Moonlight State Beach

Encinitas, California · Campsite openings, cancellations & sold-out date alerts

State BeachesSmall parkWatched around the clock

Sold out for your dates? We'll tell you the second a site opens.

Cancellations at Moonlight State Beach get rebooked in minutes. We check ReserveCalifornia around the clock and alert you before the crowd refreshes the page.

Set an alert for Encinitas $9.99/mo — why we charge

Not ready to subscribe? Get a free weekend heads-up.

We'll email you if Moonlight State Beach opens up for a weekend you pick. No account needed.

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

Why campsites open up at Moonlight 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 Moonlight 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.

Source: ReserveCalifornia FAQ (California State Parks).

Where Moonlight State Beach is

2680 CARLSBAD BLVD

Encinitas, CA 91932

33.0484, -117.2975

Get directions

Getting a campsite at Moonlight State Beach

How do I get a campsite at Moonlight 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 Moonlight 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 Moonlight State Beach?

California State Parks campgrounds, including Moonlight 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 Moonlight 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 Moonlight State Beach.

Does ReserveCalifornia have a waitlist for Moonlight State Beach?

No. ReserveCalifornia has no waitlist or notification feature. When a site at Moonlight 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 Moonlight State Beach?

Reservations for Moonlight 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 Moonlight State Beach

Flexible on where you camp? Watch a few of these too — more parks, better odds.

All California state beaches →Browse all California state parks →All California camping — parks, federal & military →Open this weekend →Sold out this weekend →California closures & advisories →See every California park on the map →