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Camping near Palos Verdes Peninsula, California ranges from full-hookup RV parks on the beach to tent campgrounds at state parks up to 35 miles away. Dockweiler Beach RV Park in Playa Del Rey offers direct beach access with full hookups, while Golden Shore RV Resort in Long Beach provides marina-adjacent camping with city amenities nearby. Most camping in this area caters to RVs, though some locations like Leo Carrillo State Park (25 miles northwest) and Malibu Creek State Park (35 miles north) accommodate tent campers in more natural settings. Catalina Island, accessible by ferry from the peninsula, provides a more remote camping experience with developed campgrounds at Two Harbors and Avalon.
Reservations are essential for most campgrounds in this densely populated coastal region, particularly during summer months when beach sites fill months in advance. As one camper noted about 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 and a very long bike path." Urban noise is common at most sites, with aircraft noise affecting Dockweiler due to its proximity to LAX. Pacific Coast Highway traffic creates background noise at many coastal campgrounds, though canyon locations like Leo Carrillo offer more shelter. Winter camping brings cooler temperatures and occasional rain but significantly fewer crowds.
Beach access represents the primary draw for most campers in the Palos Verdes area, with bike paths connecting many coastal campgrounds. Several reviewers highlight the convenience of nearby urban amenities while still enjoying oceanfront camping. At Bolsa Chica State Beach, visitors appreciate that "there are even a few restaurants located on the beach path within the state beach parking area." Site privacy varies considerably, with many campgrounds featuring closely spaced sites. A reviewer of Doheny State Beach noted, "The middle sites are small and tight, offering little privacy. You will be right next to your neighbor." For those seeking more seclusion, the canyon campgrounds in Malibu or the island campgrounds on Catalina offer greater separation between sites and a more traditional camping atmosphere.
"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 Availability"However, you do get some road noise if you stay on the road side"
"This park is close to the action in Long Beach. Easily walkable or there are always E bikes and scooters to rent right outside the gate. Also, really appreciated that this RV park was gated."
from $80 - $85 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $45 - $225 / night
Check Availability"Beachfront camping in the heart of southern California. Concrete/asphalt sites with water electric and dump station. Adjacent to PCH so road noise but steps away from great sand beaches."
"Super convenient beach front parking with good restrooms and outdoor showers as well as a beach path perfect for walking, biking, rollerblading, etc."
from $60 - $70 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"Awesome park, clean, level paved pads with a parking space..nice amenities, small NEX nearby. Wildlife reserve adjacent to the park made it nice for walking the dogs, too"
"Very clean, cement slab, walking paths well lit and near to many areas to explore. Wetlands on the base and birds galore."
"There are almost always other RVs/campers so you a rarely alone:) there are fire pits on the beach (California is otherwise very strict about fires) that are free to use."
"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."
from $45 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Booking a site here at Waterfront, provided us a excellent homebase that was close to the water. In all, you are about a 2 minute walk to the sand, and 4 minutes to the oceanfront. "
"Your not on the beach but literally on the other side of pacific coast highway you are there."
"The grounds are impeccably clean, beautifully maintained, and set in a truly stunning location. Everything feels well cared for and thoughtfully run."
"As we expected, the sites are stacked up next to each other like dominoes with minimal foliage/fencing to separate the sites."
from $75 - $550 / night
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TravelerI went there to see, before making a reservation. I found the trailer park—maybe 100 old mobile homes—but I never found an RV park. I didn’t see anything to see. The “pool” was empty. The office was locked, and it wasn’t lunch. Just kinda not happening. I left a message to call me with the answering service, but I never got a call back.
TravelerI was lucky to find this place. It’s well run, comfortable, friendly. Nice spots.
TravelerWell maintained, nice folks, pleasant to talk with. I stayed there 2 months, and enjoyed it.
TravelerThey speak so highly of Dockweiler RV Park, but they forget to say that it has no WiFi, and poor cell phone reception as well. I reserved a space, they made me pay in advance for the whole 3 weeks. They helped me park the camper… avd they never said anything about no wifi. I feel the rv site has been misrepresented. “Oh, well, wifi works in the office, but not even 5 spaces away”. I live alone in my RV. No wifi means I’m sitting here alone in a dead RV. Lonely. Everyone has wifi, yet they don’t mention they don’t , nor even cell phone reception, usually. I get only 1 bar
GuideStopped here on a Friday night after spending the day in Simi Valley. It was a ghost town, with only one other campsite occupied that showed no movement or activity at all. The train isn’t running in the overnight hours, so that’s a plus, but the vibe at the lower campsite is making it tough to sleep nonetheless. Two stars for a clean bathroom.
TravelerWell maintained small campground. Fact that you are downtown Long Beach with lots of food and attractions close is a major selling point. But campground itself has pool, hottub and small store on site. Campers/RV are pretty close parked but each spot comes with table and some lounging space.
TravelerI found the staff to be off putting, unpleasant, even contrary.
ScoutI found the campground to be very friendly kid friendly and pet friendly. The spots were spacious and some had privacy others were out in the open. The rangers were very friendly and helpful, they helped me set up my tent when they saw I was having trouble. There are trails to explore. A great last minute getaway from the city and not to far, the bathroom was clean and modern with hot showers and toilets.
ScoutOnline Review
Rating: 1/5 Stars
Title: Horrible Experience — Zero Empathy and Harassment of Disabled Guests
If you are a traveler with disabilities, a service animal, or simply expect basic human decency, stay far away from Waterfront RV Park.
My stay here was a nightmare. I was placed in a cramped corner spot with barely enough room to maneuver. Because of my medical condition, I rely on a service dog. I had to park slightly over a painted line—by a mere 8 inches—just to have enough physical space to load my service animal safely. My vehicle blocked no one, yet night after night, park security targeted and harassed me over this minor detail, acting rude and aggressive.
When I experienced a severe medical emergency and panic attack, security chose to escalate the situation, berating me while I was injured and confused instead of offering help. Management showed zero empathy or willingness to listen. After learning my truck was broken down at a dealership, making it physically impossible to move my RV immediately, they threatened to tow and impound it without giving me reasonable time or process.
This facility lacks basic compassion, professionalism, and respect for its guests. Save yourself the stress and avoid this park.
Urban camping options around Palos Verdes Peninsula generally require advance planning due to limited availability. The coastal region offers several RV-focused sites with ocean proximity, though tent campers need to travel further to find suitable accommodations. Most campgrounds in this region experience significant ambient noise from nearby roads, aircraft, or urban activities, with noise levels decreasing in canyon locations or during weekday stays.
Beach exploration at low tide: Malibu Leo Carrillo State Park Campground offers excellent tide pool access. "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 who visited in October.
Bike along coastal paths: Waterfront RV Park in Huntington Beach provides direct access to extensive coastal bike trails. A reviewer explains, "We rode bikes along the bike path through Huntington, and went for daily walks as well. In all, you are about a 2 minute walk to the sand, and 4 minutes to the oceanfront."
Water activities in protected bays: Newport Dunes RV Resort offers family-friendly water recreation. "They have activities for the kids like arts and crafts, an inflatable obstacle course or you can rent paddle boards or watch a movie on the beach," writes one regular visitor who returns annually.
Convenient urban proximity: Golden Shore RV Resort offers city access with RV comfort. "Very well maintained campground. The spots are groomed and clean when you come in. Great Long Beach location, a nice bike ride along the beach to Naples and the Queen Mary," explains a reviewer who found the location ideal for exploring the area.
Canyon settings with shade: When temperatures rise, Malibu Creek State Park Campground provides natural cooling. "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. The sites are fairly open and close to each other, so be prepared to hear everything," notes a December visitor.
Direct beach access: Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground positions RVs near the shore. As one camper observed, "Beachfront camping in the heart of southern California. Concrete/asphalt sites with water electric and dump station. Adjacent to PCH so road noise but steps away from great sand beaches."
Aircraft noise impacts: Dockweiler Beach RV Park experiences regular air traffic. "We loved this spot next to the beach. We got used to the planes, but they are certainly jarring at first," mentions a camper who stayed despite the noise. Another reviewer suggests, "Stayed in the dry-camping area. #128. 19-20 foot max length. Right on the beach. Airplanes landing were noticeable, but the sound just faded into the background after a while."
Limited privacy between sites: Most coastal camping sites offer minimal separation between neighbors. At Newport Dunes, a reviewer cautions, "I hope you like cozy. Neighbor in campsite next to us yapped his belligerent drunken mouth all weekend."
Security considerations: Some campgrounds experience urban challenges. A reviewer at Waterfront RV Park warns, "Be careful and aware when staying here. My husband and I had our mountain bikes stolen when sleeping. When we asked for camera footage the owners of the campground claimed the cameras were broken and they couldn't share the footage."
Bring beach gear transport: At Leo Carrillo, walking distance requires planning. "Bring a wagon if you're hauling beach gear though, as the walk can feel long with all your stuff," recommends a family who visited with children.
Consider midweek stays for quieter experience: Weekends bring crowds to Malibu Beach RV Park. A visitor noted, "Only half the dry sites were used even on the weekend in November," suggesting that off-peak timing offers a more relaxed experience.
Wildlife awareness: Properly secure food at all sites. "Also spotted a few rats at night, so definitely store your food properly," warns a Leo Carrillo camper. Another reviewer mentioned, "Squirrels are very aggressive and will eat your food if left unattended."
Site selection matters: At Dockweiler Beach RV Park, different sections offer varying experiences. "Review of dry campervan section of park only, which seemed considerably more quiet and less chaotic than the big RV area... Best sites are 125-128," advises a visitor who found the quieter section preferable.
Limited height clearance in some areas: Access restrictions can affect larger vehicles. One camper at Leo Carrillo warns, "Attention pour avoir accès à la mer, le véhicule doit faire moins de 8 feet!" (Attention to access the sea, vehicles must be less than 8 feet tall).
Utility outages can occur: Waterfront RV Park has experienced service interruptions. A reviewer reported, "Since my arrival 3 days ago, two of those days we have been without water until 5:00pm... This morning we were notified the electricity would be shut down from 10:00pm to 5:00am due to maintenance."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 115 campgrounds and RV parks near Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA is Dockweiler Beach RV Park with a 3.7-star rating from 27 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA.
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