Silver Strand State Beach

Silver Strand State Beach is a California State Parks campground on the narrow sand spit between Coronado and Imperial Beach in San Diego, with the Pacific on one side and San Diego Bay on the other. The layout is a straightforward parking-lot arrangement of 129 sites, so it is not scenic in the traditional sense, but you are camping steps from a wide, uncrowded white-sand beach with the Coronado Bridge and downtown skyline across the bay. It suits self-contained RVers who want beachfront access to San Diego without resort prices.

Silver Strand State Beach at a glance

Hookups	Water and electric only (no sewer) — mobile pump-out available
Sites	129 (all hookup, self-contained RVs only)
Cost	$65/night inland row, $85/night beach row
Reservations	ReserveCalifornia (reservecalifornia.com) — opens 6 months out
Season	Year-round
WiFi	No
Pets	Yes (not on beach)

Why RVers stay here

Every site has water and electric; there is no sewer, but a mobile pump-out service is available for a fee. The campground is limited to self-contained RVs only, a hard Coastal Commission rule, so no tents and no rigs without an onboard bathroom and tanks. Rates are $65 a night for the inland row and $85 for the beach row, open year-round, booked on ReserveCalifornia six months out. Pets are allowed but not on the beach, and there is no WiFi. The trade-off is charm: this is well-run beach parking, not a woodsy campground.

✓Beachfront camping on one of San Diego's least crowded stretches of sand, with bay and skyline views.

✓Water and electric on all 129 sites, year-round.

✓Calm bay water for kayaking and paddleboarding on the other side of the strand.

✓Beach-row sites put you directly beside the sand for $85 a night.

!Self-contained RVs only; no tents and no rigs without onboard bathroom and holding tanks.

!No sewer hookups; a mobile pump-out costs $10 to $20.

!Parking-lot layout with little privacy or shade, and no WiFi.

What our guides say about Silver Strand State Beach

Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.

Regional guide

San Diego RV Parks: Beach Camping from Mission Bay to Carlsbad

Silver Strand sits on the narrow sand spit connecting Coronado to Imperial Beach, flanked by the Pacific Ocean on one side and San Diego Bay on the other. The campground offers 129 RV sites in a straightforward parking-lot-style layout — this is not a scenic campground in the traditional sense. What it is, though, is a beachfront camping option on one of San Diego's most beautiful stretches of sand, with the Coronado Bridge and downtown skyline visible across the bay.

All sites are hookup sites — water and electric connections are standard (no sewer hookups). The campground requires self-contained RVs only — no tent camping is permitted per Coastal Commission regulations. This is a hard requirement, not a suggestion. If your rig does not have an onboard bathroom and holding tanks, you cannot camp here.

Rates run $65 per night for inland-row sites and $85 per night for beach-row sites. The beach row puts you directly adjacent to the sand. A mobile pump-out service is available for $10 to $20 since there are no sewer hookups.

The beach itself is a wide, uncrowded stretch of white sand — far less packed than Coronado's main beach to the north. Swimming, surfing (modest waves), and shell collecting are the main draws. The bay side of the strand offers calmer water for kayaking and paddleboarding.

Read the guide →

Silver Strand State Beach: frequently asked questions

Does Silver Strand State Beach have full hookups?

No. All 129 sites have water and electric but no sewer. A mobile pump-out service is available for $10 to $20.

How much does Silver Strand State Beach cost per night?

$65 per night for inland-row sites and $85 per night for beach-row sites.

Can you tent camp at Silver Strand State Beach?

No. Only self-contained RVs are permitted under Coastal Commission regulations; your rig must have an onboard bathroom and holding tanks.

Do you need reservations at Silver Strand State Beach?

Yes, book on ReserveCalifornia, where sites open six months in advance.

Is Silver Strand State Beach open year-round?

Yes.

Are pets allowed at Silver Strand State Beach?

Yes in the campground, but not on the beach.