Malibu Creek Camp Gear Checklist
Malibu Creek Campground is a drive-up site loop in the Santa Monica Mountains, about 25 to 35 miles from downtown Los Angeles by the sources' counts, so the packing questions are about the loop itself. Campers write about fire rules that change with the fire level, shower tokens that only take dollar bills, sloped and shadeless pads, cool nights, and a gate that closes at night. Sources disagree on the site count, on whether wood fires are allowed, and on whether cell service works.
What shapes your gear on Malibu Creek Campground
- Size and price
- Counts of the family loop vary. One guide says 56 sites, 26 of them tent only, a 2015 family blog says 57, and a 2025 travel article says 62 tent sites plus four RV sites. Two sources put the site fee at $45 a night on top of the reservation fee, and State Parks lists all-day vehicle entry at $12.
From Beyond The Tent, No Back Home, Islands and California State Parks
- Check-in and the gate
- A 2015 family blog says check-in is at 2 pm, sites are not pre-assigned, and check-out is at noon, so a one-night stay is short. One older guide says the main gate closes at 9 pm from October 1 to May 31 and at 10 pm from June 1 to September 20. A July 2026 camper says the gate closes strictly at 10 and arrived at 9:58.
From No Back Home, 50 Campfires and The Dyrt
- Fire
- State Parks allows wood in the campground fire rings only on green fire-level days, allows firelogs and charcoal briquettes on yellow days, and allows none of the three on red days. A sign at the campground entrance gives the day's level. A camper in a fire warning weekend still burned firelogs and charcoal, and the camp host sold them. A 2015 blog says wood fires are banned all year.
From California State Parks, The Dyrt and No Back Home
- Shade and slope
- Campers split. A 2015 blog says many sites have little or no shade. Site 45 had zero shade and a very steep hill in a July camper's account, and site 62 had a great view with no shade. An August camper at site 22 found shade at most sites, and the site 59 camper had a big tree. A May camper at MC16 says most sites are not close to level.
From No Back Home and The Dyrt
- Cold and damp
- The 2015 blog says nights stay chilly even into May. A November camper had cold rain and found the showers a shivering experience.
From No Back Home and The Dyrt
- At each site
- The guide lists a picnic table, a food locker, a grill and a fire ring at individual sites, plus flush toilets, tap water, laundry and token showers in the campground. The 2015 blog adds water spigots through the grounds and a nearby amphitheater behind site 59.
From Beyond The Tent and No Back Home
- Animals and plants
- Poison oak grows all over the park by the 2015 family blog's account, and staying on paths avoids most of it. A December 2024 camper saw coyotes walking through the campground without fear and warns that a dog could follow them. The guide lists raccoons, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, black bears and snakes in the park.
From No Back Home, The Dyrt and Beyond The Tent
- Cell service
- The guide says service inside the park can be spotty to nonexistent. The camper site lists T-Mobile 5G as excellent coverage verified by 14 users and AT&T as some coverage, and a 2025 camper called coverage decent.
From Beyond The Tent and The Dyrt
What the agency requires on Malibu Creek Campground
One-dollar bills for the shower tokens
The token machines take only one-dollar bills, and State Parks says change for larger bills is not available.
Fire rings, with a fire-level check
Firewood, firelogs and charcoal briquettes are each allowed or banned according to the fire-level sign at the campground entrance.
Dogs stay in the campground and on paved areas
Dogs may be in the campground and anywhere paved or parked on, such as picnic areas and park roads. Dirt roads and hiking trails are closed to them.
What hikers carry on Malibu Creek Campground
A stack of one-dollar bills
Two guides repeat the dollar-bill rule for the token machines. A November 2025 camper found both machines down and says the tokens sell two for a dollar, each giving about two minutes of hot water after a 30 to 45 second wait.
From Beyond The Tent, 50 Campfires and The Dyrt
Charcoal or firelogs, or cash for the camp host's supply
One camper on a fire warning weekend burned firelogs and charcoal, and says the camp host sold them. Another camper in April says the host has firewood. A July 2024 camper was disappointed that only charcoal was allowed that day.
From The Dyrt and No Back Home
Warm layers
The 2015 blog says nights can stay chilly even into May. A November camper had cold, rainy weather with threadbare showers.
From No Back Home and The Dyrt
Bikes, scooters and other wheels
The family blog says the paved campground road suits scooters and bikes. A 2025 camper says they rode all the roads over two days.
From No Back Home and The Dyrt
Hiking supplies: water, insect repellent and a handheld compass
The guide suggests all three for trail days, with the compass justified by weak cell service. One camper found the trails poorly marked on the way to the M*A*S*H set.
That cell-service claim conflicts with the campers' own coverage reports.
From Beyond The Tent and The Dyrt
Sun cover for the exposed sites
The 2015 blog says many sites have little or no shade, and a July camper at site 45 had none. Another camper wants to book site 62 for its view in the cooler months because it has no shade.
From No Back Home and The Dyrt
Food kept in the site locker
The guide lists a food locker at each site, and the animal list covers raccoons, foxes and coyotes. A camper saw coyotes walking through the campground.
From Beyond The Tent and The Dyrt
Going as a group? Split this list between you so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Malibu Creek Campground
Arriving after the gate closes
A July 2026 camper reached the gate two minutes before 10 pm, says staff were rude about the closing time. The 50 Campfires page describes a one-way exit with spring-loaded teeth that stops you getting back in.
From The Dyrt and 50 Campfires
Counting on the shower token machines
Both token machines were down on a November weekend because the office internet was out. Staff helped with tokens, but the camper still found the showers threadbare with no hooks or shelves.
From The Dyrt
Planning on a wood campfire
A July 2024 camper was disappointed that the fire rule limited them to charcoal. The 2015 blog said wood fires were banned all year, while State Parks now describes level-based rules.
From The Dyrt, No Back Home and California State Parks
A one-night stay with a 2 pm arrival
The family blog says a single night with a 2 pm check-in and noon check-out is very short, and suggests booking two nights.
From No Back Home
Gear questions for Malibu Creek Campground
Can you have a campfire at Malibu Creek Campground?
Sometimes. State Parks allows wood in the fire rings only on green fire-level days, firelogs and briquettes on yellow days, and none on red days. A sign at the entrance shows the level. A 2015 blog said wood fires were banned all year, so the rule has changed or the writer was wrong.
From California State Parks, No Back Home and The Dyrt
What time does the gate close at Malibu Creek Campground?
A July 2026 camper says it closes strictly at 10 pm. An older page says 9 pm from October 1 to May 31 and 10 pm from June 1 to September 20. Treat the times as unconfirmed and call the park to check.
From The Dyrt and 50 Campfires
Are dogs allowed at Malibu Creek Campground?
Yes in the campground, but not on dirt roads or hiking trails. They may also be at picnic areas and on paved roads, but nowhere unpaved.
From California State Parks and Islands
How do you pay for showers at Malibu Creek Campground?
With tokens from a machine that accepts only one-dollar bills. A November 2025 camper found both machines down and says tokens sell two for a dollar.
From California State Parks and The Dyrt
Does Malibu Creek Campground have cell service?
Sources disagree. One guide says service is spotty to nonexistent. Campers list T-Mobile 5G as excellent and AT&T as partial, and a 2025 camper called coverage decent.
From Beyond The Tent and The Dyrt
Sources
- Malibu Creek State Park · California State Parks · Agency
- Camping at Malibu Creek State Park · No Back Home, Karilyn Owen · Blog
- Malibu Creek State Park Campground (camper comments) · The Dyrt · Forum thread
- Malibu Creek State Park Camping Guide · Beyond The Tent, Renee Dugan · Blog
- The Historic State Park In Malibu That's A Total Hidden Gem For Hiking And Camping · Islands, Kelley Dukat · Blog
- Camping Malibu Creek State Park in California · 50 Campfires, Nick · Blog