San Elijo State Beach Campground — Attraction in Encinitas

While the location is good, bathrooms were clean and well stocked with soap and TP, the campground rangers and hosts are not enforcing California laws or park rules passed to protect beaches and area from hazards of smoking and help campers have a better experience regarding adjacent sites being noisy or playing loud music.

I have stayed in several other state park campgrounds who enforce the State laws that prohibit smoking and park rules about noise and music so wasnt expecting to have this issue.

Our campsite was littered with cigarette butts upon arrival and the lack of signage or attempt to communicate any rules to campers causes people to not follow the rules. Add to that apparently the AA/NA group comes there for some kind of retreat with about 400 people who it seemed at least half of them were smoking or vaping all over the campground all day and night, made worse by campsites being packed in quite tightly with little or no room between spaces. When speaking to park aides they had varying answers on what the rules were and when we were finally able to speak to a Ranger he stated he can choose how he enforces the law and sees the camping units as included in the "paved roadway area" for allowing smoking... despite the fact the campsites are not actually paved and the law specifically disallows smoking in the units (senate bill 8 resource code 5008.10). Because they are booked out so much and cram packed in with many of the sites... and with rangers and staff not attempting to enforce requirements of state park for music, smoking or noise it made for an unpleasant experience ... especially if you have any respiratory challenges or come to the beach to actually hear the ocean or enjoy fresh air of ocean breeze (and because so packed out despite numerous sites sitting empty, booked no shows, they dont give much options for being able to transfer to anywhere that might help).

Secondly, the lack of doggie bag stations led to dog feces in a few areas and no campstore or availability to get them without finding a store somewhere offsite. First state park camping I have been to that didnt have any dog bag stations anywhere in the park yet dogs everywhere.

Lastly, their sewer draining maintenance actually sprayed my vehicle while doing maintence. Site staff stated their maintenance staff doesnt communicate to them when they are cleaning out the sewer manholes so no way to let ys know in advance or by warning ... so one morning we were woken up by loud noises of machinery which ran for much of the morning... and telling us to move our van (which was in our own campsite mind you) because they didnt want to spray our vehicle while cleaning it out...yet they still ended up spraying the front and top of my van even onto solar panels and made no attempt to remedy this... staff onsite though friendly just said that's a bummer, but again no action to remedy or prevent it won't happen to the next camper.

One of the most unpleasant camping experiences I have had. Hopefully they don't have a fire considering the brush and foliage and people smoking right up against it...

Stayed in campsite #148 on 10-10 to 10-11-18. It was a fantastic site at the north end of the campground near a stairway and the bathrooms but with very little traffic. We reserved a few days in advance and I guess we got lucky and picked up a cancellation because I hear that these sites are booked solid 6 months in advance. It had a stunning view of the ocean because it was at the top of the bluff. I noticed that the camp experience varies a lot depending on what campsite you have. Some are extremely noisy with traffic and trains, while ours was quieter. The trains still do pass by but the sound is more muffled by trees and such. There is not much privacy between camp sites; just a few scattered bushes, also no shade. But there were no rats or squirrels either, probably due to the lack of cover. We took an RV but did not use the sites with hookups. There are water taps spaced at convenient intervals.||||There was construction at the south end of the campground with loud heavy equipment. I don't think that area is a good choice. But the south end of the campground is closer to beach access with no stairs, a plus for me because I'm a senior and couldn't take the long flight of stairs near our site. We had two large dogs which we kept on 6 ft. leashes at all times. Other dog owners were also careful to keep them under control. Dogs are allowed at the campground and at the next beach south, Cardiff, which was about a half mile walk from our campsite. An added benefit was that the Cardiff beach has a wide sandy area, while the beach below the campground is totally flooded up to the cliffs at high tide, rather dangerous. While we were camping there about 80% of the campers were surfers, and the rest had young children. There were lots of kids on bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and other zooming equipment for us to dodge with our dogs. The campers in our area all seemed to go to sleep around 9 pm. It was very quiet after that, with no loud music or parties. The fee was $50/night plus a $7.99...

Ant / bug swarm like San Clemente. Reserved a hotel but cancelled it to camp here instead. Came down here after a miserable experience at San Clemente. Some sites here are okay, others had swarms of ants or some bug just like San Clemente. Upon pulling in at site 28 it was immediately apparent there was a bug issue. The neighbor to the rear said the bugs were all over their RV and the firepit. The neighbor to the side said they were all over the tent so badly they were broom sweeping the tent every hour and their pesticide did nothing. Both said the bugs were not there the night before and both were pretty upset. I did not want to risk bugs infesting my car or tent and decided I would not be staying. Went back to check in and asked if I could change sites or get a refund. She said there were no other sites but would issue a refund. She refunded about 2/3rds...then said someone else would fix it tomorrow....uh, ok. Guess we will see about that. The location is amazing, great town, great beachview campground. Store not open yet but there are wood lockers (vending machine). Many outdoor and indoor showers. Not worth the risk of bugs. They should let people know in advance about the bug issue. I did check these reviews beforehand and didn't see anything about ant / bug issues (maybe I missed it?), so it was a disappointment. Had to scramble for a new place to stay...hotels were now a significantly higher rate than what I had originally reserved and cancelled. Not pleased. Also note while one side is ocean view, the other side is less than 100 yards from a train tracks which the trains do run late night and early morning if not all night (noise alert). In between the train track and campground they squeezed a bike path which is also high activity. The public is allowed to cut through the campground during the day through a couple gates in the fence to get to the beach (at no cost, I believe). High generator theft alert for the area as indicated by the...