Jalama Beach County Park

No cell reception, no internet, limited wifi (if any) ...YEAH!  This is a very special basic campground for people who appreciate nature and solitude. This place can't host big rigs nor super sized 5th wheel trailers.
Many locals hang out here with their kids, surfers, fishermen... It just has a chill vibe.
And yes - it gets windy here. You always can hide in the restrooms watching your tent go fly 😎

We came as first come first serve, we had a great spot. The camp is isolated and on the beach! We had an amazing sunset while watching the whales! 

The campground is awesome!   The road getting out there, not so much.   Quite a few spots for 40' motorhomes, ours would have fit a 45' if you didn't have a tow as they must park in the same space.   There is a train that goes by a couple times a day, but they are very short.  We camped in a no hook up site (#13)  Not so level side to side.  But it was glorious.   

We visited in late February 2021. The sun was shining but the wind was BLOWING. That's seems to be the achilles heal of this location—when the wind is blowing it can be miserable. Friday and Saturday were sustained 20mph+ winds which made enjoying the beach difficult. But not impossible. Sunday was calm and we could really see how amazing this spot can be. The site is above average for state campgrounds. Some hookup sites available though we didn't get one. Which leads us to the other problem with Jalama which is its popularity—you have to book months in advance and it's always full. But, if you get a spot definitely come. The stretch of hwy 1 and the country road that leads you the rest of the way is one of the most spectacular drives in the state of CA.

Even with the wind and the nail biting 15 mile road it's worth it. Wish I could stay longer.

Breathtaking beauty makes the 14 mile switchback road worth it! Unfortunately, Ranger #1 was rude upon arrival, but Ranger #2 was friendly. We were surprised by the $3/nt additional pet fee, as we'd booked online & there was no mention of it. We booked site #115 at the top (Tier #2) & with a Class A on one side & a Class C on the other side, after 1hr & lots of assistance, we still couldn't fit our 34ft 5th wheel! Ranger #2 apologized & said that the website photos can be deceiving (they look bigger). They have first come, first served sites, so we were able to fit into #108 (Tier 2) after moving the picnic table & backing up against the grill without 1ft to spare! Luckily, no one was parked in #109 or we wouldn't have been able to maneuver the mandatory 90 degree angle to fit there, either. After 2hrs of blood, sweat, & tears, we finally got settled in! Neighbors friendly, lots of locals. No hookups on ground/beach level, 30amp only on Tier 1 & 2; Tier 1 sites on the bathroom side, are the best, as they're long AND wide! Tier 1 opposite bathroom, sites short & wide. Tier 2 sites (very top/cliffside) are long & narrow, but Class A's still extend into the 1-lane narrow road. No water hookups, No sewer hookups anywhere. Water station & Dump station just passed check in station. Water spigots throughout. Restrooms/showers dated & weathered, needed deep cleaning. No cell service (Verizon), no over the air TV channels, but decent Wifi. High winds, at night mostly. We had 35mph with 65mph wind GUSTS on the 1st night...SCARY!! We checked the weather reports and sheltered in the restroom during the 2 Peak hours of the storm. The other nights were 25-30mph (moderate & tolerable) winds. Excellent restaurant with convenience store attached! Pet friendly (bag stations) and if you walk far enough away from camp, you can let your dog run on the beach/swim in the ocean! Beach and campground kept super clean! Overall, enjoyable stay, but we would only return if we could book one of the 5-6 sites on Tier 1 on either side of the bathroom or if we're prepared to boondock on the ground level.

Best place on the beach 

We are fortunate to live locally and frequently camp at Jalama Beach.  We also come out just for a day trip since we live so close.  Family and dog friendly.  I love this place.  Most of the powered sites are pretty tight.  Beach sites are a little bigger, you are parked right on the sand, which has its pluses and minuses. 

There are a few first come first serve sites but most are on a reservation basis.  Most can book out up to 6 months out.  So don’t drive all the way out there expecting to snag a site on the fly, you might be disappointed. 

It is frequently very windy here and the weather can change very quckly, we’ve seen lots of awnings lost because campers leave their camp when the wind is mild and it’s blowing gail force by they time they get back.  Especially in the evenings evenings, sundowners are very common here. 

If you like pristine beaches, fresh air and no cell service and are traveling the central coast you will probably like Jalama.  The food at the beach store is yummy too!

Very nice! Good food!

We stayed at Jalama in the non hookup spots, so had to use the facilities at the park. We usually go in expecting the worst... Well not this time! We came up as Debbie was finishing the restrooms, and o my gosh, I could have had a picnic on that floor.A+! They are probably the cleanest restrooms since we were in Texas!Thank You Jalama!

Super friendly to a novice RV family and an absolutely beautiful view!  Completely worth taking the 14 mile drive in to the campground.  Wish we would've tried the burgers :)

You head in for an amazing scenic drive of green hills with angus cows, and deer, chilling in meadows! You arrive to a place where a lot of people from the closest town don't even know about.The Rangers are helpful and the camp hosts, The Crouches, are amazing!They even rent cabins for people who are not into RV's!Don't miss this spot!

It's a lovely 14 mile drive out to the beach from Hwy 1.  We stayed on the lower level, and the sites were very close together without much privacy.  The sites on the hill with hookups looked pretty nice.  We were able to book our site online, but some sites are first-come-first-served.  Restrooms were gross, but they did have 10 individual showers. As others said, we had lots of wind. 

It is totally worth it to take the 14 mile drive to the coast from Hwy 1.  We had an electric only spot up top with a great view of the ocean.  Be sure to secure everything during the night to avoid having it blown away. Santa Ana winds kicked up and rocked our rv pretty good. Nice beach that you can take your dog on.  Near tracks but train noise minimal. Store on-sight has tons of stuff. They have a restaurant as well but we didn't give it a try.   

Most spots are without facility. The reserved spots are electricity. The spots on the hill are tough to get into backing a trailer or 5th wheel. Park and people are perfect for an out of the way park. Small restaurant. Really nice beach. Stayed one night. Wished we could have stayed longer but no weekends available until December. Spots were available. Just couldn't reserve. 

The wife and I just took our first trip up here in our new trailer, though we have been tent camping here for years. Absolutely beautiful scenery. We saw whales and dolphins right off of shore, and the sea cliffs are definitely a site to see.  It gets very windy here! The kiosk has a sign stating that 40mph winds are common in the spring time  I would guess we had 25 mph winds, but only from about 11am-5pm. 

The particulars; the hookup sites have level cement pads and only electrical hookups. Rv water fill provided free down by the dump station. Dogs cost $3 each per day. 

We went here as a family a few years back. We are looking to go again in the next few weeks.
This is a place you can turn the kids loose and they will have a blast! 
Nothing like letting your kids run free with no stress... 
If your family is addicted to electronic devices this place has NO service at all. They have a pay phone if you have to make a call. (This bothered my husband)
Also there is a small camp store that has a few things.
It is first come. So if you don't get there Thursday you may not get a site for the weekend!
There are a lot of day users to this place for the surfing. 
Your family will love this place!