Camping near Arroyo Grande, California offers diverse terrain from coastal dunes to wooded inland settings. The area sits at approximately 120 feet elevation with campgrounds spanning from sea level beaches to the more elevated Lopez Lake at 490 feet. Winter temperatures typically stay between 40-65°F, while fall camping brings fewer crowds and temperatures in the 50-70°F range.
What to do
Beach exploration: 5-minute walk from Oceano Campground to explore dunes and shoreline. "Awesome campsite. We went in January and had no idea about the Monarch Butterflies. About 300 feet from the campsite is a grove of trees where thousands of Monarchs fly and mate. Apparently it's the end of their Northern Migration trail," notes Garrett M. at Oceano Campground.
Horseback riding: Available at Pacific Dunes Ranch for guided beach rides. "Right next to some beautiful dunes. Rv / pull in sites. Have tables restrooms and fire pit relatively close to Oceano/ piano," shares Wutang P. who stayed at Pacific Dunes Ranch.
Wildlife watching: Observe local fauna at Lopez Lake Recreation Area. "This is one of our favorite campgrounds. There's lots of trails and quite a bit wildlife: squirrels, deer, turkey, and even some mountain lions and bears. The lake is wonderful and usually very mellow," reports Crystal J. from Lopez Lake.
Hiking to Big Falls: 15-20 minute drive from Lopez Lake campground. "The hike is through live oak trees most of the way, so most of the hike is nice and shaded. Keep and eye out for salamanders when crossing the creek beds!" advises Amanda M.
What campers like
Easy beach access: Walk from your campsite at North Beach Campground. "The sites are not ocean view with the sand dunes but a short walk over and your there. Also a very easy walk on the beach to downtown," explains Ryan R. from North Beach Campground.
Protected camping environment: Sheltered from wind at Pacific Dunes Ranch. "Upper area closer to the dunes is preferred for breezes. Lots of permanent residents, but the park is well kept. The dunes were beautiful, but walking to the beach would be quite an effort," mentions Annette A.
Natural surroundings: Tree-covered sites at Montana de Oro State Park. "Sites 17-19 have a decent amount of shade and the most foliage separation. They back up to the park, and there are trails on the hillside above," notes Ryan W. from Montana de Oro State Park.
Quieter alternatives: Less crowded options during weekdays. "A vehicle beach with unlimited things to do fishing, offroad sand dunes, hike, camp rv vehicle theres class A B C home made its awesome dogs allowed, after 10pm it's so quite," shares Elijah L. who camped at Oceano Dunes.
What you should know
Seasonal ticks: Check yourself after hiking at Montana de Oro. "Although the location is very scenic and a 10 min walk to the beach, I wouldn't return because there are ALOT of ticks at the campground. We went with a party of 11 and found multiple ticks on 5 people," warns Val H.
Wildlife precautions: Food storage matters at Lopez Lake. "While the possibility of a black bear sighting is fairly uncommon, black bears are seen every year at Lopez Lake. You are in black bear county, and there are no bear boxes/food lockers at Lopez Lake," advises Amanda M. from Lopez Lake Recreation Area.
Off-road requirements: 4WD needed for beach camping at Oceano Dunes. "We love being able to camp directly on the beach, and have done so many times in Texas and in Louisiana, but wouldn't recommend it here unless you are in a 4wd," suggests Laura M.
Facilities vary widely: From primitive to full-service. "The campground is pretty and ideally located right in front of a stunning beach. However... note that the toilets are dry composting toilets — so there are no standard facilities," explains Olga N. about Montana de Oro.
Tips for camping with families
Amenity check: Verify bathroom availability based on timing. "Restrooms and showers close at 6p, so only potter potties are available after that," reports Stanley from Avila-Pismo Beach KOA.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for raccoons at Montana de Oro. "A beautiful spot. I was hear with a very large group where we split up into smaller group tent sites. We had a good experience but had problems with raccoons trying to get in our tents at night," warns Amanda K.
Bug protection: Bring insect repellent especially at Oceano. "Oh, and about the squirrels. They're not afraid. They ate through my little pantry that's canvas that's connected under my table. Also, mosquitoes! How could I forget. Bring bug spray and citronella or thermacills," advises barbara M.
Activities for kids: Water features at Lopez Lake. "We've camped here many times over the last 15 years. We've tent camped on primitive sites and camped with a pop-up with electricity & water. None of the full hookup sites have a view but some of the tent sites do," shares Linda S.
Tips from RVers
Site size considerations: Check length restrictions at older campgrounds. "The sites are very tight but the staff is very helpful with parking. The facility is very clean. Short drive to the beach," notes Alisa K. from Avila-Pismo Beach KOA.
Leveling needs: Bring blocks for Morro Bay State Park. "Asphalt paved parking slots a little sloped but can level with blocks. Very dry and brown in campground in August. Foggy and cool most of day... only saw sun a few minutes," advises Leonard H. from Morro Bay State Park.
Beach camping preparation: Plan for sand management when staying near beaches. "We were at site 48 and it was a very large site, could fit 3-5 tents easily and runs along a center large grassy area. The big draw back with the campground is there is very little to no shade and no privacy," explains Alexandra T. about North Beach Campground.
Dump station access: Plan ahead for services at beach locations. "Great place to rv camp. Pretty cheap considering your camping right by the water. Can get windy at times and weekends/holidays get super crowded. Downfall there's no dump station but you can call a company to empty your tanks (for a cost)," advises Scotty B. about Oceano Dunes.
