Camping options near Malibu span from sea level beach locations to inland canyon settings at elevations up to 2,500 feet. The coastal Mediterranean climate keeps temperatures mild year-round, with summer highs rarely exceeding 85°F at the beach and winter lows seldom below 45°F. Most campgrounds in the area operate year-round due to these favorable conditions, though coastal fog can roll in during summer mornings.
What to do
Beach exploration: 10-minute walk from Leo Carrillo State Park to tide pools and caves where kids can discover marine life. "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 a camper at Leo Carrillo State Park Campground.
Fishing: Direct beach access at Point Mugu where you can fish right from the shore. One visitor at Point Mugu Recreation Facility shared their experience: "Beautiful Beach! Great place to go fishing, watch Sea Lions and Birds. Walking my dog on the beach. Watching the sun rise and beautiful sunsets."
Hiking: Multiple trail options at Malibu Creek State Park connect with larger networks throughout the Santa Monica Mountains. A recent visitor reported, "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. It was easy to imagine you weren't anywhere close to the city."
Disc golf: Full course available at Lake Casitas Recreation Area that provides a less strenuous activity option when temperatures rise. "The most fun is the water park. You can take a break from the heat and tube down the lazy river. Also there is a disk golf course," mentions one reviewer.
What campers like
Proximity to beaches: Leo Carrillo offers beach camping with ocean access that's rare in Southern California. According to one visitor, "The campground is tucked away in a beautiful canyon setting with lots of shade trees, which was really nice for keeping cool. Our site was spacious enough for our two tents and had a good fire pit and picnic table setup."
Wildlife viewing opportunities at Point Mugu where visitors regularly spot sea lions and various bird species. A camper mentioned, "We watch seals, ducks and more swimming around the beach. We practically had it all to ourselves. It was quiet and well maintained."
Shade availability at Oak Park campground provides relief during hot summer days. "The park is kept well groomed, and the lower lot is loaded with shade. I'm betting we'll be coming back, again, after our up-coming reservation," notes a satisfied camper at Oak Park.
Water recreation at Lake Casitas includes boating and a water park with a lazy river for cooling off. One visitor shared, "The lake offers fishing and boating, no body contact. There are several campsites around the lake. Some lakefront and some wooded. There is a Park store conveniently located."
What you should know
Token-operated showers: Budget $2-4 per shower at Leo Carrillo State Park. "Facilities were decent- bathrooms were kept fairly clean and showers worked well, though the token system($2 for 2 minutes) takes some getting used to," reports a camper.
Peacocks at Ventura Ranch KOA are beautiful but can be loud and messy. "Peacocks live there! They roost in the trees and just mingle with the campers without a care in the world," explains a visitor at Ventura Ranch KOA.
Airplane noise at Dockweiler Beach RV Park is constant due to LAX flight patterns. A recent visitor explained, "You will hear each and every if the planes taking off from LAX, but at one point you don't hear them anymore. It was not really annoying, but that flight at 5a was..."
Train noise disrupts sleep at Kenney Grove Park. "This site provides a pretty nice location close to home. The train however is also close and very loud!" warns one camper.
Tips for camping with families
Bring a wagon for beach gear when staying at Leo Carrillo. "Bring a wagon if you're hauling beach gear though, as the walk can feel long with all your stuff," advises a camper.
Kid-friendly activities at Ventura Ranch KOA include zip lines and a jumping pillow. "From zipline obstacle courses to tie dye classes, this KOA easily occupies kids and has teepee and cabin rentals available for glampers, but nice showers, clean bathrooms and a roomy pool area really make this campground 5 stars," shares a visitor at Kenney Grove County Park.
Water park access at Lake Casitas provides splash time for younger children. "The water park. You can take a break from the heat and tube down the lazy river," mentions a reviewer. "Cute and perfect for families with small children. My son is 11 and all he could do was the lazy river."
Playground equipment at Oak Park offers entertainment for kids. "There are clean flush toilets, water and fire pits available. Also multiple hiking trails right from the grounds, and some playgrounds and basketball courts. Feels very family friendly," notes a camper.
Tips from RVers
Site selection at Leo Carrillo requires planning for larger rigs. "It is a huge campground with paved pads for cars and RVs. Many of the site had huge shade trees that you could fit several tents under," notes a visitor. The campground features 30 and 50-amp hookups with a dump station.
Consider dry camping at Dockweiler for more space and better experience. "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. The dry camp provides much more space, but only relatively small RVs," advises a camper at Dockweiler Beach RV Park.
Site leveling challenges at Ventura Ranch KOA require preparation. "Our lot was secluded, private and close to the entrance/exit. The only thing was the unlevel ground we were on. Our RV was a simple 30' rental without any leveling," warns a recent glamping visitor at Ventura Ranch KOA, which offers glamping close to Malibu, California.
Limited space for large RVs at Malibu Creek State Park. "Nice campground for a big state park. Good for Hiks and bikes. Some interesting movie TV sets in the area. Decent cell coverage. Best for tents, tight for RVs," cautions a camper at Malibu Creek State Park Campground.
