Camping near Santa Monica

A 3-mile long bike/blade path and a historic 1922 carousel are a few of Santa Monica's treasures.

93% (1452 reviews)
93% (1452 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Santa Monica

Dog-friendly getaways

Under $50

12 top campgrounds near Santa Monica

98%
(81)

AntFarm LA

6 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Los Angeles, CA
Looking for a quick escape from the city for a peaceful place to recharge? AntFarm LA offers a private, quiet retreat in nature where you can disconnect from the buzz of city life with the convenience of the city nearby. Hand-built with love and a couple of shovels by our family and friends, this hike-in, tent-only site is the perfect oasis for locals and visitors alike. As you embark on the short hike up, you will experience breathtaking views, shaded trails, and a sense of calm as you arrive at your campsite. You’ll enjoy stunning sunsets, sunrises, and the tranquil sound of birds chirping—an idyllic backdrop to clear your mind. We’ve thoughtfully added a few comforts so you can enjoy nature without completely leaving modern conveniences behind. Take advantage of amenities like a refrigerator, sink, a bathroom with a flushable toilet, and a shower to refresh after a day of exploring. We also have a few electrical outlets and WiFi if you need to stay connected online or charge your devices. If you want to howl at the moon, we have some more remote hike-in campsites available. Send us a message for details. Out of respect to our neighbors, we do not allow car camping in our parking lot. Car or RV sleeping is permitted on our Van Pad site only, although we do not provide RV hookups. To protect the privacy of others and the exclusivity of the retreat, we ask that you do not disclose the purpose of your stay to anyone outside of AntFarm LA, including surrounding neighbors. You may identify yourself as a guest or a friend, if asked. To preserve the quiet, off-the-grid atmosphere we’ve created, we ask that you respect our noise curfew of 10PM. We look forward to having you stay!
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$36
 / night
100%
(7)

Topanga Oasis

3 sites · Lodging13 acres · Topanga, CA
You will be nestled in a 13 acres with other cottages dotted throughout the property, along with private creeks + trails up the mountain. Visiting this property is a very unique experience, some describe it as “glamorous camping”. No photoshoots, parties or cats allowed. Please read the full description, disclaimer, and reviews, to make sure this is what you are looking for. **************************************************************************** DISCLAIMER: This is quite different from staying in an ordinary hotel. We are really in NATURE here - these are older cottages hand-built by artists in the forest. They are very rustic! It's like living in a mountain village, with other cottages nearby. While we work very hard to keep our places pristine and spotless - if anyone in your group will faint if they see a bug or lizard or little frog inside - then this probably isn't the place for you. Please be very careful booking cottages for someone else - like your parents just arriving from another continent - they might prefer something more conventional. Some folks describe our places as a luxurious form of camping. We make our cottages very comfortable - they have all the basics - electricity - wifi - most have kitchens, bath or shower and comfy clean beds. But they are not like a hotel with perfect walls and a sterile atmosphere. Please look at all the pictures and read all the reviews. We can't offer refunds just because we don't meet the standards of a normal hotel. Most people are charmed by this idyllic and bohemian lifestyle - but it's not for everyone. ********************************************************************* FILM AND PHOTOS SHOOTS: This is an amazing property for photography, and film, with 13 acres of rustic cottages, oak forests and sculpted streams. But please note we have special, and quite reasonable rates for filming, in addition to the normal rental charges. Please let us know ahead of time so we can work out the details. Commercial filming is not permitted without permission. Charming Cabin Ideal for Hikers and Nature Lovers in Topanga, California
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$75
 / night
100%
(193)

Urban Glamping at La Boheme!

2 sites · Lodging1 acre · Los Angeles, CA
This historical 1904 Craftsman home, known as The Liddell "La Boheme" Home, is nestled on 1/2 an acre of land smack in the middle of Los Angeles' hippest, historical gem: Highland Park. When on the property, surrounded by fruit trees and rolling hills -- you can't believe you are in a city, let alone Los Angeles! I was introduced to the delights of Glamping at El Capitan in Santa Barbara which was amazing and I wanted to stay there forever!! -- BUT with a busy city life of raising kids and building my own small food business -- I wanted to jump from Glamp-life to City-life (and back again) with more ease and share it with others. In my opinion, the beauty of So-Cal living is that you can literally spend the morning surfing in Malibu and that same evening find yourself skiing in Big Bear! (After 25 years of living here -- that reality still amazes me) To mirror this unique juxtaposition - at La Boheme, you will find a tranquil Safari Tent Glamping experience - with hiking/biking trails and all sorts of outdoor activities anywhere from a 5 minute walk to 30 minutes away by car---- but you can also hop on the Gold Line train (which is a 1 minute walk out the back door) and in choosing one direction, you are a couple of stops from Chinatown or Downtown LA's rich cultural experiences & exciting nightlife.  If you decide to explore in the other direction, Metro's Gold Line (in 1 stop) will take you to the heart of Highland Park's bustling scene - offering a smorgasbord of eateries, coffee-shops, speakeasies, boutiques, yoga studios and art galleries - including LA's oldest bowling alley: Highland Park Bowl. Take the train further and you're in the heart of glorious Pasadena (home to The Rose Bowl and exceptional Norton Simon Museum)-- or continue out to beautiful Sierra Madre -- where there is hiking and exploring galore! At La Boheme you can grill onsite, order take-out, dine out, stay-in and book a personal masseuse (that will change your world!) You can find places to hike, bike, play tennis, come back and shower (with hot water) - enjoy some bubbly with your honey on the deck -- take the train downtown to catch a concert at the Staples center -- Uber back - light the chiminea -- roast a s'more or two and crawl into your super comfy REAL bed in your REAL Safari Tent! Remember -- this is URBAN Glamping -- a friendly reminder that there can be normal city noises throughout your stay -- like a Fire Engine answering a call - or the train running behind the property -- or a kid crying in the apartment next door. It happens. Life happens. Of the several people who have already enjoyed the Glamping experience of La Boheme -- normal city noise/life hasn't dampened the experience at all-- only made it more intriguing! There is both a fan for air circulation and/or "white noise" as well as a heater, if you should need either of them. Plenty of extra blankets are available as well as a cot if you are a booking for 3 guests. La Boheme also is a venue for weddings and other events -- so we love hosting and want to do whatever we can to make your stay the best it can be for you! Please reach out with any questions or recommendations for the area. If you are new to the area - definitely spend a little time Googling ALL that is available to you - and I'll do my best to fill any blanks-- ha! Looking forward to meeting and hosting you at La Boheme. - Hillary
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$100
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(35)

Park At Tar Creeks Ranch

1 site · RV, Tent13 acres · Ojai, CA
Welcome to our tranquil ranch nestled among oak and pine trees, offering a serene getaway with stunning views of the Topatopa bluffs. Our site is the perfect place to disconnect and immerse yourself in nature, with five ephemeral creeks meandering through the 13-acre property. As a Leave No Trace environment, we ask that all guests come fully self-contained. While we don't yet have a compost toilet set up, we do provide a potable water hookup for your convenience. Please be mindful of your impact on the land and practice responsible camping during your stay. There are 4 permanent residents on the land, including me, who are in and out of the ranch daily, and our driveway passes near your campsite. So while you have privacy in the trees, you may have smile-and-wave distance interaction with other humans during your stay. A one-mile trail winds through the property that you are welcome to enjoy. Let me know if you are interested and I will show you were to find the trailhead. The path leads you to fascinating sites such as the caldera of a tar volcano, ancient Chumash cupules and mortars on boulders, and a tar marsh where wildlife thrives. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, botanist, birder, hiker, or simply seeking peace, this land offers something for you. We welcome guests to stay for a maximum of three days, but we're open to accommodating longer stays upon request. Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reconnect with the beauty of the natural world. We look forward to hosting you!
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$50
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96%
(115)

Camping @ Quail Run Ostrich Ranch

8 sites · RVs, Tents62 acres · Lake Hughes, CA
Run by three generations, our ranch has been in our family for more than 70 years. We opened our doors to the public in 2014 to help support feeding our animals, bred and rescued, after the Powerhouse Fire almost burned us out. We’ve survived a county quarantine(2018-2019), the COVID Lockdowns (2021-2022), the Lake Fire (2020), and the Hurricane Kay burn scar debris flow and flood (9/11/22), depending on hard work and strong family and community bonds. In addition to camping and educational tours, we host private and community events, grow & sell produce and eggs, hatch and sell chicks, rescue ratites, and support the local bee population (which gives us RAW honey to sell), and are working to open a private U-pick-by-appointment orchard. We are all animal lovers, and conservationists, and try to do our part to ensure our children inherit a healthy and viable world. This is our home where we live, work, love, and play. We enjoy sharing our space with visitors who we hope learn about ostrich and make some great memories.
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$20
 / night

Available this weekend

Star Hosts in Santa Monica

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping near Santa Monica guide

Overview

Ah, big, beautiful, beachfront Santa Monica. West of downtown Los Angeles and 18 miles south of Malibu, this coastal city is home to the iconic pier. It also boasts the equally legendary Muscle Beach. RV campers can explore the coastline of Santa Monica Bay at Dockweiler State Beach RV Park.

For prime tent camping, head north on Pacific Coast Highway to Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu. The large canyon campground has 140 spots for tents and RVs. The beaches are brimming with tidepools and caves begging to be explored. Hit the moderate 5.9-mile Yellow Hill Fire Trail for wildflower and Channel Island viewing.

If you’re headed to Malibu Creek State Park, make sure the campground has reopened. As of May 2019, only the park’s backcountry and day-use areas are open. The Woolsey fire of November 2018 took a tragic toll on parts of this region.

No visit to California’s coast is complete without time spent in the Santa Monica Mountains. Hike, bike, or ride your horse along 500+ miles of public trails crisscrossing the land. Some of the steepest climbs reward with 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean.

Need a challenge? Tackle the 65-mile (one way) Backbone Trail, LA’s premier long-distance trek. You can’t camp on the trail, but it makes a great day hike. The best ocean views are found on the Ray Miller Trail at Point Mugu State Park. Head to Inspiration Point at Will Rogers State Historic Park for easy access and some Hollywood history.

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