South Carlsbad State Beach Campground California
South Carlsbad State Beach Overview
South Carlsbad State Beach Campground has 223 campsites (13 with full hookups) and 138 of the campsites (1-72 and 156-225) are located on a bluff overlooking the beach and Pacific Ocean. The maximum pad/RV size is 50 feet.
Campsites 131-134 and 215 to 223 have full hookups, and all of the campsites have a table, fire ring and grill. Our favorite campsites are 3-72 and 156-225 (the ocean front sites of course)! Accessible campsites are 16, 77, 87, 97, 108, 119, 126, 148, 153 and 184. Group camping is also available (tent only, no RVs or trailers).
The South Carlsbad State Beach Camp Store is (perhaps) one of the coolest in California and includes a restaurant with tasty food, beer and wine. It also sells firewood, food, ice cream, snacks, gifts, supplies and boat rentals. Other campground amenities include hot showers, flush toilets and drinking water. There’s also a snappy dump station ($) where you can also fill up your RV water tank with water. WiFi is not available. Cell service is good.
Check in time is 2:00pm and Check out is 12:00pm. You can have 3 vehicles per site, but only 1 vehicle is included in your reservation. The other two vehicles per incur an extra charge (per night). Generators can be operated from 10:00am to 8:00pm. You can stay up to 7 consecutive nights during peak season (Mar-Nov), and 14 consecutive nights during off season (Dec-Feb).
South Carlsbad State Beach – Area Recreation
South Carlsbad State Beach features fantastic beaches with swimming, surfing, snorkeling/diving, kayaking, surf fishing, beach combing and the famous evening jogs or strolls. Keep in mind that the campground will sell out during the summer months. Access to the beach is by wooden stair cases which drop you directly on the beach from the campground.
Grocery stores and restaurants are a few miles away should you need any supplies or would like to take a break from camp food.
San Elijo State Beach is another option with great ocean front camping. It’s about 7.5 miles to the south on Highway 1. Dixon Lake Campground in Escondido is also nice.
Make a Reservation for South Carlsbad State Beach
Amenities
- Amphitheater
- BBQ Grills
- Camp Store
- Campfire Center
- Campground Host
- Campsite Tables
- Cell Service - Good
- Concession Stand
- Concessionaire
- Drinking Water
- Dump Station
- Electrical Hookup
- Fire Pit
- Fire Rings
- Firewood Available
- Gift Shop
- Grills
- Ice
- Lifeguards
- Pets OK
- Picnic Tables
- Rentals
- Restrooms (Flush Toilets)
- RV Hookups
- Showers
- Snack Bar
- Wood
Activities
- Beach
- Beach Access
- Beach Combing
- Biking
- Bird Watching
- Boating (non motorized)
- Body Surfing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Ocean
- Photography
- Scuba Diving
- Skin Diving
- Snorkeling
- Stargazing
- Surf Fish
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Wading
- Walking Trails
- Water Sports
- Wildlife Viewing
Carlsbad, California 92008
Lat / Long:
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South Carlsbad State Beach Availability Alerts
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Campsite Types
- ADA
- Group
- RV
- Tent
- Trailer
# of Campsites:
223
# of RV Hookup Campsites:
13
Campsite Vehicle Size:
Up to 50 feet.
Season:
Year Round
Elevation:
30
South Carlsbad State Beach Comments & Reviews
Visited South Carlsbad State Beach Campground lately? We'd love to hear about your adventure. Did you find us useful? Did we forget something? Anything our community should know before heading out to South Carlsbad State Beach?
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This is one of our favorite places to bring the RV
I have camped their many times We love it
The State of Calif. has Messed this up for so many years. They have not maintained stairs, they have taken out stairs instead of fixing them. We donated to a fund to fix the stairs, but the State cannot find a way to use the resources and fix the stairs.
The Dems have ruined this State.
We like tax cuts, eh?
haha… well done Rob, well done. My guess would be if it wasn’t for “The Dems” this ocean view property would have been sold off for real estate long ago.
Hi, I have an RV without a generator. Which sites have electricity? I don’t need water or sewer.
Hi Gerald,
Campsites 131-134 and 215 to 223 have full hookups at South Carlsbad State Beach. There are not sites with partial hookups. Click on the ‘Make A Reservation’ button to check availability, pricing and to make a reservation.
Are trailers allowed in the group campsite?
Hi Cathy,
Group camping at South Carlsbad State Beach is for tents only. Parking does not accommodate trailers or larger RVs.
Love this place. Our family has been going to SCarlsbad since the 70’s. I am looking for dated shower tokens from 2014 and before 2011. Any help??
Hi Michael,
That is so cool you’ve been going to South Carlsbad State Beach since the 1970s. And – what a great idea for collecting dated shower tokens. Maybe someone here has some stashed in a drawer of their RV or somewhere.
Is there wifi/service?
Hi Jose,
There is not any WiFi service at South Carlsbad State Beach.
Stayed here last weekend! Didn’t like the homeless hanging around. Made me feel unsafe!
Is there a ramp somewhere for the handicap to go to the beach I have scooter I just can’t do the stairs
Hi Sheila,
Yes, there is a ramp for handicap access to the beach at South Carlsbad State Beach. As you enter the campground, it is toward the south (left turn) about 1/2 mile.
Do all the camping sites have fire rings?
Hi Jose,
Yes – all campsites at South Carlsbad State Beach have fire rings.
Is clean water available to fill fresh water holding tank at Carlsbad SB?
Hi Sonya,
Yes – South Carlsbad State Beach has a dump station ($) where you can also fill up your RV water tank with water.
40 years ago we would show up without camping reservations and at the time, it was a first come first serve basis to fill no-shows that day, we always got lucky. Is this still an option today? Considering I’ll be rolling in on my motorcycle to camp and don’t know my schedule. Thank you.
Hi Andre,
Ah the good old days. I too wish it was that easy, but unfortunately South Carlsbad State Beach (as with all of California State Beach/Park campgrounds) are sold out / booked solid through September. They also no longer allow waiting in line early in the morning to pick up ‘no show’ campsites. All is reserved through ReserveCalifornia.com. We do offer a campsite availability alert tool (Campsite Assist). It sends texts and emails when a campsite becomes available for the dates you want to camp. It has helped many campers grab cancelled campsites, but works best if you try it at least a few weeks before you arrive.
Are motorhome able to stay in the premium campsites (non-hookup ex: site 12)? Just wanted to confirm before trying to book a campsite.
Hi Kimberly,
Yes, motorhomes can stay at any campsite at South Carlsbad State Beach. You just need to make sure they fit okay (all wheels on paved surface), but most sites are pretty large.
All sites unpaved(either dirt or gravel). Might want to give people correct information to avoid confusion.
Thanks Russell – will do!
Does anyone know when these pictures were taken?
Site # 7 on this website shows one side with hedges/tress but Reserve California picture shows hedges/tress on both side. Thanks!
Hi Sophia,
We took the photos of South Carlsbad State Beach in 2021 – so they are very current. ReserveCalifornia’s photos are much older/dated.
Thanks:)
Are there any sites that would accommodate my 40ft motorhome??
Hi Rosalie,
Yes, there are several campsites at South Carlsbad State Beach that can accommodates an RV of 40 feet or more. You can click on the ‘Make A Reservation’ button and go to ReserveCalifornia.com to check out availability, size, pricing and make a reservation (if you want).
Hello, we’ll be staying at campsite 031, do you recommend bringing bikes to get around and help keep the kids busy?
Thank you!
Hi Gigi,
Biking around the campground (with the kids) is fun, but it’s a bit busy (with no bike path) along Highway 101.
Could you put 2 25′ RV’s on site 20?
Hi Linda,
Yes – both are okay and will fit. You may have to park one parallel to the camp road though. You can have up to 3 vehicles and 8 people in campsite #20. Fees include entry for 1 vehicle and 1 legally towed vehicle or trailer. Additional vehicles must register and pay additional fees. (CURRENTLY, $15.00 EACH VEHICLE).
Hello, My family comes every year and we are so looking forward to our trip. Can you please tell me how big campsite #101 is? How many feet by how many feet? We are wondering if our RV will actually fit or not. Thanks!
Hi Lauren,
South Carlsbad State Beach campsite #101 has a “pad length” of 50 feet, however that is more of a width measurement (along the camp road). From the edge of the camp road to the fence (measuring depth) is closer to 25-30 feet, and less from the edge of the camp road to the fire ring. Most campers park their RV/trailer parallel to the camp road (on the dirt). Hope this helps!
Do the beach side sites still have fire rings. Been several years since we have camped here.
Hi Sue,
Yes, the beach side campsites at South Carlsbad State Beach have fire rings.
Will a 35ft trailer fit in site 49? Are the pad lengths listed correct? Some say 52 next to a site that says 36?? Thanks!
Hi Cheri,
Campsite #49 shows a pad length of 36 feet on ReserveCalifornia.com. Not sure if that’s deep (from camp road to fence). Horizontally (along the camp road), you’d have about 40 feet. Your trailer and towing vehicle will fit in that site.
Will my 30 ft motorhome fit in site #193? I’m confused about the measurements listed on Reserve California. It says Site Length 35 and Pad Length 20. What exactly does this mean?
Hi Julie,
ReserveCalifornia doesn’t have the most accurate site measurements. It also lists a ‘site length’ (parking spot length) and a ‘pad length’ (usually the camping tent pad area). Campsite #193 has room to park a 30 foot motorhome so you’re good to go!
Does anyone know what the “Site Length” vs “Pad Length” in the description of the site info means/difference. Also is this the depth or width?
Hi Doreen,
That is a bit of a mystery – “Site Length” vs “Pad Length”. ReserveCalifornia does not provide a definition for either.
As there are not any “tent pads” at South Carlsbad State Beach I believe the “Pad Length” may be how long the area is to park your vehicles and the “Site Length” may be the entire depth (from edge of camp road to the rear/back of the campsite).
We just reserved site #160, we have a 17 ft trailer? Will that fit perpendicular to the camp road? Or should it be parallel parked? Thank you
Hi Jessica,
Good job on reserving campsite #160 at South Carlsbad State Beach! Your 17 foot trailer will fit either way in that campsite – perpendicular or parallel to the camp road. Have a great time!
On the video and pictures I don’t see where to park your car? Do we have to park in a lot and then walk to the site or are we able to park next to our site?
Hi Varisa,
Each of the campsite parking spaces are next to the campsites at South Carlsbad State Beach. You will be able to park next to your campsite.
Worked here back in late 70’s, early 80’s as a park aid when Jim Caldwell was Senior Ranger, with another Ranger named Earl Jones. Would really like to visit the place again. Who is the Senior Ranger now?
Hi Leartis,
I’m not sure who the senior ranger is now at South Carlsbad State Beach. We’re in the area so maybe next time I’ll ask when swinging by the campground.
Hi! I just booked campsite #103, and it looks like there is no fire-ring on the photos, but the photo of #104 looks like there is one between the two sites. Reading on this page, it sounds like every site has a ring, I’m assuming it’s just not shown well on the photos? Thanks!
Hi Anthony,
Thanks for writing. For sure there is a fire pit at campsite #103. It is hidden behind the table. Sorry we didn’t get it in the photo. Have a great time at South Carlsbad State Beach.
I’m a little confused by the size listed (seems I’m not alone). Do you know if our 33′ trailer will fit in #86? It says its 48 wide?
Hi Mary,
Yes, your 33′ trailer will fit in campsite #86. You’ll need to park parallel to the camp road though as there is not enough room to back in. Have fun!