Best Campgrounds near Gardena, CA

Camping options near Gardena, California are predominantly developed facilities oriented toward RV and urban camping. The Los Angeles area features several oceanfront RV parks like Dockweiler Beach RV Park in Playa Del Rey, approximately 7 miles west of Gardena. Additional camping can be found at Golden Shore RV Resort in Long Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground in Huntington Beach. Most facilities in this region cater primarily to RVs with full hookups, though some permit tent camping in designated areas.

Access to campgrounds in this urban coastal setting remains consistent year-round with minimal seasonal closures, though reservations are essential during summer months when beach campgrounds reach capacity. The region's mild Mediterranean climate supports camping throughout all seasons, with temperatures rarely dropping below 50°F even in winter. Most established campgrounds require advance reservations and enforce quiet hours. While primarily developed for RVs, several facilities offer amenities like showers, restrooms, and sanitary dump stations. A visitor noted: "The RV park has a hookup area and a dry camping area. The hookups are full of large rigs, very close one with another, in a parking lot style."

Beachfront settings distinguish camping in this region, with several sites offering direct ocean access and views. Dockweiler Beach RV Park receives consistent positive reviews for its prime location despite proximity to LAX airport. Many campers appreciate the beachfront sites and access to miles of coastal biking paths. Several reviews mention noise considerations due to urban location and airport proximity. One camper shared: "Great spot where you are never alone. Depending on the season, the lot can be packed. It is accommodating for some different size vehicles and has direct beach access and some amenities such as fire pits on the beach." Proximity to urban attractions including shopping, restaurants, and entertainment venues makes these campgrounds popular for visitors exploring Los Angeles while maintaining outdoor accommodations.

Best Camping Sites Near Gardena, California (135)

    1. Dockweiler Beach RV Park

    20 Reviews
    El Segundo, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (310) 322-4951

    $55 - $80 / night

    "The most fantastic thing about this RV spot is the location - directly facing a large, beautiful, clean beach with built in fire rings, a very long bike bath and bike rental kiosk."

    "One of the only in Southern California/Los Angeles area where you can have a fire on the beach."

    2. Golden Shore RV Resort

    13 Reviews
    Signal Hill, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (562) 435-4646

    $80 - $85 / night

    "However, you do get some road noise if you stay on the road side"

    "Clean, comfortable sites near Long Beach Marina and downtown. Good biking, walking lanes. Pool & jacuzzi are nice."

    3. Seabreeze At Seal Beach

    9 Reviews
    Seal Beach, CA
    16 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."

    4. Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground

    19 Reviews
    Huntington Beach, CA
    21 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."

    5. Malibu Creek State Park Campground

    38 Reviews
    El Nido, CA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (818) 880-0367

    $45 - $225 / night

    "It is prime location for some great hiking and at night it is super quiet. There are restrooms and showers as well."

    "The grounds were beautiful and well maintained, the camp host super friendly and helpful, the bathrooms well positioned and clean, and the sites had shade and everything we needed."

    6. Malibu Beach RV Park

    29 Reviews
    El Nido, CA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 622-6052

    $80 - $300 / night

    "I absolutely love this campground, it’s perfectly situated in between the Malibu pier area (to your left) Dume, Zuma, and more beaches (to the right), + a lovely small beach across the street… oh let’s"

    "This is a great little campground just north of Malibu, California, and right off of the 101. So yes, the freeway is RIGHT. THERE."

    7. Dockweiler

    1 Review
    Marina del Rey, CA
    8 miles

    "There are almost always other RVs/campers so you a rarely alone:) there are fire pits on the beach (California is otherwise very strict about fires) that are free to use."

    8. Hollywood RV Park

    17 Reviews
    San Fernando, CA
    25 miles
    Website

    "This location is conveniently situated near the heart of Los Angeles, making it an ideal spot for those looking to explore the city’s many attractions."

    "Trees lovely gardens to walk the dogs. Commerce walking distance. I’m staying 8 more days.✌️"

    9. Anaheim Harbor RV Park

    13 Reviews
    Anaheim, CA
    23 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."

    10. Rosemead 12 miles to DT Los Angeles

    3 Reviews
    Monterey Park, CA
    17 miles
    +1 (323) 540-8451

    $0 - $1000 / night

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Recent Reviews near Gardena, CA

984 Reviews of 135 Gardena Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Malibu Beach RV Park

    Great Family Vacation

    Perfect weekend getaway for the family! Loved the store and how close to the beach this place was. Will definitely be coming back!!

  • B
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Tapo Canyon Park

    Favorite spot near LA

    The Camp Hosts here are Very Friendly and welcoming, the campground has a lush grass area and nice covered playground. The showers and bathrooms are nice, we highly recommend Tapo Canyon.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Malibu Creek State Park Campground

    Great trip/great site!

    This place is great! We stayed on site 59 and it had so much space you can fit a ton of people on the site. We had a beautiful, big tree and a great view in the back of the site. Site 62 had the most beautiful view but no shade, but I want to book it for the cooler months. Showers and bathrooms were pristine!! Can’t wait to go back!

  • Michael R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Malibu Creek State Park Campground

    Malibu Creek State Park

    The campground is well laid out with plenty of shade available in most sites throughout the day. Sites aren’t too close to one another, restrooms are modern and clean and people were pretty quiet at night and in the early mornings. Main demographic was families when I camped here.

  • ROCKSTAR C.
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Hare School Park

    It’s the sports fields parking lot

    I’ve been here for a couple days and nobody’s mess with us. There’s other people that are staying in another parking lot attached that are homeless in their vehicles mostly cars and vans. I’m in a 25 foot Fleetwood RV. There’s a dog park kind of area with a big field they can run around and just clean up after them.There’s no public bathrooms, but there are trash cans so clean up after yourself please. It’s not tent friendly. I don’t believe.

  • Lizzette M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Hollywood RV Park

    Gem near the big city

    I came 3 days ago in my class C. Showers and restrooms were clean and supplied. The RV is cute very Hollywood movies vibes. Trees lovely gardens to walk the dogs. Commerce walking distance. I’m staying 8 more days.✌️


Guide to Gardena

Camping near Gardena, California, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With beautiful campgrounds just a short drive away, you can enjoy nature while still being close to the city.

What to do:

  • Beach Access: Many campgrounds, like San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach, are just a short walk from the beach. "Nice campground. 1.5 miles from the ocean. Sites are quite large with bushes/trees between sites," says a happy camper.
  • Hiking Trails: Explore the scenic trails at Malibu Creek State Park Campground. One visitor noted, "Nice, small campground with hiking trails easily accessible."
  • Wildlife Watching: At Point Mugu State Park, you can spot various wildlife. A reviewer mentioned, "This campsite lies within the state park Point Mugu. There are great hikes just off the campsite with amazing views."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at places like Bonelli Bluffs. One review states, "Possibly the cleanest public bathroom I've ever seen."
  • Privacy Between Sites: Many enjoy the spaciousness at San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach. A visitor shared, "The campground is set up as a bunch of loops with a large common area between the rear of every campsite."
  • Beautiful Views: Campers rave about the stunning scenery at Thornhill Broome Beach — Point Mugu State Park. One camper said, "Staying at Thornhill Broome Beach Campground was an absolute dream."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Thornhill Broome Beach, have minimal facilities. A reviewer noted, "No water, no dump station, only portable bathrooms on site."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for some noise, especially at Doheny State Beach Campground. One camper mentioned, "There is a ton of road noise coming off of the highway even late at night."
  • Crowded on Weekends: Many campgrounds can get busy, particularly on weekends. A visitor at Bonelli Bluffs said, "Crowded on weekends, much less during the week."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots like San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach, which offers plenty of space for kids to play. A family shared, "Nice short walk to the beach where dogs are welcome."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Bring along snacks to keep everyone happy. One camper at Malibu Creek State Park Campground mentioned, "The sites are nicely spaced out."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities, like hiking or beach games. A reviewer at Point Mugu State Park said, "Great location for beach, biking, and hiking."

Tips from RVers:

For those looking for the Best Camping near Gardena, CA, these campgrounds offer a variety of experiences, from beach access to hiking trails, making them perfect for a weekend getaway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find RV-friendly campgrounds near Gardena?

For RV camping near Gardena, Golden Shore RV Resort provides full hookups close to Long Beach with amenities suitable for big rigs. If you're looking for oceanfront RV camping, Malibu Beach RV Park offers spectacular coastal views with full hook-up sites. Both locations provide convenient access to urban attractions while still offering a camping experience. For those wanting beach proximity, Lake Piru Recreation Area provides lakeside camping with RV-friendly sites, though water levels may vary depending on drought conditions.

What beaches are closest to Gardena for camping?

The closest beach camping to Gardena is Dockweiler Beach RV Park, offering direct beach access with built-in fire rings and a long bike path. Step out of your RV and be right on the beautiful, clean beach within minutes. Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground is another excellent option featuring beachfront camping with concrete/asphalt sites that include water, electric hookups, and a dump station. While there is some road noise from PCH, you'll be just steps away from great sand beaches and within easy reach of Long Beach.

Where are the best camping sites near Gardena, CA?

Several excellent camping options surround Gardena within a short drive. Leo Carrillo State Park Campground offers a hidden gem experience with gorgeous California hill views and beach access, making it perfect for families. Another great option is Bonelli Bluffs, which provides spacious sites and beautiful lake views. For those willing to drive a bit further, O'Neill Regional Park and Little Jimmy Trail Campground offer different experiences—one with convenient amenities and hiking trails, the other providing a more secluded backcountry experience.

Are there any campgrounds with shower facilities near Gardena?

O'Neill Regional Park offers clean, free showers and is tucked back in a canyon not far from Gardena. The park is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking and biking. Doheny State Beach Campground also provides shower facilities for campers. While middle sites are small and tight, the outside sites along the edge offer more space. Both campgrounds provide necessary amenities while maintaining a natural setting.