Morro Bay has three state park campgrounds within about 10 miles of town, each a different kind of trip. Morro Bay State Park sits by the bay and marina with the area's showers and dump station; Morro Strand State Beach lines a three-mile beach north of town; and Montaña de Oro is a primitive campground in a wild coastal park south of the bay. All three book through ReserveCalifornia, and the state park now puts select high-demand sites in a monthly lottery.
Morro Bay camping at a glance
| Campground | Sites | Hookups | Max RV | Showers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morro Bay State Park | 140+ (incl. group) | Electric at some sites | 35 ft | Token-operated | Showers, hookups and the bay |
| Morro Strand State Beach | 70+ | Electric at some sites | 40 ft (hookup), 24 ft (no hookup) | At Morro Bay SP | The beach |
| Montaña de Oro (Islay Creek) | 47 primitive + 4 environmental + 4 horse | None | 27 ft | None | Quiet, wild coast |
Rules at all three
- Book on ReserveCalifornia.com or at 1-800-444-7275, up to six months ahead.
- Two vehicles maximum per site, counting trailers and motorcycles, and the reservation covers one vehicle (group and specialty sites excepted at Morro Bay State Park and Montaña de Oro).
- 8 people per campsite.
- Only RV Rentals on the Central Coast may deliver and pick up rental RVs and trailers in these campgrounds.
- Firewood is sold by the campground hosts; the proceeds go to the Central Coast State Parks Association. Since June 2026, Morro Bay State Park has been piloting a "Buy It Where You Burn It" firewood program.
Morro Bay State Park campground
Best for: showers, hookups and the bay. Thirteen miles west of San Luis Obispo, by the marina, the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History and two of the Nine Sisters volcanic peaks.
- Over 140 campsites for tents, RVs and groups. RVs up to 35 feet, and electrical hookups at some sites.
- Each site has a fire ring and picnic table, with water spigots nearby; flush toilets and token-operated showers; an RV sanitation station and water-fill station.
- Reservation Draw: select high-demand sites are part of California State Parks' monthly lottery. Enter on ReserveCalifornia's "Camping & Lodging" page or by phone at (800) 444-7275.
- Day use is $8 per vehicle; the museum is $3 for adults and free for anyone 18 and under.
Morro Strand State Beach camping
Best for: camping by the beach. A campground on a three-mile stretch of sand, dunes and surf between the town of Morro Bay (3 miles south) and Cayucos (3 miles north).
- Over 70 campsites for tents and RVs, each with a fire ring and picnic table, water spigots and flush toilets nearby.
- Electrical hookup sites for RVs and trailers up to 40 feet; non-hookup sites take up to 24 feet.
- No showers here: campers can use the token-operated showers at Morro Bay State Park's campground with proof of registration, along with its dump and water-fill station.
- Dogs must be leashed and watched in the campground and are not allowed on the beach. Kite flying is banned from March to September to protect sensitive species.
- No overflow parking for overnight campers.
Montaña de Oro camping: Islay Creek Campground
Best for: a primitive campground on a wild coast. Fifteen miles west of San Luis Obispo, where Los Osos Valley Road becomes Pecho Valley Road, about 10 miles south of the town of Morro Bay. Pecho Valley Road dead-ends at Coon Creek, so you leave the way you came. Camping isn't allowed outside the campgrounds.
- Islay Creek Campground: 47 primitive sites for tents and RVs up to 27 feet, each with a fire ring and picnic table, water spigots and toilets nearby. The historic Spooner Ranch House is 500 feet away.
- Environmental camps: 4 sites reached by a hike of about 100 yards to half a mile, with pit toilets, no drinking water and no campfires.
- Hazard Canyon Horse Camp: 4 sites for campers with horses only, with stalls and troughs.
- No electrical hookups, dump station, water-fill station or showers in the park; it points campers to Morro Bay State Park's campground.
- Dogs only in the campground, on roads and at Spooner's Cove beach, on a 6-foot leash held by an adult; never on trails or other beaches, never left alone, and inside a tent or vehicle at night.
- No overflow parking for overnight campers.
Before you go
- Plan for the lottery if you want a high-demand site at Morro Bay State Park; ordinary reservations still work for the rest.
- Layer up: Montaña de Oro's page advises dressing in layers, especially near the ocean.
- Stay on trails at Morro Bay State Park to avoid poison oak and ticks.
Farther up and down the coast: Pismo Beach camping, Big Sur camping and Santa Barbara camping. For the rest of the state, see our California camping guide.
