Volcanic plugs and sunset kayaking tours at Morro Bay State Park

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Last updated

March 8, 2022

Trip · 3-day camping trip

For · Friends and new campers

Vibe · Relaxing and chill

Reservations · Yes, reserve a site at Morro Bay State Park Campground

Drive · 3.5 hours from SF and LA

Ideal dates · June to September

Pets · Welcome at camp and on the beach!

The 23 million-year-old Morro Rock captures everyone's attention at Morro Bay State Park (I mean, how could it not?), but this park also features lush estuaries, winding oceanside walkways, and glorious sunsets. There's an 18-hole golf course and a natural history museum nearby too. MBSP gets packed in July and August due to the warm summer vibes, but September is still a fine time to visit.

Official State Park Website

Directions To Campground

‍Main image credit: Joshua Chun

Campground Campgrounds Itinerary Gear Packing List Food

Stuff to know

It can be windy when you're camping along the coast. Bring a swimsuit and a jacket
Carpool if you can! Overflow parking isn't available after you reach more than the two car limit per campsite
Keep pups leashed at camp and on the beach

Resources

Check the weather

Where to camp

Morro Bay State Park Campground

Each campsite comes with a:

Picnic table
A fire pit and grill
Space for up to 8 people
2 parking spots
Food storage locker‍‍

Tucked between the golf course and Morro Estuary Natural Preserve, Morro Bay State Park Campground is packed with amenities for everyone. Upper section campsites are best for tent campers, and you can buy firewood and take hot (coin-operated) showers here too. Try to reserve your campsite months in advance though. People love visiting this park.

Check-in: After 2 PM · Check-out: 12 PM

Quiet hours: 10 PM to 8 AM

View Campground Map‍

Nightly Rate: $50

Reserve your campsite

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Map

Download map View map

Itinerary

Day One

Leave LA by 11 AM and grab lunch at Ziggy's

Diners LOVE this vegan spot, esp. their burgers & avocado egg rolls
Located at 594 California Blvd in San Luis Obispo
Open everyday · 11 AM to 9 PM
Last pit stop · Speedway Express - 3 Santa Rosa St. in San Luis Obispo
Nearest grocery store · Albertsons - 730 Quintana Road in Morro Bay

Check in and settle in at Morro Bay State Park Campground

Set up camp, wander around the campground, and relax

Hike Black Hill Trail

Walk along a 2.5 mile, 551 ft. of elevation, out and back trail to the top of Black Hill, another volcanic plug like Morro Rock

Return to camp for dinner

Prep and enjoy dinner at camp

Marina Point in Morro Bay State Park — Marina Point. Credit: AllTrails

Catch the sunset along Marina Point

Walk along this flat, easy half-mile loop next to Morro Bay's marina and estuary. Look out for wading birds and interesting plants along the way!

Huddle up back at camp for s'mores

Prep your favorite bevvie and swap some campfire stories

Morro Rock is one of 13 volcanic plugs, which are the former tops of extinct volcanoes, in San Luis Obispo County. It's 581 feet tall!

Day Two

Make brekkie, pack a picnic, and visit Morro Rock

Pack a daypack with lunch, sunscreen, sunhat, bug spray & water
Drive 10 minutes through downtown Morro Bay & park at Morro Rock
Bask in oceanside views of this epic volcanic plug and treat everyone to an afternoon picnic!

Return to camp and unwind

Clean up, prep a delicious meal, and play some board games

Reserve a Morro Bay sunset paddle with Central Coast Outdoors

Experience your last sunset at Morro Bay floating in a kayak. This 2 to 2.5-hour paddle is $85 per adult, with discounts for kids! It also comes with beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres. Yum.

The Salinan and Chumash tribes consider Morro Rock to be a sacred site. They call it Le'samo and Lisamu, respectively.

Day Three

Morro Bay State Park. Credit: Sierra Blair

Pack up and check out before noon

Cook up brekkie, clean up around camp, and throw away any random pieces of litter

Head home!

‍

A Portuguese explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo named Morro Rock "El Morro" in 1542. In Spanish "Morro" means crown shaped hill.

How can we improve this itinerary?

Recommended gear

Essential Items

$$$

Zenbivy MotoBed 35° Synthetic

Imagine a sleeping pad, bag, and blanket all in one. It takes some getting used to, but people love it.

Morro Bay State Park

Volcanic plugs and sunset kayaking tours at Morro Bay State Park

Volcanic plugs and sunset kayaking tours at Morro Bay State Park

Volcanic plugs and sunset kayaking tours at Morro Bay State Park

Volcanic plugs and sunset kayaking tours at Morro Bay State Park

Stuff to know

Resources

Where to camp

Morro Bay State Park Campground

Map

Itinerary

Day One

Leave LA by 11 AM and grab lunch at Ziggy's

Check in and settle in at Morro Bay State Park Campground

Hike Black Hill Trail

Return to camp for dinner

Catch the sunset along Marina Point

Huddle up back at camp for s'mores

Day Two

Make brekkie, pack a picnic, and visit Morro Rock

Return to camp and unwind

Reserve a Morro Bay sunset paddle with Central Coast Outdoors

Day Three

Pack up and check out before noon

Head home!

Packing List

Recommended gear

Zenbivy MotoBed 35° Synthetic

Kelty Tru.Comfort Doublewide 20 Degree Sleeping Bag

TETON Sports Polara Sleeping Bag

REI Kingdom Insulated Sleep System 40

Exped MegaMat 10 Sleeping Pad

NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

Free People Adventure Awaits Fleece

Zara Oversized Tie Dye Sweatshirt

Aritzia Super Puff Mid Jacket

Thinksport SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen

Kiehl's Naturally Nude Butterstick Lip Treatment SPF 30

Anker Astro E1 Ultra Compact Portable Charger

GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Base Camper Cook Set

Stanley Adventure Base Camp Cookset 4

SOL Flat Pack 16L Collapsible Sink

Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System Camp Stove

Camp Chef Everest 2 Burner Stove

Snow Peak Home and Camp Butane Stove

Ariceleo LED Battery Operated Fairy Lights

Logitech Wonderboom 2 Waterproof Speaker

Eddie Bauer Stowaway 20L Daypack

Kelty Low Loveseat

Kelty Lowdown Chair

Coleman Camping Chair with Built-in 4 Can Cooler

REI Co-op Grand Hut 6 Tent

Quechua 2-Person Pop Up Camping Tent

Stoic Madrone 2 Person, 3 Season Tent

Meal ideas

Peanut butter cheesecake overnight oats

Sausage sandwiches with sriracha honey

Apple sweet potato hash

Banana coconut french toast

Apple maple sausage sandwiches

Frittata

Huevos rancheros verdes

Scrambled eggs n' bacon

Summer rolls with almond butter satay

Asian chicken lettuce wraps

Chicken soba noodle salad

Dan dan noodles

Pho ramen

Curry ramen

Korean beef tacos

Ham and cheese campfire sandwiches

Moroccan apple beef stew

Chicken pad thai

Baked sweet potatoes and chili

Mac n' cheese

Campfire cinnamon roll ups

Banana boats

S'mores

Brookside Dark Chocolate Covered Blueberries

Angie's Boom Chicka Pop