Glamping in Monrovia, California presents opportunities for overnight stays at elevations ranging from 700 to 3,200 feet in the San Gabriel Mountains. The area maintains a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters, allowing for year-round camping access. Sites near creek beds offer natural cooling in summer months when daytime temperatures routinely exceed 90°F.
What to do
Hiking established trails: Little Pine Campground serves as an excellent base for nearby trail exploration. "I've been here twice. Both times it was a great experience. Never hard to find a spot to set up camp, as it wasn't over crowded either time we went. Cool scenery, and great hiking," notes Daniel A. about Little Pine Campground.
Beach access day trips: Coastal camping options lie within a 45-minute drive. "The RV park has a hookup area and a dry camping area. The hookups are full of large rigs, very close one with another, in a parking lot style. The dry camp provides much more space, but only relatively small RVs," shares Ignasi M. about Dockweiler Beach RV Park.
Wildlife viewing: China Camp offers animal sightings for patient observers. "Lots of wildlife! A coyote walked right by us. Brave raccoons. Yellow jackets are pesky," reports Laura F. at China Camp State Park Campground. Morning hours provide the best viewing opportunities with minimal hiking required.
What campers like
Creek-side relaxation: Tent sites beside flowing water create natural cooling. "Bikepacked in for a quick overnighter. Settled on one of the 6 tent sites. Nice campground, active stream in the middle of summer. Waterfall 30 minutes hike upstream," explains Jeff B. about Millard Trail Campground.
Convenient location: Some sites provide quick escapes from urban areas. "Love this little campsite close to home! Clean. Organized and just felt safe....so close to home and the rustic feel of it was just enjoyable for our family," shares Frances D. about Camp Williams Resort.
Unobstructed views: Mountain sites offer panoramic vistas. "I've stayed here before and love the view it offers. Site #13 feels more secluded than other sites on the campground. Only problem was it's on a slope. Not perfectly flat. There is a clearing about 30 feet out but feels far from the firepit," describes Andres P. from Little Pine Campground.
What you should know
Vehicle security concerns: Take precautions with car contents. "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," advises Mathew H. at Millard Trail Campground.
Noise issues: Some sites experience disruptions from transportation. "You will hear each and every if the planes taking off from LAX, but at one point you don't hear them anymore. It was not really annoying, but that flight at 5a was..." reports Ignasi M. from Dockweiler Beach RV Park.
Water access limitations: Prepare accordingly for limited facilities. "You do have to hike out your own water or filter from the stream. Warning it's downhill almost exclusively on the way in and therefore... almost entirely uphill on the way out and the last bit is significant climb out," notes David F. about West Fork Trail Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Shower availability: Some sites offer better amenities for children. "We are camping with my husband and 3 kids and our puppy. The hosts are friendly, cheap firewood, china beach village is just down the road and perfect to explore and swim. The showers are coin operated and aren't in the greatest shape but they get you clean," explains Veronica H. from China Camp State Park Campground.
Food storage: Animal-proof containers protect supplies. "It is Bear country so they provide food storage for each campsite also trash containers too. Each side has a picnic bench and a fire pit. The fire ban has been lifted so you can have a fire. Each fire pit had wood left at it so you didn't have to go searching for campfirewood," notes jonnysunami from Millard Trail Campground.
Accessibility considerations: Check for handicap-friendly facilities. "This is one of the best handicap accessible shower and restroom areas we've seen. The larger pool had a roll in area but I do not know if they had a wheelchair that would allow you to actually use it or if you needed your own," describes Lara O. from Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon.
Tips from RVers
Site sizing: Confirm dimensions before booking. "Standard sites may be too narrow to extend awning. Despite their sites being able to accommodate a 40ft rig their campground is extremely tight and sites may be very difficult to back in if longer than 35ft," explains Prentice F. from Anaheim Harbor RV Park.
Hookup options: Verify available connections. "Nice sized spot. We stayed on site 15, with a great view. Fire pit came in handy with a cooking grate and parking spaces are large enough for a small RV," shares Malina S. about Little Pine Campground.
Proximity advantages: Some locations offer convenient event access. "Very convenient for fairplex events. It's quaint quiet but you're packed in like sardines it's a tight fit but everybody here is pretty friendly," observes Sara H. about Fairplex RV Park.
