Morro Bay State Park: Paradise on the Coast

The coast of California has so many highlights, it’s hard to zero in on just one.  But Morro Bay State Park is truly a little patch of paradise on the coast.  

At Morro Bay State Park there’s great camping, some beautiful views, and several hiking trails.  And you’re only a few minutes from the town of Morro Bay.  

With all this to look forward to, it’s no wonder there is a new lottery reservation system that is coming into play.  But we’ll get into all that and more as you read all about Morro Bay State Park.  So let’s dive right in!

Important Links

• Morro Bay State Park website
• Park Brochure
• Camping Reservations – Book Here
• Camping Checklist Freebie – A Useful Camping Checklist!
• Hiking Backpack Checklist Freebie – Be Prepared on the Trails
• Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!
• Camping Journal – Never Forget Your Camping Trips Details Again!

Location

Morro Bay State Park is located right on the coast, less than 5 minutes outside of the town of Morro Bay, CA.  This park is a must see, or a must stay if you like to camp.

If you are looking to take a California road trip, you’re looking at about a 4 hour drive from Los Angeles, 3.5 hours from San Fransisco, and about 2.5 hours from Fresno. 

Museum

 At Morro Bay State Park there is an excellent Museum of Natural History that is geared towards children and adults.  The museum has many interactive exhibits that cover the incredible nature that you can find in Morro Bay.  

The museum costs $3 for adults and is free for all children under 18.  Talk about a great place to take the kids!

And speaking of fees, let’s discuss the fees for the state park.  

Fees

Nearly all of California State Parks have fees that you need to be aware of.  To enter the park, there is an $8 fee per vehicle.  This includes everyone in the vehicle, and is good for the rest of the day.

Hours

Morro Bay State Park is open everyday from 6am – Sunset.

Things to Do Here

At Morro Bay State Park there are plenty of ways to spend your time.  You can simply go camping and enjoy the peaceful park.  You can take a hike on one of their 16  hiking trails.  There is also the option to rent a paddle board/kayak from the Morro Bay Marina.

Speaking of the marina, there are dock slips and mooring balls for all different size boats.  The dock is public, so there might be a fair amount of people bird watching or fishing.  

And if you’re looking for something a little fancier, you can take advatage of the Morro Bay State Park Golf Course.  The 18 holes are located just up the hill from the campground.    

Finally, there is the Natural History Museum which is right up the road from the campground.  Now, the campground is in the process of changing some things, so let’s take a deep dive on the Morro Bay Campground.  

Camping 

Morro Bay State Park has an award winning campground with over 130 campsites. From tent sites to electric sites, there is something for every type of camper.  Just note, there is a size limit for campers.  Your camper must be 35 feet or smaller to fit in the spots.

Each site has a picnic table, a fire ring (see local fire restrictions), and a spot for your car/camper or tent.  There are flush toilets within the campground and there are token-operated showers.  

Campsites can be reserved on a 6 month rolling basis.  So for the remainder of 2026, you will be able to make a reservation at ReserveCalifornia. Simply select “Morro Bay SP”, enter your desired dates, and select the type of campsite that you desire.  

Unfortunately, there aren’t enough campsites to accommodate everyone who wants to camp here.  So what has California State Park done, they have created a lottery system. 

Morro Bay State Park Camping Lottery

Beginning in January of 2027, some campsites will only be available via lottery.  This is to give all visitors a fair chance at securing these highly coveted sites (Electric Sites).  

You’ll head to ReserveCalifornia like usual, and then look for the “Enter Lottery” button like you see below.  

As I understand it, there are 3 basic steps.

1. You can enter the lottery 8 months in advance for these select sites.  
2. You will or will not be selected 7 months in advance.  
3. If selected, you have 30 days to pay and officially secure said site.

If you aren’t able to secure a lottery site, you’ll then be able to book any other campsite not in the lottery 6 months in advance.  

As of right now, the lottery is free to enter, but this will probably change to a small fee in the future.  

Prices (As Of 2026)

• Non-Electric Campsite: $35 per night

• Electric Campsite (30AMP): $50 per night

Unfortunately, camping isn’t a cheap as it used to be.  However, it’s still WAY cheaper than staying in town.  So hopefully you’ll be able to secure a spot, and then you can explore the park and the adorable town of Morro Bay.  

The Nearby Morro Bay, California

As you’ve heard, Morro Bay State Park is less than 5 minutes away from the adorable coastal town of Morro Bay, CA.  This little town is the perfect blend of cute shops, nature/wildlife, outdoor activieis, and so much more.  

If you want to visit some shops and restaurants, you’ll want to take a walk up and down Front Street and Embarcadero Street.  There are over a dozen shops and several bayfront restaurants.  

Now, one of the must do things in Morro Bay is go to the T Pier and watch the wild otters.  There is a nursery where otters will rest, but this entire pier was surrounded by otters who were either feeding, resting, or grooming themselves.  It was amazing to watch!

And lastly, there are just about endless outdoor things you can do here.  You can go to the Morro Bay Beach, you can kayak or boat through the bay, you can ride your bike or go for a run on one of the many paved trails.  The options are endless for those who love being outdoors.  

Conclusion

All in all, Morro Bay State Park is a great little place to go camping, watch for wildlife, take a hike, enjoy the nearby beach and even go golfing.  This park is beautiful and full of exciting things to do.  

Be sure to add Morro Bay State Park to your coastal California roadtrip!

As always, feel free to email me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com with any questions.

-Happy Hiking and Camping!