Best Campgrounds in California

Recent Reviews in California

10000 Reviews of 3907 California Campgrounds

• M

  MagicallyChris -.

  Traveler

  Aug. 4, 2026

  Grouse Ridge Campground

  Great Spot and Hikes, Challenging Road, AWD Recommended

  Place was quite busy over the weekend but we were able to secure the last campsite Saturday afternoon. The drop toilets had a little remaining toilet paper but ran out during our stay (bring your own). I wouldn’t recommend the road without 4x4 or AWD, especially if the road conditions are wet/muddy. Our RWD car made it to the site, however it's the type of road that you could easily get stuck without off roading experience and careful navigation. There are sizable rocks, ruts, and potholes to navigate through. Under carriage scrapping will be unavoidable for lower clearance vehicles. Cell service available at campground. Bear box boxes available at campground, each site had one.

  Amazing hikes and trailhead near campsite.

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• 

  Oscar G.

  Scout

  Aug. 4, 2026

  Meadowview

  Terrible

  Beware of camp 212 it’s very isolated and out on the edge, we had a bear encounter and there are no bear boxes so it makes it very dangerous, not only that the host that night of 8/1/26 was useless and pretty much an a-hole he did nothing and just yelled at us in the morning that we couldn’t have two cars parked in our reservation when it specifically states that we can. The maintenance is terrible the bathrooms had no functioning lights, would not recommend especially if you have kids

• 

  Oscar G.

  Scout

  Aug. 4, 2026

  Meadowview

  Terrible

  Beware of camp 212 it’s very isolated and out on the edge, we had a bear encounter, but not only that the host that night of 8/1 was useless and pretty much an a-hole he did nothing and just yelled at us in the morning that we couldn’t have two cars parked in our reservation when it specifically states that we can.

• R

  Rhonald S.

  Scout

  Aug. 4, 2026

  Black Mountain Road Camp

  Beautiful and Serene

  The 4-wheel drive off road was slow and rocky but definitely worth the drive. Beautiful with all the trees and rock formations. So Serene, especially when the wind blows through the tops of the trees. Privacy because the locations are spread out. We will come back multiple times per year. Great find and experience.

• E

  Emma K.

  Scout

  Aug. 4, 2026

  Saddle Mountain

  Saddle Mountain in Carmel, CA

  This is by far the nastiest campground I have ever encountered, which is entirely unacceptable given the premium price tag of over $200 per night. Upon arrival, our campsite was unkempt, unraked, and covered with scattered litter and cigarette butts. However, the worst part of our stay was the restroom facilities. While initially clean, by evening the bathroom ran out of paper towels (there are no hand dryers) and the toilet was heavily fouled with feces, with used toilet paper scraps strewn across the floor. In an attempt to help, I used the provided toilet bowl brush—which shockingly already had feces on it—to try to clean up and personally picked the litter off the floor. By the next morning, the bathroom had deteriorated right back into the same revolting state. The toilet bowl was smeared with feces again, paper trash littered the floor, and no paper towels were replenished. It remained entirely neglected and filthy until we checked out. I initially reached out to management directly via their email review prompt to give them a chance to address this privately before posting online. Because of the hazardous, unsanitary conditions, I requested a partial refund. I received a phone call from a polite woman on their staff, but she completely bypassed the health and safety issues and only offered a coupon for a future stay. I will absolutely not be returning to Saddle Mountain. Save your money and find a cleaner place to stay in Carmel."

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• 

  Christina R.

  Guide

  Aug. 4, 2026

  Upper Sand Flat

  Wild camping

  Good wild camping area off the main road with lots of pull outs and flat spaces

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  Aug. 4, 2026

  Islay Creek Campground — Montaña de Oro State Park

  Rugged coast camping at the end of the road

  General: 47-site campground at the end of the road. No utilities and no (or very limited) cell service. 

  Site Quality: All camper pads are paved and wide enough to fit two vehicles. No designated tent pad (but there is room to pitch a tent). RV size is limited to 27 feet. A fire pit, wooden picnic table, and food box complete each site. Most sites are level, but a few are slightly sloped. Good amount of space between sites. 

  Bath: Vault toilets only; the one nearest our site was clean and well-maintained. I have never seen a vault toilet with a linoleum floor! 

  Activities/Amenities: Many trails – some just for hiking, but many are multi-use (for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders), and they range from easy to challenging. The Bluff trail has stunning views when the campground is not shrouded in fog. The sunsets can be beautiful as well. The Spooner Ranch House visitor center is worth a quick visit if it is open (hours vary). No dump station, and there are shared water spigots. Firewood is available from the camp host. The host was very present and friendly when we were there. 

  This is camping the way I like it – no frills, just time to relax and take in the rugged coastline. At night when it is quiet, you can hear the waves. The beach is pebbly sand and not the best for walking on, but nice to take chairs there and enjoy the waves. Poison oak grows throughout the campground, so be cautious.

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• 

  s K.

  Traveler

  Aug. 3, 2026

  Coldwater Campground

  large busy campground

  This is a big, busy campground at the end of Lake Mary Road, not far from the busy Mammoth Lakes. The road to get here is narrow and very busy with cars parked along it, people accessing the lakes. Although the CG is in the forest, all of the small trees and understory have been cleared away in the campground, leaving the sites very exposed to each other and the road, To me it was very unappealing, so i did not stay.

  Trailheads for Duck Pass and Emerald Lake are located at the end of the CG, so that's good if you like to hike.

• 

  s K.

  Traveler

  Aug. 3, 2026

  Saddlebag Lake Campground

  lovely high elevation campground

  Nice FCFS campground located at Saddlebag Lake. The CG is located 2 1/2 miles up a winding one-lane (with turnouts) gravel road off of Hwy 120 (Tioga Pass Rd). Easy access to Yosemite. It's in a forest of whitebark pine and other conifers with not much understory. Surrounded by high ridges and  with partial views of the lake, just down the hill. Most of the sites are level. Each has a tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, and bear box. They're nicely spaced, not crammed together. The vault toilets were clean. Dumpsters for trash. Water spigots. Zero cell service on Verizon.

  There is an easy trail around the lake, about 4 1/2 miles total, and there are trails accessible from the inlet end of the lake. A water taxi can take you to the other end for a fee. When i was there, it operated Thurs - Sun.

  This was one of my favorite campgrounds ever. Stayed 5 nights.

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