"What is your favorite California beach camping location... and why is it your favorite?" That's a question that gets asked a lot.You see, for the past 30 years, we have been up and down California's coast many times. There are a lot of beaches to see and great trails to enjoy.  Custom Search We have been on some good hikes, and have even been known to have gotten wet on occasion... the Pacific Ocean is a cold ocean in Northern California. It is not exactly warm down south either, but we don't care down there because the air temperature is so nice!
When I think of California Beach Camping, I think of fire pits, beach volley ball, surfers, and bikinis... along with in-line skates and body building. However, this isn't the case along great stretches of our coast. And Sandy Shoreline Sure, you get into Doheny, Malibu, and Carlsbad Campgrounds, and you begin to see the Southern California scene. But as you move north of the Los Angeles area (with the exception of Santa Cruz or maybe parts of Pismo Beach), things change just a bit. Much or our coastline is very remote... and very rugged. In most cases you will be able to find a sandy beach area, but there are great stretches where you will find scenic cliffs and rocky shores. Picking out a favorite California beach camping site is a hard call because when you drive the California coast, great beaches continually jump out at you.
There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of places where you can pull off the road and sit for hours watching the tide while the sun reflects off the water. There are more RV parks and campgrounds than I could possibly list. We have parked our rig high on the wind swept bluffs and down on the sand next to the surf taking in the extraordinary views of the vast Pacific Ocean. Just north of Bodega Bay, CA is a Northern California beach campground called Wright's Beach. This beach is right up at the top of my list of favorite beaches. It is part of the Sonoma Coast State Park system. Sonoma Coast SP extends north along the Northern California coast for 17 miles from Bodega Head to Vista Trail located four miles north of Jenner, CA. This section of beach offers a coastline with sandy beaches, hidden coves, tide pools, headlands, and natural rock arches. However, this is not considered a swimming beach because of riptides. Headlands along this coast are characterized by high, breaking waves, rocky shores, intense erosion, and steep sea cliffs. Basically they are pretty cool to observe!
Going north between Wright's Beach and Goat Rock are several good hiking trails that are linked together by the four mile long Sonoma Coast Trail. Many beaches along this stretch of coast, such as Blind Beach and Schoolhouse Beach, are tucked away and hidden by rocky cliffs... however, this area is generally a good location offering many vistas and tidal pools to explore. To Be Away From The Highway It is tough to call out a particular beach as our favorite. We have so many great beaches like Doheny and New Brighten State Beaches. However, our next favorite location is Jalama Beach (pronounced 'halama') down in Santa Barbara County. Jalama could be considered one the best Santa Barbara camping locations... and it sits right on the water. Jalama Beach is a bit unusual because it is located about 15 miles west of Hwy 1. This highway is mostly a two lane road that parallels the coast. Most of the time, Hwy 1 is right next to the surf. But in Santa Barbara County, it goes inland for a bit. This leaves an area of coast that is very remote and away from traffic.
the World Famous Jalama Burger! It is a very remote and peaceful spot. Unfortunately, you cannot make reservations... so it is first come first serve. But once you are in, you can stay for a couple of weeks if you want to. You won't find a better beach camping California destination! is around 5 miles to the north. We like Jalama because it does have electricity up on the bluff campsites. These spots will give you a great view of the park and ocean. At the other extreme, you can park your rig up next to the sand and surf... you will be camping on the beach!
The Middle Of Nowhere! It is a matter of personal choice. In reality, we truly do not have favorite locations. We just have good memories from up and down the coast. On a clear day, there is so much to do at any of our California beach camping locations! So, Class C Motorhome Info Made Simple is really about what I have found interesting in my motorhome travels... as you may have guessed!
I would like to hear about your best California beach camping experiences or your top California travel tip... anything about California beaches that you'd love to share. If you've been to our beaches and admire them as much as we do, please share your travel stories with us! We'd love to read your stories, see your pictures, and then view these beaches through your eyes on our next vacation. I'm sure others who visit this site will want to feel these experiences, too!
California Beach Campground Memories with Others! |
14,500 lbs GVWR
188 HP Diesel Motor