Morro Strand State Beach

We really liked this campground. We arrived in the evening on a week day at the end of October and there were still plenty of sites. We picked a primitive site right by the beach for $35. We could see the ocean from our bed, very nice.

Sites very close together. Many squirrels. Mostly rv sites

These sites are along paved parking area/ road loop- there are beachside spots, a few with ocean views and some blocked by shrubs. Dogs are not allowed on beach to protect endangered species but walking the camp road up to the main road gives enough elevation you can see the ocean and Morro rock in the distance, and the houses have lovely landscaping of aloe, rosemary, and other pretty plants. The sites are very simple with picnic table and firepit either in a grass median or along the edge. We were near a restroom, dumpster and water fill up. You can buy wood from camp host for $10. No showers but your pass gets you into nearby Morro Bay SP where they have nice clean token showers that get warm enough. The camp was not very full while I was there car camping and pleasant enough. There are signs warning of stolen generators and to lock up valuables.

This is a great place with close beach access. It does tend to be a loud crowd. trash pick up when I was there was awful both times I stayed. Every site was trashed it was pretty empty & lots more sites available. This is the “winter” even though it was 73’…….Only 3 of us in the front section.

Campers play loud music way beyond the sope of their campground. It seems like this is normal. Hence for those who prefer peace and quiet, this is not a good match

Other reviewers mentioned that the spots are way too close together and that there were no amenities, but I feel like the spots are plenty far enough apart unless you're at a hookup site, and the amenity is the ocean! The bathrooms are fine, they have flushing toilets and mirrors and outlets if you need, and the site I'm in is beautiful and you can fall asleep to the sound of the waves.

Nice , like big parking right on the beach. Perfect for overnight stay.

My kids love coming here to camp…small little trails on a hill plus instant access to the beach! No showers but you can use the showers at the state park a few miles away!

Okay for a one night stay. It’s the ok’d day use area turned into camping slots. Close together with no amenities. Pro is it is right on the beach. As long as you don’t need a shower, one night will get you by.

It’s a bit of a parking lot but small enough it seems ok. Your in a residential neighborhood but right along the water. We love the sights right on the beach. Beach is great for morning walks and finding lots of sand dollars. Verizon signal is great if you need to work remote or want to stream.
Not sure why dyrt says it’s closed now as it’s open. We stay here a lot often as a stop going north or south on the coast.

The location was pretty sweet right by the beach. I tent camped while my family members RVd. My site was large with a fire pit but they were slightly crammed in and had no fire pit. Did notice that some had the pits so be careful if choosing which site. Overall a nice visit.

Back in February, before my foot injuries hobbled me, we spent two nights here.    We chose to camp in the tent camping area, away from RVs and their generators and lights.

The location was great.....right next to the beach, with our car conveniently parked next to our tent campsite.     

We hadn't been tent camping for a long time before that, so we were surprised that we were one of the very few people in the tent camping area that actually camped in tents.  The rest of the people in the area just camped in the campervans, small camper trucks, or disconnected towable campers.     

We could hear the wind all night in our tent, but during the day, the weather was perfect....cool and sunny.

Restrooms were nearby and clean.   There were no showers, but we were told that we could (if we wanted) use the ones in another nearby State Park.

Rangers were friendly.  

Overall, a very nice experience.

Nice and clean campground w/ dry camp and full hookups. The teacher is absolutely amazing. There are thousands of sand dollars

We were in campsite D. Stepped right out of our tent trailer on to the sand. Beautiful sunsets. Next to restrooms that were well kept. Only downside was there were no shower facilities.

My partner and I were able to get one of “beach front” spots. It’s your normal concrete campground for the most part, but our actual tent and fire ring were both in the sand. (Since we were beachfront, I can’t attest to what the other sites on the lot were like). There’s a small path that’s only a few meters long that puts you directly on the beach. The campground iself is nothing extraordinary, but we enjoyed it!! We met some great people, the views were nice, and HOLY SAND DOLLARS!! The amount of whole sand dollars on that section of the beach was incredible. I’d stay there again just for that, honestly.

If you have a pull behind or 5th wheel trailer, this campsite is for you. The RV sites make this a breeze to back into and set up. This is the best ocean camping on the coast. Walk a mile on the beach and you are at the old fisherman’s wharf. If you walk another 1/2 mile, you’ll be at the tourist restaurants. The huge morro bay rock never gets old to look at. Make sure you bring your binoculars to see the many different types of sea life and birds. The sea lions and otters are always a pleasure to see. They make for hours of entertainment.

Great spot right near Morro bay on a nice beach. A bit of a parking lot but if you get a good beach front spot you won’t care as you sit and look at the ocean. Back row you will be looking at other campers.

Beach is nice and we found tons of sand dollars here which was fun. Residential neighborhood is pretty quiet ocean is louder than road it seems. A brewery pretty close but need to drive really with the highway. Town is very close and nice options for food etc.

We often stay here while in transit but would be nice for a few nights.

No dump but morro bay state park is near by and you can use that.

Proximity to water is definitely the highlight of this coastal grounds. Sites themselves are a bit small and very visible to neighbors, but we made a couple work for four families and were cozy. A stones throw away from the water, this campground is easy to visit at any point in the year weather-wise. Just don’t forget to make reservations!

You can’t get much closer to the beach than this campground in Morro Bay. Located just off Highway One between Morro Bay and Cayucos, the grounds look somewhat like a parking lot with trees and shrubs separating it from the sand dunes and the ocean. RV parking is basically a parking space whereas tent camping is along the dunes with protection from large shrub trees to keep the wind down. There are two large restrooms and a camp hosts. Bike trails head out at each end and breaks in the trees allow direct path access to the beach. This is not comfy cozy camping, but if you like the beach and crashing waves this is the place. Close to restaurants and stores, the fishing town of Morro Bay and the small coastal gem of Cayucos. Reservations made on the State website ..35$ tent/50$hook up..pics I have were taken when closed due to Covid in June 2020. Four stars for lack of showers but flush toilets are a plus.

We had a bigger family tent and it just barley fit. It was nice that it was close to the water. Bathrooms were okay. This trip was planned for quading at pismo beach and we just needed to came some were close.

Homeless

Cool fishing town , there’s a sand bank on the ocean so no waves hit a certain side of the beach. Good for paddle surfing or kayaking for a few hours. There were otters swimming it was cool

[ PROS ]

• The campground is super close to the beach! You can just walk over the tiny dunes and the waves are right there.
• Nothing like falling asleep to the sound of crashing waves. So soothing and will knock you right out!
• The beach itself is very calm and not very crowded/busy.
• Driving distance to stores, restaurants, markets, and The Embarcadero (for a day trip)
• Stunning view of Morro Rock 

[ CONS]

• This campground is basically like one giant parking lot which mostly caters to RVS and trailers.

• Not ideal for tent camping. There is very little space to pitch a tent, don't even think about 2 tents.

• Sites are very, very close together with very little privacy. I could hear my neighbor's whole conversations even with the sound of the surf.

• It was super windy here at night. We were camping in our tent trailer and our entire tent was rattling for hours. The tent next to us packed up in the middle of the night and left.

• No shade at this campground so it's pretty awful when it's sunny. I wouldn't suggest bringing a canopy because it gets super windy here.

Overall, this campground was very disappointing. Especially for the price! The only redeeming quality is the beach. It was super hard to get a reservation and is normally completely booked.

Like others mentioned, it’s a place to park and plug in, right next to the beach. No showers. Bathrooms are stocked with tp, no soap, no dryers/towels. Nice views of Morro Bay rock and mountains to the north. Lovely sunsets.

I would be giving this campground one star but it is right on the beach and you can walk from campground to beach and to the infamous rock formation. Morro Bay is beautiful and you can watch a myriad amount of sea creatures from the shore including sea otters. So being so close to the main attraction of Morro Bay is nice but the campground itself is nothing more than a parking lot with bathrooms. The sites are so close together that I felt like I was camping with strangers. My fire ring was about ten feet from my neighbor’s fire ring. I was lucky to find a spot on the edge of the campground property to put my tent overlooking the beach. At night I could hear every word of every conversation being had in sites next to me. The sites are that close.

We ended up here for a night with a bachelorette party (see costumes) and it was good for a stopping over point but if I was looking to spend quality nature time, this would not be the place. 

The hosts were nice but the sites were right on top of one another and we almost didn't have room for our tent in the site itself, it was that small. 

Then beach was right there so we spent most of our time there but it was a really tight fit at the campground.

You'll want an RV or trailer for this campsite. Pro: right on the beach, great location close to the rock and downtown. Con: parking lot campsite, small spaces, and lots of wind.

Not really "camping"...

More of a parking lot than a campsite. I guess this great if you have an RV or trialer. But yeah, right next to sand and water and there is plenty to explore in the surrounding areas.

If you want to be ON the beach this is a great choice. Incredible, unbeatable beachfront. Some sites are on the sand. Full hook-up sites are not on beach but very close. Very basic bathrooms but no showers.

This State Park has it much to offer u the way of ambiance, but it is beachside! Dogs are not allowed on the beach in this area. The park is clean and well maintained but all concrete.