7 Stunning Places to Camp on the Beach with Your Bowlus®
It may be the peak of winter, but we’re already thinking about the beach. We can practically smell it: seaspray breezes, beams of sunshine, salt water goodness, the nostalgic-for-childhood scent of sunscreen. While the Bowlus may handle winter camping like a champ, we understand the appeal of falling asleep to the sound of waves against the shore. So, in honor of what’s to come, here are seven truly amazing beach destinations for you and your Bowlus to explore:
Crystal Cove State Park, California
Sprawling over 3.2 miles of Pacific coastline, Crystal Cove State Park offers exciting activities both on land and offshore. Get a permit from a ranger kiosk and explore 2,400 acres of undeveloped land in Moro Canyon. Divers and snorkelers are in luck, too. Crystal Cove also offers 1,000 acres of underwater adventure, including a crashed WWII-era plane and sunken anchors representative of California’s maritime history (circa 1840s). The Bowlus’ ample storage makes it easy to bring your own gear, but there are many dive shops you can rent from.
Not sure if you’re one for land or sea? The tidepools are a fun in-between and are bursting with critters and curiosities–the perfect excursion for families traveling with kids. Best of all, the tiered campgrounds allow everyone to have a clear view of the ocean. There are 28 designated RV/travel trailer sites, each with electric and water hookups, as well as WiFi.
Half Moon Bay State Beach, Central California
Enjoy four miles of picturesque beach flanked by dunes and bluffs, perfect for sunbathing, fishing and picnicking. Hikers can follow Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail which winds alongside an old rail route. It’s only 3.5 miles long, so it’s best for pedestrians, but bikers can extend the journey by following it to the California Coastal Trail. Travel trailers are welcome at Francis Beach, which offers some sites with electrical hookups. Camping here also puts you in reach of other Pacific Coast gems. San Gregorio, Pescadero, Moss Beach and Montara all offer little coves and tidepools to explore.
Patrick’s Point State Beach, Northern California
A lushly forested promontory juts out into the Pacific Ocean. This is Patrick’s Point State Beach. Though only a single square mile, the Park is bursting with exploratory opportunities. Hunt for agates, meander through the native plant garden, explore the reconstructed Yurok plank-house village, admire the tidepools and gaze out at seals and migrating whales.
If you’re looking to make a long weekend out of it, Redwood National Park is only an hour away. With the Bowlus, you won’t even need to recharge. You can spend up to a week exploring the coast and nearby Parks while relying only on your own self-contained power.
Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina
Hunting Island State Park is South Carolina’s most popular Park for a reason: various land and marine wildlife can be observed along the five miles of pristine beach–and in thousands of acres of marsh and maritime forest. The magical setting is made even more enchanting by a saltwater lagoon and ocean inlet. Biking, birding, fishing and hiking are all welcome activities. Hunting Beach offers full hookup sites with water and electric.
Bahia Honda State Park, Florida
An award-winning white sand beach. An historic bridge. An island paradise. The Florida Keys reach out to you in a warm embrace at Bahia Honda State Park. From its shores, you can launch into either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico and enjoy activities like boating, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and paddling. History buffs have fun, too: Henry Flagler’s attempt to build a railroad to Key West in the 1900s turned the iconic Floridian landscape into a coveted destination. Diverse wildlife is another draw. Many varieties of sea turtles come to nest at the beach each year.
Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
70 miles of natural habitat, a hypersaline lagoon and the world’s largest swath of undeveloped barrier island all contribute to the natural allure of Padre Island National Seashore, which is located just outside of Corpus Christi. Reservations at Bird Island Basin campground are available on a first-come-first-serve basis (no reservations). Once you’ve obtained your camping permit from the campground kiosk, you can choose to camp wherever you’d like within the northern boundary.
There’s plenty to do in the surrounding area. Laguna Madre is one of the only hypersaline lagoons in the world and offers splendid conditions for windsurfing, kayaking and fishing. The Padre Island National Seashore is also a nesting ground for the rare Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, a critically endangered species. During the summer months, hatchling releases are available to the public. Their hatching is unpredictable, however, so you’ll want to check the estimated range of due dates to ensure you have the best chance of witnessing this incredible phenomenon.
Kalaloch Campground, Washington
Near the southwest coast of the Olympic Peninsula, a great bluff juts out of the Pacific Ocean. At the top is Kalaloch Campground, a serene enclave lush with coastal forest. Depending on what time of year you go, you may or may not need to reserve space so be sure to check their website before you go. Year-round, you’ll find an abundance of wildlife. It’s one of the campground’s biggest draws: sea otters, whales, dolphins and tidepools teeming with life. It’s also an excellent space for birding, and you may even spot the occasional odd puffin. Fishing and shellfish harvesting is permitted–so if you’ve got a hankering for seafood, the Bowlus’ full kitchen is ready to accommodate.
Ready for that sun-kissed vacation? Fortunately for you, the Bowlus is ready for anything, beaches included! With the world’s most advanced off gridding capabilities, the Bowlus is well-equipped for adventures of every kind, in destinations of any kind. If you have questions, please contact us.