Campgrounds near Los Angeles range from sea level beach sites to mountain retreats at elevations up to 6,000 feet, creating diverse camping conditions. Despite the urban proximity, campers can find sites with natural features like creeks, tide pools, and wildlife viewing, all within a one-hour drive from downtown. Summer temperatures at coastal sites average 75°F while inland locations can reach over 90°F.
What to do
Beach exploration: 200 yards from Dockweiler Beach RV Park: Walk directly to the Pacific from your campsite where "the park is right next to the beach, walk 1 minute and you're there. There's also a bike path that goes for miles both north or south - great for an early workout," notes one Dockweiler Beach RV Park visitor.
Movie location hiking: 3-mile network at Malibu Creek: Explore former television and movie sets along the trails at Malibu Creek State Park Campground. "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," explains a camper.
Waterfall hiking: Half-mile trail at Millard: Access the scenic waterfall path directly from camp. "Fun little campground with decent facilities and beautiful surroundings. Lots of trails all around with a nice hike of about 1/2 mile up to Millard Falls that is easy for kids and grown ups. Wild life all over the place and a great stream in the wet season through summer."
Tide pool discovery: Leo Carrillo State Park: Examine marine life in natural rock formations. One camper shares, "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."
What campers like
Airport viewing at beach sites: At Dockweiler Beach RV Park, campers enjoy the unique combination of beach access with urban sightseeing. "We parked right by the Pacific Ocean, watched planes from LAX fly overhead, and soaked in a stunning sunset. It was the ideal place to settle into our campervan life," one visitor reports.
Canyon camping with shade: Leo Carrillo offers natural cooling from the Southern California heat. A reviewer notes, "The campground is tucked away in a beautiful canyon setting with lots of shade trees, which was really nice for keeping cool. Our site was spacious enough for our two tents and had a good fire pit and picnic table setup."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Nature encounters happen surprisingly close to the city. A Malibu Creek visitor explains: "The wildlife is abundant. There is plenty of birdwatching, and coyotes were wandering through the park and campground without fear. On a hike right out of the park a few hundred yards, I came across a pair of bobcats—mom and cub—making their way to a running creek."
Walk-in yurt camping at multiple locations: Los Angeles area yurt options provide comfort without hauling gear. Seabreeze at Seal Beach receives praise for its military-accessible yurt rentals: "A well kept secret with one drawback; everyone has to have an ID card to get on the base or be pre approved by base security."
What you should know
Military ID requirements for some sites: Access to certain campgrounds requires proper credentials. At Seabreeze at Seal Beach, "Must have military clearance to rv here," according to one reviewer, while another notes the site is "Military ONLY."
Train noise affects some campgrounds: At Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon, "Very very close to railroad tracks and at night the loud train kept waking us up. The sites are dirt so be prepared to get lots of fine dessert dirt in the camper."
Car security concerns at wilderness campgrounds: Protect your vehicle when camping near trails. A Millard camper warns: "Make sure to leave your car doors unlocked, and nothing of value inside. You'd rather have someone root through your car and walk away empty handed than have a window broken and items stolen."
Seasonal swimming restrictions: Water activities have limited availability at some parks. At Castaic Lake, "Swimming only allowed at their 'swimming beach' and only while life guard on duty. And to use my inflatable kayak, I have to use their boat launch and pay a $9.00 fee."
Site privacy varies significantly: Some campgrounds offer more secluded experiences than others. At Millard Trail Camp, "This campground is not a campground if you want to get away from people because there is a lot of people passing by looking at you. You can't really be isolated or have privacy even though it is a campground."
Tips for camping with families
Easy beach access with kids: Choose oceanfront sites with amenities. A Newport Dunes RV Resort visitor explains, "We stay here every year. They have activities for the kids like arts and crafts, an inflatable obstacle course or you can rent paddle boards or watch a movie on the beach."
Kid-friendly hiking trails: Select camps with easy trails for children. "Campground is beautiful!! Spacious campsites with fire pits, and clean bathrooms. Be aware of the limited hours for entering with a vehicle (8am-10pm)," advises a Malibu Creek camper.
Glamping yurt options for Los Angeles families: Multiple campgrounds offer pre-set accommodations. "Take the family and bring the toys! This place is the best of both family and party atmosphere! Be warned it is not a sleepy RV park," notes a Newport Dunes reviewer about their glamping and yurt facilities.
Shade considerations for summer camping: Check campsite descriptions for tree coverage. A Castaic Lake camper recommends, "I'm a van camper so I rented an RV site because I wanted shade trees. The tent camping sites in the first section have very little shade. Maybe one or two sites have shade. You definitely have to bring a canopy."
Tips from RVers
Height restrictions at beach campgrounds: Large RVs face limitations at some sites. At Leo Carrillo, a camper warns: "Attention pour avoir accès à la mer, le véhicule doit faire moins de 8 feet!" (Attention, to access the sea, vehicles must be less than 8 feet tall).
RV site measurements and unexpected fees: Read pricing details carefully. An Anaheim Harbor RV Park visitor cautions, "Their site measurements are for your camping unit ONLY. If you have a tow vehicle or are towing a vehicle you must pay per night for a parking spot, whether it fits on the site or not."
Full hookup options for extended stays: Some parks cater to longer visits. Bonelli Bluffs provides "Clean, quiet, friendly staff and great to visit Disneyland! A little pricey but very nice facility. All hookups 30/50 amp. Cable TV. There's a pool."
Close-quarters camping at popular sites: Many Los Angeles area RV parks have limited space. "I hope you like cozy. Neighbor in campsite next to us yapped his belligerent drunken mouth all weekend," reports a Newport Dunes camper, while another notes, "This campground has small sites like most RV parks do, but there was a lot of fun things to do with the kids."
