Morro Bay State Park

A comfy campout with 2 to 5 mile hikes
Ideal for first-timers
Driving to and sleeping at a campground
Perfect for families with young kiddos
Pups are welcome at camp and on hiking trails

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

Volcanic plugs and sunset kayaking tours at Morro Bay State Park

Designed by Yvonne Leow

Share this itinerary
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

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
Morro Rock

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

Morro Bay State Park Campground
No items found.

Itinerary

Day One

Ziggy's
Ziggy's. Credit: Yelp

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

Morro Rock
Morro Rock. Credit: Cameron Venti

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
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.

Packing List

Essential Items
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Clothing
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Personal Stuff
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Camp Kitchen
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Shared Gear
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Recommended gear

FIND YOUR NEXT TRIP

View all itineraries