Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, CA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$45 - $60 / night
"Wonderful area with good hiking spots, beach access for both you and your dogs."
"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."
$35 / night
"Even though you are lined up next to your neighbors, noise just doesn’t carry because the roar of the ocean is so loud! It’s amazing to fall asleep to."
"Not crowded and a place you can rarely camp beachfront in souther California. I have to note the bathrooms are absolutely terrible."
$45 / night
"In addition, you're right next to the beach! Dogs are allowed on the beach and campsites, but not allowed on the trails. Park Rangers advised me this was due to rattle snakes on trails."
"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."
$45 - $225 / night
"The sites are fairly open and close to each other, so be prepared to hear everything, and because the campground is close to the city it is popular with groups and families."
"Also something to be aware of, they do not allow dogs, big bummer. Years ago, I saw dogs in the park, but the last time I went, they were not even allowed in. Otherwise it’s a very pretty place."
$80 - $300 / night
"Great location, spectacular views, kid & pet friendly. Lots of Extras!
Best part is the kindness of the Malibu Beach RV Resort Staff.
Priceless!!!
Happy J Stewart"
"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"
"Walking my dog on the beach. Watching the sun rise and beautiful sunsets. customer Service and knowledge at the MWR are extremely helpful."
"The tent sites are very basic and very close together, but the surroundings are worth it!"
$75 - $85 / night
"The Lodge at Deer Creek is new to the Dyrt and has the perfect location where the mountains meet the ocean. Check them out and leave a review about your stay on the Dyrt!"
"Its only a short 5 minute windy road drive from pch and you still get cell service."
$150 / night
$40 / night
"Emma Woods was a nice little get away, we stayed for one night, we couldn't leave the cats behind for too long.
"
"There are no toilet facilities here (there are some portapotties at the entrance though - those might be for staff though.).
The only "amenity" this place offers is trash and recycling bins. "
LegendEconomical for California and the area. Off the beaten path from all the craziness by the beach.
We are just passing through CA or it would not be my top spot. They nickel and dime a lot of things, showers pets. We paid online and we pull up and all of a sudden getting charged $5 a day extra for pets including a cat that doesn't leave the camper. Was not thrilled about that.
Otherwise, it was scenic, had a camp store, was close to restaurants, had a gate to drive into, so the place was pretty secure. Seemed like a lot of people gathered on the weekends.
We had the dirt campground which wasn't my favorite but all that was left, while the other campgrounds had cement pads. It was still pretty level.We did have cell reception, nice views and they had a water park for kids during summer months, though wasn't open while we were there.
ScoutClose to town but no cell signal, this place is amazing! Large camping area and I’ve never felt crowded ! Quarter showers and laundry, and a dog park! Lots of deer in the area and Great Lake to fish at! They also offer some hook ups for the rv campers
ScoutJust to be clear, I love lake Casitas. I grew up camping here with my family. The reason I’m writing this review is to warn pet owners about the abundance of foxtails and burs. We have 2 poodle mixes with med-long hair and they both ended up with their fur filled with burs and foxtails. So much that it required a vet visit. This was from a weekend camp in our RV that had a large rug and they have raised dog cots.
LegendEven though you are lined up next to your neighbors, noise just doesn’t carry because the roar of the ocean is so loud! It’s amazing to fall asleep to. We loved exploring the sand dunes across the street and even saw a pod of dolphins! Restrooms were well maintained and staff was friendly. A huge bonus is that it was pet friendly, but most of the trails around are not.
ScoutGreat location, spectacular views, kid & pet friendly. Lots of Extras!
Best part is the kindness of the Malibu Beach RV Resort Staff.
Priceless!!!
Happy J Stewart
LegendHardly anyone there when I went in March and felt like I had the place to myself! Hot showers and picnic table available. Just a 1 min walk down the hill to the lake - a perfect place to have my morning coffee! They allowed pets which is awesome. Super quiet, lots of stars, and a beautiful view. Couldn’t ask for better!
TravelerThis is a great campground, pricey though at $41 a night+$2.50 for pets. There are water spigots at every site and there are RV hook ups if you have an RV. There are hot showers that take quarters. It gets hot, and it's full of insects, but very beautiful place surrounded by farms and fresh produce.
LegendCampground has three separate site loops with about 90 Dry Camp camp locations. Water spigots are available in some areas, but not for permanent hookup. I was here in November and it was pretty empty except for the weekend. Some people changed their minds about camping as often in California, there is high risk of fire and no campfires or BBQ's were allowed.
Common areas and every other site was closed due to Covid restrictions. Camp host was very friendly. Some nice hills for hiking and Pyramid lake was close by, paid access to the lake was not included in campground fees.
Restrooms are available and cleaned daily.
I enjoyed my stay here and there was plenty of room for walking my dogs.
TravelerThis is a very nice campground near everything but still away from it all. No issues parking our 42' 5th wheel here. Clean and quiet despite the peacocks. They can be rather loud when startled. I swear they could hear my morning alarm and squawked their disapproval. The camp host Shawn is AMAZING! Bathrooms are very clean. Showers are coin operated. DO NOT expect cell service. I could only work from this spot by placing my mobile HomeFi router on top of the camper. Our Verizon phones were paper weights. Make sure your reservations are complete online before arriving. The Rangers check the spots multiple times a week. The kids enjoyed the playground and fields. It's not uncommon to see and hear movie/TV production crews at the filming locations along the road. Pet friendly but be careful at night. Mountain lions were spotted while there.
Discovering pet-friendly camping options near the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area allows you to enjoy the great outdoors with your furry friends. Here are some excellent campgrounds that welcome pets and offer a variety of amenities and activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 53 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 75 dog-friendly camping locations near Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
