Camgrounds around Carlsbad/Oceanside

If you don't mind going a few miles to the north, San Clemente State Park is pretty awesome. Long, wide spaces on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Plenty of room for big rigs. Two trails down to the beach.

Anaheim RV was pretty tight with my toy hauler; they don't trim their tree branches. Also we couldn't use our roof-top sat antenna due to the overgrowth of trees.

South Carlsbad State Beach and San Elijo State Beach (Cardiff by the Sea) are both state campgrounds. They both have an extremely limited number of hook up sites with water and electricity. No sanitation hookup but both have dump stations. I would think 39’ would fit in one rated for 35’. You may have to park at an angle rather than parallel to the road. Oceanside does not have a beach side state campground so you are probably looking at a private RV park. They do have beachside camping at Oceanside Harbor but it is largely an asphalt parking lot with public restrooms. Harbor on one side and beach on the other. It is run by the harbor department. No hookups but a dump station is available.

If looking for a reservation at the state parks plan on being online at 8:00 AM on the first of the month, seven months in advance. Prepare a Reserve America account prior to making the reservation as the time it takes to create the account will kill your chance at a reservation. Research what sites you need and jump on them quickly. Have another person (or more) on another computer looking at other sites. If you both get sites (highly unlikely) you can cancel one.

An alternative is Silver Strand State Beach on the strand just south of Coronado Island. The chance of getting a reservation is much better there as they are across the highway from the beach but have a walkway under the road to the beach. Reserve America handles their reservations as well.

Other alternatives are Chula Vista RV Park on San Diego Bay. An excellent park.

Mission Bay RV Resort and Campland on the Bay are both on Mission Bay. Never been to Mission Bay RV but Campland is very nice. Since you have a truck the beach is only minutes away.

That should give you some alternatives to research.

I also have a 39 ft. toy hauler and would not attempt Carlsbad or Silver Strand. It's not so much site size as it is access to the sites. Carlsbad from what I remember has narrow access lanes and with cars parked everywhere, it can be very difficult to back in. As already mentioned, San Clemente about 40 minutes to the north has full hookup sites up to 75 ft. and much easier access. Santee Lakes is another great place, not on the ocean though.

Good luck.

Frank

Haven't been to "Campland on the Bay" near Mission Beach for a few years but we always had fun there. Great place for families and pretty much self-contained--little place to eat, swimming beach, store, bicycling around the campground, etc. We always stayed in the G or H section overlooking the Wildlife Sanctuary. Also, Mission Beach is a fun place to cruise around. Lars

Thanks for the great info. I am on this early and hence asking the questions. I have no problem going a bit north or south as long as we can swim and do the activities mentioned.

Thanks regarding Anaheim RV with the clearance issue. We were there as mentioned 3 years ago but with a 30 foot fifth. I think the only sites I could get my rig in would be the sites running through the middle as I did see some big rigs there.

Will research the campgrounds you guys provided.
Have a good one!

If I had kids (and I used to, before they grew up and moved out), Campland on the Bay would be the place to go. If you do not have kids, the place might seem a bit hellish.It is an amazingly high energy place, but there were wall to wall activities for the kids and they loved it. We used to go in the off season (homeschoolers) and there are a large amount of kids who live there year round, so it was quite a gang of kids.

Sloop Smitten wrote:
South Carlsbad State Beach and San Elijo State Beach (Cardiff by the Sea) are both state campgrounds. They both have an extremely limited number of hook up sites with water and electricity. No sanitation hookup but both have dump stations. I would think 39’ would fit in one rated for 35’. You may have to park at an angle rather than parallel to the road. Oceanside does not have a beach side state campground so you are probably looking at a private RV park. They do have beachside camping at Oceanside Harbor but it is largely an asphalt parking lot with public restrooms. Harbor on one side and beach on the other. It is run by the harbor department. No hookups but a dump station is available.

If looking for a reservation at the state parks plan on being online at 8:00 AM on the first of the month, seven months in advance. Prepare a Reserve America account prior to making the reservation as the time it takes to create the account will kill your chance at a reservation. Research what sites you need and jump on them quickly. Have another person (or more) on another computer looking at other sites. If you both get sites (highly unlikely) you can cancel one.

An alternative is Silver Strand State Beach on the strand just south of Coronado Island. The chance of getting a reservation is much better there as they are across the highway from the beach but have a walkway under the road to the beach. Reserve America handles their reservations as well.

Other alternatives are Chula Vista RV Park on San Diego Bay. An excellent park.

Mission Bay RV Resort and Campland on the Bay are both on Mission Bay. Never been to Mission Bay RV but Campland is very nice. Since you have a truck the beach is only minutes away.

That should give you some alternatives to research.

You're giving away all of the secrets ;)

I am waiting to make reservations for Carlsbad as well for a week in July as well as a second week at Silver Strand. I have stayed at Silver Strand once before. It is on the side with the beach - I think you are looking at Fiddlers Cove which is military only. They have electric and water at every site now and a dump station. I would never stay there again if I can't get on the beach side. The side near the road is too loud with traffic. I was stationed at NAS North Island for years and never knew the traffic was so bad that early in the morning.

I have been looking at Carlsbad for a few years but haven't made it yet. I hope to get a good spot for July.

Campland is ok, but it is expensive. I lived 100 feet away from there for years and as a kid I used to go pick up visiting girls there. I stayed there last spring and it has gone downhill since the glory days I remember but the price is too much for what you get in my opinion. I agree it is great for kids and mine like it, but I personally would rather go north or south and stay on the beach.

To the OP - are you interested in going north of LA? If so, I would highly suggest you look into Jalama Beach. It is my favorite place, but you have to go the last week of July so you don't get the wind - I have only stayed once and that week was excellent. I have attached a photo of the campgrounds I have either stayed at or will stay at. There are plenty to choose from.
Southern CA Campground Map

Thanks all. keep them rolling in!

Doheny State Beach campground in Dana Point. I would say half of their sites would fit your rig.Right on the water,no stair climbing to get to the beach.No hook-ups at all though. It's in Orange County so just a hop skip & jump to Disneyland. Doheny has all your water activities including deep sea fishing that embarks 1/2 mile away from Dana Pt. harbor.Some pretty good restaurants walking distance from the campground.


I'm checking in on Sunday for South Carlsbad for four nights.I'll check around for some accommodating sights for your rig.

We have stayed at Paradise by the sea, which can be a bit expensive, but again only a five minute walk from the beach. We have been staying at Guajome County park on the eastside of Oceanside lately and it's a pretty good place for the kids,, but you'll need to get res in NOW. There is also a park in Vista that's not too far off the main run to the beach, but I can't remember the name.