North Beach Campground — Attraction in Pismo Beach

BEWARE OF THEFT AT THIS CAMPGROUND! My only comment about this campground has to do with a recent theft experience here. I've been camping since I was 6 years old and in 60 years I've never had anything stolen, but that perfect record was recently shattered at this campground. I had a solar panel stolen while a neighbor lost a gas grill and bikes on the same day. Take the comments regarding theft at this campground seriously. Apparently, theft has been a problem here for years and as far as I can tell not much is being done about it. I spoke with a park supervisor and was told that there isn't much they or park security can do about it. In my case, I would have taken extra precautions if I had been verbally warned that theft is an issue at this campground but there was no mention of it at all, entry kiosks are being manned by volunteers that, although well meaning, don't seem to have any interest or concern around it. They behave as if the problem is yours, not theirs. The park is patrolled until late at night but the items were stolen in the early morning when there's no patrol and it's dark. It doesn't take much intelligence on the part of thieves to figure that out. The proximity to the city certainly has something to do with it, but a lack of effective controls is also to blame, as well as complacency on the part of us campers who have perhaps become accustomed to not having had these problems in other places. After this experience I don't think I'll be too eager to return, not if one has to keep things under lock and chain day and night and sleep with one eye open and both ears perked, or wonder if you're going to find everything still there when you come back after a day out exploring. I hate being so negative about anything but I hope it saves others...

Update 4/27/25: This is my fifth year coming here and have noticed major changes. 1.) The park enforces are on a constant POWER TRIP. absolutely rude, won't even allow family to load and unload without threatening to ticket. 2.) I have a handicap on my vehicle and I parked in the handicap at the restrooms to shower and got out to a ticket!! Officer Machado badge no.1861 has no sympathy 3.) The police and EMS on the site was excessive. Sirens all night! 4.) Roudy guests blowing up fireworks late at night, startling other guests. It appears more ghetto here. 5.) Some sites had up to 4 cars and some like myself couldn't stop getting harassed while loading and unloading. 5.) Random guy selling firewood approached us and wouldn't let off. I dont like solicitors coming up to me while I'm trying to relax. Not sure i wanna come back. Other highlights: showers use tokens, use bills only it doesn't accept coins. $1 gives you 2 tokens worth 2 minutes each. One shower stole my tokens and never showered me but I let it go. No plug ins so bring solar chargers or box. No hook ups for trailers. Weather is unpredictable. We were mostly cold and had to buy a lot of firewood. There are fire pit on each site. People stay up way past the 10pm quiet time but it wasn't a big deal to us. Check in is super easy and check out as well. We really enjoyed the pathways that led to the beach very pretty. At night you can also walk the beach, it's magical. A few sketchy people but no theft on this trip. I had heard many reviews about theft but thankfully had nothing stolen. Stores are conveniently located. It's a great spot. It feels removed and yet you are so close...

Well....what to say. A camping getaway should be exciting and fun! The staff here, especially at the gate, was very rude and unaccommodating. Instead of towing our vehicle, we had met a relative and let them drive the car. The relative followed us in when we went to check into the campground. We arrived ten minutes early for check-in and were made to turn around and leave because we were 10 minutes early. Not only that, but they charged us extra for the vehicle our relative was driving and told us that it would have been free if we had just towed it in. When we inquired about it and let them know that we had been towing it, they were very rude and treated us as if we were arguing. The campground was packed and the Rangers treated us as if it was an inconvenience for them to have a full Campground. We had another relative come to pick up the first relative that drove our vehicle into the campground and that relative reported to us that they were also treated rudely at the gate and told that if they were not out of the campground within 10 minutes that they would be fined. We were very disappointed in our stay here. We will probably...