California has 840 miles of coastline on the Pacific Ocean and plenty of beaches.
The truth is that finding that perfect spot near the sand and surf is harder than you think. Part of the coast is rocky with steep cliffs and no beaches. Part of it is taken up by big cities. Other parts are protected for environmental reasons.
California Beach Camping by Area
Starting in southern California and working north, here are the best places for beach camping anywhere along the California coast.
Southern California Beach Camping: You might expect to find quite a few places for beach camping in sunny Southern California, and you’d be right. What might surprise you is that some of them are actually in the middle of busy urban areas.
Ventura County California Beach Camping: Just north of Los Angeles, Ventura County is the place to go if you have visions of setting up your RV parked right next to the ocean. You’ll also find some beautiful campgrounds where you can pitch your tent at the beach.
Santa Barbara California Beach Camping: You’ll find a few places to camp close to the beach near Santa Barbara, but don’t expect to set up your camper and walk into town for dinner. Most of them are quite a few miles away.
Central Coast California Beach Camping: Between Santa Barbara and Big Sur, you’ll find the only place in California where you can set up your RV right on the sand – that’s in Pismo Beach. You’ll also find some beautiful places for beach camping between Morro Bay and Santa Cruz especially the state parks just south of Santa Cruz.
Northern California Beach Camping: From Santa Cruz to the Oregon border, you’ll only find a few places for camping near the beach, as the coastline grows steeper and rockier – and colder.
Free Beach Camping in California
You don’t get much for free these days, and California beach camping is no exception. Every single place that offers proper beachfront campsites charges a fee, even the ones with porta-potties and no running water.
Sadly, you may also find incorrect information in some guides. If you see a list that includes a free beach campground near Orick in Northern California, near the freshwater lagoon, it doesn’t exist. A State Park Ranger has confirmed that there are no free campgrounds in the Orick area.
