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Moro Campground

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A great choice for a classic SoCal beach camping getaway, Crystal Cove State Park’s Moro Campground has 57 tent and RV sites on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Here, the smell of coastal sage scrub mixes with sea salt, and a convenient walking path tunnels under the Pacific Coast Highway, linking the campground to the beach. All Moro campsites are pet-friendly and come with picnic tables, while select sites include water and electric hookups. The campground has wifi, restrooms, coin showers, and a dump station. Moro Canyon lies to the east for hiking with panoramic views, while the ocean sits immediately west for water fun. There's also a ton of parking, which is ever so convenient, and this huge campground is split into three loops with about 20 sites each: Coyote Run, Sage Loop, and Dolphin Circle.

Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation

All Moro Campground campsites are reservable six months in advance. There are no first-come, first-served campsites.

Sites can be reserved online or by calling 1-800-444-7275.

Moro Campground is popular and tends to book out during the summer, on weekends, and through school breaks.

When to Go

Moro Campground’s mild coastal climate makes for awesome summer camping, when highs in the low 80s can be much more comfortable than sweltering inland temperatures. Spring and fall camping is good too, albeit with colder nights. Spring visitors may see wildflowers blooming in the canyon, while winter camping makes for an especially peaceful time on this coast, with lows in the 40s and highs in the upper 60s.

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Available campgrounds nearby

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97%

60 ratings · 10 reviews

Adam G.recommends

November 1, 2018

No fires allowed. Bring a camp stove with you!

Jaco C.recommends

October 20, 2018

All pretty self explanatory

Christine Lee S.recommends

May 27, 2018

Spent a last minute September weekend here and it was just what we needed. Quiet, peaceful, with a beautiful view. The facilities were well maintained, with hot showers and separate bathrooms. I can't wait to go back!

Felicia W.

April 25, 2018

This was our first tent camping experience as a family. We went for one night in August 2017. It was so beautiful and the view of the ocean from our tent was magical. The facilities were clean and close by. We enjoyed walking along the bluff trail in the evening, and going to the beach during the day. The only negative was that around 11pm, a group pulled into the site next to us and proceeded to celebrate a birthday until 3-4am. We asked them to lower their voices, but I think the sites are so close that it still made it difficult for me to sleep. Next time, if this were to happen, I'd seek out the camp host to help enforce quiet hours.

Siena L.

November 13, 2017

I really loved camping here! Not only are there amazing views of the ocean, but you have a nice walk down to the beach and there are also great hiking and biking trails for miles around the campground. I would highly recommend staying here, but just make sure you get a camp spot in Dolphin Circle (in the 50s) so that you have a better view of the ocean!

Madison D.

November 8, 2017

This was a great campground. The stadium layout provide amazing views for each spacious site. The overgrown shrubs gave each site a private feel. Bathrooms were well maintained and the camp hosts were very helpful. Pros: Beautiful, quiet and a close walk to what felt like a private beach. Cons: we had plans to ride our bikes since we were car camping but the PCH made access via bike very difficult and not safe while pulling our Burley. There were also lots of ants.

Ali H.recommends

September 11, 2017

A little hideaway from busy Pacific Coast Highway, so many trails that you can explore in the hills or go to the beach and hang out. Not many people know about the cute vintage crystal cove beach cottages or the restaurant/bar (The beachcomber) that is hidden below PCH on the sand, but it is definitely worth the sunset views!

Susan S.recommends

July 31, 2017

The cleanest campground I've ever been to. Easy access for RVs. Large sites with privacy. Tiered design means that every site has an ocean view. About a 10 minute walk to the beach.

Rachel N.

March 15, 2017

Great views of the ocean. You are close to other campers but there are large bushes in between the sites that will hide you from view. Didn't ever feel crowded. Bathrooms were clean and close to all the sites. Short walk to the beach and great spot to view the sunset! Will definitely come back!

Jason Z.

December 5, 2016

Newer campground that sits above Hwy 101 across from the beach. Great views. The entire campground is terraced so you really don't have a bad seat. Beach access with kids and stuff requires driving down to the lower lot and parking down there and walking thru a tunnel to get to the beach. Not a problem, but it's not like you can just stroll down to the beach with whole crew. Clean bathrooms and some good hiking east of the park. Also about a mile from Crystal Cove with a good restaurant, The Shake Shack and some vintage cottages.

Other campgrounds in Crystal Cove State Park

Deer Canyon Campground

1 site In Moro Campground

from

$30

/ night

Beach Cottages

1 site In Moro Campground

from

$30

/ night

Your guide to camping in Moro Campground

Overview

Biking

With many multi-use fire roads and trails open to cyclists, Crystal Cove State Park is one of the most popular mountain biking areas in the OC. Road bikers can enjoy a scenic cruise up or down Highway 1 from Moro Campground, albeit on a road shared with traffic.

Boating

Fishing boats and kayaks are welcome at Crystal Cove. Motor boats—not so much.

Fishing

You can do some surf fishing at the beach and around the Laguna Beach area, but you can't take your catch home with you! Bring your fishing boat out and try your luck past the kelp beds, go spear fishing, or see the marine critters when you go tidepooling. You can’t take anything from the tidepools or beaches, nor can you use anything you find for bait. As always, make sure you have a fishing permit before heading out.

Hiking

The hiking trails of Crystal Cove State Park span 18 miles through woodland and chaparral in and beyond Moro Canyon. These trails vary in length and difficulty, but they all offer a healthy challenge with three main loops: The Green Route is a moderate, hilly, and short trail; the Red Route is an intermediate workout; and the Blue Route is a long voyage around the park's perimeters.

Horseback riding

Crystal Cove State Park has equestrian-friendly backcountry trails in Moro Canyon, but horses are not allowed on the beach.

Paddling

Crystal Cove is a kayaking hotspot. Launch your kayak between Moro Cove and Muddy Creek, or from the south at the Historic District above Treasure Cove. Launches are not allowed between Muddy Creek and the cottages.

Surfing

Crystal Cove's surf break is popular with locals thanks to rolling waves. Beginning surfers may want to head south to Laguna Beach for board rentals, lessons, and surf reports.

Swimming

Swimming, surfing, and kayaking take place in separate sections of the 3.2-mile beach, so make sure you're in the right spot, then splash some waves to cool off under the warm Southern California sun. At the Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area, scuba divers can explore a kelp forest.

Wildlife watching

A variety of mammals, reptiles, birds, and marine animals can be spotted at Crystal Cove, including coyotes, rattlesnakes, roadrunners, brown pelicans, California quails, sea lions, dolphins, and whales—December through April is the time for whale watching! Crystal Cove is also famous for its tide pools, where you can peer into underwater worlds home to mollusks, starfish, crabs, snails, urchin, octopus, and kelp at low tide. Find tide pools close to the campground at the Reef Point entrance, as well as further north at Pelican Point.