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Tent Camping near Lakewood, CA
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Tent campsites in the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest offer numerous options for primitive camping near Lakewood, California. Locations like Hoegees Trail Camp, Mount Lowe Trail Campground, and Valley Forge Trail Camp provide secluded tent sites accessed primarily by hiking trails. Most locations are established campgrounds with designated sites rather than dispersed camping areas, offering a balance between wilderness experience and basic amenities.
Most tent campgrounds in this region require hikers to carry in all supplies along trails ranging from 1-8 miles in length. Fire regulations vary seasonally, with some sites allowing campfires in established rings while others prohibit open flames entirely. Primitive toilet facilities are available at most established campgrounds, though campers should be prepared to treat or carry water as potable sources are limited. Bear boxes or food storage lockers are provided at many sites to protect supplies from wildlife, particularly at locations like Millard Trail Camp where animal activity is common.
The Angeles National Forest tent sites offer varying levels of seclusion and natural features. Many campgrounds are situated along creeks or streams that provide both scenery and a water source that requires treatment before use. Tree cover offers shade at most locations, though seasonal changes affect water availability and trail conditions. Tent pads are typically natural surfaces with minimal improvements beyond fire rings and picnic tables. A visitor commented about Valley Forge Trail Camp: "Great intro-to-backpacking trail camp. In April the creek was full, with several creek crossings on the hike and crisp, fresh water along the campsite that contribute to a beautifully green oasis of a meadow." Several locations like Spruce Grove Trail Camp and Idlehour Trail Camp remain temporarily closed due to past fire damage, so campers should verify current status before planning trips.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Lakewood (50)
1. China Camp State Park Campground
"The campground was not busy and this allowed me to pick a spot hidden away from others. There are restrooms and a place to get water, but when I was there the showers were closed. "
"This walk-in campground is part of China Camp State Park. Only 33 tent-only sites! Wheeled totes can be borrowed to haul your gear up some little hills to your campsite under oak and bay trees."
2 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $35 - $175 / night
2. Doheny State Beach Campground
"Excellent beach camping and tent friendly. plenty of shade and nearby restaurants and shops. Definitely recommend this location."
"the restrooms were clean and showers hot. great views and great for families. most sites are a good size but only room for two vehicles. No wifi but a good book will do. The staff was nice."
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $350 / night
3. Millard Trail Campground
"Cool drive to get to the campground. You drive up and down these hilly roads up the mountain to get there. Once there, there's a parking lot that fits about 20 cars."
"When you can’t do a 2h hike before setting camp, but you also don’t want to camp close to your car, Millard campground is perfect. The parking lot is just behind the corner out of view."
4. Hoegees Trail Camp Campground
"You can only access this campground by backpacking in. There's about 12 campsites with picnic benches and fire rings. There's a creek that runs through. it's beautiful and feels completely isolated."
"Hoegee’s is 2 miles hike from Chantry Flats by way of the Lower Winter Creek Trail. The site is named for Hoegee’s resort which stood just upstream."
5. Gould Mesa Trail Campground
"They had fire pits and public toilets and food storage for bears."
"This is a nice hike-in campground with about ten sites available and a privy. Lots of hikers up here on the weekend ( and weekdays too)."
6. Spruce Grove Trail Campground - Open
"This is a backpackers campground. First come first serve, picnic tables and fire rings included. I think there is only about 8-10 sites. Nice creek flows though the campground."
"This is a hike in campground that has stoves and a creek running through. The sites are nicely spaced and there is plenty of shade. Perfect little backpacking trip."
7. Mount Lowe Trail Campground
"No water, fountain is capped now"
"There's no water right now but that could change after first rain or snow. Stayed here last week & it's still great."
8. Valley Forge Trail Camp hike in. no drive
"Took some friends for their first ever backpacking trip, great intro to the “experience.” Trail camp is in the canyon so it’s an easy 3.5 mile hike in, but a tough hike out of the canyon."
"Picnic tables and fire rings made food preparing especially easy. It has so much charm!"
Check Availabilityfrom $5 / night
9. Idlehour Trail Campground
"Lots of greenery and flowing water in the winter season with wildlife all along the trail and campground."
10. Glenn Trail Camp Campground
"Access to this campground is so easy, whether it's by car or by bike."
"This hike-in/bike-in campground is located 6 1/2 miles behind a locked gate. The small campground is equipped with stream for water (must be treated), and vault potties."
Check Availabilityfrom $5 / night
Drive Time
- 24 min from Los Angeles, CA
- 1 hr 21 min from Oxnard, CA
- 1 hr 35 min from San Diego, CA
- 1 hr 51 min from Bakersfield, CA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lakewood, CA
81 Photos of 50 Lakewood Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Henninger Flat - PERMANENTLY CLOSEDD
China Camp State Park Campground
Hoegees Trail Camp Campground
Millard Trail Campgroundj
Gould Mesa Trail Campground
Mount Lowe Trail Campground
Spruce Grove Trail Campground - Open
Valley Forge Trail Camp hike in. no drive
Bear Canyon CampgroundW
West Fork Trail Campground - Temporarily Closed
Two Harbors Campground
Parsons Landing Campground
Tent Camping Reviews near Lakewood, CA
1027 Reviews of 50 Lakewood Campgrounds
- H
Harold W.ScoutSeabreeze At Seal Beach
Beautiful spot on seal Beach naval weapons command base. A bit pricey, but has showers and free laundry facilities seems to be on the flight path to John Wayne Airport beautiful grounds must have a DBIDS card to get in and out of base if not military.
- TTanya T.Scout
Mountain Lakes Resort - Membership Campground
OCTOBER 2026
Site is clean, many activities on weekends They also add 1000lb or catfish and trout weekly depending on season. Members were friendly. Downside is wifi when the campsite is 75+ full and only about a dozen paved spots. Major are gravel and dirt.
- HHope H.
GuideHermit Gulch Campground
Overall Great!
This is a small campground with a lot of sites packed into it. Thankfully, it was not a full house for any of the days I was there. You can literally hear everything everyone says, every snore, every zipper, every time someone rolls over on their air mattress. There are no sites that are private. That said, I liked the place a lot.
The rangers were super nice and kept the bathrooms clean and stocked and calmly lit at night (not a blazing light). The showers were just the right temperature and cost 25 cents a minute (the first 60-90 seconds are waiting for the hot water).
Each site has access to a food/toiletry storage box. The upper loop sites have their own boxes (I think some of the lower loop sites share bigger boxes), and you can bring a lock (or buy one at Vons) and put anything you want in there or you can use the pay lockers (1.50).
You can definitely walk to town. It will take you 20 minutes, 30 if you are slower paced. The walk back is harder as it is up hill.
I do not recommend site 29, as it has no shade and it is no larger nor more private than the rest of the sites. My site was adjacent to 29 and shaded, the sites directly across from me had even more shade. There are lots of trees in the campground.
- HHope H.Guide
San Clemente State Beach Campground
Sites Near RR Tracks are Ocean View
I didn't book very early but was able to get a site right across from the lifeguard station. The sunset view was quintessential California and maybe even worth the price of admission, which is pretty steep at $53 for tent camping and freeway noise.
The restrooms vary, so if one is particularly distasteful, head to a quieter area of the campground.
RR noise isn't bad, as the crossing is far enough away that the horn blast seems quite distant. I-5 is very noisy however. There are lots of on/off ramps in that area, and with hills to climb it just makes for a lot of engine noise.
James W.
TravelerMalibu Creek State Park Campground
Nice spot with great hiking. Limited facilities. No hookups. $1 for 2 minute shower (tokens).
- SSonali U.Traveler
Caravan Mobile Home Park
If it’s there, I missed it.
I went there to see, before making a reservation. I found the trailer park—maybe 100 old mobile homes—but I never found an RV park. I didn’t see anything to see. The “pool” was empty. The office was locked, and it wasn’t lunch. Just kinda not happening. I left a message to call me with the answering service, but I never got a call back.
- SSonali U.Traveler
Valencia Travel Village
Very fine.
I was lucky to find this place. It’s well run, comfortable, friendly. Nice spots.
Tucker A.ScoutSan Clemente State Beach Campground
Great campground!
I have been to this campground many times and it is always a great time. Easy access to town, surf, the beach, and great facilities. Highly recommend!
Guide to Lakewood
Angeles National Forest tent camping near Lakewood, California offers hiking access to primitive sites between 2,000-5,000 feet elevation. Most trail camps remain open year-round, though seasonal closures occur after wildfires or during extreme fire danger periods. Campsites typically sit along creek beds that provide both water sources and natural boundaries between sites.
What to do
Explore mountain biking trails: At China Camp State Park Campground, visitors can access numerous trails designated for cyclists. "This park is extremely popular with mountain bikers... So China Camp won't disappoint even if it's not the most epic biking in the area. The trail running and hiking is great too," notes Nathaniel S.
Fish in seasonal streams: The route to Glenn Trail Camp Campground offers fishing opportunities along the creek. "If you're trying to bike_fish_ (it's a thing), this road is lined with fishing platforms for all sorts of trout, as the road follows a river the entire way," says Kevin L.
Cool off in waterfalls: Several trail camps offer waterfall access for summer cooling. "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," shares a camper about Millard Trail Camp.
What campers like
Creek-side camping: Many campers appreciate sites situated along flowing water. At Bear Canyon Campground, one reviewer notes, "Follow the creek (which is GORGEOUS with waterfalls and shade in the spring) and go all the way to the end. Trail tends to get iffy at points, but you kinda get to know the flow of it if it disappears into rocks or the creek."
Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer secluded sites. "This walk-in campground is part of China Camp State Park. Only 33 tent-only sites! Wheeled totes can be borrowed to haul your gear up some little hills to your campsite under oak and bay trees," reports Laura F.
Wildlife viewing: The mountains near Lakewood offer diverse animal encounters. "There are many hiking opportunities and chances to see wildlife (deer, wild turkey, rabbits, squirrels, racoons, and birds)," notes Tim J. about his camping experience.
What you should know
Fire restrictions vary: Always check current fire regulations before planning tent camping near Lakewood. At Valley Forge Trail Camp, campers find established fire rings, but regulations change seasonally: "There's 6 trailside campsites with grills, pit toilets and great privacy."
Water treatment required: Streams provide water but require purification. "There is no running water but the creek is usually running so bring something to treat the water," advises one camper about Gould Mesa Trail Camp.
Wildlife precautions: Food storage is essential for safety. "There are raccoons here so you can't keep any food out when dark comes near!" warns Veronica H., while another camper notes, "Each site has a picnic bench and a food storage box."
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly backpacking: Some locations offer accessible introductions to backpacking. Hoegees Trail Camp Campground provides an ideal setting: "You can only access this campground by backpacking in. There's about 12 campsites with picnic benches and fire rings. There's a creek that runs through. It's beautiful and feels completely isolated," says Morgan F.
Creek crossings: Parents should prepare for water crossings on many trails. "In April the creek was full, with several creek crossings on the hike and crisp, fresh water along the campsite," notes one camper about seasonal conditions.
Educational opportunities: Several sites offer historical features. At Mount Lowe Trail Campground, visitors find "info plaques with photos from the old tavern on site," providing educational value for family trips.
Tips from RVers
No RV access: The trail camps near Lakewood are accessible only by hiking or biking, not suitable for RVs. "This is more of your traditional campground where you must carry all your food and gear to the campsite. It is a short hike from the parking lot to the camping area and the camp hosts can provide containers to carry your items," explains Tim J.
Parking limitations: RV travelers need alternative accommodations and must park at trailheads with day-use restrictions. A camper notes about Spruce Grove Trail Campground: "This is a backpackers campground. First come first serve, picnic tables and fire rings included."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Lakewood, CA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lakewood, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lakewood, CA is China Camp State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Lakewood, CA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Lakewood, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 50 tent camping locations near Lakewood, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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