Doheny State Beach
Dana Point, California · Campsite openings, cancellations & sold-out date alerts
Weekend availability
Live from ReserveCalifornia · checked Sep 19, 7:05 PM PTSold out 5 of the next 5 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.
- Fri, Sep 25Sold out
- Fri, Oct 2Sold out
- Fri, Oct 9Sold out
- Fri, Oct 16Sold out
- Fri, Oct 23Sold out
Sold out for your dates? We'll tell you the second a site opens.
Cancellations at Doheny State Beach get rebooked in minutes. We check ReserveCalifornia around the clock and alert you before the crowd refreshes the page.
Not ready to subscribe? Get a free weekend heads-up.
We'll email you if Doheny State Beach opens up for a weekend you pick. No account needed.
How booked is Doheny State Beach?
as of July 23Weekends book out well ahead here — 3 of the 3 Saturdays we sampled, as far out as Jan 2027, are already sold out. When a site frees up it's gone again within minutes, so people watch Doheny State Beach and hear the instant one opens for their dates. Even weekdays are booked.
Weekends (Saturday night)
Weekdays (Wednesday night)
Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 6 months ahead.
Park type
State Beaches
Small park
Online booking
Available on ReserveCalifornia
Official state reservation system
Alert coverage
Checked around the clock
Openings, cancellations & new dates
Facilities
120
Campsites
Facility counts reported by California State Parks district staff.
RV camping at Doheny State Beach
Straight from ReserveCalifornia's campsite catalog — not estimates.
- RV-suitable sites
- 107
- Max rig length
- 75 ft
RV and hookup sites are the first to sell out — set an alert with your rig length and we'll ping you the second a matching site opens. Watch this park →
Why campsites open up at Doheny State Beach
California's refund rules create a predictable wave of cancellations. Because campers lose money if they cancel late, most drop their reservations right before the refund deadline — which means openings cluster about a week out from any given date.
| If they cancel… | They get back |
|---|---|
| 7+ days before arrival | Full site fees refunded, minus the cancellation fee |
| 2–6 days before | First night's fee forfeited; the rest refunded, minus the fee |
| Under 2 days / no-show | No refund — all fees forfeited |
Source: California State Parks camping policies (refund schedule for arrivals on or after July 1, 2026).
How booking Doheny State Beach works
- Sites are reservable up to 6 months ahead on a rolling window — each new date opens exactly six months out.
- New inventory releases every morning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
- There is no waitlist — a cancelled site just reappears in search, first-come, first-served.
- Have your login and payment saved so you can book in under a minute when your alert lands.
Where Doheny State Beach is
Getting a campsite at Doheny State Beach
How do I get a campsite at Doheny State Beach when it's sold out?
Cancellations happen constantly — the trick is being first to know. Set an alert for your dates and we'll watch Doheny State Beach on ReserveCalifornia around the clock, then notify you the moment a site opens. Alerts run on a Pro subscription ($9.99/mo, cancel anytime).
How far ahead can I book Doheny State Beach?
California State Parks campgrounds, including Doheny State Beach, are reservable up to 6 months in advance on a rolling daily window — each new date becomes bookable exactly six months out, released at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Peak summer and holiday dates at popular parks can sell out within minutes of release.
When do campsites usually open up at Doheny State Beach?
Openings are driven by California's cancellation policy. Campers get a full refund (minus the fee) only if they cancel 7+ days before arrival; cancel 2–6 days out and they forfeit the first night; under 2 days there's no refund. That refund cliff produces a predictable wave of cancellations around 7 days before a date — the best window to catch an opening at Doheny State Beach.
Does ReserveCalifornia have a waitlist for Doheny State Beach?
No. ReserveCalifornia has no waitlist or notification feature. When a site at Doheny State Beach is cancelled it simply returns to inventory at full price, first-come, first-served — whoever books it first gets it. That's exactly why an alert service exists.
Where do I book a campsite at Doheny State Beach?
Reservations for Doheny State Beach are made on ReserveCalifornia, the official booking system for California State Parks. GetParkAlerts is independent — we tell you when a site opens; you book it directly on the official site.
Parks near Doheny State Beach
Flexible on where you camp? Watch a few of these too — more parks, better odds.
- San Clemente SB (The Holidays Vintage Trailers)4 mi away · San Clemente
- San Clemente State Beach6 mi away · San Clemente
- San Onofre State Beach9 mi away · San Clemente
- Crystal Cove SP Moro Campground11 mi away · Laguna Beach
- Crystal Cove State Park11 mi away · Laguna Beach
- Crystal Cove SP Beach Cottages12 mi away · Newport Coast
- Corona Del Mar State Beach15 mi away · Newport Beach
- Huntington State Beach21 mi away · Huntington Beach
- Bolsa Chica State Beach27 mi away · Huntington Beach
- Carlsbad State Beach29 mi away · Carlsbad
- South Carlsbad State Beach33 mi away · Carlsbad
- California Citrus State Historic Park34 mi away · Riverside