San Diego Beach Camping Guide

Camping in San Diego is a fun and easy way to enjoy the best of San Diego’s weather, beaches, and outdoor attractions all at one time. San Diego has various state parks and one private campground that include beach camping sites from North San Diego County all the way down to Imperial Beach on the US-Mexico border.

San Onofre State Beach Campgrounds

San Onofre State Beach is one of Southern California’s most popular state beaches, offering easy access to many attractions including legendary surfing breaks. The park offers two campgrounds, San Onofre Bluffs Campground and San Mateo Campground.

San Onofre Bluffs Campground

San Onofre Bluffs Campground offers 175 campsites along Route 101 that are near the western edge of the Camp Pendleton Marine Base. Each site has a table and a fire pit with grill. The campground is within walking distance to the beach.

San Mateo Campground

San Mateo Campground is adjacent to the San Onofre Bluffs Campground and lies a short distance inland from the Coast. The campground is within walking distance of trails that lead to hiking in San Mateo Creek State Park and to a San Onofre State Beach and the Trestles surf breaks. The quiet campground offers 157 campsites for tents, trailers, or RVs in an open area with few trees.

Location & Information

For additional information on both campgrounds, visit the San Onofre State Beach website or call (949) 492-4872. The address for San Onofre Bluffs Campground is 5200 S. Pacific Coast Hwy, San Clemente, CA, 92672. The address for San Mateo Campground is 830 Cristianitos, San Clemente, CA, 92672.

South Carlsbad State Beach

South Carlsbad State Beach Campground is located in Carlsbad, California. It is a popular family beach campground with 223 campsites. The campground is close to the beach and has a lot of great amenities, including restrooms, showers, and a children’s play area.

Location & Information

South Carlsbad State Beach Campground is located on the southwest side of Carlsbad at 7201 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad, CA 92008. The phone number for the campground is 760-438-3143.

For more information, see our complete guide to South Carlsbad State Beach Campground.

San Elijo State Beach Campground

San Elijo State Beach Campground is located across the coastal highway from the surf enclave of Cardiff, California. It features 165 campsites on a bluff that overlooks one of Southern California’s most idyllic beaches. The campground is close to some great surfing spots and is within walking distance of the San Elijo Lagoon and Swami’s beach, which is a great place to go tide pooling.

Location & Information

San Elijo State Beach Campground is located near San Diego at 2050 South Coast Hwy 101, Cardiff, CA 92007. The phone number for the campground kiosk is 760-438-3143.

Campland on the Bay

Campland on the Bay is a privately run family beach campground that is located in the Mission Bay area of San Diego. Campland on the Bay is a popular spot for many beachgoers because it offers a wide range of amenities and activities. Campland has been around since 1972 and has been named as one of America’s Top 50 RV Resorts by Trailer Life Magazine multiple times.

Location & Information

Campland on the Bay is located in San Diego at 2211 Pacific Beach Drive in San Diego, CA 92109. The phone number for the campground is 858-581-4205

Silver Strand State Beach Campground

Silver Strand State Beach Campground is located on a peninsula that extends into San Diego Bay, between the towns of Coronado and Imperial Beach. The RV-only campground is very close to the beach and offers some great tide-pooling opportunities. Silver Strand is also a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts because of its location in between San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean.