The best waterside campgrounds near Santa Monica, California

Ah, big, beautiful, beachfront Santa Monica. West of downtown Los Angeles and 18 miles south of Malibu, this coastal city is home to the iconic pier. It also boasts the equally legendary Muscle Beach. RV campers can explore the coastline of Santa Monica Bay at Dockweiler State Beach RV Park.

For prime tent camping, head north on Pacific Coast Highway to Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu. The large canyon campground has 140 spots for tents and RVs. The beaches are brimming with tidepools and caves begging to be explored. Hit the moderate 5.9-mile Yellow Hill Fire Trail for wildflower and Channel Island viewing.

If you’re headed to Malibu Creek State Park, make sure the campground has reopened. As of May 2019, only the park’s backcountry and day-use areas are open. The Woolsey fire of November 2018 took a tragic toll on parts of this region.

No visit to California’s coast is complete without time spent in the Santa Monica Mountains. Hike, bike, or ride your horse along 500+ miles of public trails crisscrossing the land. Some of the steepest climbs reward with 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean.

Need a challenge? Tackle the 65-mile (one way) Backbone Trail, LA’s premier long-distance trek. You can’t camp on the trail, but it makes a great day hike. The best ocean views are found on the Ray Miller Trail at Point Mugu State Park. Head to Inspiration Point at Will Rogers State Historic Park for easy access and some Hollywood history.

93% (521) • 497 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Santa Monica

Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

1. Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

97%

(310)

9.1mi from Santa Monica · 5 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

DEAR HIPCAMPER, "Welcome" To Cross Bull Ranch/CBR Where You Can Unplug & "Disconnect" from Technology & Devices because...WE HAVE A GREAT Connection With Nature HERE ON THE RANCH In 1926 "A Farmer" Named McDougal Came to CA from Santa Fe, NM in Search of A Better Life for He & His Family. Originally 40 Acres The Farm Provided ALL Produce, Dairy, Poultry & Beef to The Topanga Community via The "General Store" Until The End of WW2 IN 1945 when The American Public were Sold Post Military Chemicals as pesticides & fertilizers. It was Then That "Corporations" began Buying Up Fertile FarmLand, Clear Cutting, Mono-Cropping. Creating Corporate "Grocery Store" Chains DESTROYING "The Family Farm." My Son's Father & I Rescued This Land in 1998. It was Derelict. We were Handed A 1' HIGH FILE FULL OF Building Department "Violations" The Oaks were ALL Dying from Lack Of Fresh Air/Oxygen & Sunshine. We Removed (8) 5 TON DUMPSTERS/40 TONS OF GARBAGE INCLUDING: Cars, Car Parts/Tires, Toilets, Jacuzzi Tubs, Dishware, Newspapers, Utensils++. We Picked Up EVERY Chard of Glass from Broken Beer Bottles, EVERY Bottle Cap, EVERY Cigarette Butt. Which ARE NOT BIODEGRADABLE. It was A "Travesty." And... "A Labor Of Love." We IMMEDIATELY "Invested" $5000.00 Clearing & Cleaning, "Healing" The Oaks. With Ropes NOT Spikes. We Bought A Brush Cutter & Cut Down Weeds TALLER THAN ME. At 1st you Couldn't EVEN See The Topography Of The Land. We Renovated an Existing Trailer Adjacent to The Farm House. The "Treehouse Trailer" as We Affectionately Call It Was Ou Home for 7 Years While I Resolved A 1' High File Of Building Violations, Woke at 5:30AM EVERY MORNING To Direct/General Contract A Crew Of Talented Artisans from San Miguel Allende, Mexico NONE Of Which Spoke English (Soy Boriqua) & Who'd NEVER Built or Renovated A House Before. In 2009 after Separation, Divorce & Financial Devastation in '09/'10I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This "Dis-Ease" Ended Up Being "A Gift". It Lead me On "The Red Road" To Getting Baptized in The Native American Church in The Lakota Way, Taking "Refuge" in Tibetan Buddhism, Hosting Shaman & Healers from ALL OVER The World in Plant Medicine Ceremonies, Practicing Permaculture & Preparedness, Creating My Own Line Of "Cross Bull Ranch" Non-GMO Organic Food,Becoming A Certified Somatic Healing (Trauma Release) Practitioner &Ordained Minister.Until November of 2019 I had been Hosting Retreats, Workshops, Weddings++ In "Our Home." Until... covid. Similar to "My Prayer" 10 Yeas Ago Asking "God" To Send Healers Who Needed Land to Support Their Work In Exchange/Barter For me To Receive The Healing I Needed. Again "I Prayed" HARD & Divine InspirationCame To me Similar to "Food Being Medicine," that Pachamama, "Mother Earth" is The MOST Potent Healer. I Decided to "Open Up The Land" To Offer To "Others" to Leave Society & Devices Behind. Ground Themselves. FULLY IMMERSING Themselves, Family & Friends in Nature "Maskless." In Order To Breathe Fresh Air. Filling Their Lungs With Life Sustaining Oxygen & Bathe Themselves in Sunshine which Is A PowerFULL Disinfectant, Recharge "Their Souls" & Stimulating Their Third Eye/"Pineal Gland."Helping Others To Re-Boot & BOOST Their Immune Systems.Which is Of The UTMOST IMPORTANCE "Right Now." I Am Lisa Cianci and... I AM Looking Forward To Seeing YOU Here On The Ranch! Until Then... Take CareStay Safe & Well!

Toilets

Campfires

Showers

from

$90

/ night

Angeles National Forest

2. Angeles National Forest

92%

(228)

National forest 28mi from Santa Monica · 791 sites

Experience the beauty of nature without having to stray far from Los Angeles.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Ah, big, beautiful, beachfront Santa Monica. West of downtown Los Angeles and 18 miles south of Malibu, this coastal city is home to the iconic pier. It also boasts the equally legendary Muscle Beach. RV campers can explore the coastline of Santa Monica Bay at Dockweiler State Beach RV Park.

For prime tent camping, head north on Pacific Coast Highway to Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu. The large canyon campground has 140 spots for tents and RVs. The beaches are brimming with tidepools and caves begging to be explored. Hit the moderate 5.9-mile Yellow Hill Fire Trail for wildflower and Channel Island viewing.

If you’re headed to Malibu Creek State Park, make sure the campground has reopened. As of May 2019, only the park’s backcountry and day-use areas are open. The Woolsey fire of November 2018 took a tragic toll on parts of this region.

No visit to California’s coast is complete without time spent in the Santa Monica Mountains. Hike, bike, or ride your horse along 500+ miles of public trails crisscrossing the land. Some of the steepest climbs reward with 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean.

Need a challenge? Tackle the 65-mile (one way) Backbone Trail, LA’s premier long-distance trek. You can’t camp on the trail, but it makes a great day hike. The best ocean views are found on the Ray Miller Trail at Point Mugu State Park. Head to Inspiration Point at Will Rogers State Historic Park for easy access and some Hollywood history.

93% (521) • 497 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Santa Monica

Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

1. Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

97%

(310)

9.1mi from Santa Monica · 5 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

DEAR HIPCAMPER, "Welcome" To Cross Bull Ranch/CBR Where You Can Unplug & "Disconnect" from Technology & Devices because...WE HAVE A GREAT Connection With Nature HERE ON THE RANCH In 1926 "A Farmer" Named McDougal Came to CA from Santa Fe, NM in Search of A Better Life for He & His Family. Originally 40 Acres The Farm Provided ALL Produce, Dairy, Poultry & Beef to The Topanga Community via The "General Store" Until The End of WW2 IN 1945 when The American Public were Sold Post Military Chemicals as pesticides & fertilizers. It was Then That "Corporations" began Buying Up Fertile FarmLand, Clear Cutting, Mono-Cropping. Creating Corporate "Grocery Store" Chains DESTROYING "The Family Farm." My Son's Father & I Rescued This Land in 1998. It was Derelict. We were Handed A 1' HIGH FILE FULL OF Building Department "Violations" The Oaks were ALL Dying from Lack Of Fresh Air/Oxygen & Sunshine. We Removed (8) 5 TON DUMPSTERS/40 TONS OF GARBAGE INCLUDING: Cars, Car Parts/Tires, Toilets, Jacuzzi Tubs, Dishware, Newspapers, Utensils++. We Picked Up EVERY Chard of Glass from Broken Beer Bottles, EVERY Bottle Cap, EVERY Cigarette Butt. Which ARE NOT BIODEGRADABLE. It was A "Travesty." And... "A Labor Of Love." We IMMEDIATELY "Invested" $5000.00 Clearing & Cleaning, "Healing" The Oaks. With Ropes NOT Spikes. We Bought A Brush Cutter & Cut Down Weeds TALLER THAN ME. At 1st you Couldn't EVEN See The Topography Of The Land. We Renovated an Existing Trailer Adjacent to The Farm House. The "Treehouse Trailer" as We Affectionately Call It Was Ou Home for 7 Years While I Resolved A 1' High File Of Building Violations, Woke at 5:30AM EVERY MORNING To Direct/General Contract A Crew Of Talented Artisans from San Miguel Allende, Mexico NONE Of Which Spoke English (Soy Boriqua) & Who'd NEVER Built or Renovated A House Before. In 2009 after Separation, Divorce & Financial Devastation in '09/'10I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This "Dis-Ease" Ended Up Being "A Gift". It Lead me On "The Red Road" To Getting Baptized in The Native American Church in The Lakota Way, Taking "Refuge" in Tibetan Buddhism, Hosting Shaman & Healers from ALL OVER The World in Plant Medicine Ceremonies, Practicing Permaculture & Preparedness, Creating My Own Line Of "Cross Bull Ranch" Non-GMO Organic Food,Becoming A Certified Somatic Healing (Trauma Release) Practitioner &Ordained Minister.Until November of 2019 I had been Hosting Retreats, Workshops, Weddings++ In "Our Home." Until... covid. Similar to "My Prayer" 10 Yeas Ago Asking "God" To Send Healers Who Needed Land to Support Their Work In Exchange/Barter For me To Receive The Healing I Needed. Again "I Prayed" HARD & Divine InspirationCame To me Similar to "Food Being Medicine," that Pachamama, "Mother Earth" is The MOST Potent Healer. I Decided to "Open Up The Land" To Offer To "Others" to Leave Society & Devices Behind. Ground Themselves. FULLY IMMERSING Themselves, Family & Friends in Nature "Maskless." In Order To Breathe Fresh Air. Filling Their Lungs With Life Sustaining Oxygen & Bathe Themselves in Sunshine which Is A PowerFULL Disinfectant, Recharge "Their Souls" & Stimulating Their Third Eye/"Pineal Gland."Helping Others To Re-Boot & BOOST Their Immune Systems.Which is Of The UTMOST IMPORTANCE "Right Now." I Am Lisa Cianci and... I AM Looking Forward To Seeing YOU Here On The Ranch! Until Then... Take CareStay Safe & Well!

Toilets

Campfires

Showers

from

$90

/ night

Angeles National Forest

2. Angeles National Forest

92%

(228)

National forest 28mi from Santa Monica · 791 sites

Experience the beauty of nature without having to stray far from Los Angeles.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

f

fiona

February 2026

16 ft car

2 nights at Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

Beautiful spot with a little creek running thru the property. Lots of nature with birds and frogs singing. Close to a cafe and a restaurant and not too far from shopping, laundry etc. A great getaway.

A

Aaron

September 2025

Tent

With kids

1 night at Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

Lisa was amazing, showed us around the entire property walking around barefoot like a true warrior! We stayed at the campsite near the trailer, which was nice and roomy and had room for our big family tent. Close to the beach and some cool cafés nearby in Topanga canyon. Would highly recommend!

T

Taylor

August 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

Lisa is a great host! I took my sons on a last minute "camping" trip over Labor Day weekend and we had a great time. We loved how close it is to civilization, but still had a true woodsy vibe.

C

Curt

August 2025

17 ft pop-up camper

Weekend Trip to Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

Lisa was very helpful and a good communicator. It’s a nice spot to camp!

Amir

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

Great spot to hang out with family and friends. This place is sacred, gorgeous and extremely flammable! So keep your fire and sour drunk buddies out! Lisa is a great person. Would love to see her again.

D

Drew

July 2025

Tent

2 nights at Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

Staying at Cross Bull Ranch was an amazing getaway experience for my partner and I! We wanted to get out into nature somewhere that wasn't super far away from us and we definitely got what we were looking for. Lisa was a great host and we really enjoyed talking to her and plan on going back! Camp sites all were well maintained and we picked one with plenty of shade to get out of the summer heat. I recommend staying here if you want a convenient getaway. Wish we could've stayed longer! Thank you Lisa!!

You can camp anywhere you'd like here :)

Brent

June 2025

19 ft Class B

With pets

Weekend Trip to Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

our host was very kind, let us pick our spot with any of the open ones. my Son and I had the best fathers day here camping……… hope to be back one day :)

J

Jessie

June 2025

Tent

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. :)

G

Gianella

May 2025

Tent

1 night at Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

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

M

Michelle

May 2025

Tent

With kids

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!

Y

Yogiraj

May 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

Lisa was a really good host. She was super friendly and welcoming and made it easy to arrive unassisted. I brought my two young daughters and they loved swinging on the rope swing and exploring the dry creek bed. We had a nice propane fire pit. (No real fires allowed). And when we needed bug spray I drove 5 minutes to pick it up and come back. feels removed from LAand yet not at all removed from civilization.

I

Ian

March 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

Lisa set us up again for an amazing visit to her place this past weekend. We had warm heaters and clean bathrooms and made full use of the amazing space. The kids had a great adventure with the swing and running through the trails on the hill. What's great about the location is with how easy it is to get the central are in Topanga. On Saturday afternoon we took a field trip to the coffee shops, restaurants and had a great hike at Red Rock Canyon Park thanks to a recommendation from Lisa. We will all be returning back to Lisa's again this summer.

Q

Quetzal

December 2024

20 ft Class B

1 night at Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

Thankyou was quiet and private very pleased Would definitely book again

J

Jaqi

November 2024

19 ft campervan

2 nights at Cross Bull Ranch/CBR

The location of Lisa's camp is great, there are coffee shops in walking distance but it still feels very remote. Lisa met us at the gate and let us stay in the glamping site because no one had reserved it during our stay. It was nice with seating areas and the toilet. This was a great place to stay nearby LA without being in the city.