Overview
Morro Bay State Park makes a great destination for any van lifer looking to spend some time on the beach and explore Morro Bay. The park includes a beach, lagoon, and marsh habitat to explore. The park’s main adventures include sailing, golfing, fishing, surfing, hiking, and bird watching. The park also has a museum with exhibits that cover the history of the bay and surrounding areas.
Adventure
Morro Bay State Park is an excellent destination if you want to spend a few days playing in the sand and surf. The park offers sailing, surfing, fishing, camping, hiking, and bird watching. The Museum of Natural History has exhibits covering natural features, cultural history, Native American life, geology, and oceanography. Along with the Museum, the park also includes an 18-hole public golf course.
On the bay’s northeast edge is a pristine saltwater marsh that supports a thriving bird population and makes a great place to watch the wildlife.
Brochure: Morro Bay State Park Brochure
Morro Bay Marina
The Morro Bay Marina is a good place to watch the fishermen unload their daily catches, take a sunset sailing cruise or visit one of the local restaurants surrounding the marina.
Morro Bay Maritime Musem
The marina also includes a submarine museum with a few old and small submarines to view. The museum has various exhibits, displays, and educational lessons about the maritime industry at Morro Bay. It’s free to walk around and view the submarines.
El Moro Elfin Forest
Located just outside the park is the El Moro Elfin Forest. It’s a 90-acre natural area belonging to San Luis Obispo County Parks and California State Parks. Its plant communities include coastal brackish marsh, riparian woodland fringe, pygmy oak woodland, maritime chaparral, coastal dune scrub, and oak and manzanita complex.
The Elfin Forest supports more than 200 species of plants and 110 kinds of birds, 22 species of mammals, and 13 species of reptiles and amphibians. It is home to rare plants, butterflies, snails, and birds.
Camping
The Morro Bay State Park campground is a good place to stay for a few days while exploring the park and bay. The campground includes 134 campsites and two group camps, restrooms, showers, RV hook-up sites, and an RV dump station.
Reservations: Reserve California
There are a few good campgrounds locates outside the park and the surrounding areas that are worth exploring. A few of these campgrounds are:
- Morro Dunes RV Park
- Morro Strand State Beach
- The Beachhouse RV Park
- Islay Creek campground
References and Other Adventures
- Website: Morro Bay State Park
- Morro Bay State Park Brochure
- Trailer & Motorhome: Up to 35 Feet
Paso Robles
Paso Robles is a great destination for any van lifer who loves wine, olive oil, and the beauty of vineyards. Driving around the area is breathtaking and well worth an entire day of scenic beauty. Downtown Paso Robles is a charming and quaint area that offers shopping, great restaurants, wine bars and is worth checking out
Oceano Dunes SVRA
Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve is located 3 miles south of Pismo Beach and is one of the most expansive coastal dunes left in California. The preserve offers the opportunity to camp directly on the beach, go horseback riding and traverse the dunes in a doom buggy. You have the ability to drive your van and camp right on the beach which is a real treat in California.
