Best Tent Camping near Santa Monica, CA

Recent Tent Reviews in Santa Monica

698 Reviews of 52 Santa Monica Campgrounds

• 

  Kaitlyn B.

  Traveler

  

  Dec. 17, 2024

  Hermit Gulch Campground

  Easy and great for first time campers

  Clean bathrooms, friendly rangers, nice layout, cute wildlife, close to TCT. Only issue, which is probably just on all of Catalina, is that late hours of the night people are driving up the road in their golf carts which are super loud. So don’t get a site near the road if your an early or light sleeper.

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  Jason R.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 15, 2024

  Oak Flat Campground

  Nice but needs a permit not free

  Ranger woke me up early asking for a permit. He was not agro, as I didn't look like I bum I think that helped. He explained a shell station off the 176 nearby sells $5 day passes and $30 annual.

• 

  Wendy S.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 14, 2024

  Kenney Grove Park

  Solid place to camp

  First, I imagine this place was so cool in the 80’s. You can see the bones that it was built around. It’s just a touch run down. That said, the bathrooms were really clean. The showers were quarter showers, but seemed fine. For December it was pretty quiet. The spaces are different, some shade some not. I wouldn’t suggest for really large campers. But for a van, we had power, water, bathrooms and off season prices.

• 

  Ryan W.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 13, 2024

  Malibu Creek State Park Campground

  Convenient to Wilderness and Luxury

  Three miles from a the grocery and only minutes from north LA, you'll find a basic campground with flush toilets, coin showers, and easily accessible hiking trails. The sites are basic with campfire pit and grill, open space for a tent or rv, and picnic table. The inner circle of sites abuts the bathrooms and is better for groups. The outer rings on three sides have nice views, but some sites on the south side are shorter and abut a fence.

  We stayed in site 59 which had a really nice shade tree and great views of a meadow and the cliffs out the back of the site. The sites are fairly open and close to each other, so be prepared to hear everything, and because the campground is close to the city it is popular with groups and families.

  The campground was under fire warning all weekend, but faux wood (javalog or duraflame) and charcoal was still allowed. The camphost sold Javalogs, and there were plenty of options at the nearby Albertson's.

  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. It was easy to imagine you weren't anywhere close to the city. During a holiday weekend the trails were fairly busy with day-use hikers, but even then, it was easy to get away and be on trails alone if you wanted. There is also a visitor center in the park, but it has limited hours.
  The wildlife is abundant. There is plenty of birdwatching, and coyotes were wandering through the park and campground without fear. If you have a dog with you make sure they don't try join the pack. 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.

  I'd recommend a visit if you're looking for a close to town escape.

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  Troy A.

  Scout

  

  Dec. 2, 2024

  Prado Regional Park

  Great Local Getaway

  Perfect to get out of the city but still be in it. Campgrounds have more than enough privacy with each one being about 15 to 20 yards apart. A ton of recreational things to do. Quiet at night.

• 

  vector J.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 11, 2024

  Hollywood RV Park

  Thats good

  This location is conveniently situated near the heart of Los Angeles, making it an ideal spot for those looking to explore the city’s many attractions. The facilities are well-kept, with clean restrooms and a friendly staff always ready to assist. However, the noise from nearby https://blockblast.link/ may be disruptive for those in search of a quiet getaway, so it's worth considering if peace and quiet are a priority before booking.

• 

  I B.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 19, 2024

  Hollywood RV Park

  Nice and friendly Staff, clean site

  Everything was fine. We stayed for 1 night to Visit L.A. . It was clean and the Staff was very nice. We called a night before and got a Site for our RV.

• 

  Thomas F.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 14, 2024

  Hollywood RV Park

  6/10

  This place offers a convenient location near the heart of Los Angeles, making it an excellent base for exploring the city's attractions. The facilities are well-maintained, with clean restrooms and helpful staff who are eager to assist guests. However, noise from the surrounding area can be an issue, so those seeking a peaceful retreat might want to consider this before booking.

• 

  Kim N.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 3, 2024

  Thornhill Broome Beach — Point Mugu State Park

  Great site with no amenities

  Loved the quietness of this campsite. No water, no dump station, only portable bathrooms on site from what we can see. We were in an RV so we didn't mind at all. Went to Sycamore campground to fill up on water. Youre packed right on the beach next to the sand. Combo of tent and rv campers. Wifi is great at this location. We have tmobile

• 

  Kim N.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 3, 2024

  Sycamore Canyon Campground — Point Mugu State Park

  no wifi

  No tmobile wifi. we dropped by to fill up water since we were camping at thornhill Broome. Water refill was free. We didn't  dump there. Can't comment on anything else.

• 

  Suly&Fabian L.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 2, 2024

  Southfork Campground

  Nature beautiful, human horrible

  There are 21 campsites and not all have tree’s but its walking distance from the creek. Its nestled between mountains and the night sky is gorgeous. We saw wild ducks too and some other desert critters. Has it not been for the nasty animals called inconsiderate humans blasting their music and fighting amongst themselves bringing their family drama until 6am, the camp site would have been marvelous. No ranger to domesticate those animals and remind them of quiet hours. Another group even brought a dj and karaoke. Seriously, no consideration for the rest of the campers. They want to get away from the hustle and bustle and be with nature but they can’f live without the modern day amenities and bring that noise we are all trying to escape to a place of nature. They even had BB guns and shooting them within the campsite. Idiots. The day the ranger did come by he was giving tickets to vehicles with no pass. Wish he came at night when he was most needed. Bathrooms are poorly maintained too. Never coming back for an overnight stay, a day trip will suffice.

• 

  Anita A.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 30, 2024

  Bonelli Bluffs

  Less crowded ocale while visiting family nearby

  Visiting family in Santa Ana and LA. Not to far for them to come to us and all to go to beach. Park clean and well maintained, personnel very kind and friendly Beautiful view from our site on area B. Crowded on weekend, much less during week Campground is not associated to adjacent Frank Bonelli Regional. Charge $12 to enter with vehicle but no fee to ride in on bikes

• 

  Kim N.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 24, 2024

  Crystal Cove Backcountry — Crystal Cove State Park

  beautiful beach

  Clean dump station, beautiful sites, very strict on rules. We came 10 minutes early before check in time, they made us wait. Campsite comes with wifi but very weak. We have t mobile and had bad reception. Would come back again for beautiful views, small hike, sandy beaches with lots of sand crabs.

• 

  Jamie C.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 20, 2024

  Buckhorn Campground

  Perfect peaceful getaway

  Just stayed 8/15-18/24, although hot during the day, it was the getaway we needed. The Burkhart trail to the waterfall was beautiful. Clean campsites. Some neighboring camps were louder than you'd hope but it is what it is. Our second trip here and will return for sure.

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  Jennifer T.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 15, 2024

  Hollywood RV Park

  Lovely

  Nice campground a little bit outside of Hollywood but with a very helpful camp host

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  Jennifer T.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 14, 2024

  Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground

  Beach view

  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. With earplugs everything is fine! ;) The host Jim is very kind and helpful!

• 

  Leslie R.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 29, 2024

  Placerita Canyon State Park Group Campsites

  Haven't stayed, by reservation only for groups

  I haven't stayed in this campground, but I added it to the Dyrt so people can find it as an option if they are searching for large group camping. You MUST call in advance to get permission and reserve for group camping.

  Things to do:

  • visit the Placerita Canyon Nature Center, including live animal exhibits

  • Ranger-led educational programs

  • hike to waterfalls: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/placerita-canyon-and-waterfall-trail

• 

  Leslie R.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 29, 2024

  Danielson Group Multi-Use Area

  Haven't stayed, looks a little run down

  I came across this group campsite while on a long hike with a friend. I had no idea it existed, so I'm adding it to the Dyrt so more people can find it if they are looking for a group campsite. You can reserve it for large groups of 10-50 people. Some of the communal areas and fencing looked like it could use some resfreshing. Facilities available: Drinking Water, Flush Toilets, Showers, Tent Spaces, and Fireplace.

  I recommend visiting in the spring, when things are greenest, and there are beautiful wildflowers.

• 

  Julian M.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 24, 2024

  Malibu Creek State Park Campground

  Amazing experience, beautiful sunset

  Great campground, Great spots but unfortunately bit expensive .Very disappointed about the rules regarding fire, but I understood. I left from the campground after the sunset...fire allowed only with courchal...

• A

  Angela

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 20, 2024

  Castaic Lake State Recreation Area

  Nice view, not bad, needs work

  We stayed in Loop A on a Thursday night in July. For us, it was a convenient overnight stop. It was a lot less crazy/ crowded than we expected for an LA County campground in the middle of summer! This site is on the lagoon, not the main lake, but had nice views and a good breeze in the heat. Very minimal space, not much shade. But the real issue was that the bathroom stalls in our loop (A) had no doors. I also doubt they are cleaned daily, though it wasn't terrible. Being close to the city, there were a ton of people meandering around, but they all seemed to be doing their own thing (e.g fishing or just walking), few suspicious characters. Lots of families and kids made it feel fairly safe for an urban campground. Not our favorite, but we would stop over here again in a pinch.

• 

  merlinda M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 5, 2024

  Lake Piru Recreation Area

  Great campsite

  Campsite was established, picnic table, fireplace, and electricity. Floor is gravel in some areas so bring a rake or broom for tent area. Our site was pretty close to bathrooms that had showers. 1.50 for 8 minutes, uses quarters. Has hot water. Rangers drive by selling wood and ice.

• 

  Michelle W.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 28, 2024

  Steckel Park

  Much better than I expected

  I had a giant campsite overlooking the heavily flowing creek. The creek was so clean and beautiful. The amazing thing is I brush-crashed for hours and didn’t get a single bug bite. The site was a bit messy when I arrived, but the ranger pulled up right as I got there to empty the trash bin. He said the crows scatter the garbage. A family of 2 peahens, a peacock, and 3 babies hung out near the creek. Beautiful birds. After walking around the creek for an hour, I came back to see a few bundles of wood left for me. I think the ranger found them at a site and gifted them to me. Very nice person!

• 

  Tammy P.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 19, 2024

  Los Alamos Campground at Pyramid Lake

  Close to the lake, can be very hot during the summer

  It usually stay empty and easy to get a site even in the peak season summer and spring but there is limited shades in most campsites and can get very hot during the days. There are not many trees around, Site 42 has really good shade but be aware of pocky leaves from those trees. My air mattress pop both times we camp there. There is not much around to do except pyramid lake close by which is nice and convenient to get to the water and go fishing or tubing. Also close by six flag.

• 

  joel G.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 15, 2024

  Sawmill Campground

  Forest road camping outside of Yosemite

  Having to find a spot kind of late at night after other spots were full pretty level spot overlooking a meadow and review of the sunset roads a little rough getting back in there used four-wheel drive pulling a teardrop

• 

  Donna H.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 1, 2024

  Hollywood RV Park

  As good as it gets for LA

  This quirky campground was safe, and that was what I needed while visiting friends in LA. This isn't a self-park park...the spaces are so close together that they use a cart to park you. On the upside, the bathrooms and showers were clean and plentiful, there was an area at the back of the park that was fenced for pups, and although the spaces were small, the park was landscaped such that you had some privacy. On the downside, the park is right next to the departure/arrival runway for Burbank and so if you don't fancy airplanes, you may not appreciate the noise. There is quite a bit of noise, but then again, you are in downtown Burbank. The owner is quite a character and told me that they even have an entertainment space where they offer musical performances, plays, etc. by local artists. He also mentioned that most of the park's customers were long-term residents that support the local production companies. I'm not sure if I would stay there again, but then again I'm not sure I'm interested in visiting Burbank again either.

• 

  Andrew S.

  Guide

  

  May. 30, 2024

  Oak Flat Campground

  Everything I needed

  Free with the purchase of the adventure pass. I was here during the week and it was quiet and uneventful. Plenty of shade and simple. A bit of traffic noise but not too bad.

  I stayed here as part of my 2 month camping journey through SoCal. Really easy site to find.

  Toilets were clean. Bring your own water.

• 

  Roxanna L.

  Guide

  

  May. 21, 2024

  Canyon RV Park

  Anaheim CA

  This is our second stay here and probably our last. It was super expensive this time and we were put in the back (overflow) lot which name I use loosely as when it rains it floods. Had to park the car at the office so it wouldn’t float away. Upon our arrival my husband pulled up in our 42’ 5th wheel and parked to go into the office. There is a painted line on the curb where I guess you’re supposed to park but our unit would have been longer and wider than that space provided. She also could have used some tact and nicely asked if he could park the unit in the space provided but she was asking for a fight. He went to register and a lady with longer gray hair and glasses, who I’d seen there before, greeted him with..you need to park by the curb in the designated area- you’re blocking my driveway!! That kinda set the tone. He said I thought you’d open the gate so I could get out of the way. About that time I pulled up in the car and he was storming out the bldg saying I have to get out of the way- park in the designated area! So I went in and couldn’t understand why he hadn’t registered already. She very hatefully said I told him to move he was blocking my drive! (There was nobody out there but us). The tone could have been better, but I wasn’t in the mood for a confrontation- she took my information and said you’ve been here before so you know where you’re going! Maybe she is the owner or maybe an employee but it wasn’t a great way to start off our 2 wk stay at the rate of $2k! She was a real bitch!