San Diego Beach Camping
See photos & get info about camping by the beach in San Diego County, Southern California
Do you like beach camping? On this page, you'll see photos and descriptions of San Diego County, California beach campgrounds for RV's and tents. (You can see RV's camping at the beach in San Diego's Silver Strand State Beach Campground in the picture to your left.)Southern California beach camping is both a blessing and a curse. On the "plus" side, you'll be able to enjoy the clean golden sands and blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. On the "minus" side of the coin, there's only enough beach camping spots to serve a town of about 15 thousand...while the population actually being served by these few campgrounds is closer to 15 MILLION! You'll need the persistence and preparation of an American Idol hopeful if you actually want to be one of the "blessed few" who actually get to enjoy these campgrounds during the busy summer season!
On the other hand, all of these campgrounds stay open year-round, thanks to Southern California's good weather. So, if you can schedule your beach camping trip for some time other than the summer months, you'll stand a good chance of being able to get the campsite of your dreams. (If, however, you DO want to camp during the summer months, be sure to make reservations for these campgrounds well in advance.)
Silver Strand State Beach RV Campground
The Silver Strand State Beach has an RV-only campground. As you can see from the picture to your left, Silver Strand doesn't allow tents because the campground is simply a paved parking lot. Van campers and pickup truck-shell campers are excluded from camping at Silver Strand State Beach as well---and that's because there's a requirement that all campers be fully self-contained.There's a legal reason for making these exclusions. While it seems ridiculous to have a rule that all campers must be self-contained when there are restrooms sitting on either side of the campground, this rule is "just in case" the restrooms go out. If the restrooms were to close...for whatever the reason...then Silver Strand would be liable for providing toilets and water to the campers. With a "self-contained units only" rule, they're not. If something happens to disrupt toilet or water service, they're not responsible for providing alternatives.
Silver Strand Campground's Beach Activities
In the photo to your right, you can see that the Silver Strand State Beach RV campsites sit right on the beach. All you have to do is take a few steps and you're there in the sand! The campground, as you can see, is level with the sand....and not up on a bluff, as are some camping spots we'll talk about later on this page.Obviously, then, "going to the beach" will top your list of "things to do" if you camp at Silver Strand. What else can you do there? One thing is to build a bonfire. There are a FEW fire rings on the beach.
Rules for using the bonfire rings include NOT bringing any wood which contains nails (such as shipping pallets) and making sure that your fire is thoroughly OUT before you leave. Some people think that simply leaving a layer of sand over the fire area is enough; but it's not. Douse with water. Both the "anti-nail" rule and the "douse thoroughly" rule protect children who may run through the firepit area after you leave...as well as making sure the fire doesn't re-kindle on its own. There is no reservation system for the bonfire pits, so if you want a fire ring at Silver Strand State Beach for a particular date, you'll need to send a member of your party to stake out a fire ring earlier in the day.
Bayside activities at Silver Strand Campground
In the photo to your left (below), you can see the San Diego Bay side of Silver Strand. There's a marshy area for wildlife viewing and bird-watching. There's a miles-long jogging, strolling, and biking path on which you can exercise. (This picture was taken from one of the path's rest areas, where you may stop to relax on wooden benches and take in the view.)
Heading southwards along the paved Silver Strand trail will take you to the town of Imperial Beach; heading northward takes you to the town of Coronado.
At Imperial Beach, you'll find shopping centers and all the services you might need on your trip---as well as more beaches, and a grassy beachside park with playground equipment and basketball courts.
On the Coronodo end of the bike trail, you'll reach a beautiful lawn-covered, tree-shaded park with full restroom facilities. You can rest and relax before returning to the Silver Strand Camp Ground, or you can explore the cute town of Coronado, whose main street is lined with interesting and unique little shops, restaurants and snack stops. From Coronado, you can even take a ferry ride across the bay to San Diego's lively Embarcadero area!
Silver Strand SB Campground's address, map, directions and phone number
The Silver Strand State Beach address is: 5000 Highway 75, Coronado, CA 92118.The Silver Strand State Beach phone number is: 619/435-5184.
Directions to Silver Strand State Beach: from the north, take the Coronado Bay Bridge from downtown San Diego to Coronado. Follow State Hwy 75 southward until you reach Silver Strand State Beach.
Directions to Silver Strand SB from the south: Take the Interstate 5 exit to Imperial Beach (which also is labeled "Hwy 75.) Head west into Imperial Beach, and follow the road signs for Highway 75. The road will turn northward, and you'll leave Imperial Beach. Keep heading north until you reach Silver Strand State Beach. (This is quite a scenic drive!)
Map to Silver Strand State Beach and its camping ground: To get a better mental picture of where you need to go, use the following link to view a
Yahoo map of the Silver Strand State Beach area of greater San Diego, California.
Silver Strand SB campground map: You may wish to view a map of the campsites at Silver Strand Beach. If so, use the upcoming link to view the
Silver Strand State Beach camping map
from the Reserve America website. Reserve America is the official company which accepts reservations for the state of California's park system. (Not all of California's state parks accept reservations; but the ones which accept reservations use Reserve America.) While you're selecting your campsite, why not go ahead and make your reservations for the spot? Though reservations aren't always needed (in the off season, mostly) you'll find that your summer vacation, weekend and holiday camping plans will flow MUCH smoother if you've got firm reservations! Yes, this campground DOES fill to capacity frequently during the popular camping season!
Silver Strand State Beach Website: For further information about planning a fun camping trip to Silver Strand State Beach in southern San Diego County, use the following link to view the
Silver Strand State Beach official website.
San Diego Beach Camping -- Mission Bay RV Park
Do you like camping on a quiet bay rather than directly on the ocean? If so, you might enjoy a stay at the Mission Bay RV Resort along the shores of San Diego's Mission Bay.The Mission Bay RV Park is a private campground which has many rules and regulations. Before you begin to read about this RV Park's amenities, you should know that it only accepts certain camping vehicles. You must have a 1990 or newer Class A or Class C motorhome, travel trailer or 5th wheel. You must have a 1995 or newer model if you arrive in a cab-over camper. Toy haulers are accepted on a limited basis, because the park has less than 10 "super sites" which can accommodate them. Pop-up tent trailers and converter busses are not permitted. No tents are allowed. In addition, despite following all these rules, your rig may be turned away if it isn't "sharp looking." No rust, no chipped paint, no leaks, etc.
You should read the complete list of the Mission Bay RV Park's rules before you register (to be sure you wish to comply with the stipulations which regulate everything from skateboarding, smoking, pets, and many other details. (See the link to the Mission Bay campground's website, below.)
As you can see in the picture to your left, each campspot at the Mission Bay RV Park is separated from the next by a large shade tree. Each spot also has its own picnic table. The Mission Bay RV resort is gated; when you check in, you'll receive the code to the gate.
Mission Bay RV Park's amenities & activities
What activities can you enjoy while staying at the Mission Bay RV campground? For one thing, you'll have a waveless little beach to enjoy...perfect for families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. (You can see the little beach by the RV park in the photo to your right.)Naturally, you'll be able to enjoy the facilities of huge Mission Bay park. As you can see in the image below, Mission Bay's park is grassy and tree-shaded. Mission Bay Park has a boat launch not far from the RV campsites, where you can take your boat or wave runner out for some fun.
You'll be able to enjoy the park's kiddie playgrounds, basketball court, picnic facilities and beautiful strolling/jogging paths. Mission Bay Park also has a California tourist information center, where you can pick up brochures about San Diego's many family activities.
The Mission Bay Campground is close to SeaWorld San Diego, Belmont Amusement Park, along the boardwalk at Mission Beach, lovely Presidio Park, Old Town Historic Park, and shopping centers.
Mission Bay RV Park address, map, and contact information
The Mission Bay RV Resort address is: 2727 De Anza Rd, San Diego, CA 92109.
The Mission Bay RV Resort phone number is 877/219-6900.
Mission Bay RV Campground's website: You may use the upcoming link to view the
Mission Bay RV Resort official website,
which is www.MissionBayRVresort.com.
Directions to the Mission Bay Camping ground: The Mission Bay RV Resort lies within Mission Bay Park, which is directly adjacent to Interstate 5...not far from the junction of I-5 and Interstate 8. To see a map of where you'll need to go to find the campgrounds, use the following link to view a
Yahoo map of the Mission Bay area of San Diego, including the Mission Bay RV Resort.
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San Diego Beach Camping -- San Elijo State Beach and South Carlsbad State Beach
Are you a tent-camping enthusiast? Well, FINALLY we get to 2 Southern California state beaches which DO allow tent camping! These two beaches are the San Elijo State Beach and the South Carlsbad State Beach. Both of these camping beaches are located in northern San Diego county, only a few miles apart from one another. (San Elijo is located just south of Encinitas (near Cardiff-by-the-Sea), while South Carlsbad is just north of Encinitas (near Carlsbad, California.) In addition to tenting, both of these California state beaches allow RV camping, as well.You can see a photo of the campsites in the picture to your left. In both campgrounds, the campsites feature level dirt areas separated from the next campsite by hedges. Each site gets its own picnic table plus grill. The camping sites are high above the Pacific Ocean on a bluff...providing a magnificent view of the water below.
As you can see in the picture to your right, beach access is provided via an attractive wooden staircase. Yes, having to navigate stairs to get to the beach is a bit of an annoyance; but on the other hand, the bluff-top campsites get an ocean view that's incomparable!
What can you do if you get tired of swimming and sunning? There's plenty to do near the San Elijo and South Carlsbad campgrounds! Families will certainly want to visit nearby Legoland California, where kids don't get just their own SECTION of a theme park...they get the WHOLE amusement park devoted to rides and activities they can enjoy!
Shopping enthusiasts won't want to miss the Premium Outlets at Carlsbad, one of the hottest outlet malls in the state of California. This large, new, and attractive outdoor mall features clothing for everyone in the family, plus restaurants and snack shops.
Nostalgia lovers will want to visit the little village of Encinitas, which remains reminiscent of a 1960's surfing town. You'll also find cute shops and dining opportunities in Encinitas village. And, OF COURSE, surfers will want to head to Swami's, one of Southern California's premier surfing beaches (also in Encinitas...located behind the Self Realization shrine...just below Sea Cliff Park.)
Directions to Swami's Beach near the Self Realization Shrine. The Self Realization Temple's address is 939 Second Street, Encinitas, CA. Here's a Google Map to Swami's Beach and the Self Realization Temple, which serves as a visible landmark.
San Elijo SB Campground address, directions, map & phone
The San Elijo State Beach street address is: 1600 S. Highway 101, Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007.
The San Elijo State Beach phone number is: 760/753-5091.
San Elijo Campground Website: For further information about the San Elijo campground, you may use the following link to view the San Elijo State Beach official website, which is actually a section of the California State Parks website.
Directions to the San Elijo State Beach: From either northbound or southbound Interstate 5, take the Encinitas Blvd. exit and head west. You'll reach a stoplight that's in view of the Pacific Ocean...and that will be Highway 101. Turn left onto Hwy 101, travel through the little village of Encinitas, going about 2 miles until you reach the San Elijo State Beach and Campgrounds.
Map to the San Elijo State Beach: You may use the upcoming link to look over a Google map to the San Elijo SB Campgrounds from the park's official website.
Map of the San Elijo State Beach Campground: You may use the following link to view a
map of San Elijo SB campsites
on the Reserve America website (where you will want to make advance reservations, particularly for summertime camping.)
South Carlsbad SB Campground address, directions, map & phone
The South Carlsbad State Beach address is: 7201 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad, CA 92008.(Carlsbad Boulevard is just another name for Highway 101.)
The South Carlsbad State Beach phone number is: 760/438-3143.
Directions to South Carlsbad State Beach: The entrance to the campground at South Carlsbad State Beach is located at the intersection of Poinsettia Ave and Carlsbad Blvd/Hwy 101. However, the entrance to the campground is blocked to traffic coming from I-5 via Poinsettia Ave. and also from the town of Encinitas (to the south of the camp.) The only way to get into the campground's driveway is by arriving from the north. There are 2 ways of doing this. If you have a large rig, then you'll need to exit Interstate 5 at the Palomar Airport Blvd exit. (This is also where you'd exit to visit the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, by the way.) From I-5, head west towards the beach, then take Carlsbad Blvd. southward about 2 miles until you reach the state beach campground entrance. Take care not to pass the entrance, or you'll be in trouble! Remember, since the camp's entrance is blocked to traffic coming from the south, you can't just turn around and get into the campgrounds!
Map to the San Elijo State Beach: You may use the upcoming link to look over a Google map to the South Carlsbad SB Campgrounds from the park's official website.
South Carlsbad SB Campground Map: If you'd like to look over the layout of this popular north San Diego County facility, please use the following link to see a
map of the South Carlsbad State Beach campsites
from the Reserve America website (where you'll need to make your reservations for this busy SoCal beach campground!)
South Carlsbad SB Campground website: For further information to aid you in planning your camping tent at South Carlsbad State Beach, you may use the following link to look over the
South Carlsbad State Beach official website,
which is actually a section of the California State Parks website.
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