Camping options near Lake Sherwood are primarily found in the adjacent Malibu and Simi Valley areas, with several established campgrounds providing tent and RV accommodations. Canyon Campground at Leo Carrillo State Park and Thornhill Broome Beach at Point Mugu State Park offer coastal camping experiences, while Malibu Creek State Park Campground provides an inland alternative. Most developed campgrounds in the region feature picnic tables, fire rings, and basic amenities, though hook-up availability varies significantly between locations.
Many campgrounds in the Lake Sherwood area require advance reservations, especially during peak summer months when coastal sites fill quickly. The region experiences mild Mediterranean climate conditions, with coastal fog common in mornings during summer months. Campgrounds like Leo Carrillo State Park provide electrical hookups and water access, while more primitive options like Circle X Ranch Group Campground offer fewer amenities but more seclusion. Road access varies throughout the region, with some campgrounds requiring navigation through winding canyon roads. According to one visitor at Leo Carrillo State Park, "We just spent 4 days at Leo Carrillo in site 128. The campground is tucked away in a beautiful canyon setting with lots of shade trees, which was really nice for keeping cool."
The shoreline camping areas receive consistently high ratings from visitors who appreciate the unique access to both beach environments and mountain scenery. Malibu Creek State Park Campground maintains a 4.38/5 rating, offering year-round camping with shower and toilet facilities. Several visitors note that coastal campgrounds provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly at low tide when tide pools become accessible. Cell service can be limited in canyon campgrounds, though beach areas typically have better connectivity. As one camper noted about Leo Carrillo, "The best part about this campground is definitely the beach access—it's about a 10-minute walk from most sites, and you can explore some amazing tide pools and caves once you get there." Noise levels vary significantly between weekdays and weekends at most developed campgrounds in the region.
$45 - $60 / night
"It was a quick drive up the coast and onto this hidden gem. You get access to a private beach with gorgeous California hill views of PCH behind you. Perfect place for families or even RVs."
"Nice big spots, close to the beach. Very quite. Needs to reserve at California State parks website. Dump station and water fill up on your way out not on the campsite, but thats no issue for us."
$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."
$45 / night
"Fantastic body surfing, some good surf waves up the highway a bit. There is a backpacking access site as well up the canyon about 3 miles."
"If you love Fall and trees and the California golden sun... this place is the place to be! It has it all in one."
$35 / night
"Not crowded and a place you can rarely camp beachfront in souther California. I have to note the bathrooms are absolutely terrible."
"You are so close to the water and there is plenty of space between you and your neighbor. When we were there many people had RVs so there were only a few tents."
$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."
$30 / night
"If you’re looking for a campsite off the beaten path with gorgeous views and some unique exploring nearby, this is it. I stayed here in a 22 foot RV at one of the hookup sites."
"Incredible drive through vineyards, citrus tree farms just to get to the Salton Sea. Such a cool place to stay and see. Nice, paved short trail to the beach."
"The tent sites are very basic and very close together, but the surroundings are worth it!"
"This is a wonderful campground right next to the beach however it is only available to the military and their families."
"This is a very nice campground near everything but still away from it all. No issues parking our 42' 5th wheel here. Clean and quiet despite the peacocks. They can be rather loud when startled."
"This campground happens to be very close to home so we went here to try out our brand new pull behind camper trailer for the very first time.
The campground is small, quiet and very well-kept."
"Also multiple hiking trails right from the grounds, and some playgrounds and basketball courts. Feels very family friendly. First come first serve spots and you make reservations online."
$75 - $85 / night
"The Lodge at Deer Creek is new to the Dyrt and has the perfect location where the mountains meet the ocean. Check them out and leave a review about your stay on the Dyrt!"
"Its only a short 5 minute windy road drive from pch and you still get cell service."
ScoutWe are staying in a site in site with no services which are spacious and shaded. On a Sunday night most sites are empty and our site, away from the road, is pretty quiet The full service sites were mostly full and unshaded and there was a big and loud group.
ScoutA hikers dream . This campground has several trails and there are many others within minutes away. Showers are token however machines are right there. Fire pits on every site as well as concrete picnic tables. Malibu Beach is 15 to 20 minutes away right on Pacific Coast Highway.
Rangers were all amazing. They actually came by last night around 9 PM and told me quiet time was at 8 PM so I guess I had them backwards. I thought it was 8 AM to 10 PM but it’s actually 10 AM to 8 p.m. Firewood is available from the Camp Host who incidentally was amazing in helping and answering a lot of my questions
If I was to critique anything, it would be how short the sites are my rig is 31 feet and I have a I don’t know maybe seven or 8 foot overhang from the last wheel if I didn’t have that there’s no way I would’ve fit and then the distance from here to the side across from me is pretty short so you have to Jimmy in and out if there’s somebody there, but that was the only thing that I could say that was negative and it really isn’t negative it just fact.
GuideThis was one of those campgrounds that just gets the basics right. Easy check-in, level site, picnic table in good shape, and enough privacy that we didn’t feel like we were camping in someone else’s backyard. We had a short walk to water, beautiful sunset views, and surprisingly little noise at night. Would definitely come back for a low-stress trip.
ScoutGreat staff, clean, right on the beach, can hear the waves and walk right over onto the sand. Great beach spot, although backing in a trailer is a bit of a challenge/its a bit tight, but doable. Nice place to stay. Will return.
TravelerThis is a very fun place to stay at. They have a lot of cool things for the kids to do like arts and crafts movie nights and a playground. All the employees are very helpful. The convenience store has everything that you need for camping. Me and my family will definitely be coming back to this place.
GuideStayed at Site 90, which might be the best in the whole park. Huge space, tons of shade, and a really cool, large sycamore tree. No power or water at the site, but there was a water spigot nearby. We stayed Monday–Friday and it wasn’t overly crowded during the week. Friendly neighbors, lots of families, and none of the classic“LA” rude or loud campers. The camp store was really convenient, and the staff were very nice and helpful. The beach is about a 5-minute walk—our kids loved the tide pools and caves. Definitely check the low tide times before you go. Very limited Verizon service, which is a plus in our book. Overall, a really good experience. The family and I will be back.
TravelerCamping at the beach in LA! Large country campground that has sites designed for motorhomes and sites designed for travel trailers and fifth wheels. It asphalt campsites, but you’re at the BEACH! My only complaints are the electrical was not working properly, (I had to connect to 30A instead of 50A), and people don’t pick up after themselves.
Scoutfirst, as a drop in you can‘t stay more then two nights even if they have room!
second, annually pool maintenance in spring break! without information when checking in, and it’s not a cheap one and i chose it for the pool! no information no discount, had to beg to at least get a poolchair, so much gras to chill no chairs!
third the showers are only dripping and i was the only one showering! again, not a cheap place!
and fourth, WIFI does never connect, really for a campground with this price, every cheap one has better WIFI and some people need it as internationals!
TravelerThe bathrooms and showers are very dirty. That’s probably related to the fact that it’s a huge campground, but when you pay $50 you also expect more than that. We’ve definitely seen much nicer places for $50. I certainly wouldn’t take a shower there.
On top of that, they gave us a campsite that didn’t exist. After that, we were offered to sleep in a parking spot that was some kind of late parking. Someone came and knocked the next morning saying we had to leave right away, even though our slip said 12:00 checkout.
I definitely won’t be coming back.
Camping spots near Lake Sherwood, California range from coastal sites with Pacific Ocean views to inland locations tucked within mountain canyons. The region sits at elevations between 800-2,500 feet with a Mediterranean climate pattern averaging 15-18 inches of rainfall annually. Winter overnight temperatures in campgrounds can drop to the low 40s while summer highs regularly exceed 85°F in inland camping locations.
Explore tide pools: At Point Mugu State Park, the marine ecosystems become accessible during low tide. "The best part about this campground is definitely the beach access—you can explore some amazing tide pools and caves once you get there. The kids loved searching for hermit crabs and sea anemones," notes Alfred from Canyon Campground at Leo Carrillo State Park.
Hike mountain trails: The Santa Monica Mountains trail network connects many campgrounds. "The campground is beautiful!! Spacious campsites with fire pits, and clean bathrooms. Be aware of the limited hours for entering with a vehicle (8am-10pm)," advises Lizzie C. who camped at Malibu Creek State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk offer prime wildlife viewing opportunities. Ryan W. reports from Malibu Creek: "The wildlife is abundant. There is plenty of birdwatching, and coyotes were wandering through the park and campground without fear. On a hike right out of the park a few hundred yards, I came across a pair of bobcats—mom and cub—making their way to a running creek."
Ocean proximity: Beachfront camping provides constant ocean views and sounds. "We stayed in site 59 which had a really nice shade tree and great views of a meadow and the cliffs out the back of the site," shares Ryan W. about Malibu Creek State Park.
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer well-separated sites despite their popularity. Sam & Amy note that Tapo Canyon Park is "a small park right in my own home town. Lots of trees, and tucked away in a canyon. There is archery with lessons for kids on the weekends."
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards receive consistent praise. "The campground is small, quiet and very well-kept. In fact, every subsequent campground toilet facility I now compared to this one because it was so clean!!" reports Bower about Tapo Canyon Park.
Weather considerations: Coastal fog affects visibility and temperature. "I came here during the summer and it was extremely HOT. Typically during the summer season, I like to find campgrounds that have a lot of lush trees so we can be under the canopies and stay cool," warns Chanel C. about Malibu Creek State Park.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance planning. According to Bower, at Tapo Canyon, "Only 12 sites - all have full hook ups, picnic table and fire pit. Make note! There is no Wi-Fi here and as best we could tell, no cellular signal for any provider."
Site limitations: Surface conditions vary significantly between campgrounds. "The first thing you should know about Tapo Canyon Park is that for actual tent camping, you will be in either decomposed granite or concrete," advises robherr, adding "I would give the park 4 stars for camping in an RV, 2 stars for tent camping."
Playground access: Several campgrounds include play areas. "Perfect weekend getaway for the family! Loved the store and how close to the beach this place was," says Britney F. about Malibu Beach RV Park.
Beach equipment: Pack wagons for gear transport. Alfred recommends: "Bring a wagon if you're hauling beach gear though, as the walk can feel long with all your stuff."
Wildlife education: Create opportunities for nature learning. "We just spent 4 days at Leo Carrillo. Our site was spacious enough for our two tents and had a good fire pit and picnic table setup," shares Alfred, noting "The best part about this campground is definitely the beach access- it's about a 10-minute walk from most sites."
Hookup variations: Electric availability differs widely between locations. According to Patrick M., Tapo Canyon Park offers "Full hook ups. 15, 30, 50 amp electrical, water, sewer, but no phone or internet. That's the best part. Good place to disconnect and listen to nature."
Site positioning: Ocean views come with exposure considerations. "Location, location location! Every spot has a great view of the Pacific Ocean from high upon a cliff! General store is well stocked and there's a park to lounge or play games on the cliffs edge!" reports Tim Z. about Malibu Beach RV Park.
Access limitations: Size restrictions affect beach access at some locations. "Attention pour avoir accès à la mer, le véhicule doit faire moins de 8 feet!" warns martins A. about Canyon Campground at Leo Carrillo State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at Lake Sherwood camping area?
Lake Sherwood camping offers basic amenities comparable to other area campgrounds. For reference, nearby Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area provides spacious camping areas with picnic tables and pergolas in some sections. Typical amenities in the region include fire rings, picnic areas, and vault toilets. Dennison Park in Ventura County, another local option, features various campsite sizes (some on slopes), with amenities that include picnic tables and bathroom facilities. Always check current conditions as amenities may change seasonally.
Do I need reservations for camping at Lake Sherwood?
Reservations are highly recommended for camping in the Lake Sherwood area, especially during peak seasons. For comparison, nearby Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground requires reservations, with sites often booking up quickly due to its popularity as a beach camping destination. Similarly, Santa Cruz Campground — Carpinteria State Beach operates on a reservation system that fills to capacity, particularly during summer months and holidays. Make reservations well in advance through official campground websites to secure your spot.
Where is Lake Sherwood camping located and how do I access it?
Lake Sherwood is located in the Santa Monica Mountains region of Southern California, near Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. The area is accessible via the 101 Freeway and local roads. For comparable camping experiences nearby, consider Malibu Creek State Park Campground which offers drive-in access through well-maintained roads about 15-20 minutes away. Another option is Lake Piru Recreation Area, located northeast of Lake Sherwood in the Los Padres National Forest, accessible via Highway 126 and Piru Canyon Road.
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