Pismo State Beach has two campgrounds with beach access, North Beach for tents and Oceano for RVs with hookups. Next to them, Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area lets you drive onto the beach and camp on the sand itself. All three book through ReserveCalifornia; at Pismo State Beach, reservations are required in peak season and on holiday weekends.
Pismo camping at a glance
| Campground | Run by | Sites | Hookups | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Beach | California State Parks | Tent sites | None | Tents, the beach and the monarch grove |
| Oceano | California State Parks | RV hookup sites and tent sites | Yes, at RV sites | RVs, the lagoon |
| Oceano Dunes SVRA | California State Parks (OHV) | No designated sites, $10 a night | None | Camping on the sand, 4WD |
Booking Pismo State Beach
- Reserve on ReserveCalifornia.com or by calling 1-800-444-7275 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific). Reservations are required in peak season and on holiday weekends.
- Book up to six months ahead, and at least 48 hours before arrival.
- Two licensed vehicles at most per site, including motorcycles, trailers and RVs, parked only in your site.
- Check-in 2 p.m., check-out noon.
- Both campgrounds have restrooms, pay hot showers, picnic tables and campfire rings. Pismo State Beach takes trailers up to 31 feet and motorhomes up to 36 feet. Firewood is sold at the camp host sites or at the kiosk.
- Dump stations are at the North Beach Campground entrance and on Le Sage Drive near the Grand Avenue entrance to Oceano Dunes: $10, credit or debit card only, not included in the site fee.
North Beach Campground (Pismo State Beach)
Best for: tent camping by the beach. A tent campground with no hookup sites, beach access from the campground and views along Carpenter Creek. The Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, one of the largest western monarch overwintering sites in California (the monarchs are there November through February), is reachable from the campground. Junior Ranger and campfire programs run at the campfire center in summer.
Oceano Campground
Best for: RVs. Oceano has hookup RV sites and tent sites, beach access from the campground, a freshwater lagoon for wildlife watching, and the Oceano Dunes District Visitor Center at its entrance (555 Pier Avenue). Junior Ranger and campfire programs run in summer.
Pismo dunes camping: on the sand at Oceano Dunes SVRA
Best for: driving onto the beach and camping on it. Oceano Dunes, an off-highway vehicle park run by California State Parks, offers primitive beach and dune camping with no designated campsites.
- Camping is $10 a night. Reserve on ReserveCalifornia up to six months ahead and at least 2 days before arrival; search for "Oceano Dunes", not "Pismo", which brings up the North Beach and Oceano campgrounds.
- Beach camping is recommended for 4-wheel-drive vehicles only. The speed limit on the beach is 15 mph. High tides, heavy rain and blowing sand decide whether you can drive the beach without getting stuck, and Arroyo Grande Creek, swollen by dam releases and winter storms, can restrict access to the camping area.
- Camping-area facilities include vault and chemical toilets; the dump station is on Le Sage Drive, a tenth of a mile north of Grand Avenue.
- Vehicles enter the beach at Grand Avenue and Pier Avenue; off-highway vehicles must be transported to Post 2, a mile south of Pier Avenue, before unloading. Every vehicle needs current DMV registration.
- Fenced and signed areas are closed to vehicles.
- Day use is $5 per vehicle, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; passes are sold first come at the Grand Avenue and Pier Avenue kiosks, and special rates may apply on peak and holiday dates.
Fires and dogs
- Beach campfires are allowed but can be no more than 3 feet across and 2 feet high. Burn only clean, untreated wood, and put the fire out with water; never bury it in sand.
- Dogs are allowed on the beach and park trails on a 6-foot leash, but not in the Pismo Dune Preserve or at Oso Flaco Lake.
Before you go
- Book early for summer and holiday weekends, when reservations are required.
- Check the district's social media for day-use capacity at Oceano Dunes.
- Check tides and creek levels before driving onto the beach at Oceano Dunes.
- Bring a card for the dump station; cash isn't accepted.
Up the coast: Morro Bay camping and Big Sur camping; down the coast, Santa Barbara camping. For the rest of the state, see our California camping guide.
