Whenever I need a reset, I carve out a night or two for camping by the sea. There’s nothing quite like swapping your apartment walls for sand between your toes, your morning coffee for a sunrise over the ocean, and your oven for a firepit that still smells like marshmallows to recalibrate, realign and recharge.
From world-class waves and secret, sheltered lagoons to stretches of sand so wide and white you'll need to bring sunnies, Western Australia has a serious claim to the crown for beachfront camping. So put fuel in the car, pack your swag and get ready for some of the best beachside escapes the west has to offer.
Here’s my pick of the 12 best spots to camp by the beach in WA, because some resets are too good to keep to yourself.
Parry Beach
Parry Rd, Parryville
Image credit: Tristan McKenzie | Instagram
Just a quick drive from Denmark, Parry Beach campsite is a simple slice of coastal bliss that feels like your own secret getaway. At $24 per night for two, you get all the essentials: clean toilets, solar-powered showers (pro tip: get in early if it’s cloudy), and barbies ready for action. But it’s the people and the location that really make this joint stand out. The volunteers genuinely care about keeping it tidy, and the ocean’s edge is literally a few steps from your tent.
I rolled in after a very long (and slightly soul-crushing) drive across the Nullarbor and was immediately greeted by the friendliest volunteer, who somehow squeezed me in despite the place being packed. Pitch your tent, hit the waves, and soak up the fact that this perfectly maintained, sun-drenched campground gives you direct beach access without emptying your wallet.
INSIDER INTEL
- First-come, first-served—you can't book this one
- Pack your pooch, Parry Beach Campground is dog-friendly
Lucky Bay Campground
Lucky Bay Rd, Cape Le Grand
Image credit: UrLaubsGuru | Instagram
I’m not proud to admit it, but I’ve spent way too many mornings scrolling through my phone in bed—when I could be waking up to Lucky Bay’s blindingly white sand, turquoise waters, and scenery that stretches as far as the eye can see. Deep in the south west right near Esperance, Lucky Bay campground is exactly the kind of place that makes it easy to forget your notifications even exist.
Camping here will set you back $20 per adult per night and although there's plenty of room, I recommend booking well in advance. It comes with solar-powered hot showers and sits right on the edge of Australia’s whitest sand. Pitch your tent, throw on your swimmers and join the resident kangaroos for a sunbake or burn off last night’s BBQ snags with a bushwalk up Frenchman Peak. The views from the top are worth every step.
INSIDER INTEL
- There's no mobile service but free wifi near the ranger's station if you're desperate
- Be prepared: sites have been known to be snapped up six months in advance
Shelley Beach Campground
Shelley Beach Rd, Kronkup
Image credit: Australia's Southwest | Instagram
I’ve learned that the best things in life are often the simplest, and Shelley Beach campground is a prime example of that. No showers, no water, no internet access—just sand, sea and a single toilet to keep things honest. Easily accessible with a regular two-wheel drive, it’s the breathtaking natural surroundings that steal the show: crystal-clear waters, squeaky-white sand, and ocean so blue it almost doesn’t look real.
At just $15 a night per person, you can pitch your tent practically on the sand, with the beach framed by two massive granite boulders at either end. It does get a little windy up here so pack your pegs and patience, but the trade off is waking up to one WA's most peaceful, perfect, untouched beaches.
INSIDER INTEL
- Aim to arrive early: there's only enough room for about 10 cars and 10 tents, and it's not suitable for caravans or camper trailers
Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park
896 Eighty Mile Beach Rd, Eighty Mile Beach
Image credit: Summerstar Tourist Parks | Website
If you’ve ever driven the stretch between Port Hedland and Broome, you know how tempting it is to just keep your foot on the accelerator and power through. Stop at Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park for a night, though, and you won't regret it: the red dirt of the Kimberley suddenly gives way to squeaky-white sand and impossibly blue waters, with sand dunes hugging your campsite and the ocean only 50 metres away.
The park itself is impressively kitted out for its remote location, boasting over 150 powered sites, 50 unpowered, self-contained units, fresh water taps, a camp kitchen, toilet blocks, barbecues, a fish cleaning station and a mini mart stocking all the essentials you might have forgotten. You can even get fresh bread during the peak months of May to September.
INSIDER INTEL
- As beautiful as the beaches are, stay out of the water unless you want to be a croc's breakfast
Hamelin Bay Holiday Park
Hamelin Bay Rd W, Hamelin Bay
Image credit: Hamelin Bay Holiday Park | Instagram
Stingrays casually gliding through ankle-deep water isn't something I come across all that often, but it's a regular sight at Hamelin Bay Holiday Park is a must-visit on your WA road trip. With 95 powered sites and 25 unpowered starting at $28 for two, the ocean and its graceful residents are never more than a short stroll from your campsite.
Beyond the rays, the park has a few clever touches that make the stays effortless. Kids can burn off energy at the playground, parents can stock up at the mini store for ice, snacks or bait for a sunset fish off the jetty, and laundries with washing machines and clothes dryer will keep you feeling fresh. For anyone planning a WA road trip, this campground manages to combine wildlife encounters, ocean views, and thoughtful facilities in one tidy package.
INSIDER INTEL
- Unless you're with Telstra, you probably won't have cell service
- Head down to the beach early in the morning for the best chances of sighting a stingray
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- 5 Reasons Ningaloo Should Be Top Of Your Travel List
Conto Campground
Conto Rd, Boranup
Image credit: Lap Around The West | Instagram
You get the best of both worlds at Conto campground: the lush greenery of Boranup Forest and the sparkling sands of Contos Beach just a short stroll away. With eight separate camping areas to choose from, you can roll out the swag hidden under peppermint trees like a stealthy bush ninja, or park your camper on the crushed limestone for solid footing and easy access.
Toilets are scattered around for convenience, and the campground gives quick access to the Cape to Cape Track and Contos Springs Beach, making it a prime base for both forest and coastal adventures. Insider tip: most sites have a fire pit, and there’s usually a stash of free firewood ready for your snags or marshmallows. Peppermint-tree sites offer extra privacy and shade, while limestone sites are ideal for larger campers and trailers—either way, you’re set for a fun, easy and scenic stay.
INSIDER INTEL
- It'll cost you $20 adults, $15 concession and $5 kiddies, and bookings are essential
Sal Salis
Yardie Creek Rd, Cape Range National Park
Image credit: Sal Salis Ningaloo | Instagram
I know glamping isn't quite the same as camping, but Sal Salis is not your average glamping set-up. Tucked into the sand dunes of Cape Range National Park, about 70km from Exmouth, just 16 wilderness tents sit quietly where red earth melts into turquoise sea. Kangaroos hop past at dusk, ospreys circle above, and the Ningaloo Reef is right on your doorstep for snorkelling, paddling or a lazy float over coral gardens.
Days here are far from ordinary: you could be swimming alongside whale sharks in the morning and clinking glasses over a chef-prepared feast in the communal lodge by night. The rate will make your bank account wince, sure—but when you’re lying in bed with canvas walls flapping gently and the sound of the Indian Ocean as your lullaby, you’ll understand exactly why I’ve included this one in the list.
14 Mile Campground
Mauds Lndng-Warroora Rd, Lyndon
Image credit: Lotus Caravans | Instagram
14 Mile might just be my favourite campsite in the wild, wild west. Just over 40km south of Coral Bay, this stretch of Warroora Station coastline lets you pitch up right on the beach, but this is no ordinary beach. We’re talking white sand that squeaks underfoot, reef lagoons teeming with fish and sunsets so spectacular they’ll burn themselves into your memory (and your camera roll).
There’s a catch, though: this is proper off-grid living. No toilets, no showers, no power—just you, your gear and a salty sea breeze. It’s best for self-sufficient campers who know how to BYO everything and leave no trace. Strip it back to basics and you’ll realise this kind of freedom is the real luxury.
INSIDER INTEL
- It's cheap as chips, with fees just $10 for adults
- Dog-friendly
- Bookings are essential
Shoal Cape Campground
Coomalbidgup
Image credit: Wild Travellers Aus | Instagram
Shoal Cape is one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it treasures, tucked away for the four-wheel-drive crowd who don’t mind a bit of adventure to earn their slice of paradise. Down here, it’s all about crystal-clear snorkelling, lazy swims, epic fishing and diving missions right off the coast.
There are only three sites on offer (yep, just three), you can't book and they’re free—so if you score one, I'd be rushing out to buy a lotto ticket. From camp, you can wander down the stairway straight onto the sand, or perch on the viewing platform with a cold one and let the ocean do the entertaining.
INSIDER INTEL
- Pack like a pro: aside from a toilet and picnic table, there are zero facilities, so it’s BYO everything
- Sorry, Buster, Shoal Cape is within a national park so no dogs allowed
Martins Tank Campground
Preston Beach Rd N, Preston Beach
Image credit: Eva Buchroithner | Instagram
I know, I know, technically this one is on a lake, not a beach, but if you want a nature hit and aren't ready to go full Bear Grylls, Martins Tank is the perfect middle ground. Just under an hour from Mandurah, this lakeside campground serves up 33 roomy sites tucked among peppermint woodlands, with Preston Beach just a quick drive away when you’re craving sand between your toes.
Facilities-wise, there are toilets, gas BBQs, a communal fire pit and picnic tables for those who prefer their sausages chargrilled over gas rather than campfire ash. It's a bit of a bumpy drive to get out there, but it's well worth it for this serene spot.
INSIDER INTEL
- It'll cost you $15 per person, per night
- Keep an eye out for curious critters at night, quendas and possums have been known to investigate new campers
3 Mile Camp
Quobba Gnaraloo Rd, MacLeod, WA 6701
Image credit: Gnarloo Stattion | Instagram
Where the desert meets sea, 3 Mile is Gnarloo's beach-side campsite with big bays, hot showers and world-class waves. Sitting pretty by a protected lagoon that's ideal for snorkelling, this campground is essential for those who just can’t get enough of the saltwater.
Prices begin at $20 per night, changing depending on which of the three campsites you choose from. I'd be booking The Lagoon, a sizable, slightly separate site tucked away from the rest of the camp, sheltered from the winds and roomy enough to handle even the biggest of crews.
INSIDER INTEL
- Come at the right time of year and you might be able to see whales from your swag
- The stargazing here is (literally) out-of-this-world
Heading south? Check out:
- The Best Things To Do, Eat And See In Esperance
- The Best Things To Do, Eat And See In Albany
- The Best Things To Do, Eat And See In Denmark
Image credit: Wei Pan