No California dream is complete without you and your friends circled around a glowing beach bonfire. But the thing is, successful bonfire parties don’t just magically happen—a killer sandy shindig takes some proper planning. Here's the need-to-know to make your night at Ocean Beach a breeze (and legal!).

The early bird gets the pit.

There are just 12 fire pits at Ocean Beach. For a solid chance of nabbing one, arrive no later than 11am. (Before you roll out of bed, make sure it’s not a Spare the Air day.) Designated concrete fire pits are located between Fulton and Lincoln, between stairwells 15 and 20. (The National Park Service does not allow manmade fire pits, so don't even think about it.) Take the N Judah to the beach; or, if you drive, you can park your car in the Ocean Beach lots until 10pm. Tell friends the Beach Chalet is just across the street from the stairwells down to the fire pits. 

Make a day of it.

Now that you've nabbed a pit, grab a crew to help you man it for a full afternoon. Set up a volleyball net, or put an exercise ball to good use by digging your very own sand trampoline. When the sun goes down, it's party time.

Eat + drink.

Channel your inner Martha Stewart and bring a folding table to set out snacks and drinks, and bring coolers to keep your bevvies chilled (remember, no glass bottles!). Come bonfire time, be ready to offer up classic s’mores, or shake things up with unexpected extras—bacon and salted caramel make for pretty bomb s’mores, or swap the square of chocolate for a scoop of your favorite pie filling (key lime!). Nothing is sadder than a missed s’more opportunity, so remember to pack long skewers for the essential roasted marshmallow. Don’t forget the utensils and garbage bags for easy clean up (the trash cans are in the parking lot). 

Stay warm. Bring wood.

Call it refreshing or call it freaking cold—the air and fog rolling off the Pacific Ocean can get particularly brisk at night. Bring breathable roll-up pants, socks and slip-on shoes, and a chunky sweater. For a lasting bonfire, bring three or four packages of wood (available at Safeway), which contain about four to six logs each. You'll need windproof matches and one starter log per package of wood. Ocean Beach bonfires must be put out by 9pm and can only be extinguished with water, not sand. So, don't forget your water bucket! Leave something at home? Don’t sweat it. Sometimes the best thing about a bonfire party is making friends with neighboring pit masters. 

Do you need a permit?

Planning for a seriously epic bonfire party (and really, why wouldn’t you?)? Keep in mind that gatherings of more than 25 people require a $50 permit. The Park Service gets more than 1,000 requests for permits each year, so plan to do this a few weeks in advance. Call 415-561-4700. 

Party on, dudes!