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
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.
Main image credit: Joshua Chun
Each campsite comes with a:
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
Nightly Rate: $50
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!
The Salinan and Chumash tribes consider Morro Rock to be a sacred site. They call it Le'samo and Lisamu, respectively.
A Portuguese explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo named Morro Rock "El Morro" in 1542. In Spanish "Morro" means crown shaped hill.
This was GCI's first rocker and it remains their most popular. It's easy to open and close, and comes with a handle to carry around.
Shared Gear
A dreamy, colorful sweater to sport around camp and on chillier day hikes.
Clothes
Light as a feather and versatile enough to use for running, camping, and other nighttime activities.
Essential Items
Imagine a sleeping pad, bag, and blanket all in one. It takes some getting used to, but people love it.
Essential Items
It's not the lightest cot available, but it's comfortable, easy to set up, and break down.
Essential Items
Sturdy, reliable, well-designed, and more expensive than most camp chairs, but it'll last for awhile.
Shared Gear
They're expensive, but you can lean on these bad boys for river crossings and navigating all kinds of terrain.
Essential Items
This mineral-based sunscreen is good for the envrionment and your skin. It's water resistant too.
Personal Stuff
When a campground is short of sinks, bring your own. Clean your dirty dishes in this expandable bin.
Kitchen
This backpacking stove weighs a couple of ounces and has a built-in igniter. It stands out in windy weather.
Kitchen
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.
