Doheny State Beach

[ LOCATION -5 Stars ]

*   Walking distance to Dana Point Harbor and Baby Beach. Lots of fun things to do there including whale watching, boat/kayak rentals, SUP boarding rentals, and restaurants/bars. Also walking distance to Wheel Fun Rentals where you can rent 4 seater surrey bikes to cruise along Doheny Beach for $35/hr.
*   The campgrounds are SO close to the beach. Just a couple feet over the dunes! Campsites 45-73 are the best IMO. They book up fast, but they are GOLD if you can get one. Campsites near the road are loud from the freeway and street.
*   Convenient to lots of liquor stores and restaurants along Del Prado Avenue. The Double Tree is also SUPER close to the campsite entrance. They have a nice rooftop bar, and a small lobby shop if you need to buy toiletries, snacks, drinks.
*   Close to the San Clemente Metrolink which is less than 4 miles from the campground.

[ AMENITIES -3 Stars ]

*   The day use areas are so nice for picnics! If you walk along the beach there are rows of day use areas with picnic tables and bbq grills.
*   The restroom and shower facilities are cleaned daily in the mornings, but they are very dirty. There aren’t many restrooms for the amount of campsites/campers so they flood, run out of toilet paper, and become disgusting. Showers take CA State Park coins.
*   There are lots of homeless people who linger in the park, and they use the showers as well. We saw two go in to a shower and didn’t come out until 45 minutes later.
*   You can purchase firewood at the check-in area for $7 a bundle. Not every camp host site had firewood so we had to walk further to find some.
*   Sites are really small and close together. The best sites are along the ocean, but they are also the furthest from the restrooms. You give up convenience for a good view. The place is always booked and packed. A LOT of people so it doesn’t feel quite as relaxing.
*   Sites come with 2 parking spots, a fire ring, and picnic table. Water spigots are near the restrooms.

[ CLEANLINESS -2 Stars]

*   The restrooms are a NIGHTMARE. It’s obviously better than pit toilets, but a lot of them overflow and there is urine and feces all over the toilets and floor.
*   There are lots of crows, seagulls, and birds at the campsite. They poop everywhere. All over our tents and picnic tables. Lesson learned: Don’t pitch your tent under any trees.
*   Lots of ground squirrels around. They are very aggressive and brave. They will jump onto you table and take food.

Product Review

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - this weekend I tested [Renogy’s Multi-Functional Solar Backpack](https://www.ebay.com/i/253459144921?chn=ps). I have another solar product (bluetooth speaker) from Renogy that I love, but this solar backpack blew me way. The panels are much larger so it charges so much more quickly and efficiently. I was able to charge my phone to 100% in an hour and a half of being plugged in, and also it kept my husband’s laptop charged while he was doing some programming at our campground. As a charger, it totally met my needs and exceeded my expectations.

There are also so many features to this backpack that really impressed me. I love that the solar panel part can be unzipped off from the rest of the pack which makes it really convenient. I was able to remove the solar panel from the backpack and lean it on the ground to charge while keeping the rest of the backpack safely inside my tent. The solar panel part of the pack can also be flipped and reversed so you can have the panel facing out when you want it charging or faced inside when you want to protect it from exposure to rain. The backpack is also very safely padded for a laptop so that it is protected. I love the convenience of all the little pockets and compartments for organizing, the sunglass loop, and also a side pocket to hold a water bottle.

This backpack was so well constructed and designed with the user in mind. I highly recommend this rucksack to anyone looking for a solar backpack.

Ranger Review: Renogy Multi-Functional Solar Backpack at Doheny SB

Some of the spots are right on the beach, although on my trip I did not get one of those. It's super tight, and the spots are tiny. Lots of people! The beach is right there though. 

Doheny State Beach Campground

Right on the ocean!

I love the sound of the waves and the fog horn. There are great bike trails to ride on. There are no hook ups but the price is right for beach front camping.

Beach camping

the restrooms were clean and showers hot. great views and great for families. most sites are a good size but only room for two vehicles. No wifi but a good book will do. The staff was nice. Kids will love this place. 

best beach spot

I love this park because you are right on the sand!

Right on the sand 

Great location on the beach but very crowded and campsites stacked on top of each other. No privacy from neighbors. Freight train passes by often and loudly. Waves break very shallow and limit activities in the water.

Close to beach but overcrowded. 

Beautiful beachfront camping steps from the sand. Dry camping with a dump station available. Great sunsets and beautiful sand.

Beachfront camping 

This campground is at the edge of the Dana Point Harbor.  The sites are small, but many of them are right on the beach.  All sites have easy access to the beach.  It is easy to ride your bike to the harbor or up the river trail from this campground.  The harbor is walking distance from the campground.  It is difficult to get a spot here, usually we have been able to grab a spot when there have been a few days of rain and people will tend to cancel their spots.

One of the few places in Southern California to camp on thebeach

We love going to Doheny, but it's hard to get a camping spot here. The campground is right on the beach, where you'll find some of the best longboard surfing in OC. Lots of places to rent kayaks and paddle boards, and the onsite Cafe del Sol has pretty good food and drinks. Keep in mind that this beach can get pretty rocky, so wear water shoes if your feet are sensitive. Great pathways for bikes and skateboarding, and lots of picnic tables if you're here just for the day. We love it here!

Nicest beach camping in OC!

We stay premium site(Beach front) and it's worth it. The restroom building have only two toilet but have 6 locked shower room, it's really not enough. It's less than 20 minutes walking distance to Starbucks and others shop.

Must book premium site

Great campground right in the beach in area for surfing, paddle boarding or other ocean activities. 

Stayed at site #10 and was happy. All sites are different so check them out before booking 

Warm state park coin operated shower with coins being sold outside shower. 

Was able to see dolphins at high tide. 

Great campground 

**General:** 122 sites located between the ocean and a street and railroad tracks. None have hookups. $60 for beachfront sites; $40 for others. 

  

**Site Quality:** We reserved two adjacent sites as we were meeting friends. A few weeks later, we received an email canceling half our reservation as one of the sites would be under renovation. We quickly hopped on the computer and the only site available was 22. This backs up to the street with a view of a hotel beyond the chain-link fence. We were dismayed upon arrival to see this site. There is some foliage between some of the sites but basically **NO** privacy between sites. Sites also include a fire ring and picnic table. 

  

**Restrooms:** There are more than sufficient restrooms located throughout the park; some are combos with toilet and sink while others are traditional restrooms. No paper towels or soap; I don’t have a problem bringing my own towel but especially in the time of Covid, soap should be available! Showers are separate and require tokens. I didn’t use them so cannot comment on the quality of the shower. Restrooms were basically clean but lots of toilet paper litter. 

  

**Activities:** Good day-use facilities with toy rentals (bikes, tandems, surreys, etc.), beach volleyball and many picnic tables. Walking distance to town with coffee shops, and other shops, however, there is no sidewalk on the road leading out of the park, making the walk on the hazardous side. At low tide, you can walk to town on the beach. We found a local yoga studio that offered sessions in a nearby park. 

  

**Other:** We were there about the time new camp hosts were arriving and they took their responsibilities way too seriously! Each morning, we woke to a new pink slip on our vehicles, requiring a walk to the entrance gate (no sidewalk) where the gate attendant would just shake her head and tell us not to worry. After traffic noise dies down and in between the trains that rumble by, you can almost hear the ocean at the sites that back to the street. IMO, the cost of this park is way too much for what is offered. I would only consider returning if I could get a beachfront site but still the cost of one of these would make me think twice.

A lot of money for just an ok campground

Sites are close to other sites but are pretty large for what you get. All site locations are in walking distance to the beach which is so great. Bathrooms are decent but note your have to pay for showers. Bring quarters. We’d camp here again for sure. 

Overall great beach campsite for the price

Nothing really stands out about this campsite. It provides the basic fire pit ring, picnic bench, and parking spot for your RV and one vehicle that you have to pay an additional fee per day to park on your site. The rangers patrol very early in the morning and will issue you a citation for any violation. No soap provided in the restrooms. Restrooms were cleaned and maintained every morning. The city is very nearby to grab any necessities or food if you don’t want to cook.   

Typical State Beach RV Camping

This stay would have been our 2nd cancellation due to storms we have been having. We where determined not let that happen this time. In the rain we embarked to Doheny SB and we stayed on spot 6. As soon as we arrived to our spot it was flooded see pictures. We where fortunate that 
It did not rain all week. Eventually after many calls and attempting on website and talking to park ranger several times they moved out spot to 3 which wasn’t flooded. This took a-lot of effort , shouldn’t be that way. I did note which campsites to avoid if theres a chance of rain, also see pics. 
**Avoid these spots in case of rain **
12-17 , 75 - 45 beach side. Odd numbers only. 

Beach walking is all ways great here must 100% more amazing when its not raining. 

Dump site: When we first arrive it was out of order with a “clogged signed”. It was fixed the following day. There is a $10 fee, they have a convenient credit card machine. 
Theres a hose there to use for clean up or flushing tank. 
Dump site is narrow so watch your sides. 

Water Fill for RV: Something maybe this app should distinguish is “Drinking Water”. What sort of Water access ? for RV tank filling or for simple hand held vessels for carrying. At this park they have both. Hand carrying potable water is available by bathrooms. And RV tank filling also available at the same location of dump site only a few feet away as you drive out. You can screw in your own hose and your good to go. As this was my first time here at Doheny SB I wasn’t sure about the water situation and app was not clear ( Please add “RV tank fill” as a feature “Drinking Water” is to vague ) I will make it my mission to let you guys know on any info relating to Dump and RV tank fill.
In my case I didn’t have to cary 200lbs of water.  Next time I know. ”

Better when not raining : )

I've camped here a few times, in both normal and premium spots. If you are in an rv, you will be fine. As a tent camper, the spots are tiny, with zero privacy, and room for one large tent, or squeezing in two medium tents. The last time I was here, I was boxed in by RVs, with one running his generator all day and past the allowed 8:00 p.m. time limit. The saving grace is that the ocean, though not visible unless you get a premium spot, is a one minute walk away.

Nice, clean bathrooms with flush toilets, showers, and plentiful water spigots.

If you just need a place to crash and plan to spend the whole day in the water, go for it. Otherwise, head a little further south and check out San Onofre. Or, spend a little extra and grab a premium spot--closer to the ocean, and only two neighbors.

The train is loud, but passes seldom.

Great premium spots, mediocre otherwise.

I was excited when I first arrived, then it went downhill after that.
They have signs up saying that there is a rise in thefts. Supposedly the thieves use the guise of the loud cargo train that runs just around the grounds to cover up them cutting locks and stealing. No free showers , half of the showers aren’t operating. People up till 2 am with car lights on and speakers going. Caught a few people walking through my site and around my van. Didn’t feel like the host or rangers are doing what they’re paid to do.

Ocean view kinda

Right on the ocean. No hookups. Kind of crowded!