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Francis Beach Campground

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The best place to watch the sunset over Half Moon Bay…particularly if you have an RV.

For tent campers, this might not be your best bet, but for RV campers, this could be your paradise!

RV amenities include a dump station and a water filling station. Hit up the outside showers at Venice Beach to wash off the sand after a jaunt along the Coastside Trail or just lay out on the four miles of sandy beaches.

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91%

47 ratings · 7 reviews

Aaron A.

August 23, 2022

I've camped here with a tent in Site 22 that has direct access to the beach and premium electrical. I've also camped with a travel trailer in Site 47, which has premium electrical hookups and an amazing ocean view. Beyond a few full hookup sites near the camp host, most hookups are just electrical with no water and not sewer. The reservations are hard to come by on the spot due to how amazing the location is. My family loves the beach and we often come for day-use activities. At night it is a quiet place. If you have an RV it is $10 to dump, which is paid by an automated credit card thing. While you feel remote, you area actually only minutes away from stores and restaurants by car.

Alicia E.recommends

October 10, 2018

Easy, fun weekend camping for those living in San Francisco and want a cheap getaway.

Nino S.

April 22, 2017

ok

Xanthe &.

February 19, 2017

Not a ton of privacy and you're unlikely to feel like you're out in the wilderness! But there are a few sites that face away from the road and towards the beach that can be nice.

Julian B.

December 14, 2016

Great place to camp if you're going to be spending A LOT of time on the beach. Not so great for hanging out / doing any activities in the camp itself as it's essentially just a huge parking lot for RVs...

Travis P.

August 5, 2015

Great site. Literally on the beach. Hot coin operated showers. The one downside is all of the valley is there on the weekends. You might try weekdays its an entirely different experience. Try the three amigos restaurant on the way out A++!

Kathy A.

June 12, 2015

Great family tent camping: hike/bike campsites are off the parking loop, as are 36-37-38; sites 13-14-15 are more isolated with trees + grassy field for tents; 17-19-22-24-26-28-30-32-34 are on the dune above the beach - nothing but sand btw you and the waves

Other campgrounds in Half Moon Bay State Beach

Sweetwood Group Camping

1 site In Francis Beach Campground

from

$30

/ night

Your guide to camping in Francis Beach Campground

Overview

Boating

Motorized boating isn’t really a thing here, but you should definitely grab your paddle and check out the kayaking and canoeing section!

Fishing

For you anglers out there, your best bet is on the surf smelt here. The season is from late spring through the summer. Make sure to use your throw nets and bring along gear to catch the striped bass that sometimes follow the smelt.

Hiking

While there aren’t a ton of hiking options there is one very nice 4-mile, multi-use Coastside Trail (and it’s fairly level). It extends along the beach’s easter boundary from Kelly Avenue north to Pillar Point and south to Poplar Beach. As you can imagine, there are some pretty epic ocean views along the way.

Paddling

Kayaking at Half Moon Bay is a wonderful way to get in the water alongside the wildlife and experience Pillar Point Harbor or the Pacific. If you’re looking to try kayaking, this is a great place to rent a kayak and get yourself out there!

Wind sports

Half Moon Bay can serve up some pretty monumental waves for kiteboarding .The bay is best on a south wind, and can also serve up a wild ride (aka have fun and be careful)!

Surfing

Surf? Oh yes there is definitely some of that (I mean, have you heard of Maverick’s??) Surfing conditions here are difficult to forecast because of the unpredictable weather and surf action. However, depending on the direction of swell and the level of the tide, lucky surfers have been known to catch some memorable waves, particularly around the southern end of the crescent. The gentle swells at The Jetty near El Granada make it perhaps the most popular surfing spot in the area for beginners. A mile offshore Pillar Point, where waves can reach 20 feet in height, the world-famous Maverick’s surfing spot is for experts only (seriously, don’t get any ideas).

Swimming

Uhhhh...unless you’re an experienced swimming it might be best for you to stay out of the water. Swimming is not recommended here because of the cold water temperatures and unpredictable rip currents (not to mention their are some critters with some pretty sharp teeth lurking beneath the surface).

Wildlife watching

Half Moon Bay houses the expected water-associated birds. With a little bit of luck (and patience), you may be able to catch some less common wildlife like gray whales.