Great campground!
I’ve been coming to this campground since I was in diapers, I totally relax when I’m here!
Site184
Campsites sit on a bluff right on Pacific 👣 steps down to beach 🌞
South Carlsbad SB is a gem ~ it sits on a bluff right over the Pacific Ocean and is just a few steps down to beach. 👣
Each site has a large iron fire pit and picnic table ~ btahrooms and showers are plenty ~ there is a little genrral store that has firewood ~ food ~ batteries and the like.
Close to many wonderful places to see La Jolla ~ Del Mar horse racing track ~ Carlsbad flower fields & Windmill ~ Oceanside pier are just a few miles drive.
Sooooö PĘÅCĘFUL to have a fire going ~ watching SŮN set and heat the waves lapping you to sleep.
ĘNJÖY
Site168
Month of VisitMay
Fun!
We came here year after year with groups and always loved it! The beach is beautiful and it is so convenient to camp here and just keep walking down to the beach everyday. The sites are on the smaller side but they are well maintained and there are plenty of showers and bathrooms situated throughout the campground. The actual campground itself isn't exactly scenic as it is just a road with sites on wither side and little shade in every site but that is not why people usually come. There is a store in case you need anything along with other perks, such as junior ranger programs. A pricey camping option but very much worth it to be on the beach, just busy!
Month of VisitJuly
Amazing Views
The sunset was amazing. The site was pretty spacious, could have fit two tents. The night was cool and all you could hear at night was the sound of the ocean even though we camped near to an RV. Our site was somewhat near the stairs to the beach. During the day it was warm but at night it cooled down quite a bit.
Site039
Month of VisitAugust
Wonderful views
This campground provided a perfect place to rest our heads during the Cotopaxi Questival. It provided a place for campfires, our tent and a great view.
Month of VisitSeptember
Camping by the beach
We had a great stay here overnight. It was wonderful to be by the beach.
Site104
Month of VisitSeptember
Beautiful beach campgrounds
Stayed here for a quick night during Questival. The bathrooms are clean and the sites were well kept. The parking people are strict but the the ticket is the same cost as paying for parking so not to worry! Not too noisy at night or windy
Site110
Month of VisitSeptember
It's the beach and only the beach that will bring you here.
There is one reason and one reason only to stay at South Carlsbad Campground, and that is Carlsbad State Beach. It's a pretty convincing reason. The sand is perfect. The waves consistent. The water warmer than normal (which probably isn't a good thing in the long run, but it feels like the Caribbean Sea right now.
The actual campground is huge and narrow with one road splitting the sites down the middle. All the sites are roughly the same with the major differences being depth and the amount of shade. The ocean side sites are premium priced ($50 during peak season) and the road side is more affordable ($35) but still pricey for a campsite. Especially one that has no privacy and is backed up against a highway. The Pacific Coast Highway but still. Sites are on sand, have a picnic table and a fire pit...and that's about it. If you're lucky, we weren't, you'll have some shade or privacy to one direction or another. Not many sites do so google earth it if you can. There are pay showers, flush toilets and a camp store with booze, ice cream bars and flip-flops if you forget yours.
And it's busy...all the time. Most sites are booked in advance most of the peak seasons and the camp also acts as the access point for locals and tourists accessing big portions of the beach. With nearly 200 sites and additional traffic be prepared for sand always being kicked up, kids wandering aimlessly and noise from generators, partiers and traffic.
That all sounds not so great, but the location of the camp on the cliffs overlooking the beach is still pretty great. It's not Big Sur, but it if you're looking for beach you won't find a finer spot to camp just about anywhere in SoCal. San Elijo Campground down the road is a smaller version of Carlsbad SB but is also hard to get a spot in without reservations.
Overall, I'm giving Carlsbad SB Campground 2 1/2 Tent Stakes of Awesomeness. It isn't wilderness, but it is the beach. The location makes it worth it. Car, RV or Van camping is more fun that tent camping just because of all the sand, and to cut down on noise, and surf spots within walking distance.
Pro-Tip #1: California has its own reservation site now. reservecalifornia.com. You can still see the basics on reserveamerica but can't actually reserve it. The new reservecali site is kind of a dick.
Pro-Tip #2: The far south end of the camp has the most shade/privacy brush, and only has sites on the ocean side so you'll have far more privacy.
Pro-Tip #3: Google Earth your site. The difference between sites next to each other is big when you're talking about any versus zero shade.
Pro-Tip #4: Pizza Port Brewing for pizza and beer. You'll be glad you did.
Site146
Month of VisitAugust
Great site
Super beautiful area (obviously), with a tent site overlooking the beach (but fenced in). Wish we could camp on the actul beach but that is rare. There was privacy and it wasnt overcrowded.
Month of VisitApril
Ok for groups
I was not a huge fan of this campground but I think for out of towners, or for a fun time with friends by a bonfire, it would be great. Campground is in town, right on a major road/hwy, crowded, and loud. The beach is very rocky and not the best place to swim but if you go further north or south there are sandy beaches.
If you have have small children or are looking to party the location being so close to stores and food would be nice. Also it's a beautiful location and staff are friendly. So while I didn't find it to be that great others may have a lovely time.
Month of VisitMay
Great location!
We stayed 2 nights and wanted to stay a third. It was awesome to be so close to the ocean and be able to walk down to the beach. There were big groups on both sides of us, but that was just because we didn't notice how close our site was to the group site. There are bushes in between every site though so it really creates a lot of privacy. Hot showers, close to a grocery store and other conveniences. Carlsbad is also an adorable little town!
Month of VisitMay
South Carlsbad State Beach Campground
I've camped here a few times, in tents, and RV's. Beautiful views of the ocean, but a little cramped and noisy.
Great location, hard to get reservation
For years my family has camped at South Carlsbad State Beach. It's a great location right along the beach. It's very hard to get a reservation, you have to call exactly 6 months out, but we love coming here!
Great views from this campground
We spent 2 nights here. The sites along the road seem noisey. We stayed in a site on the side with ocean views. There's a small store in the campground if you forget anything. You can rent surfboards and boogie boards. There are showers that use tokens to buy time. I stepped on a stingray while we were there. Make sure you do the sting ray shuffle when you're going in and out of the water.
Beach Camping
Great place to camp in Southern California. Beautiful beach!
Carlsbad culvert
South Carlsbad is another Cali jem set up on a bluff overlooking the pacific. It is long and thin so it has a nice thinly populated feel. All bathrooms are clean. I was here during week of 4/20/15 and it was as nice as always. Like San Elijo it has a private feel at your site with the mature growh btw each site. You are along the rr tracks but that's a small price to access the sick beach and the incredible view. There is a nice hilton with a pool across the street. In. Are your kiddies need some creature comforts(I didn't say pool 'hopping' just using facilities as a client of the restaurant...), or daddy wants a bottle of red and a crisp flatbread without driving anywhere. There are nice a frames north and south, plenty of waves for all.
