OutsideApr 30, 2026
The 9 Dreamiest Beach Camping Escapes Across the U.S.
Beach camping sites are hard to find and reserve the closer you get to peak season, so we won't gatekeep. Book these coveted spots from Assateague Island to the Kalalau Trail, before they are gone.
23 things in this story
- Kalalau TrailTrail22-mile round-trip along Napali Coast
- Keʻe BeachSightstart of Kalalau Trail
- Kalalau BeachSightend of Kalalau Trail
- Hanakapiʻai BeachSightfirst 2 miles of the trail
- Hanakapiʻai valleyNeighborhoodtrek from here is for experienced hikers
- Kalalau StreamSightcross it to reach Kalalau Valley
- Hāʻena State ParkSighttrail starts here
- Elsewhere
- Second BeachSightLa Push, United Statespremier beach camping spot in Washington state
- Pismo State BeachSightPismo Beach, United States17 miles along the Central Coast
- Monarch Butterfly GroveSightPismo Beach, United Statesaccessible from North Beach Campground
- Padre Island National SeashoreSightCorpus Christi, United States70 miles of protected coastline
- Cape Lookout National SeashoreSightCape Lookout, United States56-mile stretch along North Carolina's Crystal Coast
- PortsmouthNeighborhoodCape Lookout National Seashore, United Stateshistoric village to explore
- North Core BanksSightCape Lookout National Seashore, United States22 miles of beach camping
- Rialto BeachSightLa Push, United States
- First BeachSightLa Push, United States
- North Beach CampgroundSightPismo Beach, United States
- Oceano CampgroundSightOceano, United States
- North BeachSightPadre Island National Seashore, United States
- South BeachSightPadre Island National Seashore, United States
- Yarborough PassSightPadre Island National Seashore, United States
- Malaquite CampgroundPlacePadre Island National Seashore, United States
- Bird Island CampgroundPlacePadre Island National Seashore, United States