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El Capitan State Beach

Name: El Capitan State Beach
Address: California
Rating: 4.0

110 Reviews

#3,093 of 10,323 things to do in California

Outdoor Activities, Nature & Parks, Beaches

Review Highlights

“Camping”

This was our first dry camp experience and we enjoyed it but we prefer camping with full hookups... read more

Reviewed 11 July 2018

djgracia8184

Apple Valley, California

via mobile

“ElCapitan state beach camp”

Pros, beatiful views and beach, take a bottle of baby oil for the tar pitch that gets on your feet... read more

Reviewed 2 weeks ago

wibbo57

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

via mobile

Read all 110 reviews

All photos (97)

Full view

Traveller Overview

4.0 110 reviews

Excellent32%
Very good38%
Average21%
Poor4%
Terrible5%

Travellers talk about

“dump station”(5 reviews)

“baby oil”(4 reviews)

“highway noise”(3 reviews)

About

Local Weather

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Website

+1 805-968-1033

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Most Helpful Positive Review

Janie C

Lake Elsinore, California

3833

Reviewed 13 September 2014

Beautiful Beach Location

We just tent camped at El Capitan 5 days. We used to camp here with the kids when they were younger about 10 years ago and loved it and hubby and I decided to come back after all the years on our own. The beach...More

14 Thank Janie C

Most Helpful Critical Review

Marla F

California

88217

Reviewed 15 August 2010

Stay away

We just got back from our sixth trip to El Capitan. Everything the previous reviewers say is true. There's a lot of noise from the highway. The train rumbles through at night and wakes you up. There's naturally occurring tar on the beach that will...More

8 Thank Marla F

1 - 10 of 105 reviews

wibbo57

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Reviewed 2 weeks ago via mobile

ElCapitan state beach camp

Pros, beatiful views and beach, take a bottle of baby oil for the tar pitch that gets on your feet. It's naturally occurring from the ocean floor. Cons, not very RV or travel trailer friendly, no dump or water station , camp sites are very...More

2 Thank wibbo57

Kim H

424

Reviewed 4 weeks ago via mobile

Great beach

Not a populated beach when we were there. Beautiful. Beautiful views. Waves to skim board or body surf. You do have to pay $10/day per car as it is a state park, but worth it.

Thank Kim H

moridanim

Los Osos, California

Reviewed 14 September 2018 via mobile

Buy earplugs

Beautiful view, but way too close to highway 101 and train tracks. Hearing the waves at night was nice but mostly we heard traffic on the 101 all night. I had to go into the car at 3am to grab a set of earplugs for...More

2 Thank moridanim

mf-sandiego

San Diego, CA

2344

Reviewed 14 September 2018

Camping review - mixed bag

I haven't camped near the beach since I was very young, and it is so hard to get reservations for beach camping in Southern California. Now that I'm retired, I was able to make a mid-week reservation for El Capitan in mid-September. The summer crowd...More

1 Thank mf-sandiego

emarienyc

New York City, New York

12668

Reviewed 11 August 2018

Camping: loud freeway noise at night, racoons that brazenly steal food, and dirty showers/bathrooms

People love camping here because of the proximity to the beach, which is a definite plus, but the campground is RIGHT by the 101, and the noise from the freeway (and the trains, which run next to the 101 as well) are the opposite of...More

1 Thank emarienyc

Kimmy0532

Reviewed 8 August 2018

One of the Most Beautiful State Beaches in California

We have been going to El Cap for many years. It is always beautiful as the setting is stunning. People are nice and friendly and it's not too remote so there is cell service. The CA State Park system has faced many financial challenges and...More

2 Thank Kimmy0532

R A

Reviewed 24 July 2018 via mobile

This place sucks!

What is wrong with people?! This was the worst camping experience of my life! Ant infestation, filthy and I mean FILTHY showers and bathrooms, no toilet paper, campsites are on top of each other and right near train tracks and the freeway, hopefully you don't...More

5 Thank R A

greg02280

Visalia

Reviewed 18 July 2018 via mobile

Not the best

I will give the beach a A-. The beach is nice, I was expecting large amounts of tar, but it’s just specs that get on the bottom of your feet. Baby oil takes it right off. But very nice beach. The campground gets s D+,...More

2 Thank greg02280

djgracia8184

Apple Valley, California

Reviewed 11 July 2018 via mobile

Camping

This was our first dry camp experience and we enjoyed it but we prefer camping with full hookups. Maybe we are a little spoiled. It was beautiful though.

1 Thank djgracia8184

TrvlsEatsExplrs

Washington DC, District of Columbia

24259

Reviewed 28 May 2018

It;s A Legal/Illegal Adventure

The beach was open and fun which we took a quick tour of and headed out for the longer hike along the beach. Unfortunately, part of the hike is blocked off or at least highly recommended against going on. Stupid or not, we walked around...More