Pet-friendly camping sites near Lake Sherwood, California often require advance reservations, especially during peak summer months when temperatures average 75-85°F. The region's Mediterranean climate creates ideal camping conditions in spring and fall, with coastal campgrounds experiencing marine layer fog that typically burns off by midday. Most campgrounds in the area sit at elevations between 200-1,500 feet.
What to Do
Beach exploration and tide pools: Leo Carrillo State Park Campground offers exceptional tide pool access. "The best part about this campground is definitely the beach access- it's about a 10-minute walk from most sites, and you can explore some amazing tide pools and caves once you get there. The kids loved searching for hermit crabs and sea anemones," notes Alfred in a review of Leo Carrillo State Park Campground.
Marine wildlife watching: The Malibu coastline provides opportunities to see dolphins from Thornhill Broome Beach. "If you're lucky you'll see pods of dolphins swimming just out from the shore, actually more often than not," shares Sam H. about Thornhill Broome Beach.
Hiking with elevation: The Santa Monica Mountains offer trails with substantial elevation gain. "There are many hiking trails on the other side of Highway 1 (you can walk to the north end of the campground and use a tunnel under the highway to get to the trailhead)," explains Jeremy F. about access from Thornhill Broome Beach campground.
What Campers Like
Canyon setting with shade: Leo Carrillo's location provides natural cooling. "The campground is tucked away in a beautiful canyon setting with lots of shade trees, which was really nice for keeping cool," writes Alfred about Leo Carrillo State Park Campground.
Ocean views from elevated sites: Malibu Beach RV Park offers panoramic views. "Every spot has a great view of the Pacific Ocean from high upon a cliff! General store is well stocked and there's a park to lounge or play games on the cliffs edge," reports Tim Z. about Malibu Beach RV Park.
Movie-site hiking: Malibu Creek State Park offers hiking through famous filming locations. "The state park is a former movie set and is filled with easily accessible trails for hiking and some for mountain biking. The primary trails were open fire roads with off-shoots to lakes, pools, meadows, and more," says Ryan W. about Malibu Creek State Park Campground.
What You Should Know
Summer heat management: Malibu Creek gets particularly hot in warmer months. "I came here during the summer and it was extremely HOT. Typically during the summer season, I like to find campgrounds that have a lot of lush trees so we can be under the canopies and stay cool," warns Chanel C. about Malibu Creek State Park Campground.
Token shower systems: Many campgrounds use coin-operated showers. "Showers were decent with the token system ($2 for 2 minutes) takes some getting used to," notes Alfred about Leo Carrillo State Park.
Wildlife considerations: Tapo Canyon Park has reports of mountain lion activity. "Pet friendly but be careful at night. Mountain lions were spotted while there," cautions April Y. about Tapo Canyon Park.
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited connectivity. "Do not expect cell service. I could only work from this spot by placing my mobile HomeFi router on top of the camper. Our Verizon phones were paper weights," shares April Y. about Tapo Canyon Park.
Tips for Camping with Families
Beach gear transportation: "Bring a wagon if you're hauling beach gear though, as the walk can feel long with all your stuff," recommends Alfred about Leo Carrillo State Park Campground.
Playground access: Tapo Canyon offers family-friendly amenities. "The campground has a lush grass area and nice covered playground. The showers and bathrooms are nice," reports Bri B. about Tapo Canyon Park.
Noise considerations: "Only downsides were some noisy neighbors on the weekend nights (seems pretty common here given the proximity to LA) and the sites can feel a bit close together when it's fully booked," warns Alfred about Leo Carrillo State Park Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for ocean views: At The Lodge at Deer Creek, "Site 1 (lower site) has an easy low grade hill to enter, even when it was muddy post rains. Consider the weather when booking, it is exposed to high winds and site has a steep incline to enter and it can get really muddy and inaccessible," advises Davlyn F.
Level site availability: "Sites were spaced a good distance apart. It is well maintained. There are flush toilets, hot showers, water, a dump station and a little campground store," notes Heather G. about Leo Carrillo State Park Campground.
Hookup options: "There aren't sewer or water hook ups, electrical only, but for me that's perfectly fine for a long weekend or short week with 2 kids and 2 adults. They do have 3 dump stations, too, so that made it nice!" shares Steve L. about Leo Carrillo State Park Campground.
