Leo Carrillo State Beach

Giant sycamores shade the well-spaced sites at Leo Carrillo State Park Campground, a SoCal favorite located right off infamous Highway 1. That means you and your crew can splay out in the cool breeze when you’ve had enough of the sandy shoreline just a few steps to the west. Within walking distance, visitors can choose from myriad activities, including surfing, fishing, relaxing on the beach, or exploring the many tide pools and caves. The campground also backs up to the Santa Monica Mountains, which offer many options for hiking and mountain biking.

It’s worth making reservations for your Leo Carrillo camping spot far in advance as sites tend to book up. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table, and there are showers and flush toilets on-premise. In addition, there is a small general store in the campground that stocks everything from sunscreen to firewood to ice cream. Get up early and take the Nicholas Flat Trail from camp and watch the sunrise from the ridge. The trail is a moderately difficult 5.8 miles out and back with 1800 feet of elevation gain. However, the views of the ocean and surrounding mountains make the effort worth it.

Location: 35000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265, USA