What could be more relaxing than camping on the coast? The views go on for miles, there’s a cool ocean breeze in the air, and the beach is just a short walk away. These scenic resorts & campgrounds on the Pacific Coast are perfect for parking your RV (or pitching a tent) this summer, laying back, and watching the waves roll in.
1. San Elijo State Beach, California
On a bluff above San Elijo Beach, you can find campsites for both tents and RVs with front-row ocean views. Lots of restaurants are in the area (try Pipe’s Cafe for all-day breakfast), as well as plenty of summer activities from swimming to picnicking.
2. Sea Perch RV Resort, Oregon
At Sea Perch RV Resort you can camp right on the beach, or a little further back with an equally amazing view. Their resort is beautifully maintained with oceanfront villa rentals and amenities for guests including a 3000-square-foot clubhouse with a 2nd floor ocean-viewing loft. They have a particular policy on motorhomes—visit their website for more details.
3. Hobuck Beach Resort, Washington
On Washington’s Olympic Coast, Hobuck Beach Resort has RV sites and cozy cabins directly facing the ocean. Their accommodations on the Makah Indian Reservation are also located near key attractions like Shi Shi Beach and Cape Flattery, the northwestern-most point of the lower 48 states. They have ten sites for RVs on the south end of the beach, as well as oceanfront cabins, and a meadow for up to 500 tent and van or pop-up campers.
4. South Carlsbad Beach, California
South Carlsbad Beach is popular for good reason: they’re located just a half-hour north of San Diego, and they have over 200 sites on top of a bluff with great ocean views. Even with tons of spots available, the campground fills up fast, so reserve your site ahead of time to make sure you get one facing the water.
5. Silver Strand State Beach, California
Silver Strand Beach is surrounded by great views, with San Diego Bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Camping here is limited to a parking lot for RVs and trailers only (no tents) with spaces that are tight but level. There’s lots to do in the area: swimming, long romantic walks on the beach, or you can drive about twenty minutes north to explore San Diego.
Niceley, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
6. Seal Rocks RV Cove, Oregon
With direct ocean views from most sites, Seal Rocks RV Cove is a peaceful place to camp on Oregon’s Central Coast. This seaside RV park is easy to find off Highway 101 and offers private pull-through sites with full hookups. In the area, you can head down to sandy beaches, explore tide pools, and watch for whales, seals, and hundreds of different bird species.
7. Morro Strand State Beach, California
You don’t only get ocean views at Morro Beach on the Central California Coast, but you can also see the massive Morro Rock looming in the distance. Each one of the sites comes with full hookups, a fire ring, picnic table, and drinking water available nearby. At low tide, you can stroll the beach looking for sand dollars and explore tide pools to see marine life like sea stars.
8. Kalaloch, Washington
Not many National Park Service campgrounds are located right on the coast. Kalaloch is a rare exception on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, with ocean views and relatively low fees at only $22 a night (and a $10 dumping station fee).
Don’t expect level sites, hookups, or reliable cell coverage at this NPS campground. Rather, look forward to completely unplugging from the world, being in close proximity to other gems of the Olympic National Park (like the Hoh Rainforest), and getting to see gorgeous sunsets over the water.
