South Carlsbad State Beach

PROS:

This site offers amazing sunsets and ocean breezes. There are plenty of facilities, and the camp store is great. The live music is always good, too. 

A grocery store is nearby, just over the freeway. 

CONS:

It can get very crowded and packed. 

Hard to get a site

Many generators are always on.

If you get a site at the far ends, it's a hike to go in and out. Try to get a site closer to the entrance and the store. But you will get a lot of traffic through your site. 

Don't try to get there earlier; they usually won't let you in before check-in. 

Biking and Running:

Great if you want to ride along PCH. This stretch has good bike lanes that take you into Oceanside or Encinitas. 

Good running. You can lap the campsite, which is almost 1 mile, end to end. I usually run down towards Encinitas along PCH.

Couldn’t have better views. We watched dolphins and seals playing in the waves. No hookups, but there was water and clean bathrooms.

General: 223 sites; most have no hookups but there are a handful of sites that are FHU. Prices range from $50 for a no-hookup site that backs up to the road to $140 for a double hook-up oceanfront site. 

Site Quality: All sites are gravel (except the ADA-accessible ones) and generous in size so that you can park your rig in different configurations. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Some have better privacy separation with foliage, but some don’t. You will hear some road noise if your site is backed up to the highway.

Bath/shower house: Nine bathhouses are sprinkled throughout the campground; each has a mixture of toilets and showers. Showers require tokens (four minutes per $ 1) Some have toilets/sinks while others just have a toilet (there is a sink outside of the bathhouse). The only thing that confused me was that the ones with sinks did not have soap dispensers. 

Activities/Amenities: There is a small camp store/restaurant on-site. Although we did not eat there, we saw many people bringing pizzas back to their sites. The store also rents items such as surfboards and bodyboards. Live entertainment from 5-7 pm most nights. The campground stretches about a mile and a half along Highway 101 and is fairly level so many people (including us) were able to get in a decent run. There are several entry points to the beach via stairs. 

We were pleasantly surprised to snag a reservation for an oceanfront site which made our stay very pleasant.

It was first time camping by the Pacific Ocean and we loved it. Great waterfront site. We had the last site which was very private. There is a small shop/cafe with live music. Lovely place

Rangers may be a little uptight but everything else is awesome!

Easy check in, surrounded by everything you need from supermarkets/restaurants etc

Bathrooms were plenty & clean.

Overlooking and waking up next to the ocean, can’t beat it.

Great location, ocean front and convenient to shopping and restaurants. Went to the Farmer’s Market in Carlsbad on Wednesday for fresh eggs and veggies. We were not able to score a hookup spot but were very happy with the size of the space and the view was amazing. Shower facilities take tokens which is a bummer for what you are paying to camp here even without hookups. The camp store had live music but they performers had canceled the night we tried to go down. We were close enough to a water spigot to fill our fresh water and made use of our portable grey disposal tank so we didn’t need to use the showers. But nothing beats the view!

Paid $70/night for an ocean view dry camp spot, crazy expensive but we loved the vibe and the views here. The campground is fun and active, and everyone is friendly and happy. We had a great time.

We got lucky that our site (#31) was completely flat, didn't even need our levels. Some of the sites are on a full on hill.

There are showers here, $0.50 for 2 minutes, you buy tokens near the entrance.

There is laundry here, but it was kind of awkward. We did a load, just because we didn't want to pass up the convenience, but it's a single washer and a single dryer behind the camp store (outside), and what the camp store uses to wash their rags and towels and stuff. When I went in to check it out I was told it's $1.50/load (payable by quarters in the washer and the dryer is free) but when I went back they said no it's actually $4. They let me pay just $1.50 but I guess it's really $4. They give you a tide pod too.

The camp store is a fun place to hang out and people watch.

There are two dump stations, payable by machine at the dump station, and potable water to fill your tanks (free). Dump is $10 per sign on machine, but $15 per sign at kiosk. We didn't use it so I don't know how much it really is.

You can watch surfers and dolphins and sunsets right from your camp, if you get an ocean side spot. We had a fun time here.

Another great beach camping spot in north San Diego County. Heat views. Beautiful beaches. Awesome camp store with a live music and food! Not quiet or remote.

Beautiful beach breezes and views Camp store has laundry too!

Site #17 was peaceful and a great spot. Right next to the bathrooms and an ocean view. Camp restaurant was convenient and so was the market. Close to grocery if need any last minute things. Spacious sites and I definitely will be going again!

I’ve visited the Carlsbad campgrounds a handful of times, but after the new camp store has been redone, it is AMAZING! It totally transformed the experience you receive. It it a store that has been built in 2021, clean, neat and a great restaurant. The food changes daily and is delicious and reasonably priced. The one problem is you do have to be creative when it come to entertainment. The beach is wonderful but when it’s the winter months (when I went) the beach isn’t pleasant. So bringing your own entertainment is recommended! But with that being the only problem this camp site is pretty spot on. Plus the spots are space and don’t seem crammed together. Defiantly will go back!

Came here for a quick one night trip and got lucky with an available spot on the coast side. Was pretty busy but didn't feel it and there was lots of space. Camp store was helpful and also had some live music.

It was our first time camping there with our 30’ foot travel trailer. The overall stay was great! Clean facilities and beautiful scenery. My only complaint is that their road is small and so for newbies backing into a a spot when the campsite is packed, can be nerve racking. Though, I’d would highly recommend it. Best of all, your 5 minutes away from Carlsbad Village if you want to go out to dinner.

Best camping with the sounds on f the ocean and friendly staff.

Like most drive up camping. Nice spot beach side. Premium sites are the way to go. Clean facilites, cool people, live music.

Generators mask the sound of the ocean more than the sound of the road. Not on the ocean, but up above from it. If your lookin for a quite spot, this isn't it.

One of best beach campgrounds in California. Beach is right there next to camping. Restroom and shower are clean even though too many people there

If you want time to relax with the family around campfire go swimming in the ocean or just walk around meeting people while walking the dog, then this is the place for you. Where the scene is beautiful and the breeze is welcoming. Since it is a state beach it is often kept clean with upkeeps on the grounds you can have small groups to extra large. Handicap accessible.

It’s hard to get into a camping spot here because you have to reserve a spot up to 6 months in advance for summer camping because it is so popular. Great beach, so much fun, but plan ahead!

Take the good with the bad. You’ll get beautiful coastal views, the sounds of the Pacific, along with street noise and the chatter of your neighbors. First time camping here and it’s not bad. It’s social. Not exactly the kind of camping I’m used too.

We had a group of five here for a weekend of tent camping, and it was great. The campground is small which means everyone is fairly close together but everything is nearby. Head down to the water for surf!

Great little campground. Easy in and out. So many stairs to get down to the beach

Street is loud in the mornings - don’t recommend the east side.

We’ve stayed here quite a few times because it’s convenient/local. The campsites are small and close together but the campground has easy access to the beach (down a ramp). There are flushing toilets which is another plus. It’s right off a fast highway/street so be prepared to hear cars drive by. This is a very popular campground which makes it hard to reserve sites but if you get lucky enough, try to snag the most west spots because they have a direct ocean view.

I like my beach camping close to funky towns and good Mexican food. South Carlsbad always hits the spot!

We enjoyed the campground but road noise was a bit annoying. Also be aware 1000’s of foxtails everywhere 6/13/2020

The good. 

Pick a spot - $75 gets you on the bluff with hookups $50 gets you on the bluff but no hookups $35 gets you on the other side Trash, recycling, and sewage disposal ($10) nearby. Water quality at the hookup sites smell fresh.

The not as good. 

Although ocean bluff spots cost you the elevation angle of the site lot or vegetation may impede or restrict your view. There’s also a metal fence. Unlike San Elijo State Park to the south most of the ocean sites do have an actual ocean view.

The bathrooms Bring soap. No dispensers near the sinks. Toilets are cleaned but not necessarily clean.

Noise. Far enough away from the train tracks to not have train noise issues but alongside US101 so there may be road noise.

Stuff to know- 

If you’re towing a vehicle it has to be literally towed onto the property. Don’t disconnect and go get groceries prior to entering or you’ll have to pay $15 a night for the vehicle once you enter (Or take your rig back out back out and tow it in)

Recommendations - 

There is a train station not too far away (short drive long walk) Take the “Coaster” south to Encinitas, Solana or all the way down to Old Town in San Diego and enjoy one of the most toured cities in the US. Taking the train north one stop puts you at downtown Carlsbad- also a worthy venture.

Local cuisine- I like Sushi Cuchi (excuse the name) Half off menu on Sunday night.

Got Gas? - Costco is close and about 30 cents per gallon cheaper than any other gas station. Get there early to avoid the mayhem. Pumps open 5:30-6:00am depending upon the day.

Nice campground try to get a spot on the ocean side. The road side is louder... showers and bathrooms are available. Long walk downstairs to the beach.

We lived less than a mile from this campground and would bike there almost every night for years. Always a friendly, peaceful, and beautiful place to visit.