Best Campgrounds near Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos is situated within a predominantly urban coastal region of Southern California with limited options for natural camping. The Los Alamitos Army Campground, restricted to military personnel and veterans, provides both tent and RV sites with full hookups in two separate areas—Legacy Park and Sunset Park. Nearby alternatives include Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground in Huntington Beach, which offers oceanfront RV camping with hookups, and Seabreeze at Seal Beach, another military-only facility. Most campgrounds in the area cater primarily to RVs rather than tent camping, with facilities such as Newport Dunes RV Resort providing upscale amenities including water access.
Reservations are essential for nearly all established campgrounds in the region, with popular beachfront locations often booking up six months in advance. Military campgrounds require ID verification and security clearance for entry. While dispersed camping is not permitted in the urban Los Angeles basin, overnight RV parking is unofficially tolerated in some commercial parking lots and school properties when traveling through the area. The climate remains mild year-round, though summer brings higher demand and increased rates. As one camper noted, "Bolsa Chica is one of my favorite 'in the city' places to go and relax. Nothing better than an ocean view and a fire pit!"
The oceanfront camping experience distinguishes the Los Alamitos area from inland options, with several campgrounds providing direct beach access. RV sites at Bolsa Chica State Beach offer electrical and water hookups with ocean views, though campers report highway noise from nearby Pacific Coast Highway can be disruptive. A review mentioned, "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." Military campgrounds generally receive higher ratings for cleanliness and security, with Seabreeze at Seal Beach described as "very clean, cement slab, walking paths well lit and near to many areas to explore. Wetlands on the base and birds galore."
