Morro Bay State Park Campground

For many years, my husband Garth and I have traveled the western states in our little 24-foot motorhome, along with our golden retriever Chase (and occasionally our cat!). In this and subsequent RVCYOB articles, I’ll share with you our experiences, our opinions on the best campsites to reserve, clever camping gear and gizmos, tried-and-true hacks, secret hikes, camp recipes, camping with pets and kids, things to avoid, and things you won’t want to miss. I hope you’ll enjoy traveling with us.

Tourists are well aware of Morro Bay State Park. They’ve been camping here for years, and traveling great distances to do so. Now it’s your turn to pack up your RV, drive a few minutes through familiar territory and find yourself a world away from work and home.

I won’t kid you—getting a reservation takes patience and flexibility. But, boy oh boy, it’s worth it. This campground’s setting alone should be enough—views of the marina and the back bay, Black Hill, Cerro Cabrillo, the forested golf course, egrets, herons, and falcons, just to start.

This is a classic old state campground circa 1934, with CCC stonework and big old trees. If you just want a beautiful spot to chill, this is it. But if you want action, this can also be your base camp.

HIKING: There’s a smorgasbord of hiking opportunities. Black Hill Trail is an easy/moderate climb to the top for jaw-dropping views of the city, the bay, the ocean and hills (2.5mi roundtrip, 661’ elevation, approximately 2 hours, allowing time at the summit for taking it all in). Just follow the camp road past the dump station to the trailhead or you can drive nearly to the top by taking the golf course road. Another easy hike takes you to the Natural History Museum and then along the water to the Heron Rookery. More rigorous hiking is across South Bay Boulevard on Cerro Cabrillo. Ask the rangers for hiking maps. For a delightful and easy stroll along the estuary, just cross the street and go to the east end of the marina parking lot. There, you’ll find the trailhead for the Marina Peninsula Trail and Boardwalk. It doesn’t take long to walk the level, accessible trail that’s less than a mile long. But give yourself plenty of time to stop, sit, and take in the pretty view of the marina, the Rock and all the bird life out there. The Bay changes with each tide, especially at the full moon, so there’ll be something different each time you walk it. You’ll see all sorts of creatures: lizards, squirrels, bunnies, crabs and waterfowl. Here’s a surprising and wonderful thing: your leashed dog can join you! And if someone in your group needs a stroller or a wheelchair, it’s ADA accessible. It seems the only thing you can’t do is ride your bike. Although it’s a narrow trail and boardwalk, there are timely turnouts along the way.

WATER SPORTS: At the active marina across the street you can rent a kayak or launch your own. Kayaking in Morro Bay is a memory you’ll keep for a lifetime. You can paddle out to the sand spit for lunch or a hike. Or paddle all the way to the Rock, scope out the otters and sea lions, circle the sailboats, then check out the oyster farm in the middle of the Bay. Just be mindful of the tides and winds! An afternoon westerly wind or incoming tide can help your return from the Rock to the marina. But if you’re in the back bay, you may find that paddling back to the marina against the tide or wind is a rugged workout. Worse yet, a low tide can leave you stranded in the mud, necessitating a long slog back through knee-deep muck, pushing your kayak. But at least, from that day on, you’ll have a great pathetic story for the campfire!

What else besides kayaking? All manner of watercraft and sports are available to you in Morro Bay from paddle boards to electric boats, surf boards to whale-watching and deep sea fishing year-round for rock cod (especially in the fall). Part of the fun of a vacation like this is doing the research ahead of time to discover the possibilities and then booking your adventures. Electric boats can be rented at Estero Adventures or Bay Cruisers. For surfing, there are several good spots in Montana de Oro State Park and, of course, the Rock and the Pit (north of the Rock).

GOLF: Bring your clubs because scenic and challenging Morro Bay Golf Course is right next door. You’ll see why it’s dubbed “the poor man’s Pebble Beach.” Garth says to watch out for the tricky greens. It’s a hilly course. It’s also extremely popular. You’ll need to plan ahead and get a tee time a week in advance, online—especially for Fridays and Saturdays. Or give it a shot and call them last minute. If nothing else, wander over to hit some balls on the driving range. Then back to camp and that good book and a nap.

BIKING: Bring your own for a ride into town, or some crazy mountain biking on Black Hill or Cerro Cabrillo (great views of the estuary). Mountain bikes are welcome on most trails. For renting mountain bikes or electric bikes, check out www.calcoastadventures.com/centralcoast/ and ask about delivery to camp for multiple bikes.

For other things to do, walk over to the Heron Rookery and crane your neck to see who’s nesting. There’s always something going on in those stark tree snags full of nests. On the way back, step into the Museum of Natural History. Even if you’re a local and think you’ve already seen it—visit again. You’ll be surprised by how much new material they have packed into this little museum. Great gift store too, where I often do my Christmas shopping.

FOOD: Take a break from camp food and walk across the street to the Bayside Café, serving up delicious lunch and dinner. Save room for their signature Boysenberry Crisp or super-rich Mud Pie. Dogs are welcome on the outdoor deck. Gorgeous views are complimentary. If there’s a line and the wait is too long for your antsy soul, just go into town for pretty much any kind of food you’re craving.

CAMPING: The 30 hookup sites (#1-30 with water and 30-amp electric) are the most coveted and the first to be snatched up. They’re all pull-throughs and can accommodate large Class As, Super Cs and fifth-wheels. Most have trees and a few shrubs for privacy and shade, but these sites are not as spacious as some of the non-hookup sites. Dry camping sites (#31-134) have shared water spigots throughout. All the sites have a picnic table, fire ring/grill, and asphalt pads—most are level but some require a few orange “Legos.” There is a dump station ($10) plus water fill-up for RVs. Two group sites, Chorro and Oso, can accommodate groups up to 35 and 25 respectively in tents, plus two RVs. Maximum motorhome or trailer length in the park is 35’. But when making reservations, note the length of the site pad to make sure your rig will fit. Note: 2 vehicles maximum per site. Eleven sites are ADA accessible for which you’ll need a placard unless no other sites are available. There’s an amphitheater, so bring your uke and guitar for your own mini-concert. Firewood is available for sale from camp hosts.

There are five accessible restroom buildings with flush toilets and showers that require tokens (3 min each). Where do you get tokens, you ask? There’s a machine along the pathway next to campsite 15 where you can insert bills to get tokens. These are old showers and it’s advisable to wear flip-flops. Restrooms 3, 4 and 5 are newer and the water is hotter. Camp showers are handy if you’re trying to avoid having to dump your gray tank midway through a longer stay. I used to be a tough-girl backpacker. Now I like my nightly hot showers when I camp. Call me sissy—that’s okay, I can take it—I’m still tough. Sort of.

FAMILY REUNIONS: On my reunion-ometer, I rate Morro Bay State Park a 5/5 for the “something for everyone” factor. There are lovely group campsites for tenters plus 2 RVs, plenty of varied activities for all ages and interests, a city full of food, wine, shopping, movies, and music. There aren’t cabins for your non-camping relatives but the Inn at Morro Bay is right there!

KIDS: Morro Bay State Park is great for kids with its looping flat roads for biking, the Museum of Natural History across the street, water sports on the bay, hiking trails, Monarch Butterfly spotting, and a grin-tickling kids’ menu at the Bayside Café.

DOGS: must be leashed and are allowed in the campground, on paved roads and on all the trails in the Black Hill area. They are also allowed on the Marina Peninsula Trail. This is much more than most state campgrounds allow, so we hope no one abuses it.

CELL SERVICE: good. One of the benefits of being shoulder-to-shoulder with a city. Limited WiFi—best in sites near the ranger station.

TICKS: not a problem in camp but check yourself and your dog after hiking Black Hill and Cerro Cabrillo. As I’ve said before, where there are deer, there are going to be ticks. Summer time is the worst.

RESERVATIONS: They’re made at www.reservecalifornia.com up to six months in advance. It’s best to plan ahead for any season, but especially summer. As of this writing, the fees are a reasonable $35/night for dry camping and $50/night for electric/water hookups. Seniors get $2 off. ReserveCalifornia charges a $7.99 reservation fee. Dump station fee is $10, but no dog fee. An extra car will cost you $10 per night. All told, that’s pretty inexpensive for such a spectacular place to stay.

If you don’t own an RV but would like to test out RV camping, there are several RV rental companies on the Central Coast that will deliver and set one up for you. All you have to do is show up and have fun!

RV camping at Morro Bay State Park is guaranteed fun, year round. Give it a try and I’ll bet you a big fat s’more that you’ll be booking your next reservation even before you get home. We’ll see you in camp!