Beach Camping Near Santa Maria, California, US: 12 Best Beach Campsites 2025

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to website for camping in the United States! If you're looking for a beach camping experience near Santa Maria, California, we've got you covered. With over 80 available options, you'll find the perfect campsite to suit your preferences. Whether you're seeking stunning ocean views or sandy shores just steps away from your tent, we've got it all. Check out some of our top campsites like SLO Country Camp (394 reviews), Private Beach Farm (382 reviews), and DABUDAGE (367 reviews). These highly rated options provide amenities such as toilets, campfires, and trash disposal. Plus, you'll have plenty of activities to enjoy, including boating, off-roading (OHV), and paddling. So pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable beach camping adventure near Santa Maria, California!

97% (1.5K)

Top-rated campgrounds

Communal fire pit, plenty of space to maintain physical distance

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to website for camping in the United States! If you're looking for a beach camping experience near Santa Maria, California, we've got you covered. With over 80 available options, you'll find the perfect campsite to suit your preferences. Whether you're seeking stunning ocean views or sandy shores just steps away from your tent, we've got it all. Check out some of our top campsites like SLO Country Camp (394 reviews), Private Beach Farm (382 reviews), and DABUDAGE (367 reviews). These highly rated options provide amenities such as toilets, campfires, and trash disposal. Plus, you'll have plenty of activities to enjoy, including boating, off-roading (OHV), and paddling. So pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable beach camping adventure near Santa Maria, California!

97% (1.5K)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. SLO Country Camp

99%

(1360)

23mi from Santa Maria · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · San Luis Obispo, CA

SLO Country Camp was once a part of the Serpa Ranch, one of the early ranches of the Central Coast. It’s remained a beautiful rural pocket in the Edna Valley area of San Luis Obispo. It’s quiet and peaceful, enjoy your morning coffee listening to all the birds waking up. There’s a private creek not far away that draws deer and wildlife. Just saw 3 deer run through out property 2 days ago. Owls, red tail hawks, eagles, squirrels and jack rabbits we see frequently. And you can listen to the coyotes howling at night. We’re surrounded by rolling coastal hills, vineyards, horses, cattle and also land apportioned to the Land Conservancy. Walk down our road and then left up to the top of the hill for a panoramic view of the entire area with the city San Luis Obispo at a distance. Our two sites are flat on decomposed granite pads. Both have excellent views and easy access to our common areas: big sink and counter, and a cold-water outdoor "beach-type" shower. Firewood is available for purchase at camp for those wanting to use the fire pit, or you can bring your own. The San Luis Obispo, Central Coast has so much to see and do! Hiking trails abound, our favorites are Bob Jones trail to walk or bike to Avila Beach, Johnson Ranch and Irish Hills for hiking hills, the Ridge trail for a view over Shell and Avila beaches, and the Harmony Trail to walk grassy cliffs by the ocean. Montano de Oro is only 15 minutes away with rocky ocean cliff trails that lead down to the coastline. We are 5 minutes from the beginning of the Edna Valley winery trail with 30 wineries or more I’ve lost count. Tasting and relaxing in great atmospheres. Our favorites are Biddle Ranch, Talley, Mailene, Chamisal, Bailyanna... but there are so many more. We’re 10 minutes from downtown San Luis Obispo, 10–12 minutes to Avila or Pismo beaches. Morro Bay is 25 minutes. And we’re just 5 minutes off the 101 for easy access to traveling. The Central Coast has almost everything for fun, adventure and food. Surfing, biking, hiking, ocean kayaking, paddle boarding, golf, wine and beer culture, ranch lands, shopping and restaurants and we’re close to it all.

2. Gaia Farm Campground

96%

(95)

35mi from Santa Maria · 4 sites · Tents, Lodging · Goleta, CA

Situated on a private and peaceful non-profit farm on the Gaviota Coast, our campsites provide a unique camping experience for the whole family. The sites feature uninterrupted views of the coast, native chaparral hiking trails, and access to a farm tour (suggested donation of $25/person). Our farm raises animals such as cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, and more. We invite you to visit with the animals, hike our trails, and enjoy the natural beauty of our incredible land. Sites are primitive camping on gravel pads along our hiking trails. Approximately a five minute hike from parking. Water and composting toilets are provided.

3. Frog Hollow Homestead

95%

(376)

39mi from Santa Maria · 4 sites · Lodging · Atascadero, CA

Welcome to Frog Hollow. Feel free to hike up to the bench, past the deck, on the hill or over to the chairs and table nest to the field where the sheep and donkey are at the other side of the creek. Keep an eye out in the mornings, you may see a family or two of wild turkeys or deer cruising the property. Kick back, relax and enjoy the tranquility of the seasonal running stream and property. Situated on 12 acres, our property is a great spot where you can unplug, unwind and simply check out from your daily chaos. Sit back and enjoy the songs of the evening crickets and frogs. We are located on Hwy 41, a 10 minute drive to the coast, the famous Morro Rock, and 20 minutes from both San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles where you will find shopping, fine restaurants and plenty of local wineries in the area. We are lucky to have over 300 award winning wineries in our area so if you like wine, this is a great place to tour and taste! Frog Hollow is perfectly located for the weekend break or a leisurely mid-week holiday. Come visit us and check out our lovely land and quaint comfy living. Sabyl, our Border Collie, is around and may head down to greet you at some point during your stay. Our free standing casita is cozy and nestled in a natural serene creekside setting. The loft has a spacious queen size bed for your sleeping pleasure with adjustable reading lights on either side of the bed. The living area offers a fold down couch for another adult or 2 kids. There is a kitchenette with a toaster oven, electric tea kettle and coffee maker. There is a charcoal Weber bbq grill and a propane gas 2 burner stove. We provided a propane fire pit during the fire ban, bring propane and charcoal etc. There is a well lit bathroom with hot shower and flushable toilet 50 yards away. Please use that shower for the casita. We have a moderate climb hiking trail down the road, Cerro Alto, that offers beautiful views of our coastline. Simply sit back and watch the the wild turkeys and deer roaming freely on our land, or head out to taste some of San Luis Obispo County award winning wines. Pack in and pack out your trash please.

4. Private Beach Farm

98%

(609)

43mi from Santa Maria · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · Goleta, CA

This is an incredibly historic site in Santa Barbara history. 2 tribes of Chumash Indians lived here for 10,000 years. This is where Spain landed and began colonizing the area. In the 1950's and 60's, this was the site of the World's largest orchid farm. There is a book called The Royal Rancho, if you are a history buff. We are a farm on the beach just North of Santa Barbara and Goleta, Ca. You will camp in a historic, glass greenhouse with incredible ocean views. Inside is a cob pizza oven that works awesome. (Bring your own firewood),,, a place to pitch tents and tiny artistic structures to explore. You will have a private bath and shower (Primitive, no electricity, but the hot shower has the best view in the world of any shower!) Bring your own toiletries and whatnot. Private beach access from our property. We have a barnyard with a multitude of farm animals. Limited electricity in greenhouse (A couple of extension chords). The fire ban is ONLY for open campfires. The pizza oven and YOUR bbq or propane flame is fine. If you are camping during the rain, be advised, it gets wet in the greenhouse. It's an antique after all!

5. Holiday RV Park

100%

(3)

18mi from Santa Maria · 161 sites · RVs · Pismo Beach, CA

HOLIDAY RV PARK IS LOCATED ONLY TWO BLOCKS FROM THE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN ON THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA. Enjoy our 83 degree swimming pool, spa, clubhouse, sparkling restrooms, complimentary cable TV and Wi-Fi. Nearby activities include fishing off the 1200 foot long pier, golf, kayaking, surfing, horseback riding and four-wheeling in the Oceano Dunes. Watch playful dolphins surf the waves, take a relaxing walk on the beach and view the spectacular colors of Pacific sunsets. Treat yourself to fine dining, enjoy the many restaurants and cafes in town, pick up fresh produce and delicious bakery items in local farmers markets. Shopping, arcades, bowling and specialty shops are just a few blocks away!

Public campgrounds near Santa Maria

100%

(1)

Oceano

14mi from Santa Maria · 1 site · in Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area

67%

(3)

Colson Canyon Camp

16mi from Santa Maria · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Barrel Springs Campground

17mi from Santa Maria · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

100%

(2)

Horseshoe Springs Campground

19mi from Santa Maria · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

100%

(2)

Wagon Flat Campground

20mi from Santa Maria · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Brookshire Campground

22mi from Santa Maria · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Baja Campground

22mi from Santa Maria · 1 site · Tent, RV · in Los Padres National Forest

Hi Mountain Campground

23mi from Santa Maria · 11 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

100%

(1)

Buck Spring Campground

23mi from Santa Maria · 1 site · Tent, RV · in Los Padres National Forest

100%

(2)

Miranda Pine Campground

24mi from Santa Maria · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

American Canyon Seasonal Campground

26mi from Santa Maria · 14 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

100%

(9)

Mount Figueroa Campground

29mi from Santa Maria · 33 sites · Tents, RVs · in Los Padres National Forest

Stories from the community

Marco

5 days ago

23 ft Class C

With pets

2 nights at SLO Country Camp

Ken and Judi’s campground was epic! Location, environment, and amenities were exactly what we were looking for to spending a family Thanksgiving. 10/10.

S

Shannon

1 week ago

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to SLO Country Camp

Ken and Judi’s property was lovely. It was intimate and provided plenty of personal space. I thoroughly enjoyed the attention to detail with the outdoor lighting and ample prep space. They had excellent communication and even offered to let us come a little early.

Alex

2 weeks ago

Tent

Group trip

3 nights at Gaia Farm Campground

Our time spent at Gaia farm was phenomenal! The views, especially during sunrise and sunset, were spectacular! Amanda was extremely helpful and gracious towards us the entire stay. She was very responsive and went well out of her way to make sure that we were accommodated. I would absolutely go back and would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique stay along the California coast line!

K

Kevin

3 weeks ago

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to SLO Country Camp

Ken and Judi's property was beautiful and spacious. We enjoyed meeting our hosts and loved the location as well. The fire pit is awesome and we liked hanging out around the fire. We will definitely return if we get a chance.

S

Samantha

3 weeks ago

Tent

1 night at Gaia Farm Campground

Great hospitality! The site was well set up and had a great view. I loved the animals, especially the dogs I met! Also, I left with a dozen farm fresh eggs…I would definitely recommend.

Y

Yissette

November 2025

16 ft Class B

1 night at SLO Country Camp

Where do we begin? The amenities were amazing! Between the fire pit, lighting, outdoor shower and crazy enough.. porta potty experience, lol everything was just wonderful! We’ll definitely be staying here again when passing through SLO. Very close to a beautiful ‘Main Street’ with shops, and dining.

A

Alison

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Gaia Farm Campground

I can’t wait to go back the views were beyond my wildest dreams

K

Kim

November 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Gaia Farm Campground

What an amazing place to camp. The views from the top of the mountain are breathtaking, especially at sunrise and sunset. The working farm adds such a unique touch I had a great time learning about the animals and even got to hold the baby goats! If you stay here, don’t miss the guided tour of the farm. It made the whole experience unforgettable.

Brian

November 2025

20 ft Class B

Weekend Trip to SLO Country Camp

2nd visit. Great spot. Quiet, clean and close enough to town, beaches.

A

Alaina

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Gaia Farm Campground

I loved everything about this stay! The amazing views, warm hospitality and fun farm visit made this a treasured day for us. Ocean views, chaparral in the air, amazing stargazing landscape and friendly hosts. We even left with some farm-fresh bacon and sausage. Many thanks, we can't wait to visit again. Cheers!

C

Christina

October 2025

18 ft campervan

With pets

Weekend Trip to SLO Country Camp

This campsite is adorable and even better than what the pictures show. Our hosts were very responsive via the app's messaging. This property also offers excellent bird-watching opportunities.

N

Nat

October 2025

Weekend Trip to Gaia Farm Campground

I'm so lucky I found Gaia farms - the location is stunningly beautiful, the accommodations were cozy, Amanda was generous, friendly, kind, and I got to hold a baby goat! It was truly a special experience. I cannot recommend a visit enough and hope for the chance to return. We stayed in the yurt, enjoying privacy, quiet, comfort, and VIEWS! The pictures can't even capture how gorgeous the views were. We watched the sun set pink over the mountains and ocean, saw shooting stars all night, and then the clouds settled below us at dawn. It was perfect. Thank you for sharing this place with us, Amanda. <3

M

Motoki

October 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Private Beach Farm

Beautiful, unique, engaging space! Would book again.

E

Emily

October 2025

Tent

3 nights at Gaia Farm Campground

We loved this camp site! The host, Amanda, was super welcoming and made us feel comfortable upon arrival. Amanda and her family are located on what is truly the most magical pocket of the Gaviota coast. At night, the stars are so bright it feels like you're in your very own planetarium. We even saw an insane comet (fireball??!) in the sky during our last night!!! Even though other people were staying near us, we never felt overcrowded. Amanda was super considerate in spacing out her guests so that we each felt like we were enjoying the coast all to ourselves. Would 100% recommend this site and we hope to come back again soon!

B

Becca

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Gaia Farm Campground

We loved camping on Amanda's land! The campsite was just stunning. All of the farm animals were so sweet and Amanda was so lovely to introduce us to them! Overall perfect experience, we are excited to come back again. Thank you!

J

Julie

October 2025

26 ft fifth wheel

2 nights at SLO Country Camp

This was our second visit and highly recommend staying here. The location is perfect for visiting the SLO downtown and many wine tasting locations are close by. The hosts were very accommodating on our arrival time and Ken was there to greet us and help get us settled in.

M

Mike

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Gaia Farm Campground

Amanda‘s place is wonderful, incredible hospitality, and views of the ocean and mountains. I can’t say enough, how much I enjoy the serenity and peacefulness of this property.

S

Sam

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Gaia Farm Campground

Amazing spot to stay, amazing hosts. Couldn’t recommend staying here enough. It’s spacious, beautiful, and you have to get a tour of the wonderful farm! Angela and Tracy are so sweet and welcoming, definitely check out their awesome soaps, lotions, and meat products! Will be back soon :)

S

Sloane

October 2025

Group trip

1 night at Gaia Farm Campground

My friends and I agreed that there’s no more beautiful place to play card games and cook Mac and cheese than this yurt! Amanda was the most kind and welcoming host. Don’t miss out on holding a baby goat or buying some goats milk lotion or soap, these additions really made our day! Such a special place, we feel so lucky to have stayed a night here. So worth it!

K

Karen

October 2025

25 ft Class C

With kids

3 nights at Holiday RV Park

Holiday RV Park offers so much. I was greeted by a staff member that had me follow him to my site. He assisted me in backing my RV perfectly into the site. The bathroom and showers are clean and heated. My grandchildren and my self enjoyed the pool and spa. Lots of swim toys for the kids and floats for adults. They offer outdoor sinks, which helped me with more space cleaning dishes. The office staff is so awesome, friendly and helpful.