Camping opportunities at California's state beaches stretch from San Diego County to the San Francisco Bay area. There are few state beach camping facilities in Los Angeles County and north of San Francisco. State beaches can accommodate tent campers and RV vehicles, although the maximum length limit on RVs is about 45 feet, and often less than 35 feet. San Diego beaches offer miles of beaches, and the Central Coast beaches often have tree-lined bluffs overlooking rocky shores.
Orange/San Diego Counties
San Clemente State Beach in Orange County has been one of the most visited California state beaches in the state park system. The park has sunny, unobstructed views of the wide expanse of the beach. It's also close to amusement parks such as Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, and to Los Angeles to the north and San Diego to the south. There are stairs to the beach. The park permits camping vehicles up to 35 feet long. Further south in San Diego County is South Carlsbad State Beach with campgrounds along the top of a bluff overlooking the ocean. Surfers and scuba divers frequent the area.
Ventura County
Ventura County between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara is home to Emma Wood State Beach, which is known for its surf fishing for perch and bass. The Ventura River empties into the Pacific Ocean, and the park is an estuary for an abundant wildlife population including blue heron and songbirds. Offshore are the Channel Islands. There is no tent camping, but the 90-campsite park accommodates RVs up to 45 feet.
Santa Barbara
Carpinteria State Beach is about 10 minutes south of Santa Barbara. It accommodates tents, trailers and RVs up to 35 feet long. There is about 1 mile of beach area to explore tide pools and to fish and swim. December through May is viewing season for sea lions and seals. El Capitan State Beach northwest of Santa Barbara has campsites that accommodate trailers and RVs up to 42 feet. El Capitan is on a bluff among sycamore and oak trees overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A stairway provides access to the beach where the park permits fishing and swimming.
Central Coast
Morro Strand State Beach overlooks the coast and is within view of Morro Rock at Morro Bay. The park is off Highway 1. The beach within the park's vicinity stretches about 3 miles. The area can be blustery from coastal winds, making windsurfing a popular activity. Trailers, tents and RV camping are available, but the length limit on trailers and RVs is just 24 feet. A short distance from Morro Bay is Pismo State Beach, which can accommodate campers up to 36 feet and trailers up to 31 feet. The beach is known for its sand dunes and digging for clams along the beach. There also are ATV rentals for the dunes.
Northern California
Seacliff State Beach is in Santa Cruz County near Aptos and features pier fishing and beach swimming. The park permits RVs up to 40 feet long and trailers up to 36 feet long.
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