Emma Wood State Beach, near Ventura, California, is a unique spot for RV camping right by the ocean. With the waves practically at your doorstep, it’s a prime location for those who want to soak in the coastal vibes and enjoy the sound of the surf.

This campground is all about the basics—there are no hookups, showers, or restrooms, but visitors appreciate the simplicity and the stunning views. As one camper noted, “You are parked right on the beach,” making it a fantastic choice for those who want to be close to the water. The sites are tight, so maneuvering your RV can be a bit tricky, but the experience of camping so close to the ocean makes it worthwhile.

For those looking to explore, you’re just a short bike ride away from the charming town of Ventura, where you can find great shops and eateries. The area is also known for its wildlife, with dolphins and pelicans often spotted nearby. Just keep in mind that the campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so plan accordingly. If you’re after a no-frills beach camping experience, Emma Wood State Beach is definitely worth considering.

North Beach is closed until further notice. Due to major damaged to the entrance road, the park will remain fully closed for repairs. All reservations through June 24th, 2024, will be cancelled and affected parties will be contacted accordingly. There is no anticipated date of reopening at this time. Emma Wood State Beach - Group Camp is open.

Moderate temperatures help make Emma Wood State Beach popular for swimming, surfing and fishing.  Catches include perch, bass, cabezon and corbina.  The Ventura River estuary is at the mouth of the Ventura River at the southeast end of the park.  It attracts a variety of wildlife including raccoons, songbirds and great blue herons.  Dolphins are occasionally seen just offshore.  The park also features the crumbling ruins of a World War II coastal artillery site.  The offshore Channel Islands can be seen from the beach.

Emma Wood State Beach offers family camping for self-contained vehicles only and group camping is available at Ventura River Group Camp.

Emma Wood State Beach offers primitive camping for fully self-contained vehicles ONLY.  Tents are not permitted.  No water, restrooms, electricity, fire rings, or phones or dump station are available.  There are 90 campsites, which are not level and may contain a mixture of asphalt, dirt, cobble and ocean debris.  Maximum vehicle length is 40 feet, due to small turnaround areas.

High tides may close the campground at any time.  Railroad tracks and Highway 101 are adjacent to the campground which can be noisy.  Leashed dogs are permitted in the campground only, and are prohibited on the beach.

Emma Wood State Beach

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Ventura

The Best Camping Near Ventura, California

Very large with great space for tents/hammocks. One fire pit and a few picnic tables. Right next to the highway (very hard to ignore the noise). Short walk to a cobble beach. Open spray showers and flushing toilets.

Ventura River Group Sites

Not having grown up anywhere near an ocean beach it’s sufficient to say that this campground was a special treat for myself. Yes it was noisy due to the highway, but you just can’t complain about waking up practically right on the ocean. Would go again, but campgrounds are packed a little tight. Not great if you want to wake up to silence or nature, but boy we sure learned a lot about cumbia!

Great views

Rv camping right on the water. During off season months this campsite is filled with retired folks and it keeps it’s super quiet at night.

Quiet

Within walking, biking, and driving distance to Ventura.  The Hike and Bike area was near a homeless camp. Camp host may let you camp in an area away from the homeless.  Grassy area I was in near the entrance had the highway on one side and train tracks on the other. Restrooms and water are available.  A group camping area is also available.

Close to Ventura

Have used the group camping site.

Pros: Beautiful beach. RVs seem to have a better time here.

Cons: Doesn’t really feel like camping, since you can hear the sound of the freeway and trains. Trash from people living in the reeds by the river.

Road noise

Great spot to stop along the coast hwy with ocean front views for the RV. A little tricky to find but just keep heading toward the beach and you’ll find it.

Beachfront RV sites

Beautiful beach side campground where you can put your wheels right over the sand Maybe even get ocean spray on your windows. $50 a night with no hook ups. Between the freeway/ rail road tracks and the ocean with a great long bike path adjacent running from Ventura to Santa Barbara and beyond.

Beach side no hook ups

This place is very peaceful. We stayed at campsite 33. We were so close to the shore that the waves blocked any city noise. You are unable to go into the water because its rocky but the view is breathtaking. Dolphins and whales were our neighbors. Only negative thing for this campground no bathrooms, hookups, and lurking thieves at night. Just lock up everything valuable and enjoy the waves lullaby.   

Truly serene and self reconnection spot. 

We love Ventura. Getting to camp here was even better. We didn't stay long, as it is pricy, but you get what you pay for. An amazing view on the shore with waves crashing all night. If you snag a spot closer to the entrance, you're lucky to have sandy beaches and water to play in. We were further down and from the trailer to the water were huge boulders. Our kids didn't mind, as they enjoyed climbing and playing on the rocks. We played on the beach during the day and enjoyed watching the pro surfers we admire catch waves. Downtown Venture is fun and enjoyable to grab lunch and walk the farmers market. We did have loud neighbors, as you are in close quarters along the shore, but everyone is friendly. They also say to make sure to lock up your belongings at night. Apparently people stop along the highway, climb down take items, but we didn't have any problems.

Awesome beachside camping

Went here a few years beck. Fun place for a quick trip out of Los Angeles. Ocean front tent sites with clean restrooms. Bring your earplugs. Train tracks are right behind you and Amtrak comes buy a few times day and night. Short drive to the City of Ventura Beach so you can run over for supplies or even a bite to eat.

Emma Woods Ventura County CA

This campground is right on the breakwater. If you enjoy the ocean, beach and wide open blue sky, this is your site! 

The actual campground is long and you might be inclined to grab the first spot you see but there are many along the way and an easy turnaround at the end.

No hookups. Cellular signal was strong.  No WiFi. 

I personally found the sound of the water to be too loud but so many others around us were truly enjoying the proximity to the ocean.

The Rangers patrolled throughout the day and were very pleasant to answer questions upon arrival.￼

Beauty and the Beach!

Our favorite local beach spot! Nice long paths for cruising on your bike. We’ll usually get two spots and can fit 2 RVs and a camper van on them so plenty of room. 

Favorite local beach spot

Emma Wood grew on me. After traveling down through Washington, Oregon and Northern California where you get a little more bang for your buck I was a little disappointed by the amenities of the site. About the only thing you get is a narrow dirty parking place and a dumpster to put your trash. No running water in the camp or nearby. 
That being said the rangers are very nice and the neighbors were very helpful. 
We spent 3 nights there and by the end I was growing to love it. Train going by gave it  some charm. Not too loud. We were in site 3... right at the beginning and on the beach right in front of the surf spot. 🏄‍♂️ peaky little lefts and rights to be had. Dolphins 🐬 swimming right off shore and pelicans flying low overhead. The sunsets are amazing too. 
We got there on Wednesday in May in the beginning of May and it had lots of open spaces but I’m sure it fills up on the weekend and in the summer. 

Nestled between the train and the sand

We had been invited to Emma Woods for a relaxing getaway. It was our first trip dry camping. We were able to back our trailer right next to the beach. Each morning and evening we were greeted with a pod of dolphins or a seal. 
We had many days of high tides, unless you wanted to step through the big rocks to touch the water I recommend going to the beach area that was only half a mile away. It is closer depending on your campsite location.  

We didn’t encounter this, but many have experienced theft in the area. 


Relaxing

We decided to hit the road last minute and ended up at Emma wood beach checked in with the ranger and lucky enough (bluffer zone #69) was available comes with a little downside which is that the water can spills over the wall and splashes you a little here and there. But other than that we love this place it was our second time visiting will definitely go again. Note: this place is reservations only but We’ve gotten lucky twice by just stopping by you will need your generator and all your dry camping gear.  

Got here last minute on July 4th 21 🇺🇸

Para 5 personas 

As close as you can get to camping next to the waves

A bare bones state park.
40 bucks a night no hookups or potty.
You back up to the ocean and it is beautiful the dolphins,whales and pelicans are what you pay for.

Dolphins 

I love how close it is to the ocean. Listening to the waves is very relaxing.

Close to the ocean

There's a lot not to love about the campground. The spaces are very tight, it's hard to back in, you need to park your tow vehicle 10 or 15 feet away from your trailer, there's no hookups, and it's hard to get around. The wind is extremely strong especially at night.

With all of that in mind, the experience of camping literally ON THE BEACH was one of the best of my life. I only wish that I hadn't happen to be there on July 4th weekend. I imagine that on a quiet weekday evening this place is perfect.

Very unique stay

Arrived late (1830PM) without a reservation. Was given a spot by the wall next to the water, big enough and easy check in. Can hear motorists driving by but not much of a nuisance. Paid 40$. Good enough for the location and the beauty

Nice spot right by the ocean

Emma wood is a small site you have access to the beach, best visited in RV. Our guest used their car to block wind on the tent. Also railroad tracks  is near by site like super near not pleasant when sleeping. 

Windy and RailRoad few feet away

Even though you're literally paying $40 for a parking spot, this is one of our favorite campgrounds.  You are parked right on the beach, which we love so much.  At high tide the ocean comes right up to your doorstep, watch where you park if you don't want the waves crashing and splashing all over your rig and camp area.

  

RVs only, no tent or car camping. There are no toilet facilities here (there are some portapotties at the entrance though - those might be for staff though.).  

  

The only "amenity" this place offers is trash and recycling bins.  Otherwise you're just paying for the absolutely amazing heavenly location.

  

Good cell service here, and it's really close to the cool town of Ventura.  We biked to town a lot when we stayed here, and even walked once. Main St in Ventura is really fun and we highly recommend hanging out there. The most popular blocks are closed off to cars, which is nice. There are so many cool thrift stores and places to eat and shop here.  You're also close to the pier and ocean walk, which is an amazing place for people watching.

  

The Amtrak passenger train goes through several times a day, but we didn't find it bothersome at all. 

  

Right now it's First Come First Serve, pay with cash or check only (no cards). There's an iron ranger for self pay if you arrive after hours.

Not sure if they will go back to taking reservations. They've still got a lot of damage from the storm in early 2023.  There will also be some roadwork later this year so watch for that, as I believe the closest highway exit will be closed).

One of our Faves

We parked next to the sea wall great view of the ocean. Ocean almost comes to your door step

Great camping spot 

Emma Woods was a nice little get away, we stayed for one night, we couldn't leave the cats behind for too long.

 We got spot 20, which is a pull through big enough for my TV( LandRover Defender) and a Bambi 16 Foot. I didn't bother detaching. 

Good Sun for solar panels and good wind for wind turbine. 

  

On Spot 20 water splashes up the side, on occasion you will get splashed depending how high tide is. This is for full RV Camping. Theres no Bathrooms, water, nada. There are large bin trash cans for trash. 

  

One way in one way out, at some point you will need to make a U Turn. Plenty of spots to make a u turn. 

  

Spots 25 and above are more closer together, and all RVs are using some type of Gas generator, if that is a concern. Spot 20 22 and 23 are private. In most parts its a rocky beach, not really sandy. Campsite is very narrow, theres the a one way road and campsite, not much.

Back at Emma Wood SB

North Beach Campground- Completely dry camping with no showers or bathrooms. ￼ Train tracks are 30 feet away but the trains are not overly loud ￼ since the wonderful sound of the ocean drowns it out. ￼Very peaceful!!

Photos of Emma Wood State Beach

Real photos from real campers