Looking for an adventure where you can explore Avalon and then fall asleep in your tent? The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
Hermit Gulch Campground is Avalon’s only camping facility located within city limits. The campground is situated in Avalon Canyon near the Nature Center and the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden.
The campground offers a nice view of the surrounding hills that are home to a wide variety of endemic plant and animal species. Hermit Gulch Trail is accessible from the campground, and there's access to other hiking trails nearby.
Hermit Gulch is great for first-timers and experienced campers alike. Being so close to town allows easy access to groceries, shopping, restaurants, tours, sight seeing and nightlife.
Once visitors have scaled the rugged cliffs using the steep trail from the Landing Cove, they will be rewarded with a campground perched on the bluffs with magnificent coastal views. Santa Barbara lies much further south than the other four northern Channel Islands and is the smallest, measuring just one square mile. The islands' native vegetation is recovering slowly with the help of the National Park Service's restoration efforts. This recovery, along with the removal of nonnative predators, has aided in the reestablishment of nesting land birds and seabirds. The island is one of the most important seabird nesting sites within the Channel Islands, with 11 nesting species, including western gulls, California brown pelicans, three species of cormorants, three species of storm-petrels, and one of the world's largest colonies of Scripps's murrelets. The rocky shores of Santa Barbara Island also provide resting and breeding areas for California sea lions, harbor seals and northern elephant seals.
With five miles of hiking trails, ocean access nearby the campground and generally good weather, Santa Barbara Island offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking and wildlife/wildflower viewing. Since Santa Barbara Island is a cliff island, access to the water is only at the Landing Cove via a dock. There are no other accessible beaches unless you have a watercraft. There are no services on the island, so all gear has to be brought to the island. For more information about recreational activities in the park, visit https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/index.htm.
Steep cliffs on this small island rise above rocky shores and give way to a grassy mesa flanked with twin peaks. The highest point, Signal Peak, is 635 feet in elevation.
The Landing Cove near the campground is an ideal place for swimming, diving, snorkeling and kayaking, but there are no lifeguards on the island. The island is also home to just over five miles of trails that meander over gentle slopes and low mountain tops to dramatic overlooks and magnificent coastal views. All hikers must stay on the trails for visitor safety and to protect fragile vegetation and nesting seabirds. No off-trail hiking is allowed. Portions of trails are subject to closure when pelicans are nesting from January through August.
$15 / night
Scout
I can’t say that it was awesome but it wasn’t jaw dropping. Nothing to write home about but not uninviting.
Traveler
Clean, quiet campground located in one of the OC Parks, with plenty of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use. I stayed here on a weekday, and there were a few couple of vacant campsites in my area, so it was an extremely quiet visit. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked for my stay. I didn’t use the showers since I was only staying one night, but I heard they were free!
Rangers were very friendly and firewood was only $5 for a decent bundle that lasted me over 2 hours.
The city of Rancho Santa Margarita is right up the hill, so you can grab food and any necessities if needed.
My site backed to the creek, so I never had people walking through my campsite.
My dog & I slept in my van, but there was room for multiple tents, and a decent amount of shade in my spot.
My spot didn’t have its own water spigot, but there was one at a site across from me.
I was fortunate that all of the campers around me were quiet and considerate. I know that it doesn’t always work out that way, and having obnoxious neighbors can really ruin your experience.
Traveler
Clean dump station, beautiful sites, very strict on rules. We came 10 minutes early before check in time, they made us wait. Campsite comes with wifi but very weak. We have t mobile and had bad reception. Would come back again for beautiful views, small hike, sandy beaches with lots of sand crabs.
Traveler
The parking lot is next to the beach on the one side but also next to the highway on the other side. So the view and the breeze is beautiful, but the traffic noise in the evening and morning is not so nice. With earplugs everything is fine! ;) The host Jim is very kind and helpful!
Traveler
It was overall a nice campsite. Our site seemed to be pretty large it came with a picnic table & fire pit. The walk to the beach was close seemed maybe about 10 minute till we reached the beach from our site. It is on a hill you need to walk down & back up. The only down side was the bathrooms on the same road as our site were pretty dirty did not seem to have any maintenance during our stay.
GuideSite had tree cover which had some nice shade to provide relief from the sun. Lots of room for a couple vehicles and tents. Clean bathrooms and showers, but we stayed midweek and the place was very, very minimally occupied. Good access to walking and biking trails.
GuideSITE:
This site is great if you like hiking, biking, MTB, and running. It is very clean, and the showers are free and clean as well. It's tucked back in the canyon, but you will still hear all the traffic from the road. Since it is a canyon, many loud cars and motorcycles zoom past at high speeds.
Free dump station.
SURROUNDING AREA:
There aren't too many shops in close proximity, but there are shops down the road a few minutes away if you need supplies.
ACTIVITIES
The campground is located next to Oneil Park, which is huge and great for bike and running. There are many hiking trails nearby in all directions. I usually ride to Caspers from the campsite or Trabruco creak up to Holy Jim.
TravelerMy 3 dogs and I stay here often, as it's the lowest cost in Orange County and allows dogs. It has several restrooms, showers, equestrian areas, nature trails and picnicking for day use too.
Scout
Spot #24 is amazing
Legend
This is a gem of a campground. Almost every site has an ocean view of some kind.
The roads that lead to the sites is a bit narrow, so if your towable is on the long side, you might have to work a bit to back it in. The maximum length is 38. We had 30/50 amp electrical and water. Dump station is on your way out, with 3 stations in that row. Wi-Fi works fair. Cell towers are in sight just to the north, so no reception issues. Lots of hiking and bike trails. We did a 12 mile loop to the north, and a ride along the coast on some bike paths. Shake shack and Beachcomber's restaurants are just down the street for an easy ride or walk. Bathroom and showers are very clean. The picnic tables are what you would expect, very seasoned. :-) Most are anchored to the sites. The length of the site is very good with lots of room to setup your outdoor goodies. Check in is at 3pm. They are hard on this. If you arrive early, you can register, but will be directed to Reef Point back down PCH or to the visitors center in front of the camp entrance.
Scout
My boyfriend and I love this campground! It’s gorgeous and filled with trees, the rangers are awesome and there’s several hiking trails nearby. We will definitely be back
Scout
The Dyrt shows "Tent" sites, but it's only for RVs
Legend
We ended up here after a futile search for an affordable hotel in the area. Even though it was not inexpensive, we secured a beachfront site. The sites are in three sections: standard, deluxe, and premium. There are also cabins and a group tent area (on the public beach).
The reservation process was not easy – you cannot make same-day online reservations and have to navigate a detailed menu on the phone to finally get to the reservation desk.
We arrived after dark, just as the office was closing but were able to get our information packet. Payment is in full when you make the reservation. As we expected, the sites are stacked up next to each other like dominoes with minimal foliage/fencing to separate the sites. The beachfront and preferred sites have a concrete and sand pad while some less expensive sites have just sand.
There are codes to enter the restrooms, the bike path, and the pool. The restrooms were clean as were the showers, with good hot water and decent water pressure.
In season, there are many activities and amenities offered including a water park, water sports rentals, a bistro, a snack bar, movies on the beach, and a swimming beach. About the only amenities available in November were the pool, two hot tubs (although one was not working when we were there), and the .75-mile concrete path around the lake. A gentle water aerobics class is offered three times a week. There is also a marina, but we don’t have a boat so we did not explore this. In season, you can rent pavilions, and pool or beach cabanas, all for an additional cost.
Although this is a fully contained resort, it is not quiet. You will hear road noise and at certain times of the day, near constant noise from planes at nearby John Wayne airport.
This was an affordable respite for us on a long road trip, but it is VERY expensive in season (about three times the price of “winter” rates). Also, it would be an entirely different experience when fully booked!
ScoutSite #13 Electric - plenty of room for four people in two tents with two trucks. Not camping-camping but great for an overnight when you just need to sleep under the stars. They sell wood for $5. Only real con was that we encountered a tarantula and had to remove it from our camping area. Great place for kids first camping experience.
LegendTucked on the outskirts of Mission Viejo is an oasis of green grass and groves of the twisting and searching limbs of Coastal Live Oak trees. If you stuck me in the middle of this park, I’d never know that I was miles away from the sprawl of suburbia of a major metropolitan area…shhh don’t tell anyone.
There are 3 campgrounds within this regional park -- one soley dedicated to RV's that require electrical hook-ups (Ortega Flats), a group campground (San Juan Meadow), and another which is a mix of tents and off-grid RVs (Live Oak). This review is specifically for the off-grid Live Oak Campground which s aptly named because you’ll find yourself enjoying the ample shade of these amazing arbors, but plenty of sun to run our solar powered system.
The campsites can be reserved but there is plenty of room for first-come first-served travelers as well. The sites offer enough space to tuck away a tent in the corner, or set up the longer trailer, as well as the typical picnic table and fire ring. Plenty of port o potties are scattered throughout the campground and served the large groups gathered here on Easter weekend. We indulged in making a fabulous brunch of Wood Fired Waffles to celebrate the holiday! As of April 2023, they were still experiencing a well water issue, so no water was available from the faucet, but the river running through the park was useful for obtaining water to wash dishes.
Hiking, biking and horseback riding trails meander throughout the park. The campground borders on a small creek for fishing, but is off-limits to wading and swimming because of the instability of the opposite bank. Keep an eye on the kids! Be sure to check out the volunteer-run Nature Center on the property which is full of great information about flora, fauna, and native history.
The closest store for firewood, and groceries is just a few miles back toward town. And, the closest beach is just about 30 minutes away, so a great option for a day trip.
TravelerNice campground. 1.5 miles from the ocean. Sites are quite large with bushes/ trees between sites. Upper campground has water and electricity.
GuideWe loved this campground! There are mature trees between every campsite that provide privacy between sites. The campground is setup as a bunch of loops with a large common area between the rear of every campsite. That's the only place you're going to see your neighbors. It's a perfect setup for a bunch of people camping together at separate sites - get enough of them and you'll have the entire common area between you to spread out! For us, we used that large open space to setup our Starlink satellite antenna, and that was necessary since Verizon is basically a dead zone in that area.
The communal showers were nice. BRING DOLLAR BILLS to change them into tokens for the shower. A couple tokens (one dollar) is enough for a decent shower.
Your paid campground site gets you day use access to the other nearby parks: San Onofre Bluffs and San Clemente State Beach.
Got an e-bike? Lots of people had them. I think as long as you're on the pavement there's no issues but check with the park regulations for any off pavement use which would include the trail to Trestles.
CONS:
The dump site was closed this weekend (8/18-8/20). But with our day pass we were able to use the dump site at San Clemente State Beach. NOTE: Day use is up to 10PM and they also have a dump site at the Bluffs. Just keep in mind you may have to wait in line with other campers checking in to access the other areas. We went at "dinner time" just before sunset to avoid crowds.
At each bathroom / shower area, there are a set of sinks - one for washing hands and a couple others for (apparently) washing dishes and other stuff. However, they were turned off.
Overall, this was one of the better campgrounds we've stayed out. We would defiintely come back here.
ScoutAlways clean and safe. Has showers that are free. Has a crowd in summer but really nice in Spring and Fall. You can camp year round and you cannot beat the price. County operated by Orange County and people here have been great. If you want to eat out, restaurants and stores are just miles away but the campsite makes you feel so far away. Come sample some of Orange County’s best.
GuideBelieve it or not, this was the first camp spot we stayed at with my family and it was my wife's first time ever camping since! We stayed in the premium tent campsites on the bluff that overlooked the beach. These are the best sites hands down in the whole campground. We camped here no problem in our sprinter van.
There are bathrooms and showers are good and nice hot water. There is a coin dispenser there.
The downer is that I thought our camp spot would be closer to the overlook, but it's actually just a parking spot with a grass spot and then walk over to an overlook. We only stayed one night as we were passing through, but would stay here again if we were in the area.
Also, we got there relatively late so the office was closed, got a ticket in the morning and had to walk all the way to the office to get us checked in properly. These premium sites are furthest away from the office just FYI.
LegendThis is a big lawn atop the bluffs where campsites are set up next to each other with no separation. It's like camping in your neighbors lawn...the neighbor with the most kids and probably a few dogs that are off-leash.
BUT...the views from the bluff are beautiful. The beach is perfect, and even the visitor center has a cute little museum display.
BUT...it isn't really camping. It is loud, even if it isn't because your neighbors are on top of you, and it is right off the highway. This is not the place to go to "get away."
Sites mostly have nice little pergolas/shades over a picnic table and fire pit. If you are looking to hang at the beach and not drive home, this is the campground for you. The campground is huge and there aren't many staffers to maintain it. Our site had grass/clover/weeds that was pretty thick, and the ground pretty lumpy, making it difficult to find a spot for the tent. Recommend a car camp situation or rv.
Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
GuideEasy spot close enough to the beach to be almost beach camping but far enough to have plenty of room and spacing to spread out. Your parking pass allowed to you to park at the state beach across the 5 freeway for free. Campsites are well maintained and have mature trees and bushes between sites to provide lots of privacy. Showers/facilities are a little rundown and our bathrooms foot-wash and dish wash station were disconnected. During the weekday you can hear activity from Camp Pendleton. Overall great spot to camp with the family.
ScoutARRIVED AT Bolsa Chika Beach about 200pm walked along the beach collecting seashells at sunset sat on the sand watching the sunset
RangerSure, here's the review of Sea Breeze at Seal Beach:
I recently stayed at Sea Breeze at Seal Beach and I must say, it's my favorite RV resort on a military installation. The security is tight, as it should be, which made me feel safe and secure during my stay.
The campground itself is very nice, well-kept, and has large spaces for RVs. It was also surprisingly quiet, which allowed for a relaxing stay. I will definitely stay here again and look forward to my next visit.
One of the best things about Sea Breeze is its location. There are plenty of restaurants close by, as well as the beach. It's a great spot to stay if you want to be close to the water and enjoy the ocean breeze.
Overall, I would highly recommend Sea Breeze at Seal Beach to anyone looking for a great RV resort. It has everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable stay, and the location can't be beat. Whether you're traveling alone or with family and friends, this is a great option for a safe and relaxing vacation.
Traveler
Full hookup in both parks, Legacy (gravel for smaller RVs) and Sunset (cement spots with extra spot for a car). Legacy is a no thrills gated gravel parking lot that holds maybe 20 smaller RVs. Conveniently located next to the laundry and grill (the salmon is great!). Sunset is on the other side of the base down a bumpy gravel road that leads a to a hidden yet well kept RV Park butted up to a civilian baseball field. Clean and level but lots of gnats. For my very first RV experience, this was pretty awesome! Billeting staff was very nice and helpful. Definitely recommend for military and vets!
TravelerI went here as a first stop, the people are lovely and nice, the views are stunning and there is right enough space between the slots so you don’t feel like you’re in each other’s privacy.
Bathrooms are cleaned the whole day through, the hiking trails were closed when I was there. But the birds are flying around you and the squirrels are free to welcome you when you get there.
Campgrounds are close to Laguna Beach and Laguna Niguel, it’s about a 30-45 minute drive.
It can be that you could hear cars driving through because its close to a frwy. You’ll get used to it, or bring earplugs.
I RECOMMEND THIS PLACE! Try it out for yourself!
GuideBeautiful sunsets! We stayed February 5th and 6th at site #23 but it looked like most of the sites had great views of the Pacific. The campsites are roped off and have a decent amount of distance between them. There is some vegetation between them but not enough to be totally private. We were just a short walk to the bathrooms which were spotless. They were being cleaned frequently. The showers are coin operated but it didn't take many coins to get a decent warm shower.
There is a nice day area and trails within walking distance. The tide was high both times we tried to walk under the highway to get to the beach but there were parking lots just a short drive up the road.
We will definitely go again.
GuideGreat location but a little tight quarters. Electric and Water-Dump site is available. If you book on the Highway side it is a little noisy. We spent 3 days on the Beach side and enjoyed its close proximity to the sand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Avalon, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Avalon, CA is Two Harbors Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Avalon, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Avalon, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
