Santa Monica State Beach
Pacific Palisades, California · Campsite openings, cancellations & sold-out date alerts
Sold out for your dates? We'll tell you the second a site opens.
Cancellations at Santa Monica State Beach get rebooked in minutes. We check ReserveCalifornia around the clock and alert you before the crowd refreshes the page.
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We'll email you if Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica State Beach is
Getting a campsite at Santa Monica State Beach
How do I get a campsite at Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica State Beach?
California State Parks campgrounds, including Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica State Beach.
Does ReserveCalifornia have a waitlist for Santa Monica State Beach?
No. ReserveCalifornia has no waitlist or notification feature. When a site at Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica State Beach?
Reservations for Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica State Beach
Flexible on where you camp? Watch a few of these too — more parks, better odds.
- Will Rogers State Beach2 mi away · Topanga
- Will Rogers State Historic Park3 mi away · Los Angeles
- Dockweiler State Beach7 mi away · Playa Del Rey
- Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook7 mi away · Culver City
- Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area7 mi away · Los Angeles
- Topanga State Park8 mi away · Topanga
- Los Encinos State Historic Park10 mi away · Santa Monica
- Malibu Lagoon State Beach11 mi away · Malibu
- Malibu Creek State Park14 mi away · Unincorporated Santa Monica Mountains
- Watts Towers Of Simon Rodia State Historic Park16 mi away · Los Angeles
- Los Angeles State Historic Park16 mi away · Los Angeles
- Rio De Los Angeles State Park16 mi away · Los Angeles