There are many beautiful beaches in California. Although most of these have many activities available for day use, not all offer camping facilities and allow overnight stays. This article lists the best parks for beach camping in California and gives you some of the highlights of each park. We’ve divided the beach camping parks into three sections: Northern California, Central California, and Southern California, so you can locate the beaches in the region you want.

Northern California

Clam Beach County Park it is located just south of Little River State Beach, north of Eureka. It is one of the few parks that allows camping right on the beach. Beachcombing, clamming, fishing, picnicking, camping, kite flying, and building sand castles are popular activities on this beach.

Gold Bluff Beach it is located within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The camp is located in the dunes along a beautiful 10-mile stretch of golden beach. The campgrounds are nestled between the Pacific Ocean and a bluff thickly covered in redwoods. It is located about 50 miles north of Eureka.

Westport-Union Landing State Beach covers over 3 miles of rugged and scenic coastline. There are approximately 100 campsites located on the bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is located about 19 miles north of Fort Bragg.

central california

Half Moon Bay State Beach offers 4 miles of wide sandy beaches. This picturesque setting is ideal for sunbathing, walking, biking, fishing, picnicking, and camping. It is located near San Mateo in the San Francisco Bay area.

Manresa State Beach It is a large and beautiful sandy beach, offering surf fishing, surfing, swimming, and camping. It is located on Monterey Bay, south of San Francisco.

New Brighton State Beach is located in the town of Capitola, just south of Santa Cruz. This beach camping park offers swimming, fishing, and a nearby forest. The campground is located on a bluff overlooking Monterey Bay.

Seacliff State Beach it is best known for its fishing pier and offshore concrete freighter. There are trails for swimming, fishing, camping, and hiking. It is located on Monterey Bay, near Aptos.

Sonoma Coast State Beach it is one of California’s most scenic attractions. It has long sandy beaches below steep headlands. The rugged coastline has natural arches and secluded coves. The beach is located north of San Francisco between Jenner and Bodega Bay. There are many campsites to choose from. Fishing, hiking, horseback riding and many other activities are available.

State beach at sunset it features pine trees, mountainous sand dunes and seaside picnic spots. The beach is 16 miles south of Santa Cruz.

southeastern california

Carpinteria State Beach it is approximately 12 miles south of Santa Barbara. This park offers a mile of beach for swimming, surf fishing, exploring rock pools, and camping. Seals and sea lions can be seen in the area from December to May.

Doheny State Beach It’s two parks in one. The campground is located in the south zone and the north zone is limited to day use. There is a five-acre lawn with picnic facilities and volleyball courts. Surfing and surf fishing are popular here. It is located just south of Los Angeles.

McGrath State Beach it is famous for bird watching. The lush banks of the Santa Clara River and the sand dunes along the shore create the perfect setting for our feathered friends. There is a nature trail for hiking and 2 miles of beach for surfing, fishing, or swimming. It is located near Ventura.

Morro Strand State Beach it is a waterfront park with great picnic spots and about 3 miles of beach. Fishing, windsurfing, jogging, kite flying, and camping are popular activities in this park. It is located near San Luis Obispo.

Pismo State Beach It is located near San Luis Obispo. This park offers all kinds of attractions: hiking, swimming, clam digging, surf fishing, camping, and bird watching. Four restaurants are located within 2 blocks of the camp.

San Clemente State Beach It has about 1 mile of beach. The beach is located at the southern end of San Clemente and is popular for surfing, diving, and swimming. The park has a landscaped bluff with picnic areas. There are also hiking trails on the cliffs that lead to the beach.

San Elijo State Beach is located near San Diego. The beach is narrow and leans against a cliff. It has a nearby reef that is popular with snorkelers and snorkelers. The park also offers swimming, surfing, picnicking, and camping.

San Onofre State Beach it has 3.5 miles of sandy beaches with access trails cut into the cliff above. The campground is near the old highway 101 along the bluffs. The beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. Whales, dolphins and sea lions can sometimes be seen offshore. It is located just south of San Clemente.

Silver Strand State Beach it has extensive beaches on both the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay. Camping, swimming, surfing, sailing, water skiing, volleyball, and picnicking are popular activities, along with fishing. The park is located in Coronado.

South Carlsbad State Beach is a beach near San Diego that offers swimming, surfing, snorkeling, fishing, and picnicking. Their large camp on top of a cliff has stairs leading down to the beach. It is a very popular place to camp, especially in the summer.

Our family really enjoys camping, and we hope you do too. There is nothing like the beach to relax and have fun with the family. Whether you just go for the day or extend your visit by camping overnight, we hope you have a wonderful time. Above all, have fun and stay safe. You are creating memories that will last a lifetime!