Generally, overnight camping and sleeping are prohibited on public beaches in the city of San Diego. City ordinances strictly forbid sleeping on the sand, cliffs, or in adjacent parking lots between sunset and sunrise. However, there are a few designated exceptions where you can camp "near" the beach in specific campgrounds. The most notable is Silver Strand State Beach, which offers sites for self-contained RVs (no tents allowed). Another option is the Campland on the Bay at Mission Bay, which is a private resort that allows both RV and tent camping right on the waterfront. For a more rugged experience, you can head north to San Elijo State Beach or South Carlsbad State Beach in the North County area, where campsites sit on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. While you can enjoy beach fires in designated city-provided pits during the day, you must vacate the sand by the time the parks officially close, usually around midnight.