Best Campgrounds near Del Mar, CA

Coastal campgrounds near Del Mar, California range from beachfront RV parks to more primitive tent camping areas, with most options focused on beach access and ocean views. San Elijo State Beach Campground sits on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Cardiff, offering sites for tents, RVs, and glamping accommodations with direct beach access via stairways. Campland on the Bay provides over 500 sites with full hookups near Mission Bay, while smaller facilities like South Carlsbad State Beach Campground offer additional oceanfront options.

Most beachside campgrounds in the Del Mar area require reservations up to six months in advance, particularly for prime ocean-view sites during summer months. One camper noted, "Be prepared to jump on a reservation the second they become available. Reservations have a 6 month rolling availability. Plan ahead." Facilities vary significantly across the region, with many campgrounds offering water and electric hookups, showers, and dump stations. The climate supports year-round camping with mild temperatures, though winter months can bring occasional rain. Several campgrounds in the area have noise considerations due to proximity to highways, train tracks, and urban development.

Campers consistently highlight the stunning sunset views and beach access as major draws to the region's campgrounds. "The sunsets are out of this world and the beach is clean," mentioned one visitor about San Elijo State Beach. Mixed-use campgrounds near Del Mar cater to various camping styles, from surfers seeking proximity to breaks to families wanting beachfront recreation. Several reviews point to the convenience of nearby amenities, with many campgrounds within walking distance of restaurants, markets, and coffee shops. While the camping areas tend to be more developed and less secluded than wilderness camping, the trade-off comes with excellent ocean access, well-maintained facilities, and the unique experience of falling asleep to the sound of waves breaking on the shore.

Best Camping Sites Near Del Mar, California (179)

    1. South Carlsbad State Beach Campground

    77 Reviews
    Carlsbad, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 438-3143

    $50 - $650 / night

    "South Carlsbad SB is a gem ~ it sits on a bluff right over the Pacific Ocean and is just a few steps down to beach. 👣 Each site has a large iron fire pit and picnic table ~ btahrooms and showers are"

    "If you’re headed to San Diego, be sure to stop and check out Carlsbad just off of the 5. this awesome beach town is quintessential Southern California beach awesomeness and it is absolutely gorgeous."

    2. San Elijo State Beach Campground

    38 Reviews
    Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 753-5091

    $50 - $520 / night

    "If you wanna go on a surfside southern california adventure and keep it fun and cheap then this place is great."

    "It's classic California beach camping. Spots are fairly close together, and it's more like a parking lot than a campground. That said, the beach is great, and the river mouth is great for surfing."

    3. Campland on the Bay

    21 Reviews
    Coronado, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (858) 581-4205

    $60 / night

    "It sits next to the bay, which is calmer and the beach. I've seen people jet ski, sail, paddle boat, play beach volleyball, and swim, and there are even bonfire pits on the beach!"

    "We had 4 campsites all next to each other. The camp hosts were all very nice, they drove around quite a bit making sure all was good. For how many sites they have it didn’t seem too crowded."

    4. Dos Picos County Park

    35 Reviews
    Poway, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 789-2220

    $24 - $100 / night

    "The creek eventually flows into a pond located on the other end of the campground. The pond is actually pretty large! Lots of space to walk around and explore."

    "The missus and I decided to do a midweek overnight escape and chose Dos Picos Park due to its close proximity. Great little campground with partial (electricity & water) hookups."

    5. Del Mar Beach Cottages

    10 Reviews
    Encinitas, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 725-4640

    $35 - $65 / night

    "Really beautiful beach very clean with large bathrooms hot showers food nearby first come first serve shade structures."

    "The campsites are small but it is clean and family friendly also located right on a big beautiful beach. You must have a military ID to camp here, you can have alcohol on the beach but no glass."

    6. Kumeyaay Lake Campground

    20 Reviews
    Santee, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 668-2748

    $24 - $25 / night

    "Campground was close to freeway exit and nearby local neighborhoods. Despite that, it still felt quiet and comfortable. Sites were clean snd a good size. Bathrooms were nice and clean."

    "You are away from the city, but not too far. The facilities were nice and the only scare was the GIGANTIC spider seen outside the bathroom. We'd for sure come pack...the price is right too :$"

    7. Mission Bay RV Resort

    12 Reviews
    Coronado, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (858) 270-4300

    $87 - $245 / night

    "We did a monthly stay… about $500 less than the campground right next to it. Quiet neighborhood at night, but a lot of families which makes it feel homey. Kids playing and people walking their dogs!"

    "We enjoy this park because of its proximity to the beach and boardwalk area. The park is clean, staff has always been helpful. We have had no issues."

    8. Dixon Lake Campground

    24 Reviews
    Escondido, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 839-4045

    $39 - $50 / night

    "Dixon lake is a perfect spot for my nephews to fish and play in the dirt. The campsites look really nice and ideal for tents. The walks around the lake are definitely worth doing!"

    "I grew up in Oceanside and people talked about camping at Dixon lake in Escondido and I thought it was lame and not “real” camping. Having never been there, I based this off nothing."

    9. Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve

    16 Reviews
    Santee, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 596-3141

    "Being a native San Diegan The east county location allows for easy access to San Diego sites from two freeways."

    "The fishing lakes are and best indoor walking paths are a bonus."

    10. Lake Jennings

    33 Reviews
    Lakeside, CA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (619) 390-1623

    $35 - $140 / night

    "This location is a hidden gem in the outskirts of the city."

    "We had scoped this out as a wintering location for my snowbird dad, and I always remembered how powerfully silence of that hillside had impacted me... finally camped there- it was lovely!"

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Recent Reviews near Del Mar, CA

1321 Reviews of 179 Del Mar Campgrounds


  • Mike M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2025

    Pinezanita RV Park & Campground

    Scenic campground with great staff

    Wonderful sites nestled in the Oak trees, grounds are very well kept you can see a lot of work and attention went into them. Don’t come expecting to find any level ground and the way the sites are arranged it’s kind of like an RV challenge course, so bring your A game. I would definitely camp here again though.

  • Stephanie B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Roadside Pulloff in Pine Valley

    Pine Valley, CA Roadside Pulloff

    Beautiful spot to pull over and car camp! T-mobile had 3 bars with 5G. No amenities (other than a picnic table), so pack out what you pack in. The location was just a pull off, not a full on camp site. There are hiking trails nearby (Cottonwood Creek Trail is the closest). The spot overlooks the mountains and the valley. Quiet spot with few cars stopping by for sunset, but that was it.

  • 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...

  • s
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Oak Grove Campground

    Quiet, small and dark... simple camping.

    A great little hidden site with not much to offer but stargazing, fresh air and nice campers. My 2nd trailer camping trip was 1 night and it was awesome, plenty of stars and the Milky Way was so clear... years since I've seen it. Non hook ups but there is water throughout the grounds, plenty of wildlife birds, I had a bluejay sing for me all day. Clean restrooms... and red ants. Loved my space so I'll be getting it again.

  • s
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Dos Picos County Park

    A family fun zone site.

    Nice site I stayed 1 night with W/E hook ups, my first time with my new camper trailer. It was ok, trailer spaces were tight but have plenty of tall trees, not much privacy. My space was next to a rec center to have a security light on all night, more stars than the city and the moon looked good in my telescope. Overall decent site, didn't have time to enjoy the hike, fishing or park.

  • 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!

  • C
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Granite Springs

    Little Known Gem

    Primitive camp site with chemical bathrooms. Has 3 areas to set up tents. First come first serve, but you must check in at the ranger station before you go. $5 per camper. We comfortably fit 3 tents on one site.

  • M
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Mission Bay RV Resort

    Trashy park

    Several issues here. First the most obvious the connections are at the front of the space on the drivers side. If you back in you better have 100 feet of hose sewer and power cord. Reservations failed to tell me while on the phone that the power was out but they’re still charging full price. Most of the lots are dusty dirt lots well over half of the park is not in use and in disrepair. There is trash everywhere and the staff could care less if you’re enjoying yourself. Do yourself a favor and spend the 20 extra dollars to stay at Campland Overall a waste of money and beach front property

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

    Great camp

    Close to the city, camp is clean and staff is friendly and helpful.

    Showers were clean, and partial hookups are only $35 a night. Cheapest I've found in California.


Guide to Del Mar

Camping near Del Mar, California, offers a fantastic mix of beach vibes and nature experiences. With several campgrounds in the area, you can enjoy everything from ocean views to hiking trails.

What to do:

  • Beach Access: Many campgrounds, like South Carlsbad State Beach Campground, provide direct access to the beach. One camper mentioned, "Great little restaurant serving pizza and snacks overlooking the ocean. Beach access. Lots of sites."
  • Biking and Running: The area has great bike lanes and running paths. A reviewer noted, "Great if you want to ride along PCH. This stretch has good bike lanes that take you into Oceanside or Encinitas."
  • Fishing: If you enjoy fishing, Lake Jennings is a good spot. A visitor shared, "The lake is drinking water for the local town and therefore no swimming allowed but they do stock the lake with fish."

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the stunning views. One said, "Couldn’t have better views. We watched dolphins and seals playing in the waves" at South Carlsbad State Beach Campground.
  • Clean Facilities: Many appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A camper at William Heise County Park remarked, "Campsites were clean, rangers were nice."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Lake Hemet are great for families. One reviewer noted, "Great place for family and kids. Affordable."

What you should know:

  • Crowded Conditions: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially during peak seasons. A camper at San Mateo Campground mentioned, "It can get very crowded and packed."
  • Limited Hookups: Not all sites have full hookups. A visitor at San Clemente State Beach Campground pointed out, "If you are in an RV, you will be fine. As a tent camper, the spots are tiny, with zero privacy."
  • Noise Levels: Some areas can be noisy due to nearby roads or other campers. A reviewer at Doheny State Beach Campground said, "Caught a few people walking through my site and around my van."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like Lake Jennings that offer playgrounds and activities. A camper shared, "Bathrooms, playground, hikes, 360 views."
  • Plan for Activities: Bring bikes or plan beach days. One family mentioned, "Great if you want to ride along PCH."
  • Pack Snacks: Having food on hand can save you time and money. A visitor at South Carlsbad State Beach Campground enjoyed the "great little restaurant serving pizza and snacks."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at San Mateo Campground noted, "The campground is setup as a bunch of loops with a large common area."
  • Be Prepared for Generators: Some sites may have noisy generators. A reviewer at Lake Hemet mentioned, "You can hear your neighbors snore at night after a long day."
  • Early Check-In: Arriving early can help you snag a good spot. A camper at William Heise County Park said, "They always help us get the best spot that’s open."

Camping near Del Mar, California, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for beach fun, family activities, or peaceful nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Del Mar, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Del Mar, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 179 campgrounds and RV parks near Del Mar, CA and 10 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Del Mar, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Del Mar, CA is South Carlsbad State Beach Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 77 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Del Mar, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Del Mar, CA.