Camping near Malibu spans oceanfront sites and wooded canyon settings across several campgrounds along the Southern California coast. Malibu Creek State Park Campground has trails that lead to spots where famous movies and TV shows were filmed. Leo Carrillo State Park Campground sits right by the beach, giving campers easy walks to shoreline and tide pools. Point Mugu State Park contains two camping areas - Thornhill Broome Beach with sites facing the ocean and Sycamore Canyon with spots under large trees. Lake Casitas Recreation Area works well for campers who want to fish or take boats out on the water. Watch out for local wildlife like raccoons and coyotes when camping near Malibu, and store food properly. Fire rules can be strict, particularly when conditions are dry. Book ahead for most Malibu area campgrounds since they fill quickly, especially in summer months. Roads to these camping areas are generally good, though some get narrow and twisty. Most campsites come with basic tables and fire rings, but some have more privacy than others. Trees provide good shade in many areas, particularly at Sycamore Canyon. Most places limit stays to 14 days maximum. Malibu has camping that works for both beach lovers and those who prefer wooded settings.
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
$45 - $60 / night
"Close by in northern Malibu, it’s perfect for a weekend getaway, close to beach / surf. Hot tip, bring bikes to get to the beach."
"Various campsites with easy access to one of the best beaches in Malibu. Close to everything fun in So Cal- Close to The Pier, Malibu, Hollywood, LA and more."
$45 - $225 / night
"Who does NOT like Malibu. We had an Environmental campsites they are located in relatively undisturbed natural settings."
"Very close to Malibu Canyon Road and houses"
$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."
$45 / night
"The park is right off the highway, but there isn't much PCH traffic in that area at night so it was very quiet. I would highly recommend staying here."
"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."
$35 / night
"We went for a day after having camped at Malibu creek state park for the weekend and this was the best part of our trip!! It was so nice !"
"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."
$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."
$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."
"Every “road” in the park is themed with California or Hollywood themed decorations and murals. We were parked right next to a Mister Roger’s mural across from the laundry/bathrooms."
"Trees lovely gardens to walk the dogs. Commerce walking distance. I’m staying 8 more days.✌️"
$7 / night
"If you want a longer hike you can hike up the East Topanga Fire Road and then drop down into Musch Camp on the Backbone Trail from Eagle Junction."
"Although it’s not the most scenic campground itself, the state park has plenty of beauty to offer on its hiking trails. Not a single other party at the campsite on a Tuesday in September."
"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."
ScoutGreat camping experience. They have both electric and non-electric sites for campers and Tents. Just a walk or a bike ride to the ocean. The one really cool thing that this park has are Groves of sycamore trees all over and Coastal Oaks like I've never seen before.
TravelerThe only thing to do here is hike and the trails are not well marked. Tried to get to MASH site and almost missed it do to lack of trail markers.
The bathrooms are clean but no soap or way to dry hands.
Visitors center is a hike and only open on weekends if volunteers are available.
RV dump station usage is not included in site fee. Extra $10 per dump
Most of sites are not even close level!
TravelerBooked this campsite the night before our trip as a last second decision. It was spring break, so we were surprised to be able to find anything open. We arrived to a campground with only about half the campsites occupied. Our site was backed up against a creek and tons of trees. You could hear the water rushing by and the frogs croaking through the night. It was so peaceful. Ojai was absolutely wonderful, and less than a 5 minute drive… we rode horses, hiked, and shopped. At lake casitas we kayaked, hiked, and play disc golf. We also drove to Ventura and spent some time on the beach there. Definitely recommend this campground!
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.
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.
RangerThe Views are fantastic sites are rugged but very cool locations, This is mainly a Hike in CG most of the time and better have some serious clearance to get there even when the road is open in summer, BUT very worth it!
Malibu camping typically ranges in elevation from sea level along the beaches to around 2,000 feet in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Mediterranean climate brings mild winters and warm, dry summers with average temperatures between 50-85°F. Campers should know many sites require reservation windows of up to six months in advance, especially for summer weekend spots at oceanfront campgrounds.
Beach exploration: 10-minute walk from most sites at Leo Carrillo State Park Campground gives access to natural features. "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. The kids loved searching for hermit crabs and sea anemones," notes Alfred in a review.
Hiking the Backbone Trail: This recently completed trail extends through the Santa Monica Mountains and ends at Point Mugu State Park. "The backbone trail ends at this park, and was finally completed in spring 2016 - I strongly recommend hiking part of it, if you stay at Point Mugu," suggests Les R.
Archery practice: $5 Saturday sessions available at Tapo Canyon Park. "The archery range is one of the best in California. There is a members area and the original range is open to the public on Saturdays from 9-1, with a nominal $5 fee," mentions robherr.
Canyon shade: Malibu Creek State Park Campground offers relief from summer heat. "Campground is beautiful!! Spacious campsites with fire pits, and clean bathrooms (bring your own hand soap). Be aware of the limited hours for entering with a vehicle (8am-10pm)," says Lizzie C.
Ocean views from RV spots: The elevated position of Malibu Beach RV Park provides panoramic vistas. "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!" states Tim Z.
Wildlife sightings: Morning dolphin viewing is common at some beach sites. "The sound of the surf lulled us to sleep and we woke up to dolphins playing a few yards from shore," shares Kat P. about her experience at Point Mugu State Park.
Shower token systems: Many campgrounds use coin-operated showers. At Leo Carrillo, "the token system($2 for 2 minutes) takes some getting used to," according to Alfred. Other campers note similar systems at multiple Malibu area campgrounds.
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies widely by campground location. At Tapo Canyon Park, "there is no Wi-Fi here and as best we could tell, no cellular signal for any provider," reports Bower.
Wildlife precautions: Store food properly to avoid unwanted visitors. "Also spotted a few rats at night, so definitely store your food properly," notes Alfred about Leo Carrillo. At Tapo Canyon, "be careful at night. Mountain lions were spotted while there," warns April Y.
Bring a wagon for beach supplies: When camping near beaches, prepare for transport needs. "Bring a wagon if you're hauling beach gear though, as the walk can feel long with all your stuff," suggests Alfred about Leo Carrillo State Park.
Playground access: Thornhill Broome Beach at Point Mugu State Park offers kid-friendly areas. "Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. There are meadows down the trail on either side of the campground," states Jeremy F.
Movie location exploration: Malibu Creek State Park contains filming sites from popular shows. "The state park is a former movie set and is filled with easily accessible trails for hiking and some for mountain biking. The primary trails were open fire roads with off-shoots to lakes, pools, meadows, and more," explains Ryan W.
Size restrictions: Some RV campgrounds have height limitations for access. At Malibu Beach RV Park, a reviewer notes, "Attention pour avoir accès à la mer, le véhicule doit faire moins de 8 feet!" meaning vehicles must be under 8 feet tall to access certain areas.
Noise considerations: Dockweiler Beach RV Park offers oceanfront camping with airport proximity. "We had a dry campsite a bit further from the airport, so the plane noise was much less," recommends PRINCE C. who camped there as his first stop on a 5000 KM adventure.
Boondocking preparation: Many sites lack full hookups. At Sycamore campground in Point Mugu State Park, "there are no hookups so this is boondocking at its best," explains Theo A., advising self-contained operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you camp on Malibu beaches or near the ocean?
Yes, there are excellent options for camping near Malibu's beaches. Malibu Beach RV Park offers prime ocean-proximity camping with spectacular views. It's strategically located between the Malibu pier area and several beaches including Dume and Zuma, with a small beach directly across the street. Though primarily an RV park, they do accommodate tent campers as well. For beachfront camping slightly further south, Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground provides concrete/asphalt sites with water and electric hookups just steps from great sand beaches. While direct camping on Malibu beaches themselves isn't permitted, these nearby options provide easy beach access while maintaining proper facilities and amenities.
What camping options are available at Malibu Creek State Park?
Malibu Creek State Park Campground offers diverse camping experiences in a beautiful natural setting. The park features environmental campsites located in relatively undisturbed natural areas, each equipped with a table and tent clearing. Nearby primitive toilets are available for these sites. The main campground provides more developed facilities with clean bathrooms and shower facilities (showers cost $1 for 4 minutes, but require token conversion first). Multiple trash receptacles are available throughout the grounds. The campground is conveniently located close to Malibu Canyon Road, making it accessible while still providing a peaceful retreat. For hikers seeking more seclusion, Musch Trail Camp — Topanga State Park offers a hike-in option nearby with basic amenities including water and toilets.
Where are the best camping sites in Malibu, CA?
Malibu offers several excellent camping options. Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground is a favorite spot located on the Malibu-Ventura border with easy beach access, great surf breaks, and tide pools. The campground features sites under oak trees in a small canyon, with a convenient store for forgotten supplies. Another top choice is Malibu Creek State Park Campground, which offers environmental campsites in natural settings with tables and tent clearings. The park provides clean bathrooms and showers ($1 for 4 minutes), though tokens must be purchased first. Both locations provide the quintessential Malibu camping experience with proximity to beaches, hiking trails, and local attractions.
Are there any glamping or luxury camping options in Malibu?
While traditional glamping (glamorous camping) sites with furnished tents or yurts aren't prominent in Malibu itself, luxury camping options do exist. Malibu Beach RV Park offers an upscale camping experience with stunning ocean views and convenient beach access. Though pricier than standard campgrounds, the premium location and amenities justify the cost for those seeking comfort while enjoying Malibu's natural beauty. The upper section of the park provides particularly impressive vistas. For those willing to venture slightly beyond Malibu, Point Mugu Recreation Facility offers comfortable accommodations with modern amenities. Additionally, several private properties in the Malibu hills occasionally list luxury tent stays and unique accommodations on popular vacation rental platforms, providing custom glamping experiences with ocean views.
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