Esperance has four national parks and three Shire-managed bush camps, offering real, uncrowded camping from 2WD-accessible sites to four-wheel-drive-only campgrounds well off the beaten track. From December to May, Esperance is extremely busy and most sites fill every night, so book what you can well ahead. Remote camping takes more care than a caravan park: stay on formed tracks, camp only in designated bays, and check road conditions and the weather before you set out.
National Park Campgrounds
Four national parks ring Esperance, each run by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), and each with its own campgrounds and character.
-
Cape Le Grand National Park (50km south-east) is the most accessible: Lucky Bay and Le Grand Beach campgrounds are both 2WD, with toilets, showers and barbecues, and both need booking ahead.
Hot tip: Lucky Bay is one of the most sought-after campgrounds in Australia and is regularly booked out. Parks WA opens bookings six months in advance, we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
-
Stokes National Park (80km west), set around a picturesque inlet, has one 2WD campground at Benwenerup (bookable online), plus Fanny Cove, Shoal Cape and Skippy Rock for those with a 4WD, on a first-come, first-served basis.
-
Cape Arid National Park (120km east) is the wildest and least developed of the four: Belinup and Yokinup Mia Mia (Thomas River) are usually 2WD accessible, though conditions can change, while Mount Ragged, Seal Creek and Jorndee Creek are 4WD only. All operate first-come, first-served.
-
Peak Charles National Park (174km north-west) has a single 4WD-only campground, free and first-come, first-served, set among the biologically rich Great Western Woodlands.
-
Fitzgerald River National Park (200km west of Esperance to the park’s eastern entrance). Between Hopetoun and Bremer Bay, the Fitzgerald River National Park is one of the largest and most botanically significant national parks in Australia.
From Hopetoun, the 28km sealed section of Hamersley Drive takes in most of the scenic spots; campgrounds on that side include four mile campground (bookable on Parks WA) and Hamersley Inlet (bookable through the Shire of Ravensthorpe). On the western side, camping is available at St Marys inlet in the Point Ann area and is first-come first-served.
Book Lucky Bay, Le Grand Beach, Benwenerup and Four Mile Campground at parkstay.dbca.wa.gov.au(opens in new tab). Hamersley Inlet campground is booked through BOOK Campgrounds » Fitzgerald Coast(opens in new tab). Everywhere else, pay on arrival. Camping and park entry fees apply throughout, current rates are at exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au(opens in new tab).
Shire-Managed Bush Camps
Outside the national parks, the Shire of Esperance manages three coastal bush camps where you wake to the sound of the ocean instead of a car park.
Quagi Beach (80km west) is gravel but 2WD accessible, with a toilet and an honesty box on site. Munglinup Beach (130km west) is also gravel and 2WD, with toilets, payable at the nearby Munglinup Beach Caravan Park. Alexander Bay (100km east) is 4WD access only, with a toilet and honesty box.
All three run first-come, first-served, with a limited number of sites, and none can be booked in advance. Dogs and cats are welcome at all three, on a lead or contained, unlike the national parks, where pets aren't permitted at all.
Quick Reference: All Campgrounds
Access and road conditions can change with weather, always check alerts.dbca.wa.gov.au(opens in new tab) before you head out.
| Campground | Park / area | Distance from Esperance | Access | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky Bay | Cape Le Grand NP | 50km SE | 2WD | Book ahead — Parks WA |
| Le Grand Beach | Cape Le Grand NP | 50km SE | 2WD | Book ahead — Parks WA |
| Benwenerup | Stokes NP | 80km W | 2WD | Book ahead — Parks WA |
| Fanny Cove | Stokes NP | 80km W | 4WD | First-come, first-served, pay on arrival |
| Shoal Cape | Stokes NP | 80km W | 4WD | First-come, first-served, pay on arrival |
| Skippy Rock | Stokes NP | 80km W | 4WD | First-come, first-served, pay on arrival |
| Belinup | Cape Arid NP | 120km E | 2WD (check conditions) | First-come, first-served, pay on arrival |
| Yokinup Mia Mia (Thomas River) | Cape Arid NP | 120km E | 2WD (check conditions) | First-come, first-served, pay on arrival |
| Mount Ragged | Cape Arid NP | 120km E | 4WD | First-come, first-served, pay on arrival |
| Seal Creek | Cape Arid NP | 120km E | 4WD | First-come, first-served, pay on arrival |
| Jorndee Creek | Cape Arid NP | 120km E | 4WD | First-come, first-served, pay on arrival |
| Peak Charles | Peak Charles NP | 174km NW | 4WD | First-come, first-served, free |
| Quagi Beach | Shire bush camp | 80km W | 2WD | Honesty box on arrival |
| Munglinup Beach | Shire bush camp | 130km W | 2WD | Pay at Munglinup Beach Caravan Park |
| Alexander Bay | Shire bush camp | 100km E | 4WD | Honesty box on arrival |
| Overflow Campground | Shire, last resort only | In town | 2WD | No bookings — last resort only, $45 + $10pp/night (2026-2027 season), max 4 nights |
Before You Camp
These are remote sites without the backup of a caravan park, so a bit of preparation goes a long way.
- Bring your own water. Non-potable water isn't safe to drink, and most sites have none at all.
- Be bushfire smart. No open fires at Shire-managed sites from 1 November to 30 April, and no fires at all in national parks, ever. Gas barbecues are fine. Bring your own firewood rather than collecting it on site: deadwood is part of the ecosystem.
- Leave only footprints. Take all rubbish home, there are no dump points at these camps (the nearest is on Sheldon Road in Esperance), and camp only in designated bays.
- Watch for dieback. Phytophthora dieback spreads easily through soil on shoes, tyres and camping gear. Clean up between areas and avoid unsealed roads after rain.
- Check before you go. Road conditions and closures are posted at alerts.dbca.wa.gov.au, and these are genuinely remote areas, let someone know your route and when you expect to be back.
Book well ahead wherever you can. From December to May, Esperance is extremely busy and most caravan parks and camping areas are full every night, right alongside every other kind of accommodation. If you arrive without a booking, nothing can be guaranteed, including a site at the Overflow Campground.
The Overflow Campground, at the Greater Sports Ground (entrance via Black Street), is run by the Shire and only opens once every commercial caravan park in town is full. It's a last resort, not a destination, and availability still isn't guaranteed. Check the Shire's Overflow Campground page(opens in new tab) for current facilities, fees and conditions.
Find & Book
Frequently Asked Questions
Book online at parkstay.dbca.wa.gov.au. Parks WA opens bookings six months in advance, and Lucky Bay is one of the most sought-after campgrounds in Australia, so we recommend booking early. The campground is 2WD accessible, with toilets, showers and barbecues.
Park entry fees apply, and camping fees are charged on top if you stay overnight. Current rates are at exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au.
You can buy a park pass online and print it at home, or purchase one from a reseller like the Esperance Visitor Centre. When you are in a park that has entry fees, simply display it in your vehicle windscreen.
There is no free camping in the Shire of Esperance. Camp only in designated grounds, as camping elsewhere can result in an infringement. The one exception is Peak Charles Campground where there is no park fee or campground fee.
Peak Charles is the only campground in the Esperance region that does not have a camping fee, or a national park fee. It is not bookable in advance, and pets are not permitted in the national park.
No. These three bush camps are managed by the Shire of Esperance and run first-come, first-served, with a limited number of sites, so none can be booked in advance. Pay on arrival: at the honesty box at Quagi Beach and Alexander Bay, or at the Munglinup Beach Caravan Park for Munglinup Beach .
Lucky Bay, Le Grand Beach (Cape Le Grand Np), Benwenerup (Stokes NP) and Four Mile Campground (Fitzgerald River NP) can be booked at parkstay.dbca.wa.gov.au. Parks WA opens bookings six months in advance. Lucky Bay is regularly booked out, so we recommend booking early.
Lucky Bay and Le Grand Beach in Cape Le Grand, and Benwenerup in Stokes. Belinup and Yokinup Mia Mia (Thomas River) in Cape Arid are usually 2WD accessible, but conditions can change, so check before you go. Four Mile and Hamersley Inlet campgrounds are accessed on a sealed road.
Dogs and cats are welcome on a lead or contained at all three Shire bush camps (Quagi Beach, Munglingup Beach and Alexander Bay). Pets aren’t permitted at all in the national parks.
There are no open fires at Shire-managed sites from 1 November to 30 April, and no fires at all ever in national parks, with the exception of Peak Charles. Gas barbecues are fine. Bring your own firewood rather than collecting it on site, because deadwood is part of the ecosystem.
Bring your own water, as most sites have none and non-potable water isn’t safe to drink. Take all your rubbish with you and dispose of it properly at the nearest town.
The nearest public dump point is in Esperance town on Sheldon Road, opposite the car wash.
More options to stay
Accommodation in Esperance embodies the coastal lifestyle; grounded and understated, offering a window to the outdoors and an invitation to explore.
Whether you prefer a well-equipped caravan park in town or a remote bush campsite by the ocean, camping is one of the best ways to experience the region’s natural beauty.
Esperance’s hotels and motels offer comfortable rooms, convenient amenities and unbeatable locations near the town centre and foreshore.
If you want to reconnect with the elements, Esperance delivers. Wake to birdsong, breathe in the crisp coastal air and step straight into nature.
Where dogs can and can’t go in Esperance: off-leash areas, dog-friendly beaches and walks, plus pet-friendly stays, cafés and local pet services.