The Santa Monica Mountains surrounding Westlake Village, California feature diverse camping options within a 30-minute drive, ranging from beachfront sites to canyon retreats. Leo Carrillo State Park Campground in Malibu offers shaded canyon camping with beach access approximately 10 minutes away on foot. Malibu Creek State Park in nearby Calabasas provides year-round camping with hiking trails and natural swimming holes. Point Mugu State Park's Sycamore Canyon and Thornhill Broome Beach campgrounds offer both mountain and oceanfront experiences. Most sites accommodate both tent and RV camping, with varying levels of hookups and amenities.
Reservations are essential for most campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill months in advance. California fire restrictions frequently impact camping, with seasonal bans on open flames common during dry periods. As one camper noted at Leo Carrillo: "The campground is tucked away in a beautiful canyon setting with lots of shade trees, which was really nice for keeping cool." Many campgrounds feature coin-operated showers, picnic tables, and fire rings when permitted. Cell service varies significantly, with canyon locations like Leo Carrillo having limited reception while beach areas typically offer better connectivity. Traffic noise affects some locations, particularly those near Pacific Coast Highway or Highway 101.
Beach access represents a major draw for many campgrounds in the area, with tide pools and marine wildlife viewing opportunities. Campers consistently mention the juxtaposition of mountain and ocean environments as a highlight. "You get access to a private beach with gorgeous California hill views of PCH behind you," reported one visitor to Leo Carrillo. Noise considerations include weekend crowds, passing trains at some coastal sites, and highway sounds. Malibu Beach RV Park receives praise for ocean views despite its proximity to the highway, with one camper noting: "Once night falls all you can hear is the sound of waves crashing on the shore." Wildlife sightings include birds, coyotes, and occasional marine mammals along the coast, though proper food storage is advised as small animals may visit campsites.
$45 - $60 / night
"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."
"The campground is tucked away in a beautiful canyon setting with lots of shade trees, which was really nice for keeping cool."
$45 - $225 / night
"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."
$80 - $300 / night
"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."
$45 / night
"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."
$35 / night
"Not crowded and a place you can rarely camp beachfront in souther California. I have to note the bathrooms are absolutely terrible."
"You are so close to the water and there is plenty of space between you and your neighbor. When we were there many people had RVs so there were only a few tents."
$30 / night
"If you’re looking for a campsite off the beaten path with gorgeous views and some unique exploring nearby, this is it. I stayed here in a 22 foot RV at one of the hookup sites."
"Incredible drive through vineyards, citrus tree farms just to get to the Salton Sea. Such a cool place to stay and see. Nice, paved short trail to the beach."
"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."
"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."
"This location is conveniently situated near the heart of Los Angeles, making it an ideal spot for those looking to explore the city’s many attractions."
"The tent sites are very basic and very close together, but the surroundings are worth it!"
"This is a wonderful campground right next to the beach however it is only available to the military and their families."
"Also multiple hiking trails right from the grounds, and some playgrounds and basketball courts. Feels very family friendly. First come first serve spots and you make reservations online."
TravelerThis is a very fun place to stay at. They have a lot of cool things for the kids to do like arts and crafts movie nights and a playground. All the employees are very helpful. The convenience store has everything that you need for camping. Me and my family will definitely be coming back to this place.
GuideThis was one of those campgrounds that just gets the basics right. Easy check-in, level site, picnic table in good shape, and enough privacy that we didn’t feel like we were camping in someone else’s backyard. We had a short walk to water, beautiful sunset views, and surprisingly little noise at night.
GuideStayed at Site 90, which might be the best in the whole park. Huge space, tons of shade, and a really cool, large sycamore tree. No power or water at the site, but there was a water spigot nearby. We stayed Monday–Friday and it wasn’t overly crowded during the week. Friendly neighbors, lots of families, and none of the classic“LA” rude or loud campers. The camp store was really convenient, and the staff were very nice and helpful. The beach is about a 5-minute walk—our kids loved the tide pools and caves. Definitely check the low tide times before you go. Very limited Verizon service, which is a plus in our book. Overall, a really good experience. The family and I will be back.
RangerThe Views are fantastic sites are rugged but very cool locations, This is mainly a Hike in CG most of the time and better have some serious clearance to get there even when the road is open in summer, BUT very worth it!
TravelerCamping at the beach in LA! Large country campground that has sites designed for motorhomes and sites designed for travel trailers and fifth wheels. It asphalt campsites, but you’re at the BEACH! My only complaints are the electrical was not working properly, (I had to connect to 30A instead of 50A), and people don’t pick up after themselves.
Scoutfirst, as a drop in you can‘t stay more then two nights even if they have room!
second, annually pool maintenance in spring break! without information when checking in, and it’s not a cheap one and i chose it for the pool! no information no discount, had to beg to at least get a poolchair, so much gras to chill no chairs!
third the showers are only dripping and i was the only one showering! again, not a cheap place!
and fourth, WIFI does never connect, really for a campground with this price, every cheap one has better WIFI and some people need it as internationals!
TravelerThe bathrooms and showers are very dirty. That’s probably related to the fact that it’s a huge campground, but when you pay $50 you also expect more than that. We’ve definitely seen much nicer places for $50. I certainly wouldn’t take a shower there.
On top of that, they gave us a campsite that didn’t exist. After that, we were offered to sleep in a parking spot that was some kind of late parking. Someone came and knocked the next morning saying we had to leave right away, even though our slip said 12:00 checkout.
I definitely won’t be coming back.
RangerVery tropical, and a nice cool place to walk and chill to get out of the Hot Ojai Sun. The campground is very small and primitive and tough to get spots Thursday through Sunday if you can its pretty fun but can turned int a little party place on weekend nights and quite a but of craziness... But a weekday, after a good rain, pretty magical, and lots of hiking out of he CG and lots of hiking and VERY close to the Piedra Blanca Trailhead and Sespe River
RangerOverall the CG is fine everything you need just fine, Location is okay Beach 5 miles away many trails to hike and the Valley shopping and other Typical So cal things are 20 minutes away and L.A. is 35 minutes away (with no traffic). but That locaion is what makes the death of this place.with over 1 million (not exaggerating) having immediate access to this place and it not over all restful experience, and is just too darn PEOPLY!!
Westlake Village camping options span from mountain sites to beach locations with terrain ranging from rocky coastal bluffs to inland valleys at elevations between 400-1,500 feet. The Mediterranean climate provides mild year-round camping conditions with coastal areas typically 10-15°F cooler than inland sites during summer. Fire restrictions typically limit campfires to established fire rings during non-red flag conditions.
Hiking nearby trails: At Malibu Creek State Park Campground, access multiple trails directly from your campsite. "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," notes a camper. The park features former movie set locations along easily accessible fire roads with trail offshoots to lakes and pools.
Explore tide pools: The beaches near Thornhill Broome Beach offer excellent tide pool exploration. "The views from the beach are amazing! There are rocks to the left and right that are fun to explore," explains one visitor. Morning low tides typically provide the best viewing conditions for hermit crabs and sea anemones.
Wildlife observation: Multiple campgrounds offer wildlife viewing opportunities. "During a holiday weekend the trails were fairly busy with day-use hikers, but even then, it was easy to get away and be on trails alone if you wanted," reports one Malibu Creek camper. "On a hike right out of the park a few hundred yards, I came across a pair of bobcats—mom and cub—making their way to a running creek."
Proximity to amenities: Tapo Canyon Park provides camping with civilization nearby. "Go here to relax and disconnect! Large grassy area for picnicking etc. Small park area for the children. And a really amazing looking archery zone that the public can use on Saturdays for a mere $5," writes one camper. The park combines nature access with family-friendly facilities.
Flexible setup options: Many campgrounds accommodate various camping styles. At Musch Trail Camp, backpackers enjoy accessible wilderness camping. "Musch Camp is an easy one mile hike from the Trippet Ranch Parking Lot in Topanga State Park... The cost is $7 per person per night. You can pay at the Entrance Station at the Trippet Ranch Parking Lot or the Iron Ranger at the camp," explains a visitor.
Natural sound environment: Despite highway proximity, several beach campgrounds offer pleasing acoustics. At Thornhill Broome, "next to the highway but all you can mostly hear are crashing waves. Very chill," writes one camper. Another notes, "The sound of the surf lulled us to sleep and we woke up to dolphins playing a few yards from shore."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly, especially during weekends and summer. "We noticed they had one random night available on a Monday. There were at least 3 other empty sites. I don't know why people don't cancel their reservation if they're not going to come. There are very few sites here," explains a Thornhill Broome camper.
Vehicle access limitations: Some campgrounds have specific entry/exit restrictions. At Point Mugu State Park, "be aware of the limited hours for entering with a vehicle (8am-10pm)." For Thornhill Broome: "They lock the gates for vehicles entering at night and if you leave you can not get back in until they re-open next day!"
Ground conditions: Surface types vary significantly between campgrounds. At Tapo Canyon Park, "for actual tent camping, you will be in either decomposed granite or concrete... I have camped here in a tent and there is no way to drive a stake into the ground." Rocky beach areas may require equipment adaptations: "You setup your tent right on the beach (there are plenty of large rounded rocks to use in place of steaks)."
Playground access: Several area campgrounds offer playground facilities. At Tapo Canyon Park, "there is a playground and large covered picnic area. First come first serve camping, decent sized spots with shade, fire pits, and water." Another visitor mentions the "wonderful playground" as a key amenity for families with children.
Beach-focused activities: For families seeking water activities, Malibu Beach RV Park offers convenient beach access. "Perfect weekend getaway for the family! Loved the store and how close to the beach this place was," writes one camper. The park sits on bluffs overlooking the Pacific with a "park to lounge or play games on the cliffs edge."
Bathroom facilities: Family campers often prioritize clean restroom access. At Musch Trail Camp, campers find "bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks as well as a water spigot." One visitor notes: "Did not expect the bathrooms to be very clean. They have running water to flush the toilets, and to wash your hands."
Space considerations: RV sites vary significantly in size and accessibility. At Tapo Canyon Park, sites are "designed for RVs. The sites are fairly large and well spread out for an RV lot." However, at Malibu Creek State Park, one RVer notes it's "best for tents, tight for RVs."
Hookup availability: RVers should research hookup options before booking. At Malibu Creek, there's "no hookups so this is boondocking at its best." Meanwhile, Tapo Canyon offers "full hook ups. 15, 30, 50 amp electrical, water, sewer, but no phone or internet." Many RVers report the trade-off between amenities and natural settings: "Great spot for beach day use."
Parking assistance: Some RV parks provide unique parking support. At Hollywood RV Park, "the spaces are so close together that they use a cart to park you," and "Steve the owner is amazing and the team will take your rig on a forklift to your site and fully set you up."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Westlake Village, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Westlake Village, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 161 campgrounds and RV parks near Westlake Village, CA and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Westlake Village, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Westlake Village, CA is Canyon Campground — Leo Carrillo State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 56 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Westlake Village, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Westlake Village, CA.
What parks are near Westlake Village, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Westlake Village, CA that allow camping, notably Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Angeles National Forest.
Keep Exploring
