Since we first found our RV, Cream Puff, Santa Monica camping was at the top of our list. One of our closest friends moved there just before the pandemic, and it was the longest we had gone without seeing her! Our plan was simple: get the RV, park on the street by her apartment, and enjoy beach days together. We quickly realized Santa Monica camping is not that simple… especially in an RV.

Parking laws vary by city, LA County has beach restrictions, and certain areas are closed during the pandemic. Navigating the Santa Monica laws became pretty tricky, especially for two avid boondockers. 

Is boondocking legal in California?

Yes it is! There is plenty of state and federal land that welcomes boondockers throughout California, but you have to be careful when you’re in densely populated areas.

 We’ve noticed the more populated a city, the more restrictions they have on overnight street parking. The wealthier or tourist-friendly areas (like Santa Monica) also have more restrictions. Keeping that in mind, here’s how we navigated Santa Monica camping in an RV.

Where can I park my RV in Santa Monica?

You can park your RV on and around Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica for free on metered spots from 6pm to 9am on non-street sweeper days and until 7am on street sweeper days as long as your rig is less than 20 ft long. 

There are plenty of signs throughout the Ocean Avenue area with the daily schedule to help you out. Basically, you’ll need to pay at the meter (max 5 hrs) during the day and can park for free at night – this way is ideal for sprinter vans and shorter vehicles. 

If your rig is longer than 20 ft (ours is 23ft), you’ll need a free overnight oversized vehicle permit from the city of Santa Monica. For most RVers, this permit is the only way you can experience Santa Monica camping. 

What you’ll need for an overnight oversized vehicle permit for Santa Monica camping:

• Know a resident of Santa Monica
• Complete application for the permit (at least 10 days in advance)
• Photo ID of Santa Monica resident (passport or driver’s license)
• Proof of address for the Santa Monica resident (driver’s license with Santa Monica address and/or bill with resident’s name and address)
• Copy of DMV registration for the oversized vehicle
• A way to pick up the permit from the resident’s home (the city mails the permit to the resident directly but you’ll also receive a temporary permit electronically)

Once you have all the required information, you’ll mail this completed application (it requires the resident’s signature) to parking@smgov.net. They’re pretty fast at responding, but they may take up to 5 business days to review your application.

Keep in mind you still must abide by all parking laws posted throughout the city even with the permit. Santa Monica camping is best for a night or two max because you must move your vehicle every 72 hours. And trust us, they check! That being said, you can request a permit for up to 30 days.

We spent a total of $12.50 while Santa Monica camping, making this a budget-friendly approach to exploring this fun beach city. We arrived at 2pm, so we paid for 4 hours at the meter and stayed for 3 hours the next day exploring the pier. 

What to do without an oversized overnight vehicle permit in Santa Monica

Of course, this entire permit hinges on knowing a Santa Monica resident. Without that connection, Santa Monica camping becomes much more difficult. There aren’t Harvest Host or Boondockers Welcome hosts nearby because of the parking restrictions. However, Dockweiler RV Park in Playa del Rey is the closest RV park to Santa Monica (and the only RV park on a beach in LA County)! 

You can rent a bike and take the bike paths all the way to Santa Monica from Dockweiler. You’ll pass by Venice Beach and Marina del Rey along the way, giving you plenty of fun sights and beaches to explore.

Santa Monica camping was the best way to kick off our Pacific Coast tour (that’s what we’re calling our different routes). We spent day 1 walking along the beach paths to Venice and rooftop cocktails to finish the evening while day 2 was all about the Santa Monica Pier.

If you’re looking for more free spots to camp, check out our top 9 boondocking apps for RVers. For all other RV life tips and tricks, connect with us on all the channels.