Best Campgrounds near Laguna Niguel, CA

The coastal region surrounding Laguna Niguel, California features a mix of oceanfront and inland camping options within a 30-minute drive. State parks dominate the landscape, with Crystal Cove State Park's Moro Campground offering ocean views from bluff-top sites about 15 minutes north of Laguna Niguel. Doheny State Beach Campground in nearby Dana Point provides beachfront camping with direct ocean access, while San Clemente and San Onofre State Beaches offer additional coastal options to the south. For those seeking more natural surroundings, O'Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon and Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano provide oak-shaded canyon camping experiences with hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Most campgrounds in the area require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when coastal sites fill quickly. Campers at Moro Campground note that "the views are stunning and there is right enough space between the slots so you don't feel like you're in each other's privacy," though highway noise can be noticeable at some coastal locations. Beach campgrounds typically have concrete or asphalt pads suitable for both tents and RVs, while inland parks offer more natural settings with dirt pads and shade trees. Year-round camping is available throughout the region, with mild temperatures even in winter, though coastal morning fog is common during spring and early summer months.

Beach access drives the popularity of coastal campgrounds, with surfing opportunities at San Onofre and San Clemente particularly noted by visitors. According to one camper at San Mateo Campground, it's "one of the better beach campgrounds in California, some sites have some great privacy." Site spacing varies considerably between locations, with Doheny State Beach described as having "small and tight" middle sites while "the outside sites along the edge of the campground are much more spacious." Inland options like Caspers Wilderness Park offer a different experience, described as "an oasis of green grass and groves of the twisting and searching limbs of Coastal Live Oak trees" where visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails away from the coastal crowds.

Best Camping Sites Near Laguna Niguel, California (146)

    1. San Mateo Campground — San Onofre State Beach

    53 Reviews
    San Clemente, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (949) 492-4872

    $45 - $250 / night

    "San Mateo is one of the better beach campgrounds in California, some sites have some great privacy."

    "Another beautiful gem along the California Coast. Although not on or too near the beach, this campground is truly a lovely spot. All or most of the campsites boast a bit of privacy."

    2. Moro Campground — Crystal Cove State Park

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

    $25 - $75 / night

    "Bathrooms are cleaned the whole day through, the hiking trails were closed when I was there. But the birds are flying around you and the squirrels are free to welcome you when you get there."

    "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."

    3. Doheny State Beach Campground

    35 Reviews
    Capistrano Beach, CA
    5 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.  "

    4. San Clemente State Beach Campground

    38 Reviews
    San Clemente, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (949) 492-3156

    $45 - $300 / night

    "California beach camping can be very hard to come by. Unlike some other campgrounds in Southern California this one gives you ample room to move around and set up camp."

    "The hardcore surfing nomads stealth camp in their bubble-top vans outside of the park on the streets. Walking distance to Cottons point for surfing and to hangout among the beach huts."

    5. O'Neill Regional Park

    30 Reviews
    Trabuco Canyon, CA
    10 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. Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park

    22 Reviews
    Coto de Caza, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (949) 923-2210

    $20 - $25 / night

    "Tucked on the outskirts of Mission Viejo is an oasis of green grass and groves of the twisting and searching limbs of Coastal Live Oak trees.  "

    "Rangers at entrance to check for pets (not allowed) and where you can buy bundles of wood for $5 if you want. Technically not allowed to bring in outside wood."

    7. Newport Dunes RV Resort

    26 Reviews
    Newport Beach, CA
    12 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."

    8. San Onofre Recreation Beach and Camping

    21 Reviews
    San Clemente, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 763-7263

    $45 / night

    "The campground is on the bluffs, and nearby Old Man's beach has some of the best beginner's surfing waves in Southern California."

    "This military campground is located within walking distance of two world class surfing breaks; Old Man's and Tressels. This campground has a variety of camp spots from tent, RV to cabins."

    9. Bluffs Campground — San Onofre State Beach

    20 Reviews
    San Clemente, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (949) 492-4872

    $45 - $250 / night

    "Camping cliff side along the beach in Southern California. The camp grounds are a little cramped. Seem more designed for RV’s and trailers but we don’t mind."

    "During the open season on weekends it fills up quickly, during the weekdays it is kind of busy as well but there are still some walk up spaces available."

    10. Blue Jay Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    21 Reviews
    Trabuco Canyon, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (858) 673-6180

    $20 / night

    "We were able to find a spot tucked away off one of the loops to the left after a small hill. Neighbors played loud music but we didn’t mind at all."

    "clean restrooms and sites. large campground with paved roads was nice for strolling through. pretty far off the beaten path above lake elsinore. the views near by were fantastic. the staff was fairly friendly"

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Recent Reviews near Laguna Niguel, CA

1080 Reviews of 146 Laguna Niguel Campgrounds


  • D
    Aug. 31, 2025

    San Elijo State Beach Campground

    Cool spot

    Difficult to book. 6 months in advance but if you do. The full hookup spots are located in the middle of the campground. Don’t feel like you missed anything if you can’t get beachfront. Bushes, fences block any views unless your in dry camping down toward south end of park. Camp store is permanently closed so that Convenience is no longer here. Bathrooms and showers are clean and somewhat nice.

  • Elise F.
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Fry Creek Campground

    Loved it

    We absolutely loved Fry Creek. It might be our favorite place to camp so far. Our site was removed from others so we weren’t bothered by neighbors. It was a nice large site next to the bathrooms (which were very clean and well maintained) and close to a water spigot and trash can. This campground is definitely a birder’s paradise. We were constantly surrounded and graced by the sounds of woodpeckers, pigeons, mountain quail, bluebirds, jays, and more. One important note though is this entire area is swarmed with flies. We brought nets to put around our faces and without these, I don’t think I would have survived. So definitely bring nets for your face, bug spray, and citronella. Despite this, it was a lovely place. Will be returning one day.

  • Moo
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Oceanside RV Resort

    For tent campers - pretty solid place for a quick couple stays

    First, the campsite has the MOST CLEANEST restroom and shower booths I have ever visited for tent camping. This is no doubt that for those folks who are needed for good built qaulity toiletery, this will be your location.

    For the down sides;

    1. The trains - There is a rail right behind the tent sites so if you are looking for the tent sites with quiet location: PLEASE STAY AWAY from here. the trains do not operate from around 10 pm, back on operating starting from 5 am.

    2. for T1 tent site, BE AWARE that there is a dog park RIGHT next to the tent site: there will be a urine odor all over the place.

    3. If you are planning on cooking, just be aware that there is no proper location to do a dish wash. You would need some sort of wipes to do.

  • 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.

  • A
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Lake Perris State Recreational Area Campground

    Bobcat Campsite

    Awesome campsite. Free showers. Electrical outlets by the restrooms at a handicap site. Water spigots scattered around the bobcat site. Dumpsters within walking distance from your site. The locals in the area will take your site if you arrive late. Just head back to the campground entrance and they will send a park ranger to remove them. The restrooms get cleaned daily around 8-10am. More than enough room at site 380

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Canyon RV Park

    Relaxed, clean, friendly, infor.ative, quiet

    Been passing this exit on the 91 freewqy for 25 years and had no idea canyon Rv park was tucked in beween corona and yorba linda. I was quite amazed with the tidy faculitie a d wqs very peacefull. When U are smake dab in the middle of asfalt jungle. I litteraly forgot where i was because its like a little bubble on you .exot the freeway a d e ter the park everything behind you just melts away and i felt like i was in the woods, and at times i swear i was the only camper here. If you are into easy going peacefull quite camp sites this is one of them

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 30, 2025

    Pechanga RV Resort

    Good but can be noisy

    Pull-through sites have a little room not so close to neighbors Buddy sites are available

  • Amanda K.
    Jul. 15, 2025

    Rawhide Ranch

    The perfect spot for family, childrens, or scout horse camps!

    The perfect spot for family, childrens, or scout horse camps! My father and I both went as kids (40 years a part) and remember and treasure our experience. Rawhide ranch hosts family, youth groups, and scout weekend or summer camps. Note that I do not believe they host individual adult campers. It seems like all their camping options are associated with their events/camp program. It is however the perfect, fun introduction to camping for kids with a lot of fun activities. Note that these photos were taken about 14 years ago


Guide to Laguna Niguel

The Laguna Niguel area sits at the intersection of coastal plains and inland canyons with elevations ranging from near sea level to over 800 feet in the surrounding hills. Camping opportunities near Laguna Niguel, CA offer contrasting experiences between beach-adjacent sites with steady marine breezes and inland canyon locations where temperatures can fluctuate 20-30 degrees between day and night. Wasps and yellow jackets are common at inland locations during summer months, while coastal sites experience consistent morning fog from May through July.

What to do

Hiking trails with wildlife viewing: At Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park, campers find numerous hiking options ranging from easy to strenuous difficulty. "If you like hiking or mountain biking this is a great park for you!" according to a reviewer who noted the park's 8,000 acres of terrain. Another camper mentioned, "There are a number of hiking trails around that range from 1 to 12 miles. On Saturdays there's a nature walk."

Beach activities beyond swimming: San Mateo Campground provides access to Trestles Beach via a 1.5-mile trail. According to one visitor, "A fun little hike (1.5 miles) to the walk until tresels beach... The beach is beautiful, great for surfing!" For families, the accessibility matters: "1.5 mile hiking/biking trail to the beach. It's a little hilly so be warned if you're going with children or elderly."

Urban-adjacent recreation: O'Neill Regional Park creates a wilderness feel despite urban proximity. A camper noted it's "tucked away among the urban sprawl of Orange County. Once in the park you feel like you're far out in the wilderness." For families specifically, there's a unique feature: "Great playground for children. Recently paved streets (perfect for scootering, skating, biking). Easy and fun 'Story Trail' hike for children. The hike features a new book every month, each page is mounted to a placard along the trail."

What campers like

Protected beach access: Doheny State Beach Campground offers direct ocean proximity with sandy walking surfaces. A visitor explains, "You are right on the sand! It's quite possibly the most beautiful yet easiest camping you'll do, shy of setting up a tent in your yard." For activities, "There are great bike trails to ride on." During low tide, "you can walk to town on the beach."

Lagoon facilities: At Newport Dunes RV Resort, families find child-oriented water activities with safety features. "They have activities for the kids like arts and crafts, an inflatable obstacle course or you can rent paddle boards or watch a movie on the beach," one camper noted. Another mentioned, "This campground has small sites like most RV parks do, but there was a lot of fun things to do with the kids. They had a movie on the beach when we were there, and fun water toys out."

Wildlife encounters in canyon areas: The inland camping experiences offer different animal interactions than coastal sites. At Blue Jay Campground, one visitor reported wildlife diversity: "We saw a coyote, so watch your dogs." At O'Neill Regional Park, a natural setting awaits: "Nice creek for kids to explore" and "Lots of squirrels, bunnies, the occasional deer and coyotes at night, signs warning you are now in mountain lion territory."

What you should know

Seasonal pest considerations: Inland campgrounds experience significant insect pressure during warmer months. At Blue Jay Campground, "The bugs were not enjoyable at all, there were meat bees/wasps swarming all the water faucets and the gnats were so bad we spent most our time hiding in the tent." Another camper confirmed, "While annoying, we found the best ways to combat them were bug spray and citronella candles. They do go away once the sun sets."

Noise levels vary by location: Highway and train noise impacts several coastal campgrounds. At San Clemente State Beach, "The coyotes are insane. They are everywhere... You'll wake up to them chasing rabbits literally in your campsite." At Bluffs Campground, "There is a lot of road noise which isn't unbearable and a metro train that passes through all night by the campsites."

Reservation competitiveness: Securing sites requires advance planning with varying timeframes. At Moro Campground, "This campground fills up fast so book early!" San Mateo sites are similarly in demand: "During summer months when coastal sites fill quickly." O'Neill Regional Park's proximity to population centers means "Weekends fill up fast since it's a small drive from the hustle and bustle of Orange county life."

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly spots: Several campgrounds specifically accommodate first-time or casual campers. At San Clemente State Beach, "Each campsite has a fire container, barbeque, and a picnic table under trellis type structure. Clean flush toilets. Beautiful location next to the ocean." Another visitor confirmed the family appeal: "Nice, clean, easy access for trailers/RVs."

Educational opportunities: Ranger-led programs enhance children's experiences at several locations. At Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park, "They often have a nature walk" on weekends, while O'Neill Regional Park features "a Visitor's Center that is worth checking out. The Rangers are amazing and provided us with a super helpful information about the park, its trails."

Beach access challenges: Despite coastal proximity, reaching beaches can require planning. At San Clemente State Beach, "Not an easy or quick access to the beach from the RV and tent areas, so just plan on spending time there!" For Bluffs Campground, "If you go to trail one it was the most accessible. It was still really sketchy and a super steep hill for like half a mile but if you're desperate enough you will go down it."

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Newport Dunes RV Resort provides full amenities but with site limitations. According to one RVer, "These spaces can be very tight, overall we will stay again." Another noted, "Beautiful weather, great location, full hook ups, fun activities, family & pet friendly!"

Dump station logistics: Several campgrounds offer dump facilities with varying restrictions. At O'Neill Regional Park, there's a "Free dump station" with "good rubbish collection points throughout." Doheny State Beach has a "$10 fee, they have a convenient credit card machine. There's a hose there to use for clean up or flushing tank. Dump site is narrow so watch your sides."

Site spacing considerations: Expect proximity to neighbors at most locations. At Doheny State Beach, "The middle sites are small and tight while the outside sites along the edge of the campground are much more spacious." O'Neill Regional Park features "Campsites that seemed to be largely pull thru's which is nice too. Neighbors are close but not too close."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find camping spots in Laguna Niguel?

While there aren't campgrounds directly in Laguna Niguel, several excellent options are nearby. Doheny State Beach Campground offers beachfront camping just 15 minutes south with spacious sites along the campground's edge. For a more inland experience, O'Neill Regional Park is tucked into the canyon about 15 minutes northeast, offering clean facilities, free showers, and excellent hiking and biking trails. Both locations provide relatively easy access to Laguna Niguel while offering distinctive camping experiences.

Are there any RV parks available in Laguna Niguel?

While Laguna Niguel itself doesn't have RV parks, excellent options are available within a short drive. Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground offers beachfront RV camping with concrete/asphalt sites featuring water and electric hookups, plus a dump station. Located about 25 minutes north, it provides easy access to Long Beach and is relatively close to Disneyland. Another option is Newport Dunes RV Resort, which is big-rig friendly and offers full hookups in a premium waterfront setting about 20 minutes from Laguna Niguel.

What private campgrounds are available near Laguna Niguel?

Near Laguna Niguel, you'll find several private camping options. Bonelli Bluffs offers a family-friendly environment, though it lacks playground amenities for children. For a luxury camping experience, Pechanga RV Resort features newer facilities and convenient access to a casino, pool, golf course, and restaurants. It's also just a short Uber ride from Southern California wine country, making it perfect for campers looking to explore the region's vineyards.