Port San Luis RV Campground

They've apparently raised their rates since the last review - dry camping is now a crazy $50/night, with full-hookups at $65. We were willing to fork it over since there's no other free camping sites around, and opted for boondocking so we could at least be literally next to the water, whereas the sites with hookups are across the street.

We were parallel parked along the road, near the entrance to the power plant, so traffic was heavy with workers coming and going seemingly all hours of the day and night, but really bad around 6:30-7 am and 4-4:30 pm. Next time, I would park further back toward the piers to avoid some of the noise.

Great cell service, water on-site to purchase for $0.25 (not sure if it's potable or what quantity you receive - the sign didn't say) and a little store and restaurant at the marina within walking distance, plus restrooms and showers there as well. Lots of dumpsters for trash.

The beach is completely dog friendly with some limitations on hours supposedly, but we never saw anyone enforcing it. A great place to launch kayaks or paddleboards. Nearby Avila Beach was adorable and easy biking distance, and Pismo Beach (about 10 minutes' drive) had some great options for food and drink, including lots of gluten free and veggie fare and a great little beer pub called The Boardroom.

We'd come back, but $50 is a bit steep for no services and a nice view, but with lots of traffic.

My wife and I have been coming here for a couple of you. The last couple times we have stayed in the overflow and we noticed a trailer that has not moved. There is a 14 day maximum stay. This guy has been there all summer? We saw him last time. Anyway, His site is quite a mess. If they continue to allow full timers, we probably won’t return.

I will go back again and again, it was a 4 1/2 hour drive but well worth it, this spot is dry camping, we did not mind since we have solar, two 100 watt panels and was more than enough. NP1, NP2, NP3, are the best for dry camping, $23 charge to use their dump station and they have water so do not need to carry it with you.

Sites are now reservable. Online reservations only. Until recently it was first come first served. Prices have gone up. $70 plus required $10 fee for sites with hookup. $50 plus $10 fee for dry camping. Restrooms and showers available at the harbor but nothing in the small campgrounds which are located along the road. Nice beach, fishing pier and a few restaurants in walking distance. While the location is great I think it is seriously overpriced for what you get: a very small spot jammed up against your neighbors.

We were on Nobi Point #6 for dry camping, gorgeous views, short walk to Beach, half hour walk to town. Nobi has 6 spaces, bigger rigs dwarfed our campervan, one rig’s generator fired up 7am. But campground staff is very good about addressing issues. There is some traffic noise and toilets/showers are about 7 minute walk from Nobi. Despite all that we enjoyed Nobi seems like #6 is only space open for months out, likely because it’s the smallest. Our van < 20 ft so was fine for us.

Port San Luis in Avila Beach has 4 options for fully-contained camping. No tents allowed. Fully contained RVs only. We stayed in the Woodyard site which does not have any amenities. This campground is really just a pull out along the road on the short cliff overlooking the bay. Spots are well-marked. Host is friendly. Views are tremendous. A little noisy from the road traffic on one side and the ocean on the other. But, easily walkable to the town of Avila Beach and to the working pier in the port. Also accessible to the Bob Jones bike trail. Golf course is a mile away.

The Port has one other dry site called Nobi Point. Sites with full hook-ups are available in another area closer to the pier. Also, full hook-ups for boat trailer camping.

Unfortunately, the Port Authority is building a new glamping campground on the hillside so these oceanfront sites will be going away soon.

Sent 2 nights here in Avila Beach. Dry camp site with no amities other that being right next to the beach. Could here the waves crashing at night. All sites are right next to the road so some noise to deal with but the ocean view makes up for it.

This review applies only to the Woodward lot, as Nobi Point is set a little more off the road and with more spacing, and the other lots are after PG&E’s private road, which is the source of one major problem.

I do feel like they should let you know ahead of time that shift change at the power plant, for which the only access is our street, is right around 5am. Because between about 4 and 6am, somewhere around 200 cars, trucks, and motorcycles drive right by what I assumed was a quiet road. Twice, one of the employees thought it’d be cute to honk the entire way from Nobi Point, right on up to his turn at the end of Wood Yard.

Furthermore, there is construction behind the Woodyard lot that looks like it’ll be going on for quite a while longer: they’re building what wil no doubt be a beautiful new RV resort up off the road behind us. But for now, there are trucks dropping and picking up trailers on the street behind Wood Yard between 6am and 7am, plus the sound of tractors’ rolling tracks and backup beepers of all kinds for most of the day.

Something I did notice, but didn’t consider the implications of, is that generators are allowed to be on until 10am. That’s bit typically a problem, except that if both neighbors have a generator running, at least one of them is likely be be right on your “property line,” and with sites as narrow as this, that can be quite an inconvenience. Especially knowing your going to be woken up at 4.

Now, if noise doesn’t bother you, or if you have a super-insulated, quiet rig, this place is truly amazing. Our kids played on the ocean below while we watched from up above. Sunrise was spectacular (the sun sets here maybe 2 hours before it sets at Avila Beach because it’s tucked right up against the hill, so you really don’t get the watch it, and it does get cool and windy earlier).

The location is great for its proximity to attractions, but (again, specifically for Wood Yard, terrible for its proximity to the PG&E property entrance, and the construction zone (which will go away someday).

There’s sites right on the road dry camping or you can rent a full hook up at the port.
Awesome spaces because you’re literally just above the beach! Easy walk to restaurants, fishing off pier or hanging out at the beach.
~ Negatives- When Diablo employees start going to work at 4am-8am it’s non-stop road noise. The road is so busy now you have to be careful with small pets and children.

Stayed at NP4 in a 30 ft TT. Literally had sea lions and otters in our front yard and the tide pools at low tide were great to explore! Both restaurants at the Port were great as well. The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star rating is the $66/night to basically boodock and they charge a $25 dump fee and you have to have reservations to dump as well.