Best Campgrounds In Malibu For A West Coast Road Trip

Campgrounds in Malibu are limited. In fact, there are only four campgrounds in or near Malibu so if you’re planning a west coast road trip you definitely need to make a campsite reservation in advance during peak travel season.

Malibu’s world famous 27-miles of coastline draws thousands of sun seeking visitors year-round and it’s not hard to see why. This dreamy beach community offers dramatic coastlines, breathtaking mountain vistas, and plenty of sun-soaked beaches.

If you want to spend a few days exploring Malibu, camping is a great way to go about doing so since it won’t cost as much as renting a vacation home in the area.

Most of the campgrounds in Malibu are either on or close to the beach so you’ll enjoy million dollar ocean views without the expensive price tag.

Here is a detailed guide to all of Malibu’s campgrounds which will hopefully help make road trip planning easier for you.

Here Are The Best Campgrounds In Malibu

Malibu Beach RV Park & Campground

Malibu Beach RV Park and Campground is a privately owned campground that offers campsites for both RVs and tents. If you’re the type of camper that needs modern conveniences like showers, flushing toilets, laundry room, and wifi, this is the place for you!

This campground in Malibu has a lot going for it. Besides all of the amenities mentioned above, this campground has a location to die for! It is located on the famous Pacific Coast Highway right across the road from the Pacific Ocean.

So not only will you have ocean views from your campsite, but you’ll also have quick and easy beach access. You can hang out at the beach by day and then head back to your campsite to enjoy an epic sunset.

Fall asleep to the sound of lapping waves and wake up to the smell of salty air. This is what Los Angeles dreams are made of!

As almost everyone knows, L.A. dreams don’t come cheap and staying at Malibu Beach RV Park does come with a hefty price tag.

Tent sites cost $55 per night, and RV sites are $110 per night (no view) or $165 per night (with ocean views). Expensive, right?! But if you compare it with the price tag of staying at a vacation home in Malibu, especially one with ocean views, you really are getting a bargain.

If you’re touring the Pacific Coast Highway or on a California coast road trip this is the perfect place to begin or end your road trip! Trust me, a stay here really will help make your road trip an unforgettable and extra special experience.

We have stayed at Malibu RV Park many times. In fact, once upon a time we stayed here for almost a month when we first moved to the U.S. while we looked for a car and a place to live.

If you want to find out more about that time in our lives, or would like to learn more about this campground (and see more photos too), see this review of Malibu Beach RV Park.

Malibu Creek State Park Campground

Malibu Creek State Park is located in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains. Often touted as the Yosemite of Southern California, this state park boasts stunning scenery that includes towering sandstone peaks, oak and sycamore forests, rolling hills, and even a hidden swimming hole!

The park was once owned by Fox Studios and is famous for being the film location site for the hit TV show M*A*S*H and Planet of the Apes movie starring Mark Wahlberg.

Besides hunting down film locations, visitors to Malibu Creek State Park can hike, bike, and camp here. While campsites here do not come with ocean views, they do have breathtaking mountain vistas.

There are 56 campsites at Malibu Creek State Park Campground; 26 sites are tent-only and the other 30 can accommodate RVs, trailers or tents. Each campsite comes with a picnic table, food locker, grill, and fire ring.

And don’t worry, this campground does have flush toilets, tap water, coin-operated showers, and even laundry. Campsites here cost $45 per night. You can book your stay at Malibu Creek State Park Campground here.

Malibu Creek State Park is situated six miles away from the coast along Malibu Canyon Road. This is a great campground for you if you’re looking for a unique camping experience or wanting to escape the bustle of city life.

Leo Carillo State Park Campground

Leo Carillo State Park is another beautiful coastal state park in California. This state park is located on the Pacific Coast Highway therefore is a convenient place to camp if you’re driving between L.A. and San Francisco (or have plans for a bigger west coast road trip).

There are 135 campsites here that have electrical hookups for RVs and trailers. The park also has token-operated showers which is always good news for campers.

Leo Carillo State Park Campground is situated directly across the road from the beach. Beach access is via a trail that goes under the PCH which is much safer than trying to run across the highway!

Leo Carillo Beach is popular with surfers but it’s also a good beach for swimming and exploring tide pools. Lifeguards do patrol the beach from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Like other campgrounds with beach access in California, this campground does book out well in advance! So be sure to make reservations ahead of your trip. You can book your stay at Leo Carillo State Park Campground here.

Thornhill Broome State Park Campground

Thornhill Broome Campground is one of the few beachfront campgrounds in California therefore you can absolutely expect it to be busy, especially on weekends and holidays.

This campground is situated on Thornhill Broome Beach and is part of Point Mugu State Park. It is the last beach considered as part of Malibu and from here the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) travels inland to Oxnard and then Ventura.

There are 69 primitive campsites to choose from which are nothing more than parking spots that stretch beside the highway. They can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 31-feet in length. You are allowed to have two vehicles per site and up to eight people.

If you would prefer to tent camp you can pitch your tent right on the sand! Each campsite comes with a picnic table and fire ring.

Keep in mind there are only vault toilets here and a few roadside spigots for drinking water. You should also know there are no showers here and the campground does not have a dump station. Stays are limited to 30 days per calander year.

One of the coolest things about staying at this campground is obviously the fact that you can camp right on the beach. But if you plan to go swimming, be aware that this beach is known for having strong rip currents. Lifeguards do patrol the beach though during the summer.

Point Mugu State Park features sand dunes, rugged mountains and two canyons. There are 70 miles of hiking trails for you to explore here; the Grotto Trail is the easiest but if you prefer challenging hikes, I recommend the hike to Mugu Peak which has terrific ocean views from the summit.

Book your stay at Thornhill Broome Campground here on the Reserve California website. Be sure to bring groceries as the nearest restaurant is Neptune’s Net which is five miles drive away.