Looking for beach camping recommendations in SoCal...

[rivalrider]

Hi guys,

My wife and I are looking for beach camping recommendation in the southern California area. We live in northern San Diego and are willing to drive a little bit. Would like to do San Elijo or Carlsbad but it is tough to get spots there and they are already showing full for when we want to go in September. Needs to be accessible by a larger rig, my bumper pull is 37ft long. Let me know if you have any good places to check out.

I appreciate it!

-Tyler

[Tmoz78]

Great lists and awesome spots already recommended.

[nayther]

DanNJanice wrote:
What about Camp Pendleton?
If you are, or know anyone that is in the military, I would give Del Mar Beach Campground at Camp Pendleton a try.
We stayed there for several days, a few year ago. Right on the beach, and the Marine patrols make sure the beach is clean and safe.

my business partner stayed there once for a wedding, said it was right on the dunes/ocean, great place but yes, you have to be military or someone in the family has to get it for you or something, can't just go.

[DanNJanice]

What about Camp Pendleton?
If you are, or know anyone that is in the military, I would give Del Mar Beach Campground at Camp Pendleton a try.
We stayed there for several days, a few year ago. Right on the beach, and the Marine patrols make sure the beach is clean and safe.

[eDUBz]

nayther wrote:

eDUBz wrote:
Ventura county - Thornhill broome SB, Emma wood SB , Rincon SB - Faria and Hobson are County. Santa Barbara- Carpenteria SB, El Capitan SB and Refugio SB also Jalama Beach its county.

I would say Thornhill broome and Emma wood are your best bet - Rincon is first come first serve you can also score a spot there.

Lots of good ones and some are first come/serve like Refugio, LOVE that place. If you can go midweek you should be able to get in most places.

I think I need to be sick midweek and need to recoop at the beach, yea that's what I'll tell the boss.............Oh wait I AM the boss. Guess I'll stay and work.

Refugio is one of our favorite spots

[Dirtclods]

Newport Dunes is real nice it's a bit pricey but you got a spot that awesome!

[rivalrider]

Thanks for all the info! I appreciate all the spots to look into. We are going in September but the local places I like were already booked. Went ahead and got a spot at Newport Dunes. Could change later if I find a different spot but its our anniversary so I want to make sure I have something reserved.

[Dirtclods]

You'll need to get on : https://www.reserveamerica.com/

Most of the summer beach areas are booked up. But you can try daily to get on sometimes theirs cancellations. Or if you show up at the booth at 6am and hang out till about 8 am they may have an opening but you'll need to find a place to park your rig.


Or http://www.hbbythesea.com/

[nayther]

eDUBz wrote:
Ventura county - Thornhill broome SB, Emma wood SB , Rincon SB - Faria and Hobson are County. Santa Barbara- Carpenteria SB, El Capitan SB and Refugio SB also Jalama Beach its county.

I would say Thornhill broome and Emma wood are your best bet - Rincon is first come first serve you can also score a spot there.

Lots of good ones and some are first come/serve like Refugio, LOVE that place. If you can go midweek you should be able to get in most places.

I think I need to be sick midweek and need to recoop at the beach, yea that's what I'll tell the boss.............Oh wait I AM the boss. Guess I'll stay and work.

[eDUBz]

Ventura county - Thornhill broome SB, Emma wood SB , Rincon SB - Faria and Hobson are County. Santa Barbara- Carpenteria SB, El Capitan SB and Refugio SB also Jalama Beach its county.

I would say Thornhill broome and Emma wood are your best bet - Rincon is first come first serve you can also score a spot there.

[kofire]

How about paradise by the sea in Carlsbad?

[nayther]

there's a way to get cancellations, I've never tried but have friends that know how to do it, they're always at on of the beach campgrounds on a weekend.

[Blackdiamond]

You have to book San Elijo and So. Carlsbad on the 1st of the month 6 months before you want to go at 8:00am (going to Carlsbad next month, 6 families each had 2 computers trying to get sites, not all of us got one). Both of those are better than all the other state beaches mentioned, Emma Woods is cool though.

You could try a couple private ones on the bay by sea world.

[the_bear_II]

Headed north from San Diego there are several beach or near beach campground/RV Parks.

State Beaches:
San Onofre
Dana Point
Bolsa Chica
Crystal Cove
San Clemente
Dockweiler near LAX
Emma Woods Ventura

Private:
Oceanside
Newport Dunes
Malibu RV Park on east side of PCH
Ventura RV Resort

County of Ventura:
Rincon Parkway... first come first to get a site. Best way to get a site is to show up Monday through Wednesday in the morning. Thursday thru Sunday tough to get a site.
Also Faria and Hobson but tough to get a big rig in

Several State beach campgrounds in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo areas

[2oldman]

Doheny