Camping near Burbank, CA offers a mix of high-desert terrain at elevations from 1,000 to 5,000 feet in the surrounding San Gabriel Mountains. Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F at lower elevations while winter brings occasional snow to higher campsites. Angeles National Forest encompasses over 700,000 acres of public land with campground facilities ranging from primitive to developed within a 45-minute drive of downtown Burbank.
What to do
Mountain biking on designated trails: Chilao Campground serves as an excellent base for mountain biking excursions. "There are easy hiking trails all over & good trees for hanging my hammock. The campsites are very spacious and clean," notes one visitor to Chilao Campground.
Waterfall hikes after rainfall: Millard Trail Campground offers access to seasonal waterfalls. "About a 20 minute hike and you can end up at a waterfall which is very pretty. But there are several trails to take for hiking and biking and I saw lots of people doing that," reports a camper at Millard Trail Campground.
Sunrise photography of city lights: The elevated position of Angeles Crest Overlook provides unique photography opportunities. A visitor mentioned, "The view is gorgeous in the morning sunrise! That being said, it did seem like maybe a teen hangout or something - cars did flow in and out occasionally through the night until around midnight."
What campers like
Proximity to Los Angeles: Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon offers convenient access to Los Angeles attractions. "This is a good location to explore LA and greater LA area, 45 min to Hollywood sign. Park is a large TT resort with recently remolded lodge in 2019," explains a camper at Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon.
Campfire policy variations: Despite regional fire restrictions, some campgrounds maintain fire opportunities during restricted periods. At Malibu Creek State Park, "The campground was under fire warning all weekend, but faux wood (javalog or duraflame) and charcoal was still allowed. The camphost sold Javalogs," reports a visitor to Malibu Creek State Park Campground.
Free camping options close to city: Several trail camps provide no-cost alternatives. "Scoped it out a few weeks ago and thought it was an easy enough hike for a beginner (me) and his pal camp at. There were a dozen or so mountain bikers and about the same amount of hikers runners that venture by the campground throughout the day," notes a camper about Gould Mesa Trail Campground.
What you should know
Car security concerns: Vehicle break-ins occur at some trailhead parking areas. At Millard Trail Camp, a camper warns: "Make sure to leave your car doors unlocked, and nothing of value inside. You'd rather have someone root through your car and walk away empty handed than have a window broken and items stolen."
Weekend capacity limitations: Popular campgrounds fill quickly on weekends. "Drove up on Friday morning and had a wonderful weekend. Lots of open spots early Friday but the place was packed Saturday night," reports a visitor to Chilao Campground.
Train noise disruptions: Some campgrounds experience noise from passing trains. At Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon, one review notes: "It's very very close to railroad tracks and at night the loud train kept waking us up."
Tips for camping with families
Short hiking options for children: Choose campgrounds with accessible trails. "There is a nice hike of about 1/2 mile up to Millard Falls that is easy for kids and grown ups," mentions a visitor to Millard Trail Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Local animals provide educational experiences. A Chilao visitor noted, "The wildlife is abundant. There is plenty of birdwatching, and coyotes were wandering through the park and campground without fear."
Day-use facilities: Some areas provide structured activities for younger campers. "During the summer they bring vans full of kids up here for day outings," states a visitor to Mount Lowe Trail Campground.
Tips from RVers
Limited size accommodation: Many campgrounds cannot handle larger RVs. "Best for tents, tight for RVs," explains a visitor to Malibu Creek State Park Campground.
Maneuvering assistance: Some RV parks offer parking assistance services. At Hollywood RV Park, "Steve the owner is amazing and the team will take your rig on a forklift to your site and fully set you up. It feels like a neighborhood instead of a busy RV park," notes one RVer.
Urban transit connections: Consider transportation options when RVing near urban areas. "We took an uber. if you stay on the West side of the city it's okay (still 50/60 USD) for a single ride. But If you want to explore any of the nicer beaches like manhattan Beach I do suggest to take the campervan, park at one of the malls in that area and then take an uber from there. Otherwise it gets super pricy."
