Waterside camping in California Coast

Pick your camping spot along some 800 miles of Pacific coastline, from Crescent City to San Diego.

94% (1799 reviews)

United States
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California
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California Coast

94% (1799 reviews)

Popular camping styles for California Coast

Community favorites in and near California Coast

Public campgrounds in and near California Coast

100%

(4)

China Camp Campground

9 sites · RVs, Tents In Los Padres National Forest

96%

(35)

Arroyo Seco Campground

38 sites · RVs, Tents In Los Padres National Forest

98%

(133)

Kirk Creek Campground

32 sites · RVs, Tents In Los Padres National Forest

White Oaks Campground

7 sites · RVs, Tents In Los Padres National Forest

100%

(59)

Plaskett Creek Campground

40 sites · RVs, Tents In Los Padres National Forest

Pretty cool when you wake up and you are above the clouds...

83%

(3)

Bottchers Gap Campground

11 sites · RVs, Tents In Los Padres National Forest

Escondido Campground

9 sites · RVs, Tents In Los Padres National Forest

100%

(4)

Alder Creek Campground

2 sites · RVs, Tents In Los Padres National Forest

Memorial Campground

8 sites · RVs, Tents In Los Padres National Forest

If you don't make it to the top, there are lots of rad pull-offs on the way up to grab a spot. C'mon, look at that view!

91%

(27)

Nacimiento Camp Campground

8 sites · RVs, Tents In Los Padres National Forest

60%

(5)

Ponderosa Campground

22 sites · RVs, Tents In Los Padres National Forest

Stories from the community

Reed

4 days ago

Tent

Weekend Trip to Thanktuary Retreat

Everything as advertised. Bathroom setup and hot tub are superb, very clean and well maintained. Would absolutely visit again!

Weekend Trip to Free Your Mind Camping

Great stay up a very remote hilltop! We were the only ones there which was nice. Kirk left water for us to drink and put the fire out which was nice! The outdoor shower was lovely and brisk! A little noisy with the peafowl and roosters but not unpleasant.

Weekend Trip to Thanktuary Retreat

Was excellent. Quiet, plenty of space (though it didn’t hurt that we had the whole place to ourselves). Hit water, flushable toilets, hot showers, nice big sink to wash dishes. Very convenient, clean. We were in the Meadow campsite. 10 minutes to the ocean. Gualala a cool seaside town.

Private bistro set - Each nestled into the Botanical Gardens.

consuela

1 week ago

Weekend Trip to Caravan Outpost - Ojai Oasis!

Lovely spot. So well thought out and cared for. I had always wanted to see the inside of an airstream, so this was a very special experience. Great location for getting around town.

2 nights at Free Your Mind Camping

We loved the two nights we stayed at Free Your Mind camp site. We also had a wonderful time exploring the nearby Redwood Forest and Crescent City. If your looking for a quiet spot to camp away from the hustle and bustle of the 101 but still close to redwoods - this is the place for you.

Weekend Trip to Thanktuary Retreat

Great spot to camp - room for a few nice flat pitches. Quiet at night so a perfect sleep and really nice toilet / shower block as well. Would recommend.

Weekend Trip to Rancho de Granville

Such a wonderful and gracious host. Her property is so beautiful and was more than I could have asked for. My son had such a wonderful experience on the ranch with the animals. We will absolutely be back

Weekend Trip to Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

I didn’t need to bring a canopy as there is plenty of shade or chairs which were already provided was nice. This was a nice not far from home getaway. You’re not far off the main highway but it still feels secluded. You can sleep in a tent but also jump in your car and go to a cafe, bistro, or market 5-10 minutes away if you wanted to. I think my spot at the moon lodge was the best as you’re tucked in a nice corner by the stream and the mountain. Lisa was very sweet and accommodating, we were the only ones there when we went to it was nice to have the place to ourselves. She has dogs but they were so well trained they didn’t make a peep the whole time we were there. She even has a rooster that Lisa let us feed which i loved ! Bathrooms were clean but you have to walk outside of the property to get there. The equalivent of maybe 1 street block give or take depending on where you are. Which is not uncommon for camping. I 100% recommend this spot of your looking for something local. :)

Weekend Trip to Camp Jade River

Camp Jade River is an absolutely beautiful camping spot. We didn’t get to enjoy it as much as we would have liked to, since we only got to stay one night. We would love to come back and stay longer. Pictures do not do it justice!

1 night at Camp Jade River

One of our favorite hipcamps so far! Absolutely amazing views and super private.

3 nights at Dogs Welcome! Nearby Getaway

My pups and I had a wonderful time! Nancy was so sweet and welcoming getting us settled in. The spot is comfortable and quiet with excellent amenities and plenty of space to spread out and relax. My pups ran around and had a great time chasing ground squirrels. They loved it so much I had to convince them to go to bed at night! Nancy also sent us lists she made of recommendations for parks and beaches they would enjoy! We will definitely come back!

1 night at Arber-Moore's Ranch

Had a great stay! Stopped in last minute to have some space to finish some construction in my van and rv spot #2 riverside had so much space to clear out my van and get the work done I needed without anyone too close by to bother. The hot shower was really nice, it is outdoor with no lights at night but I had a lantern and it was a great shower after a day of working. Thanks Vivian and David

Weekend Trip to Arber-Moore's Ranch

Camp sites are large and spacious. Even though it was Memorial Day weekend, it did not feel crowded. Vivian was very nice and even showed us some of the improvements they are making to the site. There's a lot of baby trees planted, so hopefully within a few years there will be more shade. In the meantime, make sure to pack some kind of canopy. Highlight was the shower!!! One of the best camping showers I've ever used. It is a propane heated system, so the water was hot within seconds! There's a lovely raised bamboo mat to stand on surrounded by large black rocks, so it felt like a spa experience. Usually I hate showering while camping, but this was divine! I was told that their next big project was the toilets. Currently they have a port-a-potty, but it was very well maintained and didn't stink. We are definitely looking forward to future stays!

Weekend Trip to Redwood Ranch with Sweeping View

Great place to stay! Lots of activities, peaceful at night, wonderful hosts, and breathtaking views! Easy to get to as long as you have Apple Maps.

Weekend Trip to Rancho de Granville

Catherine is an awesome host! Largest campsite I've ever stayed on, beautiful sounds of birds by day and frogs by night. Bathroom setup was perfect. No shower, but they do have running water and a porta potty. 10/10 will be back if we are in the area. The camp dog was a bonus!

Weekend Trip to Arber-Moore's Ranch

I loved the tree in this site. There was plenty of space in this camp-site with very leveled area to put your camper/tent. The location is very close to the Ojai Bike trail so we were able to bike to Ojai back and forth (5 miles each way). Vivian is a great host, she and her husband are so helpful and so nice to talk to.

1 night at Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

Beautiful camp site! The host is very friendly and kind.

Weekend Trip to Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

Lisa our host was truly nice and made our camping trip memorable. The location and camp site was beautiful with the trees and landscape and it was a great experience for us. We appreciate the warm welcome and hospitality from Lisa!

Weekend Trip to Rancho de Granville

Very clean and quiet space for some good relaxing time in nature. Will definitely come again. Excellent communication by host. Great spot for lake and ocean fishing. The domestic and wildlife were such a cool thing to wake up to. Thanks again!

2 nights at Rancho de Granville

Loved our stay at the FORD campsite. Private, nice ambiance of toads and creek water running, plenty of shade, running water, a toilet, and a couple tables. Will be back!

3 top waterside campgrounds in California Coast

93%

(494)

Arber-Moore's Ranch

6 sites · RVs, Tents22 acres · Oak View, CA

Beautiful natural campsites in the Valley of the Moon (Ojai Valley). Our sites are within an eighth of a mile of walking, running, biking, and riding trails from Ojai to the beaches of Ventura. On many days you can experience Ojai’s famous pink moments. You can hike the trails above Ojai, boat, eat, or picnic at Lake Casitas. Travel to nearby Ventura to shop, fish the pier, or take a deep sea fishing charter or Island charter to Whale watch or fish around the Channel Islands. Please note the aerial view of the camping area recently placed by Hipcamp is NOT AT ALL REPRESENTATIVE of the current camping sites and shows a photo that is many years old when the site was merely land. That photo is without any of the existing amenities or improvements. The actual sites are all Larger than Federal Park and Statepark guidelines, with averages of 20'x30' for campsites and 20'x40' for a long RVCampsite. We have planted many young trees and continue to plant trees and native shrubs around and near the sites. We have picnic tables, table coverings, fire pits, and camping rugs/footprints. There is also an outdoor shower, a shower tent with hot water, and an upgraded porta-potty with a sink. Note: During times when high heat is predicted, we strongly recommend that our Hipcampers bring pop-up shade tents or canopies for their sites. The Hipcamp is adjacent to our working ranch, and any photos of old sheds, trucks, a wood lot, or other equipment are NOT on the Hipcamp, but you will drive past that property to get to the separate Hipcamp area. Wineries, Farmer's Markets, Craft Breweries, dispensaries, and more are within 10 to 15 minutes of our site. Our location allows moments when you may see Hawks, Owls, Geese, Swallows, Robins, Bluebirds, and more. We offer both tent and RV camping. The Majority of our Guests love it here: "Vivian and Dave were exceptional hosts! Easy to contact and find our way to their property. Also gave us a plethora of places to go and things to do in the Ojai area. The area was open and spacious, and many trees and upgrades were in the works to make future stays more user-friendly. Big pluses were the shower and toilet facilities—much appreciated !!"

90%

(78)

Free Your Mind Camping

4 sites · RVs, Tents120 acres · Gasquet, CA

Welcome to the Wild West Coast! Where the mountains meet the sea. The campground is remotely located on private property and perfectly located for excursions to the Pacific Ocean, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, the Smith River National Recreation Area, and the Pacific Coast Ranges and mountain lakes such as the Devil's Punchbowl, Buck Lake, and Raspberry Lake. Relax and free you mind while camping on 120+ acres of private property under starry skies with almost no light or noise pollution. You are not alone on the mountain as other people live here in the wild. You only have access to the campground and a nearby pond. A locked gate with code access. The road to get there is two and a half miles up the mountain, the first mile is paved and the other mile and a half is gravel. The road is maintained by the county and used daily by others that live and work here. In the surrounding area you can enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, surfing, beachcombing, birdwatching, and countless other outdoor activities. French Hill Trail is a few more miles up the mountain road. The campsites have picnic tables and fire rings, and campers are provided with 5 gallons of potable water. An outdoor, COLD-water Artesian shower, out in the open mountain air with the wild things and an outhouse with a compost toilet are also provided. Bundles of firewood are available for an extra charge when you book your campsite. The campsites are set within a deciduous and pine forest at about 1913 feet in elevation. There is a pond on the property, but its purpose is for wildlife habitat ONLY, so water activities are NOT allowed. NO swimming, NO fishing, NO boating, NO trapping, etc. The wild things live here! The property owner has a dog, three cats, and a menagerie of yard birds such as turkeys, peacocks, guinea hens, chickens, ducks, geese, etc. They do make noise! Kirk has lived off-grid for over twenty years and holds a wealth of information about the Gasquet/Del Norte County area. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the property is that it has had documented Sasquatch encounters over the past twenty years that have been published in "Tribal Bigfoot" (D. Paulides 2009). Kirk can tell you about his experiences with this and other phenomena on the property.

99%

(166)

Dogs Welcome! Nearby Getaway

8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · San Juan Bautista, CA

Known to many in the Bay Area as the "Nearby Getaway," Mi Querida is a quick and easy drive from the SF Bay Area. Come to relax in peace and quiet, pleasant outdoor. A short drive away but far from troubles you've left behind! Relax and rejuvenate. The weather is always temperate, sometimes the evening marine layer lavishly blankets the rolling hills like cotton. Evening campfires are cozy and relaxing. Easy access to Highway 101 for "Nearby Getaways" or convenient stops along your travels. Nearby attractions include whale watching, Elkhorn Slough Safaris, fishing, Monterey Zoo, world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Big Sur, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and miles of beaches, redwoods, miles of bike trails from the new Coastline Trail to Fort Ord and Niscene Marks Redwoods, wine tasting and more. Host is a well-experienced event and tour planner. Simply ask for recommendations. Come to your "Nearby Getaway" at Mi Querida - an easy drive from the SF Bay Area - for great sky views, and pleasant country walks, or step back in time to the Mission-era town of San Juan Bautista without commercialism! Well, we do have a gas station, a market, the active mission, of course, a step back in history, a few quaint restaurants, craft beer and local wines in our "one-horse" historical town. For the ultimate Nearby Getaway book the entire property and bring along your own selected guest list of friends or family. We invite private groups to exclusive use of the property for Getaways, family & friends picnics, celebrations, reunions, even weddings. Day use or overnite facilities. Groups of 1-100. NEWS FLASH: Skip the long stopover at urban EV charging stations. Charge your EV overnite! Special rates for stopover charging! Easy off and on to Highway 101, 129. 156 and on your way! Learn more about this land: This is a large flat site with rolling hills, lovely rural views, rolling oak studded pastureland, open views, lovely sunsets and beautiful mornings. Very quiet, private, peaceful and serene. Afternoon breezes while red tailed hawks ride the thermals, and woodpeckers work on their treasure hoarde. Spot the breeding pair of Bald Eagles who swoop down almost low enough to touch! Wildlife abounds. Easy access from Highway 101, yet private and secluded. Historic San Juan Bautista Mission and town nearby. Monterey/Carmel 30 minutes. Santa Cruz/Beaches 20 minutes. Hollister, Salinas, or Gilroy 20 minutes. Site will accommodate RV, Sprintervan, or trailer 50/30/20 amp service. Tents welcome too! Water. Ranch "outhouse" with flushable composting style toilet, running hot & cold water, shower and electricity. Bunkhouse rustic accommodations available. Contact Host for details. Tent and Car Top Tent sites also available. Contact Host for details. Beautiful peaceful historic San Juan Bautista. Quaint historic mission town nearby with restaurants. Hiking trails nearby Horseback riding woods & beach. Equine Facilities available. 20 min to beach or redwoods. Beautiful rural area. Weddings, anniversaries, celebrations of life; event camp; event site. Family groups and events always welcome! Call for more information. NOTE: This property is located in a very private country area. It is approximately 8 minutes from the small historic town of San Juan Bautista. We meet our first time guests at the Park & Ride as a welcome courtesy so you can easily follow us in and around the potholes on our rural roads! Let us know if we can assist you with any special interests or attractions in the Monterey Bay and Central Coast Area. As your hosts, our goal is that you will rest easy, enjoy the relaxation, peace and harmony for your "getaway."

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

95%

(447)

Los Padres National Forest

Mission Canyon, California

97%

(35)

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park

Leggett, California

94%

(25)

Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest

O'brien, Oregon

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Waterside camping in California Coast guide

Overview

From top to bottom, you’ll find varied terrain along the vast Pacific Coast Highway, which offers campers just about everything under the sun (or fog). Whether you prefer the far northern reaches of Redwood National Park or the southern surf beaches, there’s no shortage of camping destinations on the California coast. Campgrounds do fill up, especially in summer months, so it’s best to book well ahead of the season. Marine life includes migrating gray and humpback whales, California sea lions, and myriad bird life. It’s no wonder visitors from all over the world seek out coastal California.

Where to go

North Coast

The counties of Humboldt, Mendocino, and Sonoma encompass the northern reaches of California’s coastline. Here is where you’ll find rugged bluffs descending to pristine coves, ancient groves of coastal redwoods, historic lighthouses, and cozy towns. The Lost Coast, Sue-meg State Park (formerly Patrick’s Point), and Trinidad State Beach all lie north of Eureka’s Old Town. It’s possible to spot migrating whales and harbor seals at MacKerricher State Park or the nearby Mendocino Headlands. Sonoma Coast State Park begins at Bodega Head with 17 miles of beaches to explore.

San Francisco Bay Area

Surrounding this urban center is a surprising array of options for outdoor lovers. Cross the Golden Gate to the North Bay’s Marin Headlands, Muir Beach, and Muir Woods, all of which fill with campers on weekends. Hike the Tomales Point Trail to see herds of Tule elk, or kayak on Tomales Bay. If you want to camp on the bay near San Francisco, consider Rob Hill Campground above Baker Beach, ferry to Angel Island State Park, or check out a variety of Hipcamps. Follow Highway 1 south for the nearby beach towns of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay.

Central Coast

Stretching between Monterey Bay and Santa Barbara, this lengthy portion of the Pacific coastline includes the coveted regions of Big Sur, Morro Bay, and Pismo Beach—where you may camp among the beach dunes. Start off in the surf mecca of Santa Cruz, which includes a campground at Manresa State Beach. At the southern end, catch a ferry to Channel Islands National Park for walk-in campgrounds and sea kayaking. Be sure to bring binoculars for bird watching and whale watching offshore.

Southern California

The southern shores between Los Angeles and San Diego are the stuff of California dreamin’. Beachfront campsites claim the most desirable real estate, with surfing, windsurfing, and beachcombing on your doorstep. Heading south from Newport Beach, check out these coastal camping options: Crystal Cove State Park, Doheny State Beach, San Clemente State Beach, South Carlsbad State Beach, and San Elijo State Beach.