Crystal Cove Beach Cottages offer restored historic beachfront cottages set along the Newport Coast. The cottages maintain their 1930s and 40s architectural character while providing modern amenities within walking distance of the shoreline. Located in a quiet pocket of Orange County at approximately 80 feet above sea level, these accommodations present unique overnight options for visitors seeking cabin camping near Newport Coast, California.
What to do
Hiking the trails: Multiple trail systems connect directly from Moro Campground — Crystal Cove State Park to scenic ocean overlooks. "Crystal Cove State Park and Laguna Coast Wilderness Park are adjacent to each other, and a small pedestrian gate separates them. The best trail here stretches across the two parks -- No Name Ridge!! Amazing for EPIC SUNSETS!" notes Chanel C.
Explore tide pools: The rocky sections of coastline near cabin rentals offer excellent tide pool exploration at low tide. "Lots of fun things along the beach to look at like tide pools and rock formations beach," mentions a visitor to Moro Campground. These pools reveal diverse marine ecosystems including sea anemones, small fish, and crabs.
Water activities: Cabins at Newport Dunes RV Resort provide access to a lagoon with seasonal water features. "They have a beach front for group tent camping on the sand, and also have tent camping in the resort. In the middle of the lagoon they have blow up obstacle in the water to climb on," writes Aaron S. The resort offers kayak, paddleboard, and pedal boat rentals by the hour.
What campers like
Tiered campsite design: The layout at Moro Campground creates optimal ocean viewing from most sites. "The sites are terraced, so no matter which site you get you'll have a view of the ocean," explains Elly A. "There are about 60 camp spots and a lot of them are RVs, but it's nice because each row of 10 spots is elevated from the previous row (tiered campsites) so everyone gets a semi view."
Proximity to conveniences: While feeling remote, cabin accommodations at Launch Pointe Recreation Destination and RV Park offer proximity to urban amenities. "Location wise - awesome. We used the campground as a base camp to spend time in LA and San Diego as well as a day in Joshua Tree National Park. 1-2 hours from everything," shares Bryan H. This central position makes cabin camping near Newport Coast ideal for multi-destination trips.
Coastal walking options: The cabin accommodations provide direct trail access. "We stayed February 5th and 6th at site #23 but it looked like most of the sites had great views of the Pacific. The campsites are roped off and have a decent amount of distance between them," writes Amy H., adding "There is a nice day area and trails within walking distance."
What you should know
Noise considerations: Despite their natural setting, some cabin camping areas experience traffic noise. At Canyon RV Park, Christina S. notes: "The site is bordered by highways on both sides, and they create noise day and night. They're also clearly visible." Plan accordingly with earplugs if you're sensitive to ambient sounds.
Fire restrictions: Many cabin camping locations have strict fire policies. At Moro Campground, reviews indicate: "No coal or wood fires. Kind of a bummer since your evening ends early. You can bring propane pits yourself for fires though." Propane fire pits must be brought with you if evening campfires are important.
Reservation competition: Securing cabin accommodations requires advance planning. Cabins at Newport Dunes and Crystal Cove Beach Cottages typically book months ahead, especially for summer weekends. Kenny T. who stayed at Crystal Cove Beach Cottages writes: "Truly a hidden gem! We popped in and luckily was able to get the best view in house, please check them out and support the cottages!"
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly amenities: Rancho Jurupa RV Park offers extensive recreation options for children. "Beautiful views all around Sunrise, Sunset and Night sky. Sights of all kinds of birds like hawks and herons. Water park and mini golf for kids," reports Xochiquetzal G. The splash pad features multiple water jets and is operational during summer months.
Beach accessibility: When staying with children, check about beach access routes. At Moro Campground, one visitor notes: "The campgrounds is a little further from the beach than I expected from looking at photos online. There is no direct beach access so you'll have to go to the day use area and pay for parking ($15 parking)."
Playground facilities: Several cabin camping locations feature modern playgrounds. At Guajome Regional Park, one reviewer mentioned: "They have a very nice nature trails for walking. And don't forget about the huge awesome playground! The kids loved it!" These play areas provide entertainment when taking breaks from beach activities.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: When booking cabins or RV sites at Guajome Regional Park, consider site elevation. "We stayed at Guajome County Park in March in site #6. It had a nice picnic table and firepit and the Park Ranger gave us some wood that was left by another camper. Our site was elevated over the sites below giving us additional privacy," shares Julie T.
Utility requirements: If bringing an RV to Newport Coast cabin camping areas, prepare for specific hookup situations. At Newport Dunes, Ray S. advises: "Be fully aware that these spaces can be very tight, overall we will stay again." Most cabin-oriented campgrounds offer full hookup options but require surge protectors for electrical connections.
Shower facilities: When transitioning between beach activities and cabin accommodations, shower access becomes important. "The bathrooms are pretty clean, some of the showers run pretty hot but I didn't mind it," notes a Moro Campground visitor, while another mentions: "Showers are token operated but it didn't take many coins to get a decent warm shower."
