Southern California beaches are a popular destination year round, so why not spend a few days at a beachfront or bayfront campground?
“Southern California has some of the best ocean-front campgrounds and RV resorts in the nation,” says Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Resorts and Campgrounds, which hosts the Camp-California.com travel website. Here are top picks for beach campgrounds between Santa Barbara and San Diego County.
Campland by the Bay, Mission Bay (San Diego)
www.campland.com
This park features RV sites as well as “supersites”—luxurious RV sites with private patios, grills and Jacuzzis and a view of a nearby wildlife sanctuary. Campland’s Open-Air Study Hall is available as a convenience for all families who have kids that need to attend online school or plug in and do homework. Additional amenities include al fresco dining, an onsite market, dog park, playground, skateboard park and year-round onshore and aquatic recreation activities. Watercraft rentals offered.
Chula Vista RV Resort and Marina, Chula Vista (San Diego County)
www.chulavistarv.com
This park is adjacent to a 552-slip marina. Onsite amenities include a casual dining restaurant (Galley at the Marina) and a fine dining restaurant (South Bay Fish and Grill). Both restaurants have patio decks, live music and dancing. Other amenities include a pool, Jacuzzi and fitness room.
Dockweiler Beach RV Park, El Segundo
http://reservations.lacounty.gov
This 117-site beachfront campground near LAX is located right next to the beach bike path. Campsites are paved and include water, sewer and electrical service. Bathrooms and showers are also available.
El Capitan Canyon Campground, Santa Barbara
www.elcapitancanyon.com
El Capitan Canyon is located about 20 miles from downtown Santa Barbara in a hidden canyon filled with sycamores. It features luxurious park model cabins, furnished safari tents and yurts, which are modern versions of the ancient shelters used by Central Asian nomads. El Capitan Canyon has six fully furnished yurts, each sleeps four people. They complement the resort’s 109 park model cabins and 26 furnished safari tents. The resort’s amenities include a small onsite restaurant, evening star talks, a private hiking trail and a summer concert series featuring jazz, blues and bluegrass music.
Malibu Beach RV Park, Malibu
www.maliburv.com
This oceanfront park includes both RV and tent sites. Campsite amenities include picnic tables and charcoal grills. Bathrooms and showers are available along with a convenience store that sells food and beverages.
Mission Bay RV Resort, San Diego
www.missionbayrvresort.com
Overlooking the shores of De Anza Cove, scenic RV sites are steps from the sandy beach and calm, waveless waters. Mission Bay RV Resort offers showers, restrooms, laundry facilities and full hook-ups with complimentary access to additional resort amenities and activities at nearby sister property, Campland on the Bay.
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, Newport Beach
www.newportdunes.com
This pet-friendly RV resort is located along a protected bay in the harbor at Newport Beach. The resort also has luxurious park model cottage rentals. Onsite amenities include a restaurant that offers lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Activities include movies on the beach and an inflatable floating structure for the kids. Sailboats, pedal boats, kayaks and electric boats are available for rent.
Ocean Mesa Campground, Santa Barbara
www.oceanmesa.com
Ocean Mesa Campground is about 20 miles from Santa Barbara, right next door to El Capitan Canyon Campground. Perched on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Ocean Mesa caters to RV and tent camping enthusiasts.
Paradise by the Sea RV Resort, Oceanside
www.paradisebythesearvresort.com
This 91-site park, located 4 minutes on foot from the beach, has picnic tables at each campsite. Surfboard, boogie board and bike rentals are available. Other amenities include a heated pool and spa.
South Carlsbad State Beach, Carlsbad
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=660
A local top pick in our Best of Family Fun 2014 contest! This San Diego campground features 212 sites, many of which are on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Stairs lead to the beach, which offers swimming, surfing, skin diving, fishing and picnicking. Campground showers are token operated (tokens available on site).
The camp store operates March through October.
Ventura Beach RV Park, Ventura
www.vbrvresort.com
This 144-site park is close to the beach and has bike rentals, arcade games as well as an outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi, showers and Wi-Fi service. The park also has 36 tent sites with water and electricity hookups as well as 34 additional sites without hookups.
For more information on places to camp in California visit www.Camp-California.com. Photo courtesy of Jeff Crider Photography.
Don't need to be near the beach? Read Best Family Camping in San Diego for more campground options.
