Imperial Beach Area Camping
San Diego County
Area Camping Choices for
Imperial Beach Visitors
There is no camping at Imperial Beach. For those seeking beach camping, look to one of the following:
- Silver Strand State Beach - 5 miles north
- San Elijo State Beach - 40 miles north near Encinitas
- South Carlsbad State Beach - 46 miles north near Carlsbad
- San Onofre State Beach - 70 miles north near San Clemente
- San Clemente State Beach - 73 miles north near San Clemente
Silver Strand State Beach Camping
Location
5000 Highway 75,
Coronado, CA
(619) 435-5184
Campground Facilities
- Self-contained RVs or trailers only. No tent camping
- Water and electrical hook-ups.
- Restrooms with outdoor showers
- Dump Station
Accessibility
- Designated campsites
- Parking, restrooms, showers
- Picnic area, fire rings on beach in summer
- Portion of Crown Cove Trail
- Beach wheelchair and beach mats available. Check at entry station.
Reservations and Fees
$65 for Premium Sites - beach front
$50 for Standard Sites -inland
Online Reservations at ReserveCalifornia:
Silver Strand State Beach Campground Reservations
or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) between 8 AM and 6 PM
Regulations (partial list)
- Do not deposit waste, water or sewage directly upon or into the surface of the ground, pavement, sand, or water.
- No dogs allowed on beach or bayside area of the park. They must be on leash and attended in campground.
- Beach fires must be in designated concrete fire rings only.
- Alcohol and glass containers are not permitted outside campsites
- Campers and their pets may not sleep outside.
Silver Strand State Beach
Silver Strand State Beach Campground can accommodate trailers or RVs up to 40 feet at many of its campsites, although some sites are designated for 30 or 35-foot vehicles. Per Coastal Commission regulations, campers must be in fully self-contained vehicles. A dump station is located at the south end of the campground near the restroom.
Gates to the campground are locked at night. Gates open at 8 AM. Check with the attendant for the closing times as they vary according to the season. The maximum number of people allowed at each site is 8. Campers must check in by noon the day of their scheduled arrival. Otherwise reservations will be cancelled.
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San Clemente Beach Campgrounds
225 Avenida Calafia, San Clemente, CA
(949) 492-3156
Campground Facilities
- Two campgrounds - one for RVs, one for tents
- 72 RV sites with full hook-ups
- 88 Tent sites (aka Family Sites) with shade ramadas over table
- 2 Group campsites for up to 50 people
- Picnic tables, fire pits with grills
- Restrooms, showers
- Nature trails
- Visitor Center
- Lifeguard headquarters, first aid station
- Amphitheater
- Dump station
Fees and Reservations
Fees:
RV campsites with hookups:
$60 Peak Season*
$45 Non-peak season
Standard sites:
$35 Peak Season*
$25 Non-peak season
Group campsites: $200-$280
*Peak season is April - October
Online Reservations at ReserveCalifornia:
San Clemente State Beach Campground Reservations
or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) between 8 AM and 6 PM
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South Carlsbad State Beach Camping
Location
7201 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad, CA
(760) 438-3143
Admission
Day-Use Parking: $10 - $15
Campground Facilities
- 122 bluff-top campsites for tents, and RVs and trailers 35' or less
- Restrooms with token-operated showers
- Picnic tables, fire pits
- No hook-ups (although some sites will soon have hook-ups)
- Campfire circle, laundry facilities
- Dump Station
- Store (April - October), WiFi near park office
Accessibility
- Designated campsites
- Parking, restrooms, showers
- Campfire circle
Reservations and Fees
$50 for Premium Sites
$35 for Standard Sites
Online Reservations at ReserveCalifornia:
South Carlsbad State Beach Campground Reservations
or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) between 8 AM and 6 PM
Regulations (partial list)
- No dogs allowed on beach, on leash and attended in campground
- Do not feed wildlife.
- No fires are allowed on the beach.
- Alcohol and glass containers are not permitted outside campsites
San Elijo State Beach Camping
Location
2050 South Coast Hwy. 101, Cardiff, CA
(760) 753-5091
Campground Facilities
- 156 bluff-top campsites for tents, and RVs and trailers
- Sites 10-23 and 101-106 are RV or trailer only.
- Restrooms, showers
- Picnic tables, fire pits
- Ocean sites with or without hook-ups
- Standard sites with or without hook-ups
- Campfire circle, store
- Dump Station
Accessibility
- Designated campsites
- Parking, restrooms, showers, store
- Campfire circle
Reservations and Fees
Inland Sites no hook-ups: $35
Inland hook-up sites: $55
Ocean hook-up sites: $65
Ocean no hook-ups: $50
Online Reservations at ReserveCalifornia:
San Elijo State Beach Campground Reservations
or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) between 8 AM and 6 PM
Regulations (partial list)
- No dogs allowed on beach, permitted in campgrounds on leash and attended
- Do not feed wildlife.
- No fires are allowed on the beach.
- Alcohol and glass containers are not permitted outside campsites
- RV hook-up campsites are limited to 2 vehicles and all wheels must stay on pavement.
- Standard sites are limited to 3 vehicles and all wheels must stay on pavement.
Reservations at San Elijo State Beach campground fill quickly, partly because it is one of the southern-most state beach campground in California. The bluff-top location offers wonderful views of the ocean coupled with the sounds of the surf. Access to the beach from most campsites is via long stairways.
Among the popular amenities at the campground are token-operated hot showers, a camp store, a fast food restaurant (Bull Taco), campfire programs in the summer, and a good number of sites with hook-ups.
Among the drawbacks of camping at San Elijo are the horn-blowing trains that roll by on the nearby tracks at night. Previous campers suggest avoiding sites (such as #163) that are close to the rinse-off showers for people returning from the beach.
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San Onofre State Beach Camping
Location
I-5, 3 miles south of San Clemente, CA
(949) 492-3156
Admission
Day-Use Parking: $15
Campgrounds
Two campgrounds - San Mateo Campground (inland) off Christianitos Road
and
San Onofre Bluffs Campground south of main parking area along old Pacific Coast Highway
San Mateo Campground Facilities
- 157 tent or RV sites with electric and water hook-ups
- Restrooms with coin-operated, hot showers
- Picnic tables, fire pits
- Amphitheater
- 1½-mile Nature Trail to Trestles Beach
- Dump Station
San Onofre Bluffs Campground Facilities
- 3½-mile long campground on bluffs overlooking ocean
- 157 sites, some designated for tents only, most for RVs
- Group campsite
- No hook-ups
- Restrooms, hot showers
- Picnic tables, fire pits
- Trails down to beach
- Dump Stations
Reservations and Fees
San Mateo Campground
Sites 1-100 open to reservations year-round
Sites 101-157 can be reserved April 1 to September 30 and over major holidays (otherwise these sites are closed)
Bluffs Campground open for reservations May 16 to September 30 (otherwise closed)
Fees:
San Mateo and Bluffs Campgrounds:
$35 Peak Season*
$25 Non-peak season
Group sites:
$200 - $225
*Peak season is April - October
Online Reservations at ReserveCalifornia:
San Onofre State Beach Campground Reservations
or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) between 8 AM and 6 PM
Area RV Campgrounds
Siesta RV Park
409 Palm Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA
(619) 424-8598
Campland on the Bay
2211 Pacific Beach Dr., San Diego, CA
(858) 581-4200
Campland on the Bay
RV Sites: Full hook-ups, super sites with private patio and Jacuzzi, tent sites
Amenities: Bay-front beach, swimming pool, hot tubs, laundry, restrooms, showers, marina, watercraft and bicycle rentals, game room, restaurant, market, outdoor sports
Rates: $$ - $$$
Mission Bay RV Resort
2727 De Anza Road, San Diego, CA
(858) 270-4300
Mission Bay RV Resort
RV Sites: Full hook-ups, 50 amp, paved pads, cable TV, WiFi
Amenities: Bathhouses, laundry, snack shack, seasonal activities, located on Mission Bay, boat launch
Rates: $$
San Diego RV Resort
7407 Alvarado Rd., San Diego, CA
(877) 717-6667
San Diego RV Resort
RV Sites: Full hook-ups, concrete pads, cable TV, telephone, WiFi
Amenities: fitness center, game and TV room, pool and spa, bathrooms, showers, laundry
Rates: $$
Santa Fe Park RV Resort
5707 Santa Fe Street, San Diego, CA
(858) 272-4051
Santa Fe Park RV Resort
RV Sites: Full hook-ups, concrete pads, 50amp in select sites, WiFi, satellite TV, picnic table, BBQ
Amenities: Clubhouse, heated pool and Jacuzzi, recreation room, fitness center, mini-theater with big screen TV, restrooms, showers, laundry
Rates: $$
San Diego KOA
111 N. 2nd Ave, Chula Vista, CA
(800) 562-9877
San Diego KOA
RV and Tent Sites: Full hook-ups, WiFi, cable TV, Kamping Kitchen
Amenities: Pool, hot tub, pavilion, playground, game room, climbing wall, sports and games, jumping pillow
Rates: $$
Farm House RV Park
523 Anita Street, Chula Vista, CA
(619) 422-5568
Farm House RV Park
RV and Tent Sites: concrete pads, full hook-ups, 30/50 amp, cable TV available
Amenities: BBQ and picnic area, gated community
Weekly Rates: $$
Surf & Turf RV Park
15555 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, CA
(760) 431-9347
Surf & Turf RV Park
RV Sites: RVs and trailers up to 40', electric and water hook-ups
Amenities: Pets welcome, blocks from the beach
Rates: $$
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Books of Interest for the
Imperial Beach Area
California's Best Beaches
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