Kaitlin S.
Scout
ScoutChilao Campground
Manzanita
First stayed around 25-30. Maybe flies season? Crazy amount of bugs. Moved to down the hill much better. Clean bathroom. Quiet at night.
Camping near Malibu, CA
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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.
Best Campgrounds near Malibu (144)
1. Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground
"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."
from $45 - $60 / night
Check Availability2. Malibu Creek State Park Campground
"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"
from $45 - $225 / night
Check Availability3. Malibu Beach RV Park
"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."
from $80 - $300 / night
Check Availability4. Sycamore Canyon Campground — Point Mugu State Park
"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."
from $45 / night
Check Availability5. Thornhill Broome Beach — Point Mugu State Park
"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."
from $35 / night
Check Availability6. Dockweiler Beach RV Park
"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."
from $65 - $80 / night
Check Availability7. Hollywood RV Park
"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.✌️"
8. Headquarters Campground — Salton Sea State Recreation Area
"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."
from $30 / night
Check Availability9. Musch Trail Camp — Topanga State Park
"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."
from $7 / night
Check Availability10. Point Mugu Recreation Facility
"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."
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Recent Camping Photos near Malibu, CA
286 Photos of 144 Malibu Campgrounds
The Dyrt
Malibu Beach RV Park
Chanel C.
Malibu Creek State Park Campground
Modern Life R.
Malibu Creek Orchard Retreat
Yvonne P.
Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground
Davlyn F.
The Lodge at Deer Creek
robherr
Sage Ranch - Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
Molly G.
Sycamore Canyon Campground — Point Mugu State Park
Danny T.
Headquarters Campground — Salton Sea State Recreation Area
Jeremy F.
Thornhill Broome Beach — Point Mugu State Park
Cierra M.
Oak Park
Manon S.
Hollywood RV Park
John C.
Point Mugu Recreation Facility
Recent Reviews near Malibu, CA
963 Reviews of 144 Malibu Campgrounds
Benjamin T.
GuideOak Flat Campground
Quiet escape north of LA
Stopped here overnight from San Diego traveling up to Northern California. Nice little spot past the craziness of LA.
It’s just off the highway which makes it an easy stop. I was one of four people there
- jjeanne A.Guide
Hollywood RV Park
Great place to stay
Very relaxing in Hollywood themed RV Park. Owner is very helpful and will help you park your RV and setup. Dog park and full hookups. $90 per night.
- MMarjolein V.Scout
Dockweiler Beach RV Park
Unreachable, unfriendly and uncompliant personell
Called them around 5 times over several times on different days. They only allow a minimum of 2 nights stay. They had no spaces available 2 nights in a row. But there were multiple spots avaible on our nights. So i told them i didnt mind moving the RV, but they didnt want to cooperate on that and rather leave the spots open.
- KKaty K.Scout
Antfarm LA
Never got response to reservation
I never had the chance to stay at this site. We’re so disappointed as it seems amazing. My reservation request expired and I never heard from them.
The reviews in Hipcamp are all so positive but none are newer than Aug 2025. So I wonder if they’re just not booking anymore. Seems strange based on the effusive praise of the host. Hope they’re ok.
Wanted to leave this review so others are aware that they should have a plan B if they attempt to book this site.
Grant M.
RangerDockweiler Beach RV Park
Incredible location, but is what it is.
When you book a beachfront site in the flight path of LAX, you know there’s some things, and they do indeed have those things, but on the beach and close to the action. Great trail system, easier access in and out than I’d hoped, price less insane than I feared. Loud, crowded, and urban.
- AAmélie P.Scout
Hollywood RV Park
Surprising camping
The host is so kind, helped us to park our RV, showed us all around. Beautiful art pieces and history in this camp.
- NName
TravelerFairways RV Resort
Nice park
Big flat concrete slabs with gravel around the pad very clean looks brand. New hook ups were perfect, I could actually screw the hose into the sewage connection
- Tim Nelson P.Scout
Fairways RV Resort
Great park
Very clean, updated. All sites are level, modern and clean. A little pricey for military rv park
Guide to Malibu
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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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?
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?
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?
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?
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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