Plan Your Visit

Most visits to San Elijo State Beach are either a day at the beach, parking in the North Day Use lot for $8 or $20, or a camping stay booked ahead on ReserveCalifornia. Campers check in at 2 p.m., with no early entry. Bring your own shade for ocean sites, leave beach firewood and glass at home, and plan on token showers and no Wi-Fi.

For a Day Trip

1. Check the hours: day use is dawn to sunset, and the North Day Use lot is closed 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
2. Park in the North Day Use lot and pay at the machine or by QR code. If it is full, Cardiff State Beach's lots are just south. See parking.
3. Ask a lifeguard about conditions before swimming; tower staffing varies by season. See the beach.
4. Bring a propane or butane stove if you want to cook on the sand. No wood fires on the beach.

For a Camping Trip

1. Book early on ReserveCalifornia. The state's brochure says sites fill quickly for holidays and summer. See reservations.
2. Pick the right site on the campground map: ocean or inland, hookup or not, and check RV length (24 feet on hookup sites, 35 feet elsewhere).
3. Arrive at 2 p.m. or later. There is no early check-in.
4. Bring shade. Ocean sites have no shade.
5. Showers take tokens from the machines at the ranger station.
6. Buy firewood on site from the self-serve machines at the restrooms (QR code). Do not bring pallets or treated wood.
7. No Wi-Fi at San Elijo; plan offline maps and entertainment.

What to Leave at Home

• Glass containers for the beach; alcohol is allowed only inside your campsite.
• Wood for a beach fire.
• Drones, unless you have a park permit and FAA registration.
• Large household items to dump; household garbage only. Recycling bins take cans and plastic bottles, and green compost bins take paper and food scraps.

Keep Your Things Safe

California State Parks says theft from unattended sites is the most common crime on these beaches. Lock bikes, coolers, surfboards and fishing poles in your vehicle or tent at night, introduce yourself to your neighbors, and report anything suspicious.

With Kids

Under-18 campers need a parent or a permission letter from a parent, and must be in their campsite from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. In spring (March 1 to May 1) a stricter 8 p.m. curfew applies. Junior Rangers and summer campfire programs run for families; see ranger programs.

With a Dog

Dogs are welcome in the campground and on the beach only south of Lifeguard Tower 16. See dog rules.

Wildlife

Do not feed squirrels or other wildlife. Store food in your vehicle. Human food can harm animals and make them aggressive.