Best Tent Camping near Arcata, CA

Recent Tent Reviews near Arcata, California

611 Reviews of 25 Arcata Campgrounds

• 

  Melissa W.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 10, 2020

  Klamath River RV Park

  Absolutely Horrible Service

  We rolled in late from a long day of driving, so the office was closed. No one was outside of the camp host site, so we figured we would go find a site then try again with a site number for where we were planning to stay. We planned to tent camp since the sign on the road CLEARLY says they have them, but nothing was marked. So we find a small site way in the back. As we are figuring out what we're doing, the hostess drives over in her cart to tell us to leave. Apparently we weren't allowed to be on the grass (even though literally everyone else parked on the grass) and that there were no available tent sites. There were absolutely no tents to be seen. We told her we have every intention of paying. She said they didn't want people "like us" just driving in here. Absolutely horrible service, and I discourage anyone who doesn't have a 6 figure RV to look elsewhere. Camp Klamath treated us very well right down the road!

• 

  Troy L.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 22, 2023

  Emerald Forest Cabins & RV

  Cozy camping

  First thing to know is that this is a privately owned campground. It’s run similar to a hotel. You make your reservation for what type of site you want and what kind of trailer you have (or tent site). They assign you a campsite when you check in. From other reviews that I read they try to get you into a site that works for you. We have a pop up trailer so we were in a small section that had about 5 sites for vans and pop ups. Ours was a pretty good size site, but it was backed up to the backside of the cabins. So it wasn’t exactly private.

  Overall it is a beautiful area and the tent camping spots looked more secluded. They have a wide variety of sites. Most of the trailer sites are right next to each other similar to an RV resort.

  Bathrooms were clean and showers were adequate. They run in quarters and we were able to get some at the front desk.

• 

  David F.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 4, 2022

  Redwood Coast Cabins & RV Resort

  Borring

  Well let’s see where do I start? The coast”ocean” is about 500 yards away. There is absolutely nothing to do here. It’s being remodeled/renovated because it’s a new owner. The on property store has limited supplies. I asked for plasticware they didn’t have it. I asked for allergy pills, they didn’t have it. I asked for ice, guess what? Didn’t have it. I just left the store and drove into town which takes about seven minutes. Can’t go for a walk around the camp because somebody just murdered somebody today and he was seen behind this camp in the forest. Of all days right? Doesn’t matter if you could walk around there’s nothing to see but people that I’ve been here probably months on end and it’s just “boring“ and it’s overpriced for boring. I stayed at humbug in Oregon after 101 it was $18 a night it was the best place I’ve ever been, and I love tent camping. the website says Wi-Fi, let me tell you something there is No!!!!! WI-FI The bathrooms are locked and they give you a code to open them. What the heck is that about right? The tent sites are very odd it’s a strip of grass with a picnic bench every 5 yards. it’s not fenced. There’s no trees or shrubs separating anybody it’s just very “odd“ you’ll be camping 25 feet from the next guy. I had to turn my tent facing the fence because any other way people can look in. A little privacy would be nice in a place like this but you won’t get it. You better have unlimited data on your phone plan because you’re going be using all your data out here because there’s absolutely nothing to do. Sit in your tent or at the table and hopefully have somebody with you or you better love movies “a lot “

• 

  Miles S.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 15, 2020

  Abalone Campground

  Favorite spot

  Love this whole state park, tent camp or trailer. So many easy hikes with gorgeous views.

• 

  DirtyMountainBoy A.

  Guide

  

  May. 26, 2021

  Skunk Point Group Campground — Shasta Trinity National Forest

  Nice parking lot ha !

  Big parking lot picnic benches and one group tent site

• 

  Walker H.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 18, 2021

  Humboldt County Fairgrounds

  Nice 1-nighter

  $15 tent camping site when visiting humboldt redwooods state park. Lots of older folks and RVs, but pretty easy going and not that sketchy.

• S

  Sara O.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 4, 2020

  Klamath Camper Corral

  Great family freindly casual place

  This campground is lovely! The bathrooms are decent and maintained and it’s very child friendly with a sweet playground as well as a basketball hoop and some great picture spots around the onsite pizza place! It has in-ground fire pits and the tent camping wasn’t crowded at all last time we went but the tent camping is in an open field (no natural foliage/ trees to act as barriers between sites if noise and/or proximity to others is a concern but I can’t imagine it being a problem most of the time) I highly recommend them if in need of a pit stop or a place to stay around the area for any reason. 😊

• 

  Dominic J.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 28, 2023

  Klamath River RV Park

  Tent camping nook available

  They had 5 small tent camping sites available in a private corner of the camp. It was just us in the tent section. The owner and host were very nice. The showers were great. I would definitely stay again.

• 

  Claire B.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 8, 2019

  Boise Creek

  Boise Creek

  Bathrooms really nice. Sites big for tent camping. Creek is absolutely beautiful. Not great for swimming but good for a quick dip in the pools. It’s about a 1/4 mile hike down there.

• S

  Susan G.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 12, 2018

  Elk Country RV Resort & Campground

  200+ acres Beautiful campground along Northern California Coast

  Across from Stone Lagoon and Dry Lagoon Beach along Highway 101. This campground accommodates tent camping and RV full hook-up. Herd of Roosevelt Elk live there and are frequently in the campground. Beautiful grounds and open all year.

• 

  Miles G.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 3, 2021

  Elk Campground

  Quick overnight stay

  Tent campsite in fern filled spot. Good amenities on site like shower, electric, bathroom, and washer/dryer.

• M

  Mary K.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 24, 2021

  Elk Country RV Resort & Campground

  Heavenly!

  Loooooved this campground. There's a meadow area for RVS and a forested area for smaller rvs/vans and tents. Some tent sites have electrical outlets, all tent sites have a spigot. BIG bathrooms with flush toilets, hot coin showers, laundry room. Laundry room has a soap machine AND a change machine. Hosts are super nice and the facilities are really clean. The grounds are beautiful, there's a lovely large lake with a little footpath around it - I saw otters in the lake and elk in the front meadow! Great base to explore the redwoods, Trinidad, Patrick's Point and Eureka. I got some TMobile service near the road but the wifi didn't work for me. Solo female traveler approved, super chill. There were a few open spaces even over the weekend.

• V

  Veronica V.

  Traveler

  

  May. 22, 2021

  Klamath River RV Park

  Amazing Way to Wake Up

  I stayed at this place last minute. I arrived at 9:45 pm and the host saw me come in and greeted me. I asked about a spot to spend the night and she showed me to a great tent site. She said the river was just a few feet away so to watch where I walk. The bathrooms were clean as were the showers. The main area in the middle is for RVs but there are some great little tent sites on either side. One is up on a hill and the other is right on the river. I woke to the site of the sun rising just over the river. It was spectacular. I will certainly stay here again.

• 

  Casey B.

  Guide

  

  May. 7, 2023

  Riverwalk RV Park

  Great little place

  Friendly staff, clean bathrooms and free showers, outdoor cook kitchen near the tent sites and cabins.

  We come to fortuna every year for a Martial arts tournament. This will be our regular place from now on.

• J

  Julie H.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 3, 2021

  Riverwalk RV Park

  Lovely RV Park

  This RV park was really nice. A little freeway noise but not enough to detract. Nice store. RV sites have trees and grass and picnic tables and aren’t super close together. Tent sites looked decent sized. Seemed like a lot of RVs but saw very few people. Grounds are very pretty.

• 

  aidan L.

  Guide

  

  May. 27, 2021

  Emerald Forest Cabins & RV

  Good Campground for the night

  This place is great if you are camling gor a night weather its an RV, Tent, or Cabin. However it was a little pricy for what i got. WIFI sucks if you are more than 50 feet from the main entrance and i found human waste near my campground. This However doest surprise me as the bathrooms are far away from the tent camp areas. Otherwise very peaceful among the trees and very close to the beach.

• J

  Jessica R.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 22, 2018

  Emerald Forest Cabins & RV

  Tent camping: Very dark with uneven ground

  We stayed here one night last year. We’d hoped to stay at Patrick’s Point State Park, but it was full. The woman who set us up with a tent site here was super friendly and helpful. She offered advice for where to eat in the area and points of interest.

  My daughters and I checked out the Bay Area and hiked the Trinidad Head. It was a beautiful afternoon. We had dinner at the Trinidad Bay Eatery and Gallery which was nice with a friendly server and good American fare.

  After we returned we looked at the little arcade area in the cabins area. It reminded me in a nostalgic way of the arcade area in the 80’s movie Starfighter. Very fun.

  Although it wasn’t quite dark yet when we headed back to our site, it was VERY dark in the back area with the tent sites fue to heavy tree cover. Finding our spot was difficult in the dark. The path is winding and doesn’t exactly match the campground map and the ground was very uneven. I was glad we have four wheel drive.

  The campsite was also very uneven and had a steep drop off to a creek bed on the side. Luckily we’d planned to car camp and only had to fold down the sleeping area in our vehicle. I can’t imagine trying to set up a tent on that site in the pitch blackness. I’m not sure that the site had any amenities like a picnic table or water or a fire ring. I couldn’t see anything!

  Overall I’d stay here again, but I’d get there way before dark and set up camp first before adventuring in the area. I love the Trinidad/Eureka area. There’s lots to do and see. I gave the three stars because the tent site area ground is so uneven and so unlit.

• 

  Eric R.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 8, 2021

  Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

  Amazing Experience

  Nothing compares to camping out amongst Sequoias. It's a great site. Coin showers are little cold, but run the sink faucets until they're hot and then start your shower. Your neighbors will be very close, but the foliage makes you feel slightly secluded at night especially. Each site is compact for tent camping... You'll be able to fit two 4-person tents comfortably. Firewood is $10 per person. Access to some amazing redwoods hiking trails are a short walk through the grounds. I didn't have cell service at all. Bring walkies for the trails.

• 

  Kyle W.

  Scout

  

  May. 25, 2023

  Cher-ere Bridge Camp Site

  Clean camp, well-maintained, new management

  We saw the sign on the highway for this campground and stopped. The owner recently acquired the plot and has been putting work into it since then. It was a great spot to stop, close to the national park, river access as well and reasonably priced. For a tent site, it was $38/night. Bathrooms were clean, showers worked well and the overall space was clean

• 

  Josh E.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 8, 2021

  Klamath River RV Park

  Fantastic location & chill vibe

  Located right on the Klamath River, this campground is right next to redwood national park. With all the campgrounds in the park completely booked, we were lucky to slide into the spot on a Saturday night. It was pretty expensive for a tent site ($35), where we parked our truck camper. However the staff were extraordinarily nice, facilities were clean, and the crowd was subdued.

• 

  Caroline E.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 18, 2022

  Kamp Klamath RV Park and Campground

  Peace and Quiet

  Stopped here for a night so that I could be close to the Redwood Parks. I opted for one of the more secluded sites that cost a few dollars more, but ended up being glad I splurged. The regular tent sites are close together but not bad. The secluded spots offer a good deal of privacy. Bathrooms and showers were clean. Staff was friendly.

• L

  Lawrence L.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 22, 2024

  Redwood Coast Cabins & RV Resort

  Most frustrating part is reservation

  The campground is ok. The closest bathrooms near our site were closed due to renovation. The main bathrooms were good looking. The men’s bathroom kept running out of paper towels. One of the staff told me they can’t buy any toilet paper or paper towels anywhere. My wife had to keep bringing in toilet paper as they ran out. The pool was warm and spa hot. The most frustrating part was reservations. The website showed only tent sites with water and electricity. I then clicked on military discount and the website showed me a higher price. I called and left a message to get clarification. No one called me back. Turns out they apply the discount after you check in. Check in was another issue. The office was closed early and they gave me a tent site without electricity or water. So I had to call their after hours number to get them to change my site. Later in the office they told me that they aren’t responsible for their website. Campground is ok, but customer service needs work. Wish there were more options closer to Eureka. The WiFi worked good until the last day. The 15A outlet worked until the last day.

• 

  Christy S.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 22, 2020

  Hidden Springs Campground — Humboldt Redwoods State Park

  Secluded stay in the woods

  Came here on a last minute trip. Everything else was booked up, but this was available. The campground opens up quite a few tent sites (probably over 50 sites) on first come first serve basis at 2:00 pm. Most sites did not fill up. Felt like we had hiked out to the woods with no one else around. Surrounded by redwoods and aspens. Clean bathroom and showers. Great location to explore the redwoods.

• 

  Steve H.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 14, 2020

  Abalone Campground — Sue-meg State Park

  Nice Stay

  Nice large sites that come equipped with a box for items and a fire ring. Where I stayed is in the midst of very tall trees and lush vegetation around the back of my site. As I walked the park I noticed that there are varying degrees of privacy to the different spaces. Nice hiking with a beautiful view of the ocean. If you are tent camping do not use 0-78, I picked the only site that wasn't level and had to put my tent on the parking pad, which still wasn't bad. Great spot if your in an RV due to the size of the space.

• 

  Naomi H.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 14, 2019

  Emerald Forest Cabins & RV

  Rude staff and muddy, dirty mess

  I have stayed here several times in the past but this will be the last. To get to tent sites you have to drive through muddy, swampy roads. The bathrooms were dirty and showers were broken and toilets clogged. We were forced to buy a new tent because they would not allow our small children to stay in their one person pup tent because we had more than 2 tents. The lady that called was rude and actually suggested that we get a third site to put our small children in. If you are in the area I wouldn’t waste money here. Go to Elk Country or Patrick’s Point.

• 

  Nikki T.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 21, 2019

  Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

  Beautiful Redwood Setting

  This is a wonderful redwood park geared toward tent camping. It not particularly well suited to RVs. There are herds of Roosevelt Elk throughout the park, grazing in the meadow outside of the camping area. The elk are accustomed to people, but keep your distance. There are nice restroom facilities with hot showers. Bring quarters. The sites are close together but there is lush greenery to create a sense of separation. The big complaint are the bear boxes. They are impossible to close quietly so be considerate and plan your late night snack and beverage needs in advance. Reservation absolutely required months in advance for the summer season. This is a great place to go off-season.

• 

  Natasha H.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 10, 2016

  Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

  Redwoods to the Northern Coast-

  You get a chunk of some of the most beautiful Redwood forests, oceanside. While the campsites are small and pretty close together it is rare to find a good campsite that offers showers, great scenery, bear boxes, fire rings and tables with your fresh water etc. Tent camping and RVs. You feel as though you are miles away from life as you know it and can truly get the chance to experience nature and relaxation with these giant old growth redwoods. Fern paths and wild berries galore. Northern beaches with overcast and fog which creates some chilly nights and mornings- plus you can get damp if you are not prepared. Northern coast. If the sites were not so busy all the time and cramped I would give it 5 stars.