Southern California Travel – Part 1: The Best RV-Friendly Beaches to Visit

There’s nothing quite like a Southern California RV road trip. With so much to see and do along the state’s many open roadways, the opportunities for getting lost (in a good way) and discovering new favorite destinations and adventures are endless. So why not load up the camper and take off?

If you’re thinking about taking the RV for a summer drive throughout California’s southern corridor––think San Diego, Los Angeles, Inland Empire––you’ll have plenty to sample and savor. Known for their golden coasts and stunning shorelines, these areas are teeming with beaches that are not only amazing to look at, but feature many RV-friendly accommodations, amenities, and services. Check out these prime locations on your next tour through Southern California. If you’re thinking about a trip along California’s Pacific Coast Highway, we’ve got a standalone road trip itinerary worth sampling, too.

AROUND SAN DIEGO

Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay

825 East Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910

Starting your road trip journey off in sunny San Diego is always a great idea. With one of the most perfectly temperate climates in the entire country, San Diego is a haven for beachgoers. Year-round water activity is always accessible to tourists and road-trippers if you know where to look.

If you are planning on trekking throughout Southern California in search of the best RV-friendly beaches, you should definitely aim to start in San Diego. And ideally, make your first stop Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay.

With almost too many amenities to list, the vibe at Sun Outdoors is always: relaxation. And while there are ample opportunities for pulling the RV up into one of the hundreds of full-service hookup spaces (options include: standard, deluxe, premium, and elite––all of which are spacious and accommodating), once inside the grounds, you feel like part of a genuine community. And best of all, you are never far away from the placid waters of San Diego Bay.

Amenities of this gem of a campground include:

Getaway Café––featuring delicious SoCal-inspired cuisine
Outdoor swimming pools and cabanas
Splash pads
Access to local hiking and biking trails
Schedules activities and events
Free shuttle transport to local shopping and education centers
Laundry
Arcade
Fitness center
Games room
Free WI-FI

Fiddler’s Cove Marina & RV Park

3205 CA-75, San Diego, CA 92155

This quaint RV park at Fiddler’s Cove is one of San Diego’s singular beachfront campgrounds that caters to active-duty military servicemen and women. A pet-friendly resort with ample space for long-haulers looking to have fun on the water (a nearby marina allows for plenty of access to water sports and recreation), Fiddler’s Cove is central to the area and provides campers with outdoor paths for hiking or biking, as well as open swaths of land and water for a peaceful and relaxing vacation.

With space to accommodate over 50 RVs, the other onsite facilities and amenities include:

WI-FI
BBQ pits
Laundry
Washrooms + showers
Dog area
Storage lockers
Dump station

Campland on the Bay

2211 Pacific Beach Drive, San Diego, CA 92109

With a whopping 500+ spaces for RVs of all shapes and sizes, Campland on the Bay is one of San Diego’s premiere campground sites for road trippers. A massive facility that is both pet- and kid-friendly, there are so many things to do you might find that you don’t have enough time to do and see them all.

Situated along the water, Campland includes some of the city’s best beachfront views. This fully functional and manned campground is always bustling with activity and is a dream for travelers looking to play on the water. Best of all, if you arrive without any watercraft or gear, you can easily rent them from the neighboring marina.

Additional amenities include:

Swimming pools + spas
Restrooms + showers
Boat launch
WI-FI + cable TV
Laundry
Bicycle rentals
Public beach
Skate park
Beach volleyball court
Gym
Cantina + bar
Kids’ activities
Playground
Horseshoe court

San Elijo State Beach Campground

2050 South Coast Hwy 101, Cardiff, CA 92007

Sitting among the beach community of Cardiff-on-the-Sea, San Elijo State Beach is considered a veritable paradise to the locals. And it’s easy to see why. Sparkling white sand beaches, roaring waves, impressive bluffs, and mountains of lush greenery come together to form a picturesque site––that happens to be the perfect escape for RV travelers.

The San Elijo State Beach Campground is a great option for RV road trippers to experience the area’s natural beauty while remaining centrally located and close to the water. Easily accessible via the South Coast Highway, this parking lot is not technically an RV park, however, drivers can use the paved spaces for overnight outings and access campsite hookups, picnic tables, WI-FI, and a nearby convenience store that sells snacks and camping essentials. San Elijo Beach is pet-friendly (provided you pick it up wherever you go).

South Carlsbad State Beach

7201 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad, CA 92008

With ample space for over 200 RVs, the parking resort at South Carlsbad State Beach is another great destination for motorists looking to capture all of the stunning coastal views. Overlooking the water, this campground is conveniently located near great eateries and activity sites, including biking trails and plenty of recreational water sports.

Additional amenities include fire pits, a dump station, washroom facilities, and a camping store for all your overnight needs. Despite the massive size, the park only features a few full-service hookups––and because of the beautiful scenery, it is a massively popular space, so be sure to call ahead and reserve a space.

AROUND INLAND EMPIRE

Seaview Estates Mobile Home & RV Park

336 Seaview Dr, Salton City, CA 92275

Billed as ‘a little slice of heaven in the desert’, this oasis is a perfect getaway destination for RV travelers looking to bask along the shores of the Salton Sea. Located on the western edge of the Inland Empire’s most famous body of water, the Seaview Estates Mobile Home & RV Park features a ton of amenities for journeyers looking to pop in or spend an entire month. Best of all, the lot sits along hundreds of acres of unspoiled beachfront, perfect for swimming, relaxing, and soaking up the sun. Seaview also offers guests a swimming pool, games room, fitness center, laundry facilities, and a clubhouse.

Additional amenities include:

WI-FI
Horseshoes
Dog area
Fire pits
Storage units
Lockers
Ice
Propane
Restrooms

Campground at Lake Perris State Recreational Area

Commissioned as a manmade reservoir in 1973, Lake Perris remains a popular recreational site in Southern California. So popular, in fact, that RV and camping come at a premium.

The camping ground at Lake Perris features a handful of amenities for recreational enthusiasts interested in experiencing the rugged mountain trails and, of course, the rip-roaring waters. However, the reservoir still operates as a source of drinking water for the local townships, so dogs are not permitted in the lake.

The nearby marina offers watercraft rentals, as well as amenities like a convenience store, bait and tackle shop, and mobile food trucks.

Holloway’s Marina & RV Park

398 Edgemoor Road, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

Big Bear Lake is home to some of the best waterfront shores in California––not to mention excellent fishing, recreation, and outdoor activity. The setting is a diverse mix of mountains, greenery, a placid lake, and sandy beaches, making it a perfect getaway spot for RVers.

Situated in Southern California, in the heart of the San Bernardino National Forest, Big Bear Lake is an adventurer’s wonderland. So it’s no wonder that it is also home to one of the greatest, RV-friendliest beaches. At Holloway’s Marina & RV Park, over 100 RV sites await weary travelers, most of them including full hookups. Additional amenities include washrooms, showers, a community playground, a convenience store, and quick and easy access to the marina where kayaks, pedalboats, and other crafts can be rented for the day.

AROUND LOS ANGELES

Huntington Beach RV Campground

20903 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Pulling into Los Angeles County from the south Inland Empire, you’ll once again begin to see the shores of the Pacific Ocean. This means you’re traveling through the ultra-hip city of Huntington Beach––a sight that immediately evokes California cool in every sense of the word. When you think of surfin’ USA, you’re thinking of Huntington Beach. With pristine sands dotted by palm trees galore, the easygoing community of beachheads is welcoming and friendly; meanwhile, the local shopping, dining, and entertainment options are some of the best in the state.

And if you’re looking to park the RV in a scenic and accommodating space so that you can experience all of this charm first-hand, there really is no place better than Huntington Beach RV Campground. Situated near the Pacific City shopping district, this campground features parking spaces with water and electric hookups, as well as 30- and 50-amp connections, for RVs up to 45’ in length. It operates by season so be sure to make a reservation.

Dockweiler RV Park

12001 Vista Del Mar, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293

Another diamond in the rough, this RV park is the only one in Los Angeles County that is situated on the beach––but it also happens to be one the best and most relaxing campgrounds in California. Featuring plenty of luxe accommodation and amenities, including a shared washroom and shower facilities, not to mention a dedicated site for laundry, Dockweiler’s 118-space campsite and its plethora of convenient services pair perfectly with the exhilarating surroundings.

Each parking space can fit a 40′ RV and includes complete hookups with water and electricity.

For fitness enthusiasts, abutting the beachfront perimeter is the 22-mile Marvin Braude Bicycle Trail that connects to many of L.A. County’s biggest attractions and cities, including Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, and the Redondo Beach Pier.

Malibu Beach RV Park

25801 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California

The best (and only) RV park in the city of Malibu also happens to be perfectly situated along the gorgeous landscape of Malibu Beach. And if you’re in Los Angeles County, a visit to Malibu Beach is a must. Featuring capacity for 140+ RV campsites (all of which feature 30/50 amp power, as well as water, electric, and sewer hookup), Malibu Beach RV Park also has Wi-Fi, full hookups, dedicated fire pits, and laundry facilities––and all within walking distance to the water, and a short commute into the glamorous city proper.

Be sure to book spots in advance as the scenic mountain and ocean backdrops, unsurprisingly, attract countless visitors throughout the year.

Additional amenities include:

Free WI-FI
Cable/TV Hookup
Bathrooms + Showers
Laundry Room
Convenience Store (that sells snacks, beer + wine, toiletries, RV and camping supplies)
Propane Service
Trash and recyclable disposal

ITINERARY:

SAN DIEGO > Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay > Fiddler’s Cove Marina & RV Park > Campland on the Bay > Lake Perris Campground > Seaview Estates Mobile Home & RV Park > San Elijo State Beach Campground > South Carlsbad State Beach > Dockweiler Beach > Huntington Beach RV Campground > Malibu Beach RV Park > LOS ANGELES

TOTAL DRIVE:
11 hours, without traffic

Directions:
For stunning beachside views and comfortable accommodations, continue heading north––or south. Why not do it all over again?