Leo Carrillo State Beach

Leo Carrillo State Beach is one of the more popular beaches in Malibu. Actually it is two separate beaches – the south beach and the north beach. If you are driving north on Pacific Coast Highway, you can see the south beach on the left across PCH from the entrance to the Leo Carrillo State Beach campground . That is the beach is the photograph above. The north beach, as the name implies, is north of Lifeguard Tower 2 which is readily visible on the bluff overlooking the south beach. To access either beach you have to park on Pacific Coast Highway or park in the one of several lots inside the Leo Carrillo campground and pay a $12 entrance fee. If you stay to the left of the tollbooth the road will take you to the parking lot next to the sand in front of the north beach. To gain access to these lots the earlier you get there the better. The lots can fill up quickly particularly on a hot day in the summer.

One of the things that makes Leo unique amongst other public beaches is that it is dog friendly, but only on the north beach. If you bring your dog, make sure that he or she stays on the leash – you would not want to get a ticket! Also, Leo can be a great place to take the kayak out and do some fishing. There is usually a plethora of kelp out past the surf zone that plays home to many types of fish. Be sure to have your California fishing license if you do decide to fish. Another unique feature of Leo is that you are allowed to have alcohol on the beach as long as it is not glass and, of course, you have to be at least 21 years old.

Leo Carrillo also has camping available on the non-beach side of PCH that is walking distance from the beach. The camp sites are car, tent, and RV accessible and coming soon there will be hookups for water and power for the camp spots. Leo camping can be a fun weekend for you and the whole family (including your dog!) filled with beach activities, surfing, fishing, and more.

Lastly, and just one last reminder, please be respectful to the beaches and camp spots. Leo Carrillo is a State Park and we want to make sure that we do our best to keep it clean and preserve the natural beauty of the land. From one who has stayed there over 30 nights through the years and spent many days on its beaches, it is highly recommended.