Best Campgrounds near Costa Mesa, CA

If you have an RV probably be alright. I have a roof tent and stayed at a primitive campsite. It’s pretty chill. The campgrounds themselves is extremely clean. If you come around March, keep your fire wood dry because mine got wet and couldn’t start a fire. We’re next to Camp Pendleton and I’m pretty sure I could hear gun exercises lol. About 1.5 miles from the highway. Not a deal killer but if you want complete peace and quiet, this isn’t it. The actual campsites looked like they have some nice space to them. Still small overall. The trail to the beach is 1.5 miles. The beach isn’t great unless you’re a surfer. A lot of surfers camping here. It’s a cool spot to get away if you live nearby and wanna camp and grill. If you’re coming from far away, I’d say check out the site on the actual beach. At least you’ll be on the beach.

Ps - if you run into locals on the trails, don’t be nice, because they hate you and hate that you’re there. They’re insufferable. So do you and enjoy yourself and don’t be polite to them. The staff and other campers are awesome though

This state park has 14,000 acres. It feels secluded, but the city is only 20 minutes away. The trails are varied, accessible by horseback, hiking, biking. Some trails are ready walking, some very strenuous. The hills are green in spring. It's a beautiful oasis right near Riverside or Anaheim.

The "Airport Fire" burned through the area and their website says they are temporarily closed.

Clean bathrooms, friendly rangers, nice layout, cute wildlife, close to TCT. Only issue, which is probably just on all of Catalina, is that late hours of the night people are driving up the road in their golf carts which are super loud. So don’t get a site near the road if your an early or light sleeper.

Be mindful of their shower token system. Otherwise, a nice spot. Not too close to the highway. We saw a coyote, so watch your dogs.

I can’t say that it was awesome but it wasn’t jaw dropping. Nothing to write home about but not uninviting.

One of the most beautiful properties I've ever stayed on. Part of the Van Life Campgrounds network of community oriented homebases for vanlifers and nomads on wheels. Met some cool people, worked, hung out with goats, had a few communal dinners. What else could you ask for.

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.

Visiting family in Santa Ana and LA. Not to far for them to come to us and all to go to beach. Park clean and well maintained, personnel very kind and friendly Beautiful view from our site on area B. Crowded on weekend, much less during week Campground is not associated to adjacent Frank Bonelli Regional. Charge $12 to enter with vehicle but no fee to ride in on bikes

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.

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!

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.