San Elijo State Beach

Solana Beach, California 2  of  10

Located on the San Diego coast, barely half an hour north of the city, San Elijo offers great swimming, surfing—even snorkeling and diving. It's the quintessential SoCal location for just beaching it; your chance of warm, gorgeous vacation weather is high no matter what time of year you visit.

Crystal Cove Beach Cottages

Orange County, California 3  of  10

Boasting 3.5 miles of pristine coastline, this spot offer gorgeous ocean views and a glimpse of a uniquely Southern Californian beach community from a bygone era. And while you're here, explore Laguna Beach and the rest of South Orange County.

Bolsa Chica State Beach

Huntington Beach, California 4  of  10

Go fishing, surfing, stroll the large expanse of beach, live up the Southern California lifestyle—it's certainly alive and well here.

Anacapa Island

Santa Barbara County, California 5  of  10

Anacapa Island, the closest Channel Island to the mainland of California, offers three iconic features of Channel Islands National Park: Arch Rock, Inspiration Point, and the Anacapa Island Lighthouse. Hike, swim, dive, snorkel and enjoy the stunning views.

Sonoma Coast State Beach

Sonoma, California 6  of  10

Whale-watching? Dune trails? Tidepools and coves? It's all here in one of the largest and most ecologically diverse parks on the West Coast. When you're not enjoying the fresh air, go wine tasting at the many nearby Northern California vineyards.

Patrick's Point State Park

Trinidad, California 7  of  10

With cliffs overlooking the spectacular Northern California coast, and a reconstructed Yurok, American Indian village, Patrick's Point is located 25 miles north of Eureka and 56 miles south of Crescent City. Spring and fall are the best times of year to visit Patrick's Point.

Bullard's Beach

Bandon, Oregon 8  of  10

Perched among the shore pines of Western oregon, this family-oriented park is a great year-round option for beach camping, nestled among shore pines, sheltered from ocean breezes and with yurts available in addition to tradictional campsites. (And don't forget your fishing pole!)

Sandbeach Campground

Siuslaw, Oregon 9  of  10

Located on Oregon's North Coast, this campground boasts some of the best terrain for off-highway vehicles on the west coast with its 1,100 acres of sand dunes.