Campground Reservations

San Elijo State Beach campsites are booked through ReserveCalifornia, online at ReserveCalifornia.com or by phone at 1-800-444-7275. Each booking carries a non-refundable $8.25 reservation fee. From March through November you can stay up to 7 nights in a row; from December through February, up to 14. The state's San Diego Coast brochure says sites fill quickly for holidays and the summer season, so book early.

How to Book

1. Go to ReserveCalifornia.com, or call 1-800-444-7275 (711 for TTY relay).
2. Search for San Elijo State Beach and pick dates.
3. Choose a site type: ocean, inland, ocean hookup, inland hookup or accessible. Check the numbers on the campground map first.
4. Pay the site fee plus the $8.25 reservation fee.

The park's page on parks.ca.gov shows a two-week availability strip, updated every 15 minutes, that tells you whether any site is open for two nights in a row from each date.

Stay Limits

• March to November (peak): up to 7 consecutive nights per customer or license plate.
• December to February (non-peak): up to 14 consecutive nights.
• After hitting the limit, you must leave for 48 hours before a new stay.
• No more than 30 nights per calendar year at this park, per customer or license plate.

Cancellations and Changes

These rules come from California State Parks' San Elijo park information page:

• Cancelling: the $8.25 reservation fee is kept, and a separate $8.25 cancellation fee is charged. Cancel online or through the contact center.
• Late cancellation: cancel after 6 p.m. the day before arrival and you lose the first night's fee.
• Changes: to change dates or sites, call the contact center by 6 p.m. Pacific the day before arrival. Each change costs $8.25 per site, and you can make two changes to one reservation.
• Leaving early: check out before noon. You forfeit the reservation fee and $8.25 comes off any refund.
• No-shows: your site is held until noon the day after your arrival date. If you have not called the park by then, the reservation is cancelled and you lose the reservation fee, a cancellation fee and the first night.
• Arriving late: if you miss the first day but still plan to come, call the park each day to hold the rest of the booking.

Refunds take at least 30 days. Cancelled and changed sites go back on sale at 8 a.m. Pacific the next day, not right away.

Accessible Campsites

To reserve an accessible site you must hold a valid DMV disabled placard or disabled license plate and its ID card, or a disabled veteran's plate and ID. Ask for an accessible site when you book. A placard alone does not lower the price; for a discount you need the state's Disabled Discount Pass or Distinguished Veteran Pass, and the pass holder must be the first camper to check in.

Group and Hike-and-Bike Sites

The Grunion Run group site is booked on ReserveCalifornia too. The hike-and-bike site is not reservable; it is first come, first served. See group camping.

On Arrival

Fees are due on entry. If the entrance station is closed, register online using the website on the campground map. Check-in is 2 p.m.; early arrivals are not admitted to sites. See hours and fees.