Morro Strand State Beach

IF you plan on spending most of you time on the beach or in town, and
IF you can get one of the 10 or so decent western sites, and
IF you don’t need showers, and
IF it’s not too busy, and
IF you want beach camping without being ON the beach, then
this place is just right.
It does have a ‘parking lot’ feel, and many of the sites are right on top of each other. But my wife and I with just our tent and SUV found a nice shady site (#7) with a sandy hill overlooking the beach mid-​week in late August. The campground was about ¹⁄₃ full. We love Montana De Oro campground on the south side of Morro Bay, but we wanted to be as close to beach as possible, and this fit our needs well.

— Address: 305 Yerba Buena St, Morro Bay, CA 93 442
— Booked through Reserve America
— Fee: $ 43
— No shower but bathrooms yes with outlet
— Parking space allowed: 1 vehicle + 1 trailer or 3 vehicles total
— Location: next to the beach
— Check In: 2P. M & Check Out: 12P. M
(If you arrive late at night, site will be chosen for you. They have a list with your campsite # at the window)
— 2 miles away from downtown
I booked this very last minute but still got one night over the weekend. I kept getting confused Morro Strand with Morro Bay State Park. The diff between the two is one has shower and the other one doesn’t.
I’m not sure if they normally let you pick the site but when we booked, we didn’t get that option. You get to pick upon check in. We arrived sometimes after 3:30 so we were able to get one right along the beach. I’m not sure how I would feel if I didn’t have that option where I was closer to the beach side.
I agreed with others that you practically camp at a parking lot and not actual camping camping. But I just wanted something along the beach and I knew we were close by the city, so there wouldn’t be much nature feel to it. I was just happy to get a spot considered it was last minute booking.
Montana De Oro Campsite: you’d consider this if you want to be more in nature. 13 miles drive from downtown Morro Bay though.
(And we found a hidden shower somewhere in downtown! So glad I was able to shower)

I stayed in my new trailer in august in an Rv spot. It was very clean and all hookups worked great. I came up from down south and wanted nothing more than to relax and enjoy the beach. Now lets get to the bad part, my first night surfers camped on the sand side and must have thought they were the only ones at the camp. They screamed and talked loud for hours. Simple conversation seemed like they were talking into a loud speaker. Finally around 1230 they crawled into their tent.
The next morning the on duty camp host came walking around checking cars, I asked to speak to her about the noise and if its customary in a camp to be quiet after 10 she told me yes they have to be quiet. That group left that morning and I took off for the day. When I came back there was many people in the middle portion of dirt who appeared to be camping in a single spot. To make the story short, when it got dark the music came on from the back of a suv and it went down hill from there. Screaming and yelling and loud conversation about sexual and other perverted things and as they became drunker it got worse. Finally at 330 am I went to the on duty camp host. I knocked on the Rv and the host came to the door and said «it better be good» I apologized for having to knock on her Rv but I would like to get some sleep and if she could do something about it, her attitude was basically she could care less however She apparently did called police and even though they came out they did not get quiet until 0430 am .Not only that they could have cared less about Police being there.
It was finally resolved when the Park Ranger handled it at 0800. Unfortunately I cut my trip short a day. I traveled pretty far to stay in this camp and it will be the last time. This camp needs to be redone. This is a beautiful area however some things need to change, like the middle dirt camp spots. And it also needs to be monitored alot better, I have never seen such trashy acting people in a camp before and I have camped many places. Get rid of the dirt median, and take better care of this place. Its embarrassing to have it called a State Park, and the camp hosts need better attitudes. If you dont allow some things to happen you might not have to be awakened in the middle of the nite from a tired camper who just wants to get some sleep. This was not the only conflict in the park that the ranger had to show up on while I Was there. Unfortunately I wish I could give this park a 10… But its a 2 … It was a disaster.

We stayed this past Saturday night for a quick getaway. Both me and my husband worked saturday and wouldn’t be arriving to the campsite until 10pm and wanted to make sure we didn’t lose our campsite. When we arrived, we saw that our reserved spot was taken and we were given a spot in the middle island. We drove up to the camp host of the night to see if they would be able to assist or even see if there was an open spot by the beach. We rang the bell at the front 5 times… no answer. So my husband finally knocked on the door of the trailer. When the host came out I explained the situation and with a very cold tone stated to me «well what do you want me to do, Im not going to make people move». Now I completely understand that thought, but I DID NOT like the tone or the way it was presented. (When I originally booked the site in thought I was reserving a spot, but further investigation showed that this was not the case and I take full responsibility for this mistake on my part). I then asked him if he knows if there was a spot on the beach side that was available and he said «No, but if your staying only one night what does it matter to you because you have to leave by 12pm anyways»… Excuse me!!! Well, it does matter to me because I am only staying one night. Second of all, what kind of attitude is that to be giving when I did not raise my voice at all. I was in shock when he answered me like that and lost what I wanted to say to him. At that point I said okay thank you and had to walk away, otherwise I was going say something very inappropriate.
Then, literally 10 minutes later, by husband goes back to the host stand to buy wood so that we can atleast enjoy a nice fire in our parking lot campsite. We rang the bell again 4 times hopeing they would answer. Nope… so he knocked on the door lightly. I was in the car with my sister in law and didn’t here the conversation they had but when my husband came back to the car with no firewood, I knew something happened. He then drove up slightly to the storage of the Firewood and saw that the sign said open. The only other sign that was shown was the cost of the Firewood and to contact the on duty host (pictures posted). He then returned and told the host that there is no sign that your closed and no Firewood is being sold. The host stated «you woke me up and I stop selling wood at sunset». Who stops selling wood at sunset? That’s when people need it. My husband kept asking to get one bundle and he would leave him alone, so finally the host, with agressive attitude, gave us the firewood. When my husband went to get the bundle, the host asks him «what work do you do?» My husband answered that he is a security guard for LAUSD. The host apparently didn’t know what that meant and began asking him his schedule as if asking him, do you work this late at night?
Overall we didn’t let the angry remarks and attitude get to us and we enjoyed our campfire in peace. Good thing is that it was only for one night. But for sure we will NEVER come back here again. I wish I could get a refund for the horrible service.

If you like paying $ 43 to camp in a parking lot this is the place for you. The beach is about 100 yards away so the sounds of the waves are faint and won’t drown out the pain of having your commune with the sea dashed. This place should be the basis for a Simpson’s episode. It sucks in ways a campground has never sucked before.
Yes, if you’re VERY lucky, there are a FEW spaces which suck a bit less, but since you can’t reserve your space you’re taking a huge chance.
Finally, in fairness, the beach itself is nice so if you’re just planning to sleep and then spend 16 hours away from this showerless refugee camp I suppose you could justify it. But then again, why? There are many other better beach camping places. In Somalia, for example.
I want to know who the administrator was who gave this place the green light. You Sir/​Madam, have ruined many families’ hopes of a nice vacation. Your pension should be stripped.

We recently stayed here for one night. Loved the proximity to the beach. While we were at the back of the campground, furthest from the water, it was only a short walk to reach the beach. All RV spaces are located in the back. Tents get the best spots. Clean bathrooms and nice staff. Would definitely stay again.

Technically I would give this place 3.5 stars. I only stayed here one night while traveling through. As others have stated, this campground is basically a parking lot. I got there a little after 2pm and the lady told me I can just go drive through and tell her which spot I want based on which ones are open. I drove through and picked one on the beach side that had a nice little spot to set up my tent. The spots are not intimate and you are basically right next to everybody. If the beach spots are full there are ones in the middle that look pretty terrible. It’s basically on a little patch of grass. The far side has all the RVs which those spots are basically cement.
The bathrooms are ok, they seemed relatively clean. No showers.
Overall I would say this place is nice if you are just stopping through for a day or so and can get a spot on the beach side. For longer stays I would recommend Morro Bay campground. That one isn’t really on the beach, but it has more of a campground feel to it and the bathrooms are much nicer and it has showers.

The views Are great
However tent situation is one on top of another
It was roughly 10:06 and the park Marshall told us we were too loud and dirty.
I have never one been to a camp group where they told u to clean up prior to departure.
Also, 10:06 too loud… It’s a campground
We were a group sitting by a fire talking.
Music had already been turned off…
On top of it all we were mildy talking between the two campgrounds we had and a camper across the way felt the need to threaten us «it will be a good night I you keep speaking amongst each other»
I’m sorry but it is Saturday night 10:30 and what the hell did h just say to me.
He felt power Amongst himself because the ranger had previously visited our site
I would like a refund, but I’m sure I’d be declined.
The threats of being ejected, injured, or just something while we sleep is extremely disturbing.
This campsite isn’t definite no go
Unless u are over the age of 60 and sleeping by 8 good luck.

I love staying here. I get to park near the beach and enjoy the sound of the waves. They are building RV parking with hook ups. Once they upgrade the bathrooms with showers, I’ll give it 5 stars.

Just came back from spending a night at the campsite, I really liked it, the sound of the waves helps put you to sleep. FYI there is maintance and renovation on the campsites facing away from the beach

Great place to camp if you want to be real close to the beach and shopping. No showers here though.

Yeah for last minute deciding on where to stay. and not knowing the area, someone at Morro Bay rv dunes told us about this place and Morro bay S.P. too to camp. The ranger lady was very nice too and she let me drive through to see what spots were opened. We decided to camp Saturday night. Weather was great, we had some noisy people near us, but all in all it was pleasant for driving in and no reservation. I guess after Oct 6, its first come first serve here. Late at night about 2:30 am the high tides came in and they were so loud, we were praying it wasn’t going to come into the camp. lol it didn’t but was very cool to listen. We had rare huge waves last weekend with a storm from up north. so this was cool. We went for a walk in the am on the beach and gathered sand dollars. Saw some jelly fish on shore too, watch out. Lots of seaweed of course. Beautiful morning walk too, we loved it.
I took away a star because the bathrooms are horrible. Filthy no showers, there is an outlet in bathroom if you need to blow dry hair or something. They recommend you to go to Morro Bay SP to use their showers. I think we will camp there next time. This was a good place for a last minute though. Won’t say we will not camp again here, it is on the beach!!! as we might again. But if you want a nicer campground, check out Morro Bay SP.
All in all, it was pretty good. We bought wood at the market for $ 5 which is about 1 mile or less from here. Spencers Market.

Stayed here in a pinch because every campground in the area was full. If you can get here and snag one of the beach front campsites, you’ll have a lovely little sandy nook to enjoy. The rest of the campsite, however, is a parking lot. Our «site» was a parking lot median covered in mulch next to a homeless man. It was depressing.
Park staff was quite nice and bathrooms were decent (Out of the 10 or so camps we stayed out, this was the only one with a shelf by the mirror for your toiletries. It’s the little things.)
TL;DR: Reserve yourself a beachfront spot and you’ll love it. Otherwise, it’s home sweet parking lot for you.

Went camping at Morro Strand State Beach. Our first impression was wonderful! Lady greeted us and told us to take a drive and pick out our spot. It was fairly empty on the Sunday afternoon so we were able to pick the last spot on the beach side. Firewood available for $ 7 and there is a market just down the street, although it is not very well stocked with supplies for BBQs and such.
It somewhat resembled a parking lot, but the beachfront was unbeatable. No showers, but clean bathrooms. It is basically a loop of camping spots and, while the edge spots are lovely, if you get a site in the middle (like a wide median) you’d have to share a lot of the space with your neighbors on the other side of the median. Not something I’d be happy with.
Overall, great beach access (you’re basically camping right on the beach) and if you get a good camping spot you can’t beat the views!

This place is sooooooooo cool the only thing that sucks is no showers but your on the ocean your kinda away from the city that’s cool with me, camp host and rangers were cool, neighbors sucked cuz they were loud and disrespectful but I’m good I understand being on vacation all to well, site #11 is the prime spot here don’t get better then that HIGHLY RECOMNDED