Best Beach Camping Spots in California

Located near the northern end of Fort Bragg in Mendocino County, MacKerricher State Park - Main Beach is a mile-long beach with dark brown sand and sparse vegetation. The beach is situated below oceanfront bluffs and is part of MacKerricher State Park, known for its rocky shoreline and numerous metal beach-poles. The water near MacKerricher State Park - Main Beach is cold with strong currents. While the beach itself lacks lifeguards or amenities, the surrounding state park offers restrooms, picnic tables, and extensive hiking and biking trails. Dogs are welcome on leash. Access to MacKerricher State Park - Main Beach is convenient, located near 24100 MacKerricher State Park Road, easily reached from Shoreline Highway / Pacific Coast Highway via Mill Creek Drive. There's a free parking lot nearby.

Located along the northern portion of Humboldt County shoreline, Gold Bluffs Beach is a large beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. This beach is situated below oceanfront bluffs and is a part of a state park named Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. As an interesting fact, the beach was named "Gold Bluffs" as deposits of gold were discovered in the area around the beach in the 19th century. However, efforts to mine gold from the area around the beach were abandoned due to the difficulty in separating the sand. Gold Bluffs Beach does not have lifeguards. 

Nestled between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach in Southern California, Crystal Cove State Park Beaches is known for its natural seashore and plentiful activities. To get to this beach, you can enjoy the scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, where you’ll find the Los Trancos Parking Lot that charges $5 per hour, or $15 per day. 

Located in the southern part of Monterey County in Big Sur, Kirk Creek Beach - also known as Kirk Creek Campground Beach - is a campground that has a small rocky beach with very little beige sand.  The beach is present below the campground, which is positioned over a 100-foot-tall ocean bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and offers Instagram-worthy views of the Santa Lucia Mountains and Big Sur coastline.  Kirk Creek Beach is managed by Los Padres National Forest and Kirk Creek empties into the ocean towards the northern end of the beach. 

Located along the Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County in Southern California, Refugio State Beach is a small golden sand beach with many rocky portions.  This beach is positioned along the Pacific Coast Highway and has a spectacular backdrop of dunes, coastal bluffs, palm trees, lush vegetation, grasslands, and a campground, creating a picturesque setting along the Santa Barbara Channel.  Refugio State Beach is part of the Kashtayit State Marine Conservation Area managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and is promoted as an ecotourism destination, encouraging sustainable tourism practices that preserve its natural environment and marine life.

Pfeiffer Beach also featured in USA Today's list of Top Ten Beaches in California in 2015 and countless other lists on travel planners. Moreover, it is popular among pet lovers as it allows dogs on leash and is one of the few beaches in the Big Sur region to do so. If you are planning to go into the water near Pfeiffer Beach, we recommend being extremely careful and preferably wearing a wetsuit as the water here is extremely cold and is known for dangerous rip currents. Moreover, between May and July, this part of the Big Sur coastline becomes extremely foggy (a phenomenon known locally as the "June Gloom") which can make navigation difficult while in the water near Pfeiffer Beach. Nevertheless, you can stay on the beach and observe a variety of animals present in the water here including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). You can also explore the tide pools present on the northern side of the beach during low tides which contain a variety of animals including crabs, mollusks, and sea urchins. You can also explore the various interesting rock formations present around the beach shoreline. Pfeiffer Beach is a popular spot among photographers for its unique geographical features. We recommend visiting this beach at around sunset as during this time sun rays seem to pass through the natural tunnel at Keyhole Arch, presenting a beautiful illusory effect.

Located in the town of Stinson Beach, Steep Ravine Beach is a very small, narrow, rocky, and secluded beach situated at the mouth of Webb Creek.  Steep Ravine Beach is a part of Mount Tamalpais State Park and is next to a campground that is managed by Steep Ravine Environment Campground.

Located in the city of Malibu, Thornhill Broome Beach is a part of the five-mile-long Point Mugu State Park and is situated in front of a long campground in southern Ventura County.

Located in the community of Two Harbors, Two Harbors Beach - also known as Isthmus Beach and Banning Harbor - is a north-facing beach and a natural harbor that has light brown sand. This popular and narrow beach is situated in a cove named Isthmus Cove. Two Harbors Beach also has a wooden pier. It is important to note that this beach is only one of the two natural harbors after which the community of Two Harbors is named. The other natural harbor (named Catalina Harbor) is situated towards the south of Two Harbors Beach. Two Harbors Beach does not have lifeguards. However, the area near this beach has a general store and a water-sporting equipment rental shop named Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center. Dogs on leash are allowed on the beach.