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San Elijo State Beach  ·  Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA

Bluffs above Cardiff.
171 sites, straight-on Pacific views.

San Elijo's clifftop sites look directly out over the Pacific. They book in minutes. CampWatch watches every cancellation so you can get one.

No password  ·  No spam  ·  Cancel anytime
171
Campsites
Year-round
Demand
30mi
From San Diego
8 am
Cancellations post
Why it's hard to book

171 bluff-top sites above the Pacific — and a cancellation list that never stops moving

San Elijo State Beach in Cardiff-by-the-Sea offers something rare on the Southern California coast: campsites perched on low bluffs directly above the Pacific Ocean, with an unobstructed view of the water from your tent. The park's 171 sites range from oceanfront bluff spots to sites just across the road.

Cardiff Reef, one of San Diego County's premier surf spots, sits right below the park. Year-round weather and proximity to San Diego make San Elijo one of the most competitive coastal campgrounds in the state.

The oceanfront positions are what everyone is chasing — and they go first.

How it works

Three steps to your campsite

01
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02
Set your dates
Pick San Elijo, enter your check-in and check-out dates, and choose your match preference.
03
Get alerted instantly
We monitor ReserveCalifornia around the clock. You get an email the moment a site opens.
Park details

San Elijo State Beach at a glance

Location
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
Sites
171 campsites
Nightly fee
$35 – $65
Best months
Year-round
Hookups
Some hookup sites
Pets allowed
Yes, on leash
Surf
Cardiff Reef directly below
Reservations
ReserveCalifornia

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