Best Campgrounds near Costa Mesa, CA

Coastal camping options surround Costa Mesa, California, with multiple state parks and RV resorts within a 30-minute drive. Crystal Cove State Park's Moro Campground offers ocean view sites in Laguna Beach with tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground in Huntington Beach provides beachfront camping with electric hookups and fire rings on the beach. Inland options include O'Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon, where campers find hiking trails and more secluded sites. Newport Dunes RV Resort features 372 sites with full hookups and resort amenities for those seeking comfort near the water. Doheny State Beach Campground in Dana Point offers direct beach access with sites that accommodate both tents and RVs.

Reservations are essential for most coastal campgrounds, particularly during summer months when sites fill months in advance. As one camper noted, "California beach camping can be very hard to come by." Many state park campgrounds use the Reserve California system, which opens booking windows six months ahead. Weather remains mild year-round, though morning fog is common from May through July. Road noise affects several campgrounds, particularly those along Pacific Coast Highway. Bolsa Chica campers report "road noise but steps away from great sand beaches." Fire restrictions vary by location, with some coastal sites prohibiting fires in the campground but offering designated fire rings on the beach. Most campgrounds provide water and electric hookups, though sewer connections are less common.

Beach proximity drives high satisfaction ratings, with campers highlighting bike paths and water activities as key amenities. At Doheny State Beach, visitors appreciate that "you can SUP in the harbor; it's a great place for it and just a few minutes drive over." Site spacing varies significantly, with some campers noting that middle sites are "small and tight, offering little privacy." O'Neill Regional Park receives praise as a "tucked away spot in Orange County" that's "great if you like hiking, biking, MTB, and running." Crystal Cove State Park stands out for ocean views from nearly every site. Urban proximity means most campgrounds have good cell service and convenient access to supplies, restaurants, and attractions, making them suitable for both weekend getaways and longer stays.

Best Camping Sites Near Costa Mesa, California (151)

    1. Moro Campground — Crystal Cove State Park

    35 Reviews
    Laguna Beach, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 444-7275

    $25 - $75 / night

    "Luckily Booked last minute on reserve California (the worst web thing ever) on site 49. Looks like there is a oven view from every site. Close to beach and shopping."

    "There is an elementary school adjacent to the campground so you get a few PA announcements to start your day. There is a small visitor's center on site."

    2. Newport Dunes RV Resort

    26 Reviews
    Newport Beach, CA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 765-7661

    $75 - $550 / night

    "As we expected, the sites are stacked up next to each other like dominoes with minimal foliage/fencing to separate the sites."

    "There's a nice bike trail that circles around the bay, which is great for kids. Also, lots of amenities for families, including playgrounds, water toys, movie nights and fire pits."

    3. Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground

    19 Reviews
    Huntington Beach, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (714) 846-3460

    $60 - $70 / night

    "Beachfront camping in the heart of southern California. Concrete/asphalt sites with water electric and dump station. Adjacent to PCH so road noise but steps away from great sand beaches."

    "Super convenient beach front parking with good restrooms and outdoor showers as well as a beach path perfect for walking, biking, rollerblading, etc."

    4. Waterfront RV Park

    12 Reviews
    Huntington Beach, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (714) 536-8316

    "Booking a site here at Waterfront, provided us a excellent homebase that was close to the water. In all, you are about a 2 minute walk to the sand, and 4 minutes to the oceanfront. "

    "Your not on the beach but literally on the other side of pacific coast highway you are there."

    5. O'Neill Regional Park

    30 Reviews
    Trabuco Canyon, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (949) 923-2260

    $20 / night

    "It's tucked back in the canyon, but you will still hear all the traffic from the road. Since it is a canyon, many loud cars and motorcycles zoom past at high speeds.  Free dump station.  "

    "Behind my Camp site was a few different hiking paths. Restroom buildings have water, toilets, and showers. It says to bring quarters for the showers but they were free. Each site is typical..."

    6. Doheny State Beach Campground

    35 Reviews
    Capistrano Beach, CA
    19 miles

    $50 - $350 / night

    "I frequently stay at this site since it's close to my house and on the beach.  THE SITES:

    The middle sites are small and tight, offering little privacy."

    "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.  "

    7. Anaheim Harbor RV Park

    13 Reviews
    Anaheim, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (714) 535-6495

    $55 - $70 / night

    "Nice bathrooms and hot showers with laundry on location. Good amount of space between sites. Very short drive or 20ish minute walk to Disneyland. Extremely helpful and kind staff."

    "Park is within walking to the Disneyland park. The tent sites are very small with a picnic table and AstroTurf."

    8. Orangeland RV Park

    9 Reviews
    Anaheim, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (714) 633-0414

    $75 - $90 / night

    "Anaheim transit makes on-demand stops her to Disneyland as well as Garden Walk. Very helpful, friendly staff. Many residents mixed with overnight era or vacationers. "

    "First time staying here, it will be our place to stay in California."

    9. Crystal Cove Beach Cottages — Crystal Cove State Park

    6 Reviews
    Newport Coast, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (949) 376-6200

    "Crystal Cove Beach Cottages……Home away from home❤️"

    "Great views, nice trails & beach walks. Great restaurant."

    10. Seabreeze At Seal Beach

    9 Reviews
    Seal Beach, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (562) 626-7504

    "Awesome park, clean, level paved pads with a parking space..nice amenities, small NEX nearby. Wildlife reserve adjacent to the park made it nice for walking the dogs, too"

    "Very clean, cement slab, walking paths well lit and near to many areas to explore. Wetlands on the base and birds galore."

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Recent Reviews near Costa Mesa, CA

1035 Reviews of 151 Costa Mesa Campgrounds


  • Emily L.
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Crane Lakeside Mobile Home Park & RV Resort

    Horrible experience!

    Came to this park to relax, and was was kept awake all night by the sound of several cats fighting outside. Why wouldn't management do something about the stray cats? Just to see this many cats makes this park feel urban or ghetto. Great park if you don't need to sleep...

  • Anna X.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Dockweiler Beach RV Park

    Pacific touch :)

    Nice place very close to the beach with amazing Pacific view. All connections in place; sites very close to each other; a bit loud due to airport nearby. Very friendly staff. In overall good experience and recommend it :)

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Bonelli Bluffs

    Wish we could stay longer this trip

    We chose Bonelli for our shakedown trip in our new trailer (first time RVers). SO quiet. Numerous residents, but spots are mostly keep up nicely. Our rental spot has 3 trees, a picnic table, a firepit, level parking(!) and full hookups. We will be back for sure, especially since it's less than an hour from home.

  • Karen C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    San Clemente State Beach Campground

    Ant Infestation !

    If they would simply notify campers upon check in of the SIGNIFICANT SEASONAL ANT INFESTATION, it could have alleviated us waking up with ants crawling on our faces in the morning. They sell diatomaceous earth for $10. And we carry it already, but all we could do was go to WAR with the ants to contain the outbreak in our camper. BTW, we carry NO food inside the camper. Had to go to 2 hardware stores to get supplies and spend significant time eradicating only 95%. SO Disappointed. Our site was near a “coyote corridor”, so maybe why we didn’t have so many squirrels! Ha Ha!

  • Julia G.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Hare School Park

    Overnight parking ✅

    You can overnight park here with your RV without problems.

  • Lianne A.
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Monte Cristo Campground

    Nice Campground but Fire Restrictions!

    Monte Cristo is a nice campground not far from home. My husband and I visited this campsite for the first time just for one night. There was a fire restriction. No bonfires, no cooking on stoves and there was no water due to a leak. The bathroom that I was using I give it a 2 star.

  • Wayne S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Applewhite Campground (Ca) — San Bernardino National Forest

    Nice little park

    Very small campground. Camping sites are spread out. The access road is very narrow. We did it with a 22 foot fifth wheel. Space 41 could hold a much longer rig but it would be a challenge even getting to that space. There were only two other campers here while we were here. Lots of trees but not so thick you dont get some sun. The road getting to the campgrounds is somewhat narrow and has some hairpin turns so again it might be difficult for someone with a long trailer We camped at Applewhite Campground in a Fifth Wheel.


Guide to Costa Mesa

Crystal Cove State Park offers tiered campsites with ocean views regardless of site location, ensuring all campers enjoy Pacific vistas during their stay. Most campgrounds near Costa Mesa have morning marine layer fog from May through July, though this typically burns off by midday to reveal sunny conditions. Coastal camping options range from primitive beach sites to full-hookup RV resorts within a 30-minute drive radius.

What to do

Kayaking near PCH: At Waterfront RV Park in Huntington Beach, you're steps from prime paddling spots. "I love this place to kayak," notes one regular visitor. The park places you about "2 minutes to the sand, and 4 minutes to the oceanfront," making water sports easily accessible.

Beach hiking and biking: The boardwalk at Bolsa Chica State Beach extends for miles in both directions, offering extensive coastal trails. As one visitor explains, "The boardwalk was endless and great to walk the dog and go for a run!" Multiple beachside campgrounds connect to this coastal trail system.

Mountain biking and hiking trails: O'Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon provides extensive trail networks within 30 minutes of Costa Mesa. A regular camper describes it as "great if you like hiking, biking, MTB, and running," noting that despite its proximity to urban areas, the park feels secluded once you're on the trails.

What campers like

Ocean-view camping with privacy: At Moro Campground — Crystal Cove State Park, sites are arranged in tiers so everyone gets sea views. "The campsites are roped off and have a decent amount of distance between them," notes a visitor who stayed in February. "There is some vegetation between them but not enough to be totally private."

Clean, regularly maintained facilities: Campers frequently mention the cleanliness of bathroom facilities at campgrounds near Costa Mesa. At Crystal Cove, visitors report "spotless" bathrooms that are "being cleaned frequently," with coin-operated showers that "didn't take many coins to get a decent warm shower."

Convenient urban proximity: Orangeland RV Park offers "centrally located" access to Orange County attractions. One camper notes it's "best for easy access coming from or leaving to the east of the Los Angeles area." The park provides shuttle service to Disneyland and is within walking distance to shopping and restaurants.

What you should know

Site spacing varies significantly: At Newport Dunes RV Resort, campers report varied experiences with site spacing. "I hope you like cozy," notes one visitor, while others mention "tight spaces" where you need to be "good at backing up your toys." Reserve a premium spot if you need more room.

Reservation competition is fierce: California beach campgrounds fill quickly, with some booking windows opening six months in advance. A camper at Doheny State Beach advises, "The sunsets were absolutely beautiful...book early!" During peak summer season, reservations may disappear within minutes when booking windows open.

Road noise affects sleep quality: Several coastal campgrounds sit near Pacific Coast Highway. A recent visitor to Bolsa Chica noted, "What can I say to diminish a beach spot for $60 bucks? How about a motorcycle passing right outside your bedroom window at 12,000 rpm every two minutes all night long? Bring earplugs and lots of white noise."

Tips for camping with families

Look for dedicated kid activities: Doheny State Beach Campground offers direct beach access plus protected areas for younger children. "You can SUP in the harbor; it's a great place for it and just a few minutes drive over," mentions one camper about the safe paddling areas beyond the surf zone.

Consider weekday visits for less crowds: School breaks and summer weekends fill quickly at coastal campgrounds. Mid-week camping provides more space and quieter conditions, particularly during spring and fall seasons when temperatures remain mild but crowds thin out.

Hard ground requires freestanding tents: The terrain at Crystal Cove's backcountry sites presents challenges for tent stakes. One hiker noted, "The ground is hard packed and rocky. Free/semi-free standing tents recommended." Bring suitable tent options or additional securing methods for coastal bluff camping.

Tips from RVers

Reserve premium sites for larger rigs: At Newport Dunes, experienced RVers recommend specific site ranges. "Sites 84-89 and 26-36 are HUGE," according to one camper with a 29-foot Class A. Standard sites may present challenges for larger rigs or those with multiple slide-outs.

Beach proximity comes with limitations: Anaheim Harbor RV Park offers proximity to attractions but limited space. "This is essentially a parking lot with power and water," notes one RVer. "The spaces aren't huge so if you have a big rig or large trailer it will be tight. Most trailers parked their tow vehicle perpendicular to the space."

Bring long sewer hoses: Some hookup-equipped campgrounds require extended connections. Multiple RVers mention needing 25-foot sewer hoses at certain parks. Check the hookup positioning before arrival and bring extension cords and water hoses for challenging site layouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fishing opportunities are available at Costa Mesa campgrounds?

While Costa Mesa itself has limited fishing campgrounds, nearby options offer excellent angling experiences. O'Neill Regional Park is tucked in a canyon not far from Costa Mesa with access to Trabuco Creek for freshwater fishing. For saltwater fishing, Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground is a short drive away, offering surf fishing opportunities and proximity to Huntington Harbour. Many campers combine their Costa Mesa visits with fishing trips to these nearby destinations. Before fishing, be sure to obtain a California fishing license and check local regulations for catch limits and seasonal restrictions.

Can you go beach camping near Costa Mesa?

Yes, several excellent beach camping options exist near Costa Mesa. Doheny State Beach Campground offers beachfront camping with sites directly on the sand, though middle sites tend to be small and tight while outside edge sites offer more space. San Clemente State Beach Campground provides ample room to set up camp with ocean views from most sites. Both locations are within 30-45 minutes of Costa Mesa. For those seeking beach proximity without directly camping on sand, San Mateo Campground offers sites with great privacy and is just a short walk to the beach. Reservations are essential, especially during summer months.

Where are the best camping locations in Costa Mesa?

While Costa Mesa itself has limited dedicated campgrounds, several excellent options surround the city. Newport Dunes RV Resort offers premium waterfront camping just minutes from Costa Mesa with full hookups and resort amenities. For a more natural setting, Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park provides a peaceful oak-filled oasis with spacious sites about 30 minutes from Costa Mesa. For those willing to venture slightly further, Pechanga RV Resort offers upscale facilities with access to restaurants, golf, and other amenities. Most campgrounds in the region require reservations well in advance, especially during peak seasons.