Bolsa Chica Campground

Bolsa Chica State Beach has a 50-site campground for self-contained RVs, right beside the sand. Every site has water and electric hookups. Front-row sites on the beach side cost $70 a night and back-row sites on the highway side cost $60, with $2 off for seniors. Tent camping is not allowed. All sites are booked through ReserveCalifornia.

What Kind of Camping It Is

This is RV-only camping. California State Parks says the campground takes factory-built, self-contained RVs only: they must have running water, an internal flushable toilet with a holding tank, a shower and cooking facilities. Conversions, tents, car camping and cassette toilets are not allowed. The longest RV or trailer allowed is 40 feet, and sites are 20 feet wide and 30 to 40 feet long.

If you do not own an RV, State Parks lists two companies that deliver rental camp trailers to the park: The Holidays Delivered and LUV-2-CAMP. This site has no link with either.

Prices

• Front row (beach side): $70 per night
• Back row (highway side): $60 per night
• Seniors 62 and older: $2 off per night
• Disabled Discount Pass holders: 50% off (2023 camping regulations)

The 2023 regulations say each reservation includes passes for two vehicles counting the RV (the second must be physically towed in), water and electric hookups, the dump station, and token-operated hot showers.

How to Book

All reservations go through ReserveCalifornia, online or by phone at 1-800-444-7275 (1-800-444-PARK). Walk-up and drive-up camping is not allowed. Already checked in and want another night? Re-register on ReserveCalifornia or by phone; sites are then assigned by availability at 8 a.m. each day.

The State Parks park page shows live two-night availability. Check it early; dates fill up.

Stay Limits

From the 2023 camping regulations:

• Peak season (the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day): up to 7 consecutive nights.
• Off season (after Labor Day to the Thursday before Memorial Day): up to 14 consecutive nights.
• No more than 30 days a year per camper or RV.
• Up to 8 people per site overnight.

Campground Rules

• Check-in is 2 p.m. and check-out is noon.
• Every RV backs into its site, with the camping slip shown on the driver's side of the windshield.
• Up to 3 vehicles per site including the RV; the third pays the extra-vehicle rate. Vehicles stay inside your lines, and empty sites cannot be used for parking. Extra cars that do not fit go in the day-use lots on either side.
• The park entrance gate is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. After 9 p.m. registered campers use the Warner Entrance Gate with a code from the camp host.
• Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Generators are not permitted, except when a site's hookups are down; then they may run 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and staff must be told.
• Never dump gray or fresh water on the ground. Use the dump station.
• Personal fire rings are allowed only inside campsites and must be raised 8 inches off the ground. The park's fire rings on the sand are first come, first served and are not included with a reservation.
• Alcohol stays inside your registered site and only for people 21 and older. No glass containers.
• Dogs stay on a leash no longer than 6 feet, are never left alone, and are not allowed on the sand.
• Keep the multi-use trail clear of belongings. Bolsa Chica is a no-drone zone.
• Do not walk through other campsites to get to the beach.
• Speed limit: 15 mph on the park road, 5 mph in the campground.

Accessible Campsites

Three accessible RV sites with water and electric hookups are available: #1, #55 and #57. The restrooms with showers at the south end of the campground are accessible, and those at the north end are generally accessible. Proof of disability is required at check-in for disabled-access sites.

Campground Map

State Parks publishes a campground map PDF and a regulations flyer on the park page. The map shows the campground as a one-way, 5 mph road along the beach with restrooms, showers, a camp host and a Spencer Ramp onto the sand.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

Good for: RV owners who want to sleep beside the ocean with hookups, walk to the surf and the bike path, and have a fire ring nearby.

Maybe skip if: you want to pitch a tent. Tents are not allowed anywhere at Bolsa Chica.