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One of our favorite spots for beach camping in Ventura is Rincon Parkway, located along the Old Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura, California. This unique campground offers RV beach camping with stunning views of the coastline. RVers can rent a parking space to use as their ‘beach home’ for anywhere from 7 to 14 days, depending on the season. Although the only amenities are portable toilets, the prime location and beach atmosphere make Rincon Parkway a great experience for RV enthusiasts looking to enjoy beach camping in Ventura.
Ventura Beach Camping at Rincon Parkway
The first time we stayed at Rincon Parkway, we were on an RV shakedown trip in our first motorhome, a Class A RV under 30 feet. Ate the time, we were getting ready to hit the road full time to RV with our dogs around the U.S. and wanted to get some experience under our belt, before we officially hit the road full time.
Joe shared a detailed recount of our first time beach camping at Rincon Parkway in his book, Take Risks: One Couple’s Journey to Quit Their Jobs and Hit the Open Road.
The mornings were usually overcast, so we would stay in the RV, having breakfast with the door and windows open to enjoy the sound of the waves. By mid-day, the marine layer would burn off, making it a great time to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine.
Since that first trip to Rincon Parkway in 2015, we have returned twice to this scenic Ventura beach camping spot. Our most recent visit was in a ProMaster camper van and you can check out that experience in this video.
Here are of some of the reasons why we enjoy beach camping at Rincon Parkway.
- incredible views of the Pacific coastline
- being steps from the sand
- sound of soothing waves crashing in the background
- less than 70 miles to Universal Studios and other fun things to do in Los Angeles
Rincon Parkway Campground Details
Rincon Parkway features 127 paved sites. Most sites measure 15 feet wide by 46 feet long. There are some larger sites at the north end of Rincon Parkway to accommodate larger RVs. Our favorite site, #60, offers easy beach access directly from the site.
A rock wall separates the sites from the sand, making beach access difficult from certain locations. However, public beach access is available at Hobson Park and Faria Park.
The cost of parking overnight at Rincon Parkway has increased since our first visit. As of 2024, the rate is $43 per night during the off-season and $47 per night during peak season. In 2015, the cost was $28 per night. During our last visit, it was $36 per night in the off-season and $39 per night in the peak season, plus a reservation fee.
Each RV site at Rincon Parkway can accommodate up to 6 people, which helps reduce the cost per person if you have a large family or several friends along.
Quiet hours are 9:00 pm to 7:00 am which means no generator use during that time.
The train tracks run adjacent to the parking area, so you will likely hear trains at some point during your stay.
The only amenities provided at Rincon Parkway are dumpsters and portable bathrooms. There is no RV dump facility; however, a third-party “honey wagon” service is available for pumping and water refilling. In 2018, the posted price for this service was $60 for tank pumping with 50 gallons of water, or $40 without water.
For those who work on the road or require reliable internet access, LTE Verizon coverage is available at Rincon Parkway.
Rincon Parkway Reservations
Sites used to be available on a first come, first served basis. As of April 2024, you can make an online reservation for Rincon Parkway through the Ventura Parks website. The online booking system provides information for each site including the length and width of the parking space. For example, RV site 1 at Rincon Parkway is 46 feet long and 16 feet wide.
We’ve enjoyed beach camping at Rincon Parkway throughout the years and look forward to staying there the next time we travel through California in our RV. It will probably have to be sometime in the off-season, as sites here are hard to come by during the summer months.
Have you stayed at Rincon Parkway Campground in your RV? What are some of your favorite beach camping spots?”
But your right up against the busy 101 highway.
Yes but it doesn’t detract from the experience. The only negative are the train tracks on the other side of the road – the train going by is definitely loud, however with the way the highway is situated above the parkway, you don’t get much noise from it.
The sign said 5/14 day limit and you have 5/7?
Thanks for catching that Liz. The post has been updated.
Our.first time going to Rincon state beach. Any suggestions where to park. Im concerned I’m not gonna get a good spot since I will be arriving after Friday evening. Specially with a 30foot rented R.V. Also noone answers calls for reservations. So finally I saw bill board with instructions. Thank you for that.
You have to have a reservation now to get a spot and they’re probably booked well in advance. I would say get any spot you can snag https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/beach-front-parks/rincon-parkway/
Kait, i spent the first 12yrs of my life camping every summer at Faria campground in a 25ft Terry trailer! Back in the late 50’s and 60’s the park didn’t have limits of days you could camp. My dad would commute 45 min from Simi Valley on weekends. I have fond memories. I just retired and live in a 24ft winnebago view. I’ve taken a few trips and am getting ready to take off fulltime. I park behind my pastor’s home when in town. You are my inspiration!
That’s great Liz! Happy trails.
Hi Kait!
We are going to be camping at Rincon for the first time in a week. I see you camped with a dog, was your dog allowed on the beach or were there any additional specific rules about dogs on the beach, not just at the campsite?
I sure appreciate your thoughts, we are so excited!
Mom of 2 kidlets
Hey Erin. The last time we camped at Rincon, dogs were allowed on the beach. Have a fun trip!!
Thank you for your videos!
They are well done and very helpful!
SO glad I came across your blog- we live about 8 hours north of Ventura and have been wanting to bring our trailer down to this exact spot. We are worried we will get there and have driven all that way to not have any open spots. Can you recommend a good time of day or day of the week to get there…..and also, do you know of any other campsites close by that can be our back up plan? Thanks so much!
Courtney
We are here now, 10 to 15 open spots on Thursday. Now full .. would recomend by Thursday…
Hi, you can make reservations online now for a more secure spot, don’t have to worried about getting there and not finding an open spot. This just started about a year ago. Good luck.
Hi from Florida! I will be starting my adventure next year and find the Hymer Activ a great option. Since I will be living in it full time, I’m wondering how the shower systems works. It doesn’t look like the shower head hangs up to be hands free? Gotta wash the hair (or shave it off ) :-). Kait what do you do if I may ask? Sorry if this is a silly question, but I’m doing research on Class B’s to help in my decision on make and model.
Thanks for all of your insight and sharing your adventures.
Wendy
Hey Wendy! The Aktiv does have a wet bath, but we use the showers at campgrounds and at the gym we belong to. Hope that helps and good luck with your decision!