofre has 309 sites split between the Bluffs Campground (ocean views right off the freeway) and the San Mateo Campground (inland, with hookups and a trail to Trestles Beach).

Quick Facts:

• Location: Between San Clemente and Camp Pendleton (Orange/San Diego County line)
• Campsites: 309 total across two campgrounds
• Bluffs Campground: No hookups, accommodates vehicles up to 25 feet, ocean views, steep beach access trails
• San Mateo Campground: Some hookups, 1.5-mile trail to Trestles Beach
• Best For: Last-minute reservations (easier to book than most)
• Vibe: More rustic and simple—expect a parking-lot-style layout at Bluffs
• Reservations: ReserveCalifornia.com

The Bluffs Campground very much reminds me of a parking lot, but it does offer beautiful ocean views.

Leo Carrillo State Park (Malibu)

Located along the Malibu coast, Leo Carrillo offers a mix of beach and canyon camping with access to tide pools, sea caves, and over a mile of sandy shoreline. It’s one of the few campgrounds near Los Angeles where you can easily explore both the beach and hiking trails in one trip. And the fact that it’s located on one of the best beaches in Los Angeles is just icing on the cake.

Quick Facts:

• Location: Malibu, CA (Los Angeles County)
• Campsites: 135 total (tent, RV, and trailer sites, many with shade)
• Access: Short walk to the beach; easy access to tide pools and caves at low tide
• Best For: Families, surfers, and campers who want both beach and hiking options
• Perks: Ranger-led junior ranger programs for kids, nature center, and hiking trails in the Santa Monica Mountains
• Nearby: Only a 10-minute drive to Point Mugu and other Malibu beaches
• Reservations: ReserveCalifornia.com

Silver Strand State Beach Campground

Another prime spot for beach camping in SoCal is the Silver Strand State Beach Campground, located in beautiful Coronado. This campground is located right on the sand of Silver Strand Beach, however, only fully contained vehicles are allowed to camp here (meaning RVs, trailers and camper vans). No tent camping (or sleeping in cars) is allowed at this campground.

All 120 sites have hookups and sit right on the sand.

Quick Facts:

• Location: Coronado, CA (near San Diego)
• Campsites: 120 total, all with water and electric hookups
• Access: Beachfront sites back directly to the sand—no cliffs or stairs
• Rules: RVs, trailers, and camper vans only (must be fully self-contained)
• Vibe: Wide, open beach; campground feels like a large parking lot
• Perks: Dump station on site; some of the easiest beachfront access in SoCal
• Reservations: ReserveCalifornia.com

The beachfront sites at this campground are some of the most sought after campsites because back right up to the sand. No stairs or steep hills to walk up. However, there is a long stretch of sand between the RV sites and the beach, so keep that in mind.

The rest of the campground is situated more like a giant parking lot–big enough for your RV, but not a whole lot more.

Note: Dogs are allowed at the campground but not on the beach.

Final Thoughts on SoCal Beach Camping

Beach camping in Southern California is one of those bucket-list experiences every camper should try at least once. Whether you want to wake up to the sound of crashing waves in Carlsbad, enjoy sunset live music after grabbing a wood‑fired pizza at The Camp Store, or snag a rare beachfront site at Doheny or Silver Strand, there’s a campground for every style of camper.

The key is planning ahead—especially during peak summer months. Reservations open six months in advance, and the most coveted oceanfront sites can disappear within minutes. If you can be flexible with dates, consider a fall trip when the weather is still warm, crowds thin out, and snagging a site is much easier.

If you want the experience of beach camping in SoCal, but with the amenities you know and love, check out the Newport Dunes Resort in Newport Beach. It’ll cost you a premium, but this campground offers full hook-ups, cottages and easy bay access.

No matter where you end up, SoCal beach camping offers a front-row seat to some of California’s most beautiful coastline—and it’s an experience your family will never forget. Pack your s’mores, favorite beach games, and a cozy hoodie for those breezy nights, and get ready to fall asleep to the sound of the Pacific Ocean.

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