Best Tent Camping near Fields Landing, CA
Coastal forests and redwood groves surrounding Fields Landing, California offer tent campers several established campgrounds and primitive sites. Wuss Camp, located just a mile from the beach, provides five tent campsites arranged around a meadow with clean facilities and privacy between sites. Penn Campground in Sue-meg State Park, about 40 miles north of Fields Landing, offers tent-only camping with sites tucked into green enclaves that create a sense of seclusion. For those seeking primitive tent camping, BLM dispersed camping at Lacks Creek provides free backcountry tent sites approximately 45 minutes from Highway 299, though access requires navigating gravel roads.
Most tent campsites in the region feature fire rings and picnic tables, with amenities varying significantly between established and primitive locations. Wuss Camp provides drinking water, showers, toilets, and firewood for purchase. At Penn Campground, each site includes food lockers, with bathrooms, showers, and potable water nearby. Campers heading to primitive areas should bring their own water, as BLM sites like Lacks Creek have vault toilets but no potable water. Weather conditions remain mild year-round near the coast, though inland sites experience hotter temperatures and seasonal tick activity. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most backcountry tent camping areas, particularly at Lacks Creek where visitors report no Verizon coverage.
In early fall, tent-only sites throughout the region offer fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures. According to reviews, Penn Campground provides exceptional privacy despite sites being relatively close together. One camper noted, "Each site is tucked back in its own little green enclave, so even though neighboring sites are close, you feel secluded." At Wuss Camp, visitors appreciate the widely dispersed sites that circle a beautiful meadow, with one camper recommending "the Grove spot at the far end of the meadow" for maximum privacy. Wildlife sightings are common, with deer frequently observed at primitive tent campsites. Campers at Lacks Creek should be prepared for ticks during warmer months, as one visitor reported collecting six ticks within 30 minutes during a June visit.