| Campland on the Bay |
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Voted best campground in San Diego every year. The campground has everything - store, restaurant, shuttles to local attractions, bike and personal watercraft rentals, boat launch ramp, a sandy beach on Mission Bay, and an unbeatable view of the Sea World fireworks every night. They have live music and dancing in the summer, kids activities, and more. Catch a ride to Sea World, or down Grand Avenue to the beach with real waves and the boardwalk. A longish bike ride would take you to Belmont Park to ride the rollercoaster and a few other rides.
The place is extremely crowded, with the streets clogged with golf carts, bikes, skateboards and the like. The spaces are rather close but there's some greenery. If they are full, ask about a no-hookup parking space for your RV near the boat dock.
Campland
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| Oceanside Harbor |
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Don't come here for the camping - it's literally a parking lot with no hookups. But the beach is gorgeous. You can't beat the prices - spaces are only $5 for day use and $10 overnight. Spend the whole day at the beach, walk around the nearby shops and have a bonfire with your rowdy neighbors, because you're not going to be able to avoid the noise anyway. Don't let your vehicle, including slides, extend past the white lines in the parking spaces, or you will get a ticket. There is a boat launch, but this is the ocean and very different from tooling around Mission Bay in a power boat or sailboat.
Oceanside Harbor
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| Silver Strand State Beach |
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Like Oceanside Harbor, Silver Strand is also a parking lot with no hookups but a gorgeous beach. Unlike Oceanside Harbor, you should make reservations - and well in advance usually! Access the state's online reservation system through the link to the left. Camping is $25 per night. Hiking trails available. Drive or catch a bus into downtown Coronado and browse the shops, visit the famous Hotel del Coronado, or find a great restaurant. Dogs allowed on leashes in the parking lot only.
Silver Strand
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| San Elijo Lagoon |
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This is one of San Diego's most popular camping spots - for visitors and locals alike. Camp with a gorgeous ocean view, but within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Spend all day on the beach or try snorkeling or surfing. Make your reservations (on-line for convenience) well in advance, especially in the summer. Some sites have partial-hookups. Convenience store, bathrooms and showers on site. Maximum length 35 feet. Cost: $34 per night.
San Elijo
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| South Carlsbad State Beach |
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I could not tell you the difference between the equally-popular San Elijo State Beach and South Carlsbad State Beach. Try them both and let me know! No hookups at Carlsbad. My sources tell me the surfing may be better at South Carlsbad. Price: $25 per night.
South Carlsbad
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| Paradise by the Sea RV Resort |
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If San Elijo and Carlsbad State Beach are booked, or if you just want a nice beachfront resort with a pool, game room, hookups, etc., try Paradise by the Sea RV Resort in Oceanside. Price: $50 to $69 per night, with weekly rates and variable holiday rates.
Paradise by the Sea
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| Chula Vista RV Resort |
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Another great place for an RV/boating trip. You will be on the south part of San Diego Bay (South Bay), so boating here will take you under the Coronado Bridge, around Shelter Island and Harbor Island or out to Point Loma. The adjacent Chula Vista Marina offers discounted guest slips for RV park guests (cost depends on the time of year, but the most would be $1 per foot). The marina will give you a parking pass for your trailer to stay in their parking lot, but apparently you can't leave your boat on the trailers. The public launch ramp is across the street from the marina. The RV park has all the amenities - restaurants, pool/spa, club house, store. It is quieter and the spaces are more private than Campland or Newport Dunes. Price: $53 to $72 in the summer, lower in the winter.
Chula Vista RV Resort
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| Carpinteria State Beach |
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This is supposed to be the world's safest beach, with no undertow. Located between Ventura and Santa Barbara, it is about 3 hours from San Diego. Make reservations way in advance for this very popular site. Maximum RV length is 35 feet. Sites range from primitive to partial hookup to full hookup. Prices are $25 to $35 per night. If you are an expert surfer, bring your board and stop at nearby Rincon, a world-famous surfing spot.
Carpinteria State Beach
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| Jalama Beach County Park/Santa Barbara |
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No reservations - camping on a first-come, first-served basis. Some of the sites have electrical hookups. The rest are primitive. This is a ways out of Santa Barbara, down a windy road, in a remote area. Cost: $20 to $30 per night plus fees for extra vehicles at the campsite.
Jalama Beach
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| Ocean Mesa/Santa Barbara |
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If you want something fancier than El Capitain State Beach, stay at Ocean Mesa next door. Full hookups. All sites have an ocean view. Hiking, horseback riding, pool, playground, store, wi-fi and other amenities. Cost: $70 to $90 per night.
Ocean Mesa
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| El Capitan State Beach/Santa Barbara |
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El Capitan is a popular campground. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance through Reserve America (www.reserveamerica.com or link through the park website below). El Capitan has no hookups and does not even have a dump station anymore. Maximum RV length is 42 feet, but only a few of the sites are that large. Cost: $25 per night.
El Capitan
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| Refugio State Beach/Santa Barbara |
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Like nearby El Capitan State Beach, Refugio has no hookups or dump station. Palm trees along the beach. Fishing, swimming, bike trail, hiking and more. Maximum RV length 30 feet. Make reservations from April to November through Reserve America (www.reserveamerica.com)a minimum of 48 hours in advance. Other times are first-come, first-served. Cost: $25 per night.
Refugio State Beach
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