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
- Padre Island National SeashoreNature reserve70 miles of protected coastline
- Elsewhere
- Second BeachSightLa Push, United Statespremier beach camping spot in Washington state
- Rialto BeachSightLa Push, United StatesOfficial websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
- Pismo State BeachParkPismo Beach, United States17 miles along the Central Coast
- Monarch Butterfly GroveSightPismo Beach, United Statesaccessible from North Beach Campground
- Kalalau TrailTrailHāʻena, United States22-mile round-trip along Napali Coast
- Keʻe BeachSightHāʻena, United Statesstart of Kalalau Trail
- Kalalau BeachSightHāʻena, United Statesend of Kalalau Trail
- Hanakapiʻai BeachSightHāʻena, United Statesfirst 2 miles of the trail
- Hanakapiʻai valleyNeighborhoodHāʻena, United Statestrek from here is for experienced hikers
- Kalalau StreamSightHāʻena, United Statescross it to reach Kalalau Valley
- Hāʻena State ParkSightHāʻena, United Statestrail starts here
- Malaquite CampgroundPlacePadre Island National Seashore, United StatesOfficial websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
- 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
- First BeachSightLa Push, United States
- North Beach CampgroundParkPismo 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
- Bird Island CampgroundPlacePadre Island National Seashore, United States