‘Gorgeous’ SLO County spot among top 10 places to camp on West Coast. Which one?
A seaside state park in San Luis Obispo County is one of the top places on the West Coast to experience scenic sights and sleep under the stars, according to The Dyrt.
The popular camping app recently released its 2025 list of the Best Places to Camp in the Pacific Region — and Morro Bay State Park took the No. 10 spot.
The site compiled the ranking to help West Coasters pick acclaimed campgrounds with “stunning natural settings” and “tucked-away dispersed camping gems,” The Dyrt said.
The camping app relied on user reviews and ratings to compile its regional list of the best places to pitch a tent.
California is home to half of the most elite campgrounds in the Pacific, the site said.
These are the ones landed on the list:
Why is Morro Bay State Park a top place to camp?
Morro Bay State Park nabbed the No. 10 ranking due to its access to trails, local wildlife and a “charming beach town,” The Dyrt said.
Just a short bike ride away from Morro Bay, the campground borders a tidal estuary and a golf course, the camping app said.
“A boardwalk trail from the campground leads into the estuary itself, offering an ideal platform for birdwatching and taking in scenic views,” the site said.
Campers can walk down the road to sip coffee at a local cafe or rent out a kayak to get an up-close look at sea otters, sea lions and seagulls.
The Dryt’s community of campers praised the SLO County campground for its beautiful, serene location near Morro Bay.
The Dyrt user Vanessa C. said Morro Bay State Park has a “peaceful and gorgeous view.”
“I love waking up to the beach,” she wrote. “It’s close to everyone but it seemed like we were alone because everyone that camped there was really quiet!”
Morro Bay State Park’s campground has 140 camp sites that cost $35 to $165 per night for tent camping, recreational vehicles and group camping, according to the campground’s website.
Pets and campfires are allowed on site, The Dyrt said.
It’s not the first time the coastal destination has captured campers’ attention.
The California State Parks Foundation named Morro Bay State Park the No. 1 place to camp in the state in 2025.
Where should I camp in California?
According to The Dyrt, California was home to half of the 10 best places to camp in the Pacific region in 2025.
Alabama Hill Recreation Center near Lone Pine was No. 1 on the camping app’s list due to its “dry, windswept and jaw-dropping landscape.”
“This place is absolutely amazing,” The Dyrt reviewer Fabiola T. wrote, calling the campground in Inyo County “heaven on earth.”
The camping app described Upper Pines Campground in Yosemite National Park, which took second place, as ‘”one of the most sought-after destinations in the U.S. national park system.”
“You are in the middle of these grand rocks, you can hear waterfalls in the background, and you can walk to some fantastic trails,” The Dyrt user Alix F. wrote.
Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree National Park came in fourth place on The Dyrt’s list, while Sawtooth Canyon Campground near Barstow was No. 7.
Where are top 10 campgrounds on the West Coast?
There were the top 10 campgrounds in the Pacific region, according to The Dyrt:
- Alabama Hill Recreation Area in Lone Pine
- Upper Pines Campground in Yosemite National Park
- Tillicum Beach Campground in Waldport, Oregon
- Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree National Park
- White River dispersed camping in Enumclaw, Washington
- Cape Disappointment State Park Campground in Ilwaco, Washington
- Sawtooth Canyon Campground in Barstow
- Fort Stevens State Park Campground in Hammond, Oregon
- Deception Pass State Park Campground in Oak Harbor, Washington
- Morro Bay State Park Campground in Morro Bay
How did The Dyrt create its list?
The camping app called on its “vast community of campers” to choose the best places to camp in the United States by region, the site said.
Each top 10 list was generated based on reviews and ratings gathered from the app, according to The Dyrt.
