Parking & Directions

San Elijo State Beach is on Coast Highway 101 in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, about 25 miles north of San Diego. From Interstate 5, take the Encinitas Boulevard exit west, turn left on South Coast Highway 101, and follow it south about 2 miles. Day visitors park in the San Elijo North Day Use lot, which takes a pay machine or QR code payment and closes from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Directions From Interstate 5

California State Parks gives this route:

1. Exit Interstate 5 at Encinitas Blvd. and head west.
2. Turn left on South Coast Highway 101.
3. Follow the coast highway south about 2 miles.

The state's San Diego Coast brochure also points drivers to the Birmingham or Manchester exits, heading west and following signs to the entrances on the Pacific Coast Highway. The beach runs along Coast Highway 101 for about three-quarters of a mile north of the San Elijo Lagoon entrance channel.

The campground address is 2050 S Coast Hwy 101, Cardiff, CA 92007.

Where to Park for the Day

Day visitors use the San Elijo North Day Use lot, just north of the campground. LAZ Parking manages the lot under contract with California State Parks. You pay at an automatic pay machine or by QR code. The campground map also points campers to this lot for extra vehicles, with an overnight option.

Rules for the lot, from the park's posted order:

• The lot and its restrooms are closed from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• Vehicles longer than 25 feet or wider than 9 feet are not allowed in the North Day Use lot.
• Park on the pavement inside the lines of a single space.
• No tailgating. No awnings, slide-outs, chairs, tables or barbecues in parking lots.
• Spaces marked for authorized vehicles are for State Parks vehicles and staff only.

If the lot is full, Cardiff State Beach to the south has its own paid lots at Cardiff Reef and Seaside.

Parking for Campers

A campsite fee covers one vehicle plus one legally towed trailer or tow vehicle. Standard sites allow up to three vehicles and hookup sites two. Each extra vehicle is $15 a night, paid on entry. Vehicles must sit inside your site, behind the posted site number, and never on the road or in the planted areas. Extra cars can go in the North Day Use lot, which has an overnight option. The campground speed limit is 15 mph.

Bikes, E-Bikes and Chargers

San Elijo is not on California State Parks' statewide EV charger list, and its e-bike page says parks not on its list allow e-bikes only on roads open to public vehicle traffic; San Elijo is not on that list. Inside the campground, bicycles are allowed only on paved roads, riders under 18 must wear a helmet, and bikes ridden after dark need a light. Skateboards and scooters are not allowed near the park office, entrance station, camp store, restrooms or dump station, or anywhere at night.