Leo Carrillo State Park

Leo Carrillo State Park, though located 10 minutes outside of Malibu, is still included on our page because of its proximity and inclusion on the all-day access list for campsite reservations in the area. The campgrounds include beach access through the bridge under PCH. Lifeguards patrol year-round, with the towers open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and on busy weekends. The campground is dog-friendly, as well as the beach NORTH of Tower 3 on the Leo Bluffs. However, the trails are not dog-friendly. Visit our surf and beach sections for more info on Leo Carrillo beach.

Leo Carrillo is exceptionally busy during peak season, the summer, and on the weekends. In addition to the regular campsites, Leo has a group campground at the back of the park.

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For any State Park you choose to camp at in Malibu there are common regulations for booking, group size, and State Park access to be aware of. The maximum amount of people per campground is 8 people and allows 3 vehicles. Larger groups are considered “group camping” and have different regulations and fees.

Once you decide on your park, you must book at least 2 days ahead of time but can be made up to 7 months in advance. New dates are released in blocks, 1 month at a time. When camping, a major perk is all day access to visit any other State Park in the area. For Malibu, access includes Sycamore Cove, Sycamore Canyon, Point Mugu Beach, Leo Carrillo, El Matador, El Pescador, La Piedra, and Malibu Creek.

As for food options, the closest restaurant on the north end of Malibu (near Leo and Point Mugu area) is Neptune’s Net for the fresh catch or a burger.  We suggest stopping at the closest store located inside the park, or Vintage Grocer, for your campfire BBQ essential and snacks.  The closest gas station is the Chevron at Trancas.