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South Carlsbad State Beach Campground

Part of Tent Camping, our guide to tent camping in San Diego County.

South Carlsbad State Beach Campground sits on a bluff at 7201 Carlsbad Boulevard with stairs to the beach. Inland sites are $50 a night and ocean sites $70. Stays are limited to 7 consecutive nights March to November and 14 nights December to February.Checked October 23, 2026.

$50inland campsite
$70ocean campsite
7 nightspeak limit, Mar to Nov
30 daysper year per park unit
Sandy beach with surf and beachgoers seen from a bluff, power plant stack in the distance
South Carlsbad State Beach seen from the bluff. Sam Trenholme, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Address7201 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad CA 92008; 760-438-3143
FeesInland $50; ocean $70; inland hookup $75; ocean single hookup $95; ocean double hookup $140; second and third vehicles $15 per night (2025 brochure). Day use $10, or $20 holiday and weekend.
Check-inCheck-in 2 p.m., check-out noon
SitesThe map numbers sites 1 to 223; 6 of those are camp-host sites. Tent campers use the non-hookup sites.
DogsNot allowed on the beach; leash 6 feet; confined to a vehicle or tent at night
Who it suitsAll ages. Camp store sells firewood, groceries and ice.
BookingReserveCalifornia.com or 800-444-7275

Stay Limits

Peak season (March to November) is limited to 7 consecutive nights and non-peak (December to February) to 14, then 48 hours away. The maximum is 30 days per year per park unit.

Fire Rules

The brochure says wood fires are allowed only in campground fire rings; on beaches only propane or butane fires are allowed, with no wood fires. The park’s current-restrictions block showed “Last Checked: 10/23/2026” with no alert text.

Nearby

For the beach itself, see South Carlsbad State Beach and Carlsbad State Beach. For another coastal campground, see San Elijo State Beach; its camping fees and site count were not on the park page read.

What We Could Not Verify

  • The exact total number of campsites: the map numbers 1 to 223 but no total is stated. The park (760-438-3143) can confirm.
  • The booking window. ReserveCalifornia can confirm.
  • Coordinates were not retrieved, so no map point is shown.

More in Tent Camping

FAQ

How much is a tent site at South Carlsbad?

The 2025 brochure lists $50 for an inland campsite and $70 for an ocean campsite.

Can I take my dog on the beach?

No. The park says dogs are not allowed on the beach. They must be leashed and kept in a vehicle or tent at night.

Sources

  1. California State Parks: South Carlsbad State Beach
  2. California State Parks: South Carlsbad campground map brochure (PDF, 2025)

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.