Join the fun near Santa Margarita. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Santa Margarita is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Santa Margarita. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$35 - $165 / night
"Unlike many state campgrounds you find near the highway or railroad tracks, this one is located a nice distance from the road. Still, it is within walking distance to a small marina and restaurant."
"It is only 2 miles away from Morro Rock and the adorable tourist town full of shops and eateries."
"The drive up is a bit treacherous but nothing unbearable. Our car can off road quite well, but our friend had a Volkswagen Golf and it also did perfectly fine and never bottomed out."
"It’s best to have an offroader to come here, but van can do too."
$40 / night
"Tucked behind the dunes (and you definitely want a site next to the dunes!)"
"Sites far apart, easy access to garbage disposal, flush toilets, showers and nice grassy sites. It is a short walk to the beach."
$50 / night
"Located just off Highway One between Morro Bay and Cayucos, the grounds look somewhat like a parking lot with trees and shrubs separating it from the sand dunes and the ocean."
"Morro Strand is steps away from a beautiful stretch of beach filled with sand dollars and an amazing view of Morro rock looking south."
$60 - $70 / night
"It was located right next to the water park but they had already closed for the season."
"Lopez Lake Recreation Area is 15 minutes behind the “Village” of Arroyo Grande, CA."
$25 - $50 / night
"They do charge extra for dogs, $3.50/day/dog, but was well worth it as they have beautiful large dog parks a mile behind the campsite."
"This is a great campground close to San Luis Obispo. It is great for tent or RV camping and is located near a park, garden, and golf course."
$35 - $39 / night
"Found a location on fcf basis. Campsite #2 was nice but had to walk through campsite no. 1 In order to get to my car, which was kind of a hassle."
"Easy access to hiking trails (Cerro Alto summit) from campsite. About a 20 min drive to Morro Bay/ Morro Rock. Pit toilets. No showers."
$35 - $74 / night
"California, Morro Dunes RV Park
Located right on the beach and ocean near Morro Rock. Within walking distance from Downtown Morro Bay.
Directions: From highway 1 exit at E. G."
"Great access to bike path and just a few minutes walk or bike ride to down town/harbor with harbor shops and restaurants. Amazing view of Moro rock, super close by!"
$150 / night
"Quiet, peaceful and surrounded by skies perched out atop a hill."
"This campground is near the beach on the central California coast . It has tent and RV sites. The only amenities are non-flushing toilets and water . There are no lights at night, so it is very dark."
"Got there around 2pm and was the only car in sight until 4 ish when a car pulled up and parked for the night 5 feet away from me 🙄 RUDE!!"
"Drive up was a little nerve wracking, but found a pull out for 2 vans and it was perfect. Love this spot."
ScoutGreat camping ground for families especially with small children
ScoutThe front office staff is amazing. Expect to unhitch and have maintenance move your trailer into the spot for you… but make sure you remind them you need to level if yours isn't a self-leveling rig. And expect them to be impatient and wanting to get to the next job.
Location is good if you don’t plan on spending much time at your campsite apart from eating, sleeping, and cleaning up. You will be up and personal with all your neighbors - sounds, smells, etc.
AND smoking is permitted in the campsites so you'll be sharing that with your neighbors too.
Recommend one night max for tank clean out and fresh water refill.
GuideThe park attendants were friendly and helpful. The site was clean and people were friendly!
ScoutGreat spot to post up if you want to spend some time in SLO. The sites on the dry loop (Bishop) have little privacy, but most are pull-through. The loops with services have much more tree coverage, but when I was there seemed to be mostly occupied by long term RVs.
I didn't use the showers, but they looked clean (take quarters, I believe) and the bathroom facilities were prime.
Yes, you can hear traffic on Highway 1 from here, but it's not bad at all and the views of Bishop Peak are splendid. Also saw a turkey wander by the first day.
GuideThe spot is honestly wonderful! Such great views, quiet, not even too windy. The road up here is indeed a little challenge: first there is pavement but the last 1/3 of the road is dirt only; also very bumpy. We made it through with our van, 2 wheels only haha, but it was rough indeed. It’s best to have an offroader to come here, but van can do too.
TravelerThis is a great BLM campground with picnic tables, fire rings, and picnic shelters. Pretty much the only option for this setup anywhere around. However, the gnats, bees, mosquitoes, and flies are relentless!
ScoutAlthough the location is very scenic and a 10 min walk to the beach, I wouldn’t return because there are ALOT of ticks at the campground. We went with a party of 11 and found multiple ticks on 5 people. I remember combing the reviews on this site and saw someone posted two years ago that there were a lot of ticks and just wanted to confirm that there still are, so camp with caution.
TravelerWasn’t sure I was going to make it even with my Subaru Forester (would have been fine I think but I have a hitch mounted basket). It’s absolutely gorgeous up here! Can’t set up my bathroom and have a lot of vertigo though.
ScoutClean, close to beach & eateries, yet private
Camping near Santa Margarita, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a beachside retreat or a quiet spot in the woods, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Camping near Santa Margarita, California, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the beautiful surroundings!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Santa Margarita, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 88 campgrounds and RV parks near Santa Margarita, CA and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Santa Margarita, CA is Morro Bay State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 59 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Santa Margarita, CA.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Santa Margarita, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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