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Moro Campground

57 sites · RV, Tent

A great choice for a classic SoCal beach camping getaway, Crystal Cove State Park’s Moro Campground has 57 tent and RV sites on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Here, the smell of coastal sage scrub mixes with sea salt, and a convenient walking path tunnels under the Pacific Coast Highway, linking the campground to the beach. All Moro campsites are pet-friendly and come with picnic tables, while select sites include water and electric hookups. The campground has wifi, restrooms, coin showers, and a dump station. Moro Canyon lies to the east for hiking with panoramic views, while the ocean sits immediately west for water fun. There's also a ton of parking, which is ever so convenient, and this huge campground is split into three loops with about 20 sites each: Coyote Run, Sage Loop, and Dolphin Circle.

Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation

  • All Moro Campground campsites are reservable six months in advance. There are no first-come, first-served campsites.
  • Sites can be reserved online or by calling 1-800-444-7275.  
  • Moro Campground is popular and tends to book out during the summer, on weekends, and through school breaks.
  • When to Go

    Moro Campground’s mild coastal climate makes for awesome summer camping, when highs in the low 80s can be much more comfortable than sweltering inland temperatures. Spring and fall camping is good too, albeit with colder nights. Spring visitors may see wildflowers blooming in the canyon, while winter camping makes for an especially peaceful time on this coast, with lows in the 40s and highs in the upper 60s.

    What this place offers
    Campfire allowed
    Pets allowed
    Showers
    Toilets
    Potable water
    Picnic tables
    Sewage hookups
    No electric hookups
    57 sites
    RV, Tent
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    97%
    63 ratings · 11 reviews
    LocationMoro Campground, Crystal Cove State Park, California, United States
    Is anything missing?Suggest edits to improve this listing for fellow campers.
    What this place offers
    Campfire allowed
    Pets allowed
    Showers
    Toilets
    Potable water
    Picnic tables
    Sewage hookups
    No electric hookups

    Your guide to camping in Moro Campground

    Overview

    Biking

    With many multi-use fire roads and trails open to cyclists, Crystal Cove State Park is one of the most popular mountain biking areas in the OC. Road bikers can enjoy a scenic cruise up or down Highway 1 from Moro Campground, albeit on a road shared with traffic.

    Boating

    Fishing boats and kayaks are welcome at Crystal Cove. Motor boats—not so much.

    Fishing

    You can do some surf fishing at the beach and around the Laguna Beach area, but you can't take your catch home with you! Bring your fishing boat out and try your luck past the kelp beds, go spear fishing, or see the marine critters when you go tidepooling. You can’t take anything from the tidepools or beaches, nor can you use anything you find for bait. As always, make sure you have a fishing permit before heading out.

    Hiking

    The hiking trails of Crystal Cove State Park span 18 miles through woodland and chaparral in and beyond Moro Canyon. These trails vary in length and difficulty, but they all offer a healthy challenge with three main loops: The Green Route is a moderate, hilly, and short trail; the Red Route is an intermediate workout; and the Blue Route is a long voyage around the park's perimeters.

    Horseback riding

    Crystal Cove State Park has equestrian-friendly backcountry trails in Moro Canyon, but horses are not allowed on the beach.

    Paddling

    Crystal Cove is a kayaking hotspot. Launch your kayak between Moro Cove and Muddy Creek, or from the south at the Historic District above Treasure Cove. Launches are not allowed between Muddy Creek and the cottages.

    Surfing

    Crystal Cove's surf break is popular with locals thanks to rolling waves. Beginning surfers may want to head south to Laguna Beach for board rentals, lessons, and surf reports.

    Swimming

    Swimming, surfing, and kayaking take place in separate sections of the 3.2-mile beach, so make sure you're in the right spot, then splash some waves to cool off under the warm Southern California sun. At the Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area, scuba divers can explore a kelp forest.

    Wildlife watching

    A variety of mammals, reptiles, birds, and marine animals can be spotted at Crystal Cove, including coyotes, rattlesnakes, roadrunners, brown pelicans, California quails, sea lions, dolphins, and whales—December through April is the time for whale watching! Crystal Cove is also famous for its tide pools, where you can peer into underwater worlds home to mollusks, starfish, crabs, snails, urchin, octopus, and kelp at low tide. Find tide pools close to the campground at the Reef Point entrance, as well as further north at Pelican Point.

    1. Moro Campground

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