J
Joel K.
Scout
ScoutTV Tower Road Dispersed Camping
Great, busy on weekend
Stunning view, campsites have a lot of broken glass but the views make up for it
Best Camping Areas around Avilla Beach, CA
Camping options around Avila Beach, California range from shoreline RV parks to hot springs and recreational lake facilities, with most campgrounds concentrated within a 10-mile radius of this Central California coastal community. The area includes Pismo State Beach campgrounds (North Beach and Oceano), which offer tent and RV camping with beach access, as well as TV Tower Road dispersed camping in nearby Santa Margarita for those seeking more primitive experiences. Developed campgrounds such as Lopez Lake Recreation Area provide amenities including electric hookups, showers, and cabin rentals, while Port San Luis RV Campground offers waterfront dry camping with ocean views.
Seasonal considerations impact camping availability, with many developed campgrounds operating year-round but experiencing high demand during summer months. Most established campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during weekends and holidays when sites fill quickly. The climate remains mild throughout the year, though coastal fog can occur, especially in early summer. The terrain ranges from beachfront settings to inland lakes, with varying amenities at each location. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area except at more remote dispersed camping locations. As one visitor noted, "The RV spots are spacious with many being parallel to the beach. All spots in Nobi and Wyandot are dry camping unless you're in the paved parking lot farther down."
Mixed-use campgrounds dominate the camping landscape near Avila Beach, with facilities catering to various accommodation preferences. Several visitors highlighted the area's proximity to attractions as a major benefit, with one camper reporting that "there is a bike path (5 miles round trip) that leads to the beach. The path is along a creek, surrounded by trees, and goes through a golf course." The nearby hot springs resorts receive mixed reviews, with some appreciating the soaking opportunities while noting limitations with the camping areas. Noise levels vary significantly between campgrounds—highway proximity affects some locations like Avila-Pismo Beach KOA, while oceanfront sites at Port San Luis provide peaceful settings with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, including sea otters visible in the kelp beds during late afternoon hours. Campers seeking the best camping near Avilla Beach should consider booking well in advance, especially for waterfront campsites that offer direct beach access.
Best Camping Sites Near Avilla Beach, California (93)
1. Oceano Campground — Pismo State Beach
66 ReviewsGrover Beach, CA8 milesWebsite+1 (805) 473-7220$25 - $40 / night
"Popular with families and groups Grass around tent sites still green. Most parking spots close to level but bring some blocks. Individual large restrooms with flush toilets and sinks."
"Tucked behind the dunes (and you definitely want a site next to the dunes!)"
2. Morro Bay State Park Campground
63 ReviewsLos Osos, CA12 milesWebsite+1 (805) 772-2560$35 - $165 / night
"Unlike many state campgrounds you find near the highway or railroad tracks, this one is located a nice distance from the road. Still, it is within walking distance to a small marina and restaurant."
"It is only 2 miles away from Morro Rock and the adorable tourist town full of shops and eateries."
3. TV Tower Road Dispersed Camping
38 ReviewsSanta Margarita, CA11 milesWebsite+1 (805) 865-0416"The drive up is a bit treacherous but nothing unbearable. Our car can off road quite well, but our friend had a Volkswagen Golf and it also did perfectly fine and never bottomed out."
"It’s best to have an offroader to come here, but van can do too."
4. North Beach Campground — Pismo State Beach
24 ReviewsGrover Beach, CA7 milesWebsite+1 (805) 473-7220$25 / night
"The beach is steps away. And the community has a good walking path and restaurants within walking distance."
"Turns out they had 8 and the park ranger let me drive in to scope it out. I picked a site close to the beach and even better my Oceano reservation could be transferred. Yay."
5. Islay Creek Campground — Montaña de Oro State Park
30 ReviewsLos Osos, CA11 milesWebsite+1 (805) 772-6101$25 - $150 / night
"Quiet, peaceful and surrounded by skies perched out atop a hill."
"It was peaceful, beautiful surroundings, and a decent amount of space between campsites. The coastal air, hills, and nearby ocean views made it a great escape."
6. Pismo Coast Village RV Resort
19 ReviewsGrover Beach, CA6 milesWebsite+1 (805) 773-1811"Steps away from the ocean. We will return."
"This is a pricey rv park, but great location and very busy. It is competitive with the others around and think it was the best one in the area."
7. Lopez Lake Recreation Area
35 ReviewsArroyo Grande, CA15 milesWebsite+1 (805) 788-2381$60 - $70 / night
"It was located right next to the water park but they had already closed for the season."
"Lopez Lake Recreation Area is 15 minutes behind the “Village” of Arroyo Grande, CA."
8. Morro Strand State Beach Campground
40 ReviewsMorro Bay, CA16 milesWebsite$35 - $50 / night
"Located just off Highway One between Morro Bay and Cayucos, the grounds look somewhat like a parking lot with trees and shrubs separating it from the sand dunes and the ocean."
"Beach walks can be nice... with scenic views up and down coast. Also neighborhood walks along bluff above campground are relaxing. Restrooms clean but basic."
9. El Chorro Regional Park
18 ReviewsLos Osos, CA9 milesWebsite+1 (805) 781-5930$38 - $65 / night
"They do charge extra for dogs, $3.50/day/dog, but was well worth it as they have beautiful large dog parks a mile behind the campsite."
"This is a great campground close to San Luis Obispo. It is great for tent or RV camping and is located near a park, garden, and golf course."
10. Avila-Pismo Beach KOA
14 ReviewsAvilla Beach, CA1 mileWebsite+1 (805) 595-7111$225 / night
"Campground is tucked away within the mountain and there are many things to do just outside the campground. Beach, trails and golfing all within 5min."
"Located just north of Pismo Beach, Avila is tucked away down a hill that is totally worth venturing off to."
Recent Camping Photos near Avilla Beach, CA
171 Photos of 93 Avilla Beach Campgrounds
Stanley
Avila-Pismo Beach KOA
Raf A.
Avila Hot Springs
Wendy S.
Flying Flags Avila Beach
Patrick M.
North Beach Campground — Pismo State Beach
John Y.
Coastal Dunes RV Park & Campground
Christine W.
Oceano Campground — Pismo State Beach
Katie W.
El Chorro Regional Park
The Dyrt
Pacific Dunes Ranch
Teresa S.
Pismo Sands RV Park
Patrick H.
Islay Creek Campground — Montaña de Oro State Park
Chanel C.
TV Tower Road Dispersed Camping
Tim J.
Morro Bay State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Avilla Beach, CA
737 Reviews of 93 Avilla Beach Campgrounds
- David D.Scout
Figueroa Mountain Road Pullout 01
Perfect for one night
It’ll do in a pinch. It’s quiet, beautiful, and free.
- AAostara K.
TravelerOceano County Campground
Small, quiet, no-frills camping near Pismo Dunes
Spots are wide enough to park our truck next to our trailer. Asphalt parking with dirt yard behind the spot, including a firepit and picnic table. Trees and shrubs for privacy and shade. Run by San Luis Obispo County.
- AAostara K.Traveler
El Chorro Regional Park
Nice no-frills, out-in-nature camping
If anyone needs a good place to stay near Morro Bay (Central CA coast), El Chorro Regional Park has 43 reasonably priced FHU back-in sites. Nothing fancy - out in nature, the way we like it, plus $1 showers, attentive rangers, and on-site camp hosts. Extremely convenient to both Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. Botanical Garden, dog park, shooting range and golf course all at/near the park.
Jordan L.ScoutJalama Beach County Park
Absolutely beautiful stay
Incredible beach camping
Kim G.
LegendNorth Beach Campground — Pismo State Beach
Spacious beach camping
Lovely state park campground with access to the beach over some dunes and waterways. Pismo Beach is a huge and beautiful beach. Even with a lot of people it cannot feel crowded. If you are willing to get your feet wet crossing some creeks that empty into the ocean you can walk to the pier along the beach. This park is a delight compared to the cramped RV Parks right next door. Clean bathrooms and showers. Shower tokens $1 for 2 will get you a 4 minute shower. Peaceful place on a Sunday in March.
- Kim G.Legend
Morro Bay State Park Campground
Nice state park campground
The location is great, right on a little marina. We lucked out and got a site without a reservation for a Friday night in March. The ladies at the gate were very friendly and helpful. We went to the little museum ($3/adult) and hiked the Black Hill for a view. Campground has dated bathrooms and showers but they are clean. Fun to see park structures from the CCC still around. There is a restaurant right across from the campground that gets good reviews but we didn’t try it. Also kayak rentals right across from the campground. We’d stay here again if we were passing through. Like many costal parks the attraction is the ocean, not the hiking.
- Kim G.Legend
Sun Outdoors Paso Robles RV Resort
Beautiful resort
A lot of RV parks use resort in their names but this one deserves it! Large, well spaced sites, beautiful pools, laundry ($2 wash and $2 dry), hot tubs, outdoor common areas, dog parks, clean restrooms with hot showers. We were delighted to stay hear after checking out another RV park just a bit north on 101. Quiet and peaceful. We will be back!
Fa B.
GuideNorth Beach Campground — Pismo State Beach
Perfect off-season
Booked a couple of nights here at the last minute and, while crowded, I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet and tidy this campground was.
It is however the off-season and not a place I’d consider otherwise as I can only imagine how wild it must get when kids are off of school, as it is right on the beach.
The sites are pretty leveled and the facilities offer all one needs, and it’s all very clean. Spigots for free water refill are also available throughout the campground.
At $25/night, this is a wonderful and very safe campground for all.
Guide to Avilla Beach
Campgrounds near Avila Beach, California provide direct beach access options within minutes of the Central Coast shoreline. The local terrain creates diverse microclimates where coastal fog regularly burns off by mid-morning during summer months, while winter temperatures rarely dip below 45°F. Trails connecting many campgrounds to beaches aren't regularly maintained after winter storms, so checking current conditions before arrival is recommended.
What to do
Beach hiking trails: 5 miles from Avila Beach: At Lopez Lake Recreation Area, campers can access nearby trails. "There is a bike path (5 miles round trip) that leads to the beach. The path is along a creek, surrounded by trees, and goes through a golf course," notes one visitor about the nearby area.
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk best times: Montaña de Oro State Park offers excellent wildlife spotting. "I've lived only several hours away for 11 years without knowing this simple loop campground was even here. The state park offers days worth of outdoor activity and views forever and ever, with the ability to feel alone only miles from town," reports Ryan W.
Water activities: Rent equipment at marinas: Lopez Lake offers various water sports facilities. "The lake is wonderful and usually very mellow. Kayaking and fishing are both nice at Lopez as well," notes Crystal J. The nearby marina stores often rent equipment during summer months at reasonable rates.
What campers like
Easy beach access: 2-minute walk: Oceano Campground provides quick beach access. "This campground is awesome. It's very beautiful, with lots of wildflowers, trees, trails, beach dunes…and squirrels. Lots of them. But we also saw and heard hawks, turkey vultures, owls, and many other birds," shares barbara M.
Moderate temperatures: Pack layers: The coastal location moderates temperatures year-round. "Weather can be fickle with cold, wind and fog even in summer. Quiet at night. A few sites have beach views," says Leonard H. about Morro Strand State Beach Campground.
Less crowded offseason camping: Late September-April: Many campsites near Avila Beach offer more availability during shoulder seasons. "We went in January and had no idea about the Monarch Butterflies. About 300 feet from the campsite is a grove of trees where thousands of Monarchs fly and mate," Garrett M. says about Oceano Campground.
What you should know
Ticks present in some areas: Check regularly: Some campgrounds report tick issues. "Although the location is very scenic and a 10 min walk to the beach, I wouldn't return because there are ALOT of ticks at the campground. We went with a party of 11 and found multiple ticks on 5 people," warns Val H. about Montana de Oro State Park.
Road conditions to dispersed sites: 4WD recommended: Some remote sites require appropriate vehicles. "Wasn't sure I was going to make it even with my Subaru Forester. It's absolutely gorgeous up here! Can't set up my bathroom and have a lot of vertigo though," notes Chastity R. about TV Tower Road Dispersed Camping.
Wildlife encounters: Secure food properly: Many campgrounds have active wildlife. "Raccoons will 100% rush your site as soon as you go to sleep to see if there are any fun goodies laying about. Put stuff away. Some sites have bear boxes, so I assume...bears," advises Ryan W.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Avilla Beach, CA?
What camping is available near Avilla Beach, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Avilla Beach, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 93 campgrounds and RV parks near Avilla Beach, CA and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Avilla Beach, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Avilla Beach, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Avilla Beach, CA is Oceano Campground — Pismo State Beach with a 4.1-star rating from 66 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Avilla Beach, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Avilla Beach, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Avilla Beach, CA.
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