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Camping spots around Topanga, California, range from beachfront sites to mountain locations. Point Mugu State Park stands out for campers who want to be right by the beach. North of Malibu, you'll find Malibu Beach RV Park with full hookups and good views of the ocean. Getting to the RV park is easy since it's right off Pacific Coast Highway, which works for all types of vehicles. Watch out for local wildlife - you'll need to store food properly. During dry times, there might be limits on campfires, so check before you go. You should book ahead, particularly in summer when these places fill up fast. At Point Mugu, some sites have trees and feel more private, while Malibu Beach RV Park is more open with better views of the coast. The weather stays pretty mild all year, though it does get cooler at night in winter, so pack the right gear and check the forecast. Both places limit how long you can stay - usually two weeks max. If you like hiking, there are trails nearby that go through the Santa Monica Mountains. Topanga's camping areas work well for both tent and RV campers with different setups.
"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"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"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"Every “road” in the park is themed with California or Hollywood themed decorations and murals. We were parked right next to a Mister Roger’s mural across from the laundry/bathrooms."
"Trees lovely gardens to walk the dogs. Commerce walking distance. I’m staying 8 more days.✌️"
"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"Musch Camp is an easy one mile hike from from the Trippet Ranch Parking Lot in Topanga State Park."
"Really felt away from the " concrete jungle" of the city."
from $7 / night
Check Availability"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."
"If you love Fall and trees and the California golden sun... this place is the place to be! It has it all in one."
from $45 / night
Check Availability"Not crowded and a place you can rarely camp beachfront in souther California. I have to note the bathrooms are absolutely terrible."
"Not that close to the bathroom. Has a picnic table and fire pit with grate. Every site is pretty much the same other than if you’re close to the bathroom or not."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"This 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."
"This campground happens to be very close to home so we went here to try out our brand new pull behind camper trailer for the very first time.
The campground is small, quiet and very well-kept."
from $269 - $289 / night
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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.
ScoutI found the staff to be off putting, unpleasant, even contrary.
GuideSite 49 is a large drive-in site with plenty of room. It accommodates up to two vehicles and has a picnic table and fire ring. There’s communal water nearby, and we’re conveniently close to the restrooms, which have flush toilets. There are no electrical hookups, so plan to be self-contained for power. One of my favorite things about this particular site is the shade. We have several trees around us, which makes a huge difference during the day. At the end of September it’s around 85° and sunny. It’s a little windy today, but sitting here in the shade is incredibly comfortable. And then there is the view. 🌄 That may be the best part of Site 49. The mountains are right in front of us, and the view is just beautiful. Morning coffee with three beagles stretched out in front of me and those mountains in the background? I'm not complaining. The campground itself has been very quiet during our stay, with relatively few other campers around. The camp host has been friendly and helpful, and the whole place has a peaceful, uncrowded feel. It’s also pet friendly, which obviously matters when your camping crew includes three beagles. 🐶🐶🐶 They have been loving the sunshine, shade and all the new things there are to sniff. A few things to know: this is a non-electric site, the driveway is gravel, and this isn't a fancy resort-style campground. If you're looking for hookups and manicured RV pads, this probably isn't it. But if you want space, quiet, shade, flush toilets, water nearby and a mountain view that looks like that for $45 a night? I’ll take it. Site 49 is going on my “come back here” list. 🌄💜
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.
RangerJust far enough from the highway to have almost no noise. Nice loops into small valleys. Good spacing of sites, clean enough restrooms. Not very busy on a September Saturday. Some bugs, but I don't think they bite.
TravelerThe spots are huge and you have space to relax next to your wooden bench and table. The restrooms and showers are bit gross but works. You have to buy tokens to use hot water in the shower tho. 45 USD per night and you can use dump station so it is fair comparing to other campgrounds in this area.
TravelerGreat rv site site used ele bikes outside to get to beach brilliant!! Would use again
Travelervery pretty sight the mountain air is incredible. the staff is very helpful and friendly. at night the drunks go crazy and the bears steal their food.
ScoutThe hike-in experience has captivating views and diverse environment. Really felt away from the " concrete jungle" of the city.
Topanga campgrounds provide varied terrain from canyon to beach settings. Sites range from primitive trail camps to full-service RV parks with oceanfront views. The Santa Monica Mountains location creates moderate year-round temperatures with summer highs around 85°F and winter lows rarely below 40°F.
Hike extensive trail systems: Malibu Creek State Park offers trails with unique features for hikers of all levels. "There is a 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," notes Ryan W.
Explore tide pools: At Point Mugu State Park, beach access provides excellent marine discovery opportunities. "The campground is right next to the beach with gorgeous California hill views of PCH behind you," explains Angelica G., who appreciates the peaceful coastal setting.
Try archery: Tapo Canyon Park offers weekend archery lessons for visitors. "There is archery with lessons for kids on the weekends. Very fun! If you are new to RV camping, it's a good place to practice," according to a camper from Simi Valley.
Beach camping experience: Thornhill Broome Beach provides direct oceanfront sites. "To avoid large crowds you can easily drive into these sites on off seasons in late Spring and Fall. The weather is perfect and you're literally camping directly on the beach," reports Erin G.
Proximity to wilderness and urban amenities: Malibu Creek State Park Campground offers rare urban-to-wild transition. "Three miles from a the grocery and only minutes from north LA, you'll find a basic campground with flush toilets, coin showers, and easily accessible hiking trails," says Ryan W.
Ocean views from elevated positions: Many campers prefer the panoramas from Malibu Beach RV Park. "I have been on a 3 month trip and stayed at 22 different campgrounds. Malibu RV Resort has the best views for the price, hands down," writes Michael M.
Canyon settings with shade: Leo Carrillo State Park offers cooler camping options. "The campground is tucked away in a beautiful canyon setting with lots of shade trees, which was really nice for keeping cool," reports Alfred, who appreciated the natural cooling during hot weather.
Easy backcountry access: For those seeking simple backpacking near Topanga, Musch Trail Camp provides accessible wilderness. "Musch Camp is an easy one mile hike from from the Trippet Ranch Parking Lot in Topanga State Park," notes Erik M., highlighting its convenience for overnight hiking trips.
Vehicle restrictions: Some areas have height limitations for larger vehicles. "Attention pour avoir accès à la mer, le véhicule doit faire moins de 8 feet!" warns a visitor at Leo Carrillo State Park, noting the height restriction for beach access.
Wildlife precautions: Rattlesnakes and other wildlife require awareness. "Rattlesnake warnings are posted everywhere in camp," reports John B. about Tapo Canyon Park. Other campers mentioned bobcats and mountain lions in the area.
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited connectivity. "Cell service is virtually non-existent in the canyon, but you can get signal up at the beach if needed," notes Alfred about Leo Carrillo, while others report no service at all in some locations.
Shower systems: Most state park campgrounds use token-operated showers. "Two tokens for a dollar, two minutes of hot water per token. It took most of the first two minutes waiting for the water to get hot," explains Heather G., suggesting campers budget accordingly.
Playground facilities: Leo Carrillo State Park Campground offers family-friendly facilities. "The kids enjoyed the playground and fields," mentions April Y., who found the campground accommodating for children.
Beach exploration activities: Families often favor coastal camping areas. "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," shares Alfred.
Supply proximity: Many Topanga area campgrounds have nearby shopping. "As a bonus, there is a Ralph's just up the street, so you'll never be far from anything you'd need," notes Jean, who stayed at Malibu Creek State Park with multiple family members of different ages.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children often enjoy the animal spotting opportunities. "There is plenty of birdwatching, and coyotes were wandering through the park and campground without fear," reports Ryan W., noting the abundance of wildlife visible from camp.
Site selection at beach locations: Dockweiler Beach RV Park offers different site types with varying benefits. "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 Ignasi M.
Parking assistance at tight parks: Some RV parks offer parking help for tight spaces. "This isn't a self-park park...the spaces are so close together that they use a cart to park you," explains Donna H. about Hollywood RV Park, noting the staff assistance for navigating compact sites.
Full hookup options: Several campgrounds provide complete services. "Good size campsites. Full hookups, Public Restrooms and nice playground area," reports Larry B. about Tapo Canyon Park, appreciating the comprehensive amenities.
Noise considerations: Aircraft noise affects some coastal campgrounds. "We loved this spot next to the beach. We got used to the planes, but they are certainly jarring at first," shares Tyler G. about Dockweiler Beach, referencing the nearby LAX flight path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the designated campgrounds in Topanga State Park?
Topanga State Park has one primary designated campground: Musch Trail Camp — Topanga State Park. This primitive campground is accessible via a moderate one-mile hike from the Trippet Ranch Parking Lot. For a more challenging approach, hikers can take the East Topanga Fire Road and then connect to Musch Camp via the Backbone Trail from Eagle Junction. If you're looking for additional camping options in the greater Topanga region, Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground is relatively nearby along the coast, offering a different camping experience with beach access and more developed facilities.
What amenities are available at Topanga camping areas?
Topanga camping areas offer primitive, rustic accommodations with minimal amenities. At Musch Trail Camp — Topanga State Park, you'll find basic facilities including picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Water is available but limited, so bringing extra is recommended. For campers seeking more amenities near Topanga, Bonelli Bluffs offers more developed facilities including water hookups and restrooms, though it lacks playground amenities for families with children. Most Topanga area camping is designed for self-sufficient campers who appreciate a more natural experience. Cell service can be spotty throughout the canyon, so download maps and information beforehand. Pack-in, pack-out principles apply at all Topanga camping areas.
Is camping allowed in Topanga Canyon?
Yes, camping is allowed in Topanga Canyon, but only in designated areas. Topanga State Park does permit camping, though options are limited. The main camping opportunity is at Musch Trail Camp — Topanga State Park, which is accessible via a one-mile hike from the Trippet Ranch Parking Lot. This is a hike-in only campground, so vehicle camping directly in Topanga Canyon is not permitted. For those seeking camping options near Topanga without the hike, you might consider Malibu Creek State Park Campground which is a short drive away. Dispersed or roadside camping is strictly prohibited throughout Topanga Canyon to protect the sensitive ecosystem.
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