Los Angeles to the San Diego Coast by RV

South on I-5 to the bluff-top state beach at Cardiff, Mission Bay in San Diego, and the Silver Strand between the ocean and the bay.

Photo: Redideo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Suggested length
3 nights
Round trip
265 mi
Driving
about 5 h 37 min (car, no traffic)
Best season
Year-round

Sources last checked 2026-10-28.

Itinerary

South on I-5 to the bluff-top state beach at Cardiff, Mission Bay in San Diego, and the Silver Strand between the ocean and the bay.

  1. Day 1 · San Elijo State Beach

    Downtown LA → San Elijo State Beach: 97 mi · 1 h 58 min by car

    Suggested area: San Elijo State Beach · no campground chosen · choose one

  2. Day 2 · Mission Bay

    San Elijo State Beach → Mission Bay: 19 mi · 27 min by car

    Suggested area: Mission Bay · no campground chosen · choose one

  3. Day 3 · Silver Strand State Beach

    Mission Bay → Silver Strand State Beach: 18 mi · 31 min by car

    Suggested area: Silver Strand State Beach · no campground chosen · choose one

  4. Day 4 · Return

    Silver Strand State Beach → Downtown LA: 131 mi · 2 h 41 min by car

Dates, travelers and nights
  1. Downtown LA → San Elijo State Beach: 97 mi · 1 h 58 min by carSan Elijo State Beach (Cardiff)1 night
  2. San Elijo State Beach → Mission Bay: 19 mi · 27 min by carMission Bay (Campland on the Bay)1 night
  3. Mission Bay → Silver Strand State Beach: 18 mi · 31 min by carSilver Strand State Beach (Coronado)1 night
  4. Silver Strand State Beach → Downtown LA: 131 mi · 2 h 41 min by car
3 nights265 mi round trip5 h 37 min driving (car time)

Drive times are OSRM road-routing estimates for a car, without traffic; an RV is usually slower. Changing nights updates the dates, campground sections, RV prices and search link on this page.

Find an RV for this trip

Numbered: overnight areas · ⛺ recommended campgrounds · select a stop to jump to its day.

Routing: OSRM route over OpenStreetMap data (car profile), 2026-10-28. Car times; allow more in an RV.

RVs for this trip

Priced for 3 nights. Shorter rigs fit more of this route's campgrounds.

  • 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O2Class C motorhome · sleeps 7 · 24 ft$201/night listed · $603 for 3 nights before fees
  • Sunshine DaydreamClass C motorhome · sleeps 6 · 25 ft$195/night listed · $585 for 3 nights before fees
  • 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O3Class C motorhome · sleeps 7 · 24 ft$201/night listed · $603 for 3 nights before fees
  • Cruise America: Compact (19')Sleeps 3Price by quote

See all 248 matching RVs with your dates

Full RV details and vehicle considerations
RV length limits on this trip

A 20 ft RV matches the published length guidance at 12 of 13 route campgrounds that post a maximum length. Posted limits don’t guarantee a site; confirm your selected campsite.

Camper van

Why
  • Shorter than most motorhomes, so easier to park at beach lots and in town; check posted length and height limits.

Class C motorhome

From a rental company

Cruise America Compact (19')

Cruise America Fleet class · Ford · unit assigned at pickup

Compact (19')

Sleeps 3 · 20 ft long · 2 beds · Generator

Check with Cruise America: Name says 19 ft; specs say 20 ft. We show both rather than pick one.

Tanks: Fresh 21 gal, grey 16 gal, black 17 gal, propane 11 gal · 40 gal gas fuel

Why this fits
  • Matches published length guidance at 12 of 13 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 20 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 3

Pickup: not listed at a nearby depot; ask Cruise America

Ratenot shown; quoted by Cruise America for your dates
Mileage estimate≈ $103 for 265 mi round trip at 39¢ per mile source
Unknownnightly rate, taxes, insurance, kits, fuel

Specs and photos: Cruise America: 19' Compact RV Rental, checked 2026-10-28.

Check rates on Cruise America
Cruise America Compact Plus (20')

Cruise America Fleet class · Ford · unit assigned at pickup

Compact Plus (20')

Sleeps 4 · 20.5 ft long · 2 beds · Generator

Tanks: Fresh 21 gal, grey 16 gal, black 17 gal, propane 11 gal · 40 gal gas fuel

Why this fits
  • Matches published length guidance at 12 of 13 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 20.5 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 4

Pickup: Los Angeles (Carson) (26 min drive from downtown LA)

Ratenot shown; quoted by Cruise America for your dates
Mileage estimate≈ $103 for 265 mi round trip at 39¢ per mile source
Unknownnightly rate, taxes, insurance, kits, fuel

Specs and photos: Cruise America: Compact Plus 20' RV Rental, checked 2026-10-28.

Check rates on Cruise America
Cruise America Standard (25')

Cruise America Fleet class · Ford · unit assigned at pickup

Standard (25')

Sleeps 5 · 25 ft long · 3 beds · Generator · Solar

Tanks: Fresh 40 gal, grey 25 gal, black 25 gal, propane 12 gal · 55 gal gas fuel

Why this fits
  • Matches published length guidance at 11 of 13 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Sleeps 5

Pickup: Los Angeles (Downey) (15 min drive from downtown LA), Los Angeles (Carson) (26 min drive from downtown LA), Costa Mesa (49 min drive from downtown LA), Fillmore (1 h 11 min drive from downtown LA) +5 more

Ratenot shown; quoted by Cruise America for your dates
Mileage estimate≈ $103 for 265 mi round trip at 39¢ per mile source
Unknownnightly rate, taxes, insurance, kits, fuel

Specs and photos: Cruise America: Standard 25' RV Rental, checked 2026-10-28.

Check rates on Cruise America

From a local owner

Class C motorhome: 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O2

Outdoorsy Owner’s RV · this specific vehicle

Most popularTop rated

2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O2

Class C motorhome · Sleeps 7 · seatbelts not listed

24 ft long · 2019 · Generator · Pets allowed

Pickup: owner in Santa Ana, CA · delivers up to 100 mi★ 4.9 (32)

Why it fits San Diego coast
  • Matches published length guidance at 12 of 13 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 24 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 7
  • Pets allowed
Listed price$201/night listed · $603 for 3 nights before fees
Mileageset by the owner; not in our data
Unknownservice fees, taxes, protection, deposit

Also listed on RVshare.

Check availability on Outdoorsy
Class C motorhome: Solar-Powered, Pet Friendly, Ready-to-Go Sunshine Daydream

Outdoorsy Owner’s RV · this specific vehicle

Most popularTop rated

Solar-Powered, Pet Friendly, Ready-to-Go Sunshine Daydream

Class C motorhome · Sleeps 6 · 6 seatbelts (listed)

25 ft long · 2022 · Generator · Solar · Pets allowed

Pickup: owner in Long Beach, CA · delivers up to 25 mi★ 5.0 (22)

Why it fits San Diego coast
  • Matches published length guidance at 11 of 13 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Sleeps 6
  • Pets allowed
Listed price$195/night listed · $585 for 3 nights before fees
Mileageset by the owner; not in our data
Unknownservice fees, taxes, protection, deposit

Also listed on RVshare.

Check availability on Outdoorsy
Class C motorhome: 2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O3

Outdoorsy Owner’s RV · this specific vehicle

Most popularDelivers to you

2019 Thor Four Winds 23U O3

Class C motorhome · Sleeps 7 · seatbelts not listed

24 ft long · 2019 · Generator · Pets allowed

Pickup: owner in Santa Ana, CA · delivers up to 100 mi★ 4.7 (25)

Why it fits San Diego coast
  • Matches published length guidance at 12 of 13 route campgrounds that post one; confirm your campsite
  • Compact at 24 ft for tight campground loops
  • Sleeps 7
  • Pets allowed
Listed price$201/night listed · $603 for 3 nights before fees
Mileageset by the owner; not in our data
Unknownservice fees, taxes, protection, deposit

Also listed on RVshare.

Check availability on Outdoorsy

Where to stay

Two or three options per overnight area. Hookups are not in our campground data, so check each listing for hookups or dry camping.

San Elijo State Beach 1 night · set a start date for exact nights

  • Paradise by the Sea Beach RV Resort, listing photo
    Photo: Campspot listing
    Paradise by the Sea Beach RV ResortOceanside · 13.3 mi · 21 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 60 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 60 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Closest of these to the stop area
    • Most reviewed of these (115)
    Reserve on Campspot ↗
  • Oceanside Premium Tailgate Space, listing photo
    Photo: Hipcamp listing
    Oceanside Premium Tailgate SpaceCamp Pendleton South · 13.7 mi · 21 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 26 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 26 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    Reserve on Hipcamp ↗
  • Wilson Hill Retreat, listing photo
    Photo: Hipcamp listing
    Wilson Hill RetreatSan Marcos · 17.4 mi · 33 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 24 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 24 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    Reserve on Hipcamp ↗

7 more RV campgrounds within 20 miles in our data.

Mission Bay 1 night · set a start date for exact nights

  • Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, listing photo
    Photo: Campspot listing
    Sun Outdoors San Diego BayChula Vista · 15.3 mi · 21 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 50 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 50 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Most reviewed of these (68)
    Reserve on Campspot ↗
  • El Cajon Elks Lodge 1812, listing photo
    Photo: Campspot listing
    El Cajon Elks Lodge 1812El Cajon · 20.3 mi · 28 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 45 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 45 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    Reserve on Campspot ↗
  • Silver Strand SB, listing photo
    Photo: Park website listing
    Silver Strand SBCoronado · 17.6 mi · 28 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 40 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 40 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Closest of these to the stop area
    Reserve on Park website ↗

5 more RV campgrounds within 20 miles in our data.

Silver Strand State Beach 1 night · set a start date for exact nights

  • Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, listing photo
    Photo: Campspot listing
    Sun Outdoors San Diego BayChula Vista · 9.8 mi · 17 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 50 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 50 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Most reviewed of these (68)

    Also suggested for Mission Bay: it could serve as a shared basecamp for both.

    Reserve on Campspot ↗
  • El Cajon Elks Lodge 1812, listing photo
    Photo: Campspot listing
    El Cajon Elks Lodge 1812El Cajon · 24.5 mi · 38 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 45 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 45 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite

    Also suggested for Mission Bay: it could serve as a shared basecamp for both.

    Reserve on Campspot ↗
  • Silver Strand SB, listing photo
    Photo: Park website listing
    Silver Strand SBCoronado · 0.4 mi · 2 min drive from the stop area · longest posted site 40 ft (listing data)Availability not shown online
    • Posts sites up to 40 ft, which matches the published length guidance for a 20 ft RV; confirm your campsite
    • Closest of these to the stop area

    Also suggested for Mission Bay: it could serve as a shared basecamp for both.

    Reserve on Park website ↗

4 more RV campgrounds within 20 miles in our data.

Costs

RV rentalFrom $327 base subtotal ($109/night × 3, lowest listed match: Cozy Affordable Family 2018 RV (Discount… on Outdoorsy)Estimate
Rental fees, insurance, mileageSet by the provider at checkout; not included above.Unpriced
Campgrounds (3 stops)Rates are shown on each booking site.Unpriced
Fuel265 road miles round trip; fuel is not estimated here.Unpriced

There is no complete trip total: only the RV base rate is known before you get a quote.

Before you go

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