Bolsa Chica State Beach

Overview:

Bolsa Chica State Beach is an excellent place for any van or RV nomad to visit. The beach offers a lot of activities to include surfing, paddle boarding, volleyball, four cafes, and an ecological reserve next door. There’s no shortage of places to park the van since the beach is three miles long. 

Adventure:

Bolsa Chica State Beach is that quintessential Southern California Beach that anyone visiting must visit. The beach is wide and 3 miles long and offers a variety of activities.

Bolsa Chica is a popular beach that draws a big crowd on the weekends and summer. 200 fire rings are first-come, first-serve.

The visitor center features year-round interpretative displays and exhibits that showcase the history of the area.  

There is a paved beachside trail that runs for 8.5 miles between Bolsa Chica and Huntington Beach. This is a fun way to see all the beaches in the area. 

Surfing & Paddle Boarding

Bolsa Chica is a great place for beginner surfers. The beach good and consistent waves with many peaks. It’s very popular for longboarders because it’s easy to find a section of waves all to yourself.

It’s also home to Corkey Surf School, so if you need lessons, this is the place for you.

Once past the surf break, the water calms and is perfect for paddleboarding. 

Camping

The State Beach has 50 campsites with electric and water hookups for self-contained RVs. Picnic tables, outdoor showers, and restrooms are accessible.

Map: Bolsa Chica Campground Flyer

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is located across Bolsa Chica and the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and is operated by the California Department of Fish and Game.

Fishing

Bolsa Chica is also a place for surf fishing for a variety of fish. During the summer, you can bare-handed fish for grunion during the grunion run. Just make sure you have a fishing permit.  

Beach Side Cafes

Three beachside cafes span the entire beach. These cafes are a great place to grab lunch and hang on the beach. Each offers outdoor seating, and a few have lawn areas that have music occasionally. These cafes are:

  • Pacific Kitchen
  • Beach City Provisions
  • Sealegs at the Beach

Parking & Fee

There is no shortage of parking at Bolsa Chica unless it’s a holiday weekend. Multiple parking lots span the three-mile beach. 

  • $15 Day Use Fee
  • 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Gates close at 9:00 PM
  • Dogs are not allowed on the sand
  • Map: Bolsa Chica Map

It’s a privilege to have Bolsa Chica State Beach for our enjoyment, so please practice Leave No Trace principles.

Directions:

  • 17851 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92649

References and Links:

Beach

Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach is a must-stop over for any van or RV nomad looking to surf and spend time on the beach. The shoreline stretches for 10 uninterrupted miles making it a paradise for surfers. With the name Surf City USA, the beach attracts professional surfers from around the world.

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Beach

Crystal Cove State Park

Crystal Cove State Park is a great place for any van or RV nomad looking to explore the Southern California coast while in the middle of Orange County California. The park has camping, hiking, surfing, and a federally listed Historic District, an enclave of vintage rustic coastal cottages originally built as a seaside colony.

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