What beaches can you sleep on in California?

Below are eight coastal camping spots, listed south to north, where you can sleep on or next to some of California's best beaches.
  • San Elijo State Beach, Cardiff-by-the-Sea. ...
  • Crystal Cove State Beach Moro Campground, Laguna Beach. ...
  • Two Harbors Campground, Santa Catalina Island. ...
  • Refugio State Beach, Goleta.




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San Elijo State Beach A 30-minute drive north of San Diego, San Elijo State Beach is a popular spot for surfers, snorkelers, shell collectors, and (of course) campers. There are 156 campsites, which include a mix of tent-only sites and RV-accessible ones with hookups.

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Whether you “rough it” in a tent or post up in a fully equipped RV, you can have the ultimate California beach camping experience year-round.

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Unlike at most California beaches, you can actually spend the night on the sand at Thornhill Broome Campground in Point Mugu State Park just north of Malibu. The 69 primitive campsites here see a mix of tent campers and RV campers.

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Free beach camping in California is quite rare, as most beach campgrounds are managed by state parks or other organizations that charge fees.

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A: Sorry, not allowed in Los Angeles or Orange counties. It is too much for the government to sufficiently monitor activities throughout the night with the many beaches in Southern California.

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To secure a beach tent, you'll need to tie guy lines to sand bags, dig deep to drive corkscrew-style sand anchors into damp sand, or bury a deadman anchor several feet below the sand's surface. Many models will come with the materials needed to employ one of these anchoring systems.

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Lot Regulations No Overnight Camping/Sleeping in Cars or RV's. Vehicles may park up to 7 days without exiting the lot. Maximum length of vehicle is 40 feet.

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On average, you can expect to pay around $20 to $50 per night for a basic tent or RV camping site in a state park or campground. Keep in mind that prices may vary depending on the season, availability, and any additional fees such as reservation or vehicle entry fees. How do I reserve California state park camping?

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Some of the best and most popular campgrounds are located at the beach. Most beach campsites are located in the slightly sheltered area behind the sand dunes. Camping right out on the beach near the waves is not usually permitted for safety reasons and to protect wildlife like sea turtles and nesting birds.

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You can camp for free for up to 14 days in a national forest, similar to BLM land. However, you may find a “no camping” area in a national forest as well.

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