San Elijo Campground: Camping on California's Beaches- Top Rope Media

Camping on the California Coast: San Elijo Campground

San Elijo Campground is one of the best beach camping spots on the California coast! Picture yourself perched up on the bluff, overlooking the ocean, going to sleep with the sound of the waves. If you’re planning a road trip, or just want a break from the inland heat, here’s everything you need to know about San Elijo State Beach and Campground!

Where is San Elijo Campground

The San Elijo campground is located at San Elijo State Beach, nestled in the coastal town of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, or just Cardiff if you want to sound more like a local. It’s sandwiched in between the larger beach towns of Encinitas and Solana Beach. Cardiff is not a large town, it’s mostly residential. And, the shops and restaurants are actually located in a small cluster on San Elijo Avenue and not on the 101 or Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). This gives you miles of uninterrupted ocean views!

Beachfront campsites are hard to find in California, but San Elijo has several spots and a few with hookups!

When to Visit San Elijo Campground

Whether you’re coming for a few days to camp, or plan to stay a few weeks, the campground at San Elijo State Beach is open year-round! The best months for camping along the California coast are July through October. Then you can avoid the May gray/June gloom we typically experience when the fog rolls in and sticks around almost all day. And, although the cooler winter months will see fewer travelers, you’d enjoy those months better if you have an RV or other hard-sided vehicle.

Keep in mind, California camping is popular all year round! So, plan ahead by booking your campsite in San Elijo a few months in advance. Check out our Road Trip Camping Packing List for a full list of what we bring!

Here’s the San Elijo Campground Map and San Elijo State Beach. Pay attention to where the bluffs and stairs are, as there is no handicapped accessible way to reach the beach from the north end of the campground (left side of image).

How to Book a Campsite at San Elijo Campground

Once you’re ready to book a campsite at San Elijo State Beach, use ReserveCalifornia.com to reserve a campsite.

Not seeing the campsites you want or finding the campground fully booked? Try logging on at 8am each morning. This is when changes/cancellations are applied. And, it’s how we were able to score an oceanfront campsite less than 48 hours in advance!

Lower, Middle, and Upper Sections of San Elijo Campground

Camping is available in either the Lower, Middle, or Upper sections of San Elijo State Beach. What’s the difference? The lower section of the San Elijo campground is right near the river mouth, or the San Elijo Lagoon. It’s the best spot if you want to surf Cardiff Reef. More on the different surf breaks in a bit. The lower section is also best for families with little kids who want easy beach access with no stairs. There is a lifeguard station right here, and there are both oceanfront spots and inland sites. No hook-ups or shore power.

The middle section lies just north and has both hook-ups and standard sites, but steep stairs to get down to the beach. However, it’s easiest to get into the town of Cardiff from the lower or middle section, which is where you’ll head for groceries, shops, and restaurants. The Upper section is high up on the bluff. So you’ll have incredible views of the ocean and sunsets, but alas, lots of stairs. No hook-ups here either, but it is a lot quieter. And fewer kids. And, good access to Pipes, another great surf break!

Note: During high tide, the middle and upper sections of the San Elijo campground’s beach become almost inaccessible. The waves often crash right up against the cliffs! So it’s great for getting out to surf without crowds, but not good for little kids.

Camping along the California coast at San Elijo State Beach means beautiful sunsets, s’mores around the campfire, and being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the sea.

What to Expect at San Elijo Campground

After you check in at the ranger station around 3pm you can be out in the ocean in less than 10 minutes…unless you want to unpack! Here are the amenities and things you should be aware of at the San Elijo campground:

Picnic tables, fire rings with grills
Full hook-ups at some middle section sites (see the San Elijo Campground map above)
Tokens are available at the ranger station kiosk for hot showers!
Bathrooms and dishwashing sink
Drinking water spigots in front of every other campsite.
Noise: Ocean waves crashing on the shore can be gentle on some nights and downright mind-numbing on others. In addition, expect frequent trains.
Theft: Although we did not experience any, there are signs everywhere not to leave your surfboards or bicycles out.
Lack of shade: most campsites do not have large, leafy trees, so bring a pop-up, umbrellas, or something to create shade.
Cement camping pads and sandy sites. Bring a ground tarp/rug/pad to keep the sand and dust from getting unruly!

Camping with Dogs and Pets

We camp all the time with our hound dog, Lucy. And yes, dogs are allowed in San Elijo State Beach Campground. However, just as in most State and National Parks, your dog must be leashed at all times. And, they cannot leave the pavement.

However, if you want to walk on the beach with your dog, head to the south end of the campground, adjacent to Cardiff State Beach, where dogs are allowed on the beach and they can go in the water! Just make sure to keep them on a leash.

In addition, dogs cannot be left unattended while camping in San Elijo, so make sure you take turns surfing. Or, it’s cool enough to leave them inside your camper.

Camping with dogs at San Elijo campground

You can camp with your pup at San Elijo, but you cannot bring them down the stairs and onto the beach, except by the river mouth on the south end.

Top 5 things to see and do at San Elijo State Beach and Campground:

1. Relax and Enjoy the View

Pack binoculars, a good camp or beach chair, and something for shade. Then, settle in and enjoy the ocean view! From here, besides surfers, you can spot California brown pelicans and ospreys, and it’s great for whale watching!

2. Surfing or Stand Up Paddle Board

The surf breaks near San Elijo campground are some of the best in San Diego! There are mostly rocky reef beach breaks, and honestly, most are not suitable for beginners. The waves often break right over the reef, making the take-off challenging, especially at low tide.

Bring booties if you want to protect your feet. You’ll often have to walk over the reef a bit before you can begin to paddle in some sections. Board rentals and other gear can be found at Cardiff Surf Co or Patagonia Cardiff.

Not only can you check the surf right from your picnic table if you have an oceanfront spot, but lots of campers also put their chairs right up on their table for a better view!

Most popular surf breaks near San Elijo Campground from South to North:

Seaside Reef: South end of Cardiff State Beach
George’s
Cardiff Reef: Far south end where the river flows into the ocean. Popular, and you’re likely to see some local pros in the lineup.
Traps
Pipes: Middle section of the San Elijo Campground.
Tippers: Just behind the Cardiff Kook.
85’s/Bull Taco: There used to be an old taco stand and camp store within the park!
Turtles: north end of San Elijo campground. There’s a paid parking lot, or you can go down the northernmost stairs.

3. Ride Bikes or Run Along the 101- Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)

California’s Route 101, also known as the PCH or Pacific Coast Highway is the best place in San Diego to pedal, run, walk, and soak in the ocean views! Start at the campground and head south towards Solana Beach, Del Mar, and then climb up Torrey Pines into La Jolla. Or head north and pedal to Encinitas, Leucadia, Carlsbad, and finish up at Oceanside Harbor Village. You can turn around whenever you’re ready. It’s 27 miles one-way from Torrey Pines to Oceanside Harbor.

Even driving this stretch of San Diego’s coastline is incredible!

Biking along the Pacific Coast Highway or the 101 rewards you with breathtaking views, especially in the southbound direction!

4. Try Cardiff Crack

No, we’re not talking about the local drug scene, but meat. Burgundy peppered tri-tip beef to be exact. Cardiff’s Seaside Market started making what the locals dubbed ‘Cardiff Crack’ in the ’90s. And, it is definitely worth picking some up for dinner around the campfire one night.

5. Hike the San Elijo Ecological Reserve and Annie’s Canyon Trail

Leave the coast and walk inland to reach the San Elijo Lagoon for some easy hiking along flat trails. The most popular trail is Annie’s Canyon Trail, where you can slip through slot canyons and scramble up sandstone. Start on the south end of the campground, crossing the bridge over the Lagoon and dropping onto the trail behind Las Olas restaurant. Or enter from San Elijo Avenue or in Solana Beach. Check out All Trails for more details.

The whole stretch of coastline in California’s North County is perfect for beach cruising, and sunset watching.

Last Few Tips for Your California Camping Trip

Ready to go? Take a peek at our Road Trip Camping Packing List for a list of what we pack! For this camping trip, even in the summer, plan on bringing layers. Temperatures vary and it can be quite humid in the mornings and evenings. So much so that you might think it rained while you were sleeping!

Looking for more travel tips?

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Until next time, happy camping!

– Meredith McConvill

California Beach Camping: San Elijo State Beach