a
angela B.
Traveler
TravelerEast Mojave Camp
Great view
Came in late so toad was hard to see. But was open only people here had great view n it’s free!!
Best Campgrounds in California
California's campgrounds span from coastal beachfront sites like South Carlsbad State Beach to high desert landscapes in Joshua Tree National Park. The range of accommodations includes tent camping in forested settings like Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, RV hookups at Pinnacles Campground, and free dispersed camping at Alabama Hills Recreation Area. Mixed-use campgrounds allow various accommodation types, with many offering both primitive tent sites and full-hookup RV spaces.
Permits and reservations are essential for many popular California camping destinations, particularly during peak summer months when demand is highest. "Nowhere else in Sierra Nevada can you get access like this," noted one visitor about dispersed camping options. Most developed campgrounds near national parks like Yosemite and Joshua Tree require advance planning, while remote dispersed camping areas along Hardin Flat Road provide more flexibility but fewer amenities. Road conditions vary significantly across the state, with some dispersed camping areas requiring high-clearance vehicles to access. Climate considerations also influence camping experiences, from coastal fog along beaches to triple-digit temperatures in desert regions during summer months.
Several campgrounds feature distinctive natural attractions, enhancing the camping experience. According to reviews from The Dyrt, waterfront sites consistently receive higher ratings, with one camper describing their experience at a creek-side location as "beautiful, downhill for the trek to the campsite but it is SO worth it." Wildlife sightings add to the experience, with visitors reporting encounters ranging from elk at Prairie Creek Redwoods to bald eagles at creek-side dispersed sites. Proximity to recreational activities emerges as another priority, with highly-rated campgrounds typically offering access to trails, swimming holes, or scenic viewpoints. For those seeking solitude, dispersed camping options on public lands provide alternatives to developed campgrounds, though these primitive sites require self-sufficiency and adherence to leave-no-trace principles.
Campground Showdown in California
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Best Camping Sites in California (3,881)
1. Jumbo Rocks Campground — Joshua Tree National Park
124 ReviewsTwentynine Palms, CAWebsite+1 (760) 367-5554$30 / night
"They're situated between HUGE boulders so they're nicely tucked away from high winds that can sometimes pick up."
"bathrooms but no water access and the main entrance is about 45 drive, so come prepared. great access to climbing walking distance or short drive. stunning rock formations and sunrise/sunsets."
2. Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park
99 ReviewsPinnacles, CAWebsite+1 (831) 200-1722$44 - $164 / night
"Per my rating system, this is very close to being 5 stars, meaning it's worth planning a trip from out of state just to visit this park and surrounding national/state forest for 3 days or more The only"
"It’s a beautiful park and has the largest population of California Condors in the world. The campground is situated about 2.3 miles from the main trailheads. There's tent and RV campsites."
3. Alabama Hills Recreation Area
88 ReviewsLone Pine, CAWebsite+1 (760) 872-5000"You can see Mount Whitney in the distance. 4 wheel drive isn’t required but definitely recommend. No bathrooms or water around. A lot of old movies were filmed in the hills."
"Alabama Hills California presents a varied landscape. From the picture above you can plainly see the desert floor to MT. Whitney, snow capped in March of 2018."
4. South Carlsbad State Beach Campground
80 ReviewsCarlsbad, CAWebsite+1 (760) 438-3143$50 - $650 / night
"If you’re headed to San Diego, be sure to stop and check out Carlsbad just off of the 5. this awesome beach town is quintessential Southern California beach awesomeness and it is absolutely gorgeous."
"One of best beach campgrounds in California. Beach is right there next to camping. Restroom and shower are clean even though too many people there"
5. Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
75 ReviewsOrick, CAWebsite+1 (707) 464-6101$35 - $100 / night
"This was my favorite campground in our northern california tour. Campimg among the redwoods, so quiet and shady we slept in late each morning."
"There are also INCREDIBLE day trips into California’s interior, Indian history, little known parks and trails everywhere."
6. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground
72 ReviewsBig Sur, CAWebsite+1 (831) 667-2315$50 - $75 / night
"No other sites behind us. It felt secluded and private. Close to the bathrooms. And the bathrooms were clean. We didn’t have a river site but the river was right across from us."
"I think it's a California State Park and Covid thing right now. There is some construction going on but it didn't effect our stay at all. We had a river site."
7. Upper Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park
66 ReviewsYosemite Valley, CAWebsite+1 (209) 372-8502$36 / night
"FYI, they are not joking about wildlife here, bear lockers are there for a reason and the animals are so comfortable and used to people they get close to camp."
"Close to Happy Isles and Mirror Lake/Meadow, this campground is convenient for day hikers. it's one of the better spots in Yosemite Valley, somewhat off the beaten path, so to speak."
8. Morro Bay State Park Campground
66 ReviewsLos Osos, CAWebsite+1 (805) 772-2560$35 - $165 / night
"Unlike many state campgrounds you find near the highway or railroad tracks, this one is located a nice distance from the road. Still, it is within walking distance to a small marina and restaurant."
"This is a busy campground and your neighbors' sites are fairly close by, limiting privacy."
9. Indian Cove Campground — Joshua Tree National Park
65 ReviewsTwentynine Palms, CAWebsite+1 (760) 367-5554$55 / night
"Cons: no park entrance from here. You have to drive 20/30 minutes out to the main road and back in to get to the main area of the park. The campsite next to us had some nasty anthills."
"Indian Cove is on the Northern side of the park, and you will use a different entrance than the main park entrance."
10. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Campground
61 ReviewsHiouchi, CAWebsite+1 (800) 444-7275$35 - $100 / night
"We felt like we were a million miles away from everyone, even our camp neighbors!"
"California doesn’t offer any decent senior discounts. The campground is awesome."
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Recent Reviews in California
10000 Reviews of 3881 California Campgrounds
- SStephanie C.
GuidePfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground
Beautiful, busy campground
Our campsite (#27) was a 10/10! It was huge, the ground was flat, there was room for multiple tents, and was fairly far away from the closest campsites. This little area of the campground was quiet and well-spaced out. The road is a dead-end here, which helps keep it a little quieter.
It was nearby a bathroom which was well maintained and had hot showers. The showers require tokens and the token machine is outside the bathroom - they are $1 for 1 token and 1 token gives you 5 minutes. The site was also pretty close to the camp store (open from 10-5 ish every day) and the detour for the Pine Ridge Trail.
The campground is dog friendly and dogs are allowed on the paved roads and the Pine Ridge Trail. The next closest trail dogs are allowed on is the Coast Ridge Rd (a fire road by the Alila resort).
Campsite #29 is similarly laid out with lots of space. Sites #26 and 28 on the other site of the road are also nice. They aren't as big and open up into a meadow instead of backing up into a hillside with trees.
- SStephanie C.Guide
Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground
Busy Campground with Gorgeous Trees
This campground is okay (3.5/5 stars) - the sites are close together and it seems to be very popular spot with a lot of families. Our section was fairly quiet but other areas were quite loud.
The campground is dog friendly and dogs are allowed on the paved roads. The bathrooms were pretty nice and the showers had hot water. You need to purchase a token for $1 from the park ranger when checking in and that will get you 5 minutes of hot water.
We stayed at site 49 and couldn't figure out where other folks put their tents. There was a slightly elevated area in the back left site of the campsite but it didn't look used, was on a slight hill, and looked directly into the campsite next to us so we opted to put our tent on the flat area right by the driveway.
- SStephanie C.Guide
Van Damme State Park Campground
Relaxing beachside campground
We stayed at Site 13 during our stay but noticed that Site 11 looked great. It was very shaded, with several tall trees, was flat, and had more room for tents. The trail for the Bog Trail is right next to the site and the bathroom is around the corner.
Campground: The park ranger was super nice and showed us the areas where we could take our pup. The campground is dog friendly, although only the Bog Trail allows dogs(or you can walk along the paved road). Dogs are also allowed at the beach across Highway 1. The beach is really pleasant- it was a quiet and relaxing spot to watch the waves. The bathrooms were well maintained and the showers had hot water(it costs 4 quarters for 5 minutes or can buy tokens from the camp host). The lower loop is more open, and the river sites and upper loop are more forested. There isn't service in the park, even close to the entrance, but the park does have wifi. Mendocino is only a 5 minute drive away if you need to pick up groceries, dinner, etc.
- SStephanie C.Guide
Van Damme State Park Campground
Peaceful coastal campground
We stayed at Site 13 during our stay but noticed that Site 12 looked nice. It had a small tree for shade, was flat, and had more room for tents.
Campground: The park ranger was super nice and showed us the areas where we could take our pup. The campground is dog friendly, although only the Bog Trail allows dogs(or you can walk along the paved road). Dogs are also allowed at the beach across Highway 1. The beach is really pleasant- it was a quiet and relaxing spot to watch the waves. The bathrooms were well maintained and the showers had hot water(it costs 4 quarters for 5 minutes or can buy tokens from the camp host). The lower loop is more open, and the river sites and upper loop are more forested. There isn't service in the park, even close to the entrance, but the park does have wifi. Mendocino is only a 5 minute drive away if you need to pick up groceries, dinner, etc.
- SStephanie C.Guide
Van Damme State Park Campground
Quiet, beachside campground
TDLR: This campground was generally very nice and I would come back, but I wouldn't recommend site 13.
Campground: The park ranger was super nice and showed us the areas where we could take our pup. The campground is dog friendly, although only the Bog Trail allows dogs (or you can walk along the paved road). Dogs are also allowed at the beach across Highway 1. The beach is really pleasant - it was a quiet and relaxing spot to watch the waves.
The bathrooms were well maintained and the showers had hot water (it costs 4 quarters for 5 minutes or can buy tokens from the camp host).
The lower loop is more open, and the river sites and upper loop are more forested.
There isn't service in the park, even close to the entrance, but the park does have wifi.
Mendocino is only a 5 minute drive away if you need to pick up groceries, dinner, etc.
Site 13: The table, bear box, and squirrel box (?) were all oddly close together. We couldn't figure out where folks typically put their tent so we squished it next to the bear box. The other potential area would be right next to the road and on a slanted part of the ground.
Would definitely come back, we just wouldn't stay in site 13. Sites 11 and 12 looked good for tent sites.
- SStephanie C.Guide
Mill Creek Campground — Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
Gorgeous, leafy, and quiet
This campground is amazing! It was quiet and peaceful, and our campsite felt very secluded even though there were other campsites nearby. Bathrooms were well-maintained.
Other items of note: It's a fairly short drive to/from Crescent City (about 15 minutes) and there's no cell service in the campground. Pets are allowed on the paved areas.
- jjeanne A.Guide
Twentynine Palms Resort
Works for the night
Well kept park, mostly dirt and gravel. Not many trees for shade. Spotty WiFi. There is a pool but I didn't use it. Full hookups $65 a night with a Good Sam discount.
- SSherice M.
ScoutWuss Camp
Great camp spot
My dogs and I loved this quiet spot close to the beach. Beautiful location with birds everywhere, great for bird watching.
Guide to California
Camping in California offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and diverse experiences. From the towering trees of Yosemite to the serene lakes of Inyo National Forest, there's something for everyone.
What to do
- Explore Yosemite National Park: Hike the trails, take in breathtaking views, and enjoy the natural beauty. One camper mentioned, “We camped here late February to capture the firefall. Mission accomplished!”
- Visit June Lake: Perfect for water activities, one reviewer said, “The lake was beautiful and the campground was nice with very close water spigots.”
- Check out Kings Canyon: A camper shared, “A place where you are surrounded by beautiful nature. Deer pass by your camper in the morning.”
What campers like
- Scenic Views: Campers rave about the views. One said, “We stayed in spot 91 with our 32’ Imagine travel trailer. Beautiful views and we could see Half Dome directly from our picnic tables.”
- Quiet Atmosphere: Many appreciate the peacefulness. A reviewer noted, “It was very quiet and peaceful. You wouldn’t really notice other people were there unless you looked around.”
- Convenient Locations: Campgrounds like Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes are close to the park, making it easy to explore. One camper mentioned, “Huge but peaceful camping 15 mins from the entrance.”
What you should know
- Booking Challenges: Reservations can be tough. One camper said, “Great place, amazing position with astonishing views, but almost impossible to book.”
- Limited Amenities: Many campgrounds lack showers and hookups. A reviewer pointed out, “There are zero hookups and you can use a generator 3 times per day.”
- Wildlife Safety: Be cautious about food storage. A camper warned, “The rangers are very serious about bear/wildlife safety in Yosemite. All scented items must be placed inside the bear lockers.”
Tips for camping with families
- Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots like Upper Pines Campground that allow pets and have amenities. One family shared, “We camped here late February to capture the firefall. I was very happy to be able to book spots within 2 weeks of the date.”
- Plan Activities: Bring games and outdoor gear. A camper mentioned, “With my family, I may come here and play games.”
- Safety First: Keep an eye on kids, especially near water. One reviewer noted, “The river water felt extremely clean to take a dip in since there are no showers.”
Tips from RVers
- Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. One camper said, “Our Ram 2500 did not fit in the site with us, so a few of us booked an extra spot to park our vehicles.”
- Be Prepared for Limited Hookups: Many campgrounds don’t have electric hookups. A reviewer pointed out, “There are zero hookups and you can use a generator 3 times per day.”
- Explore Nearby Attractions: Campgrounds like Wawona Campground offer access to hiking trails and scenic drives. One camper noted, “The campground's location provides access to various outdoor activities.”
Camping in California can be an unforgettable experience if you plan ahead and know what to expect. Enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the ideal season to camp in Northern California?
When is the ideal season to camp in Northern California?
The ideal season for Northern California camping is late spring through early fall (May-October), when weather conditions are most predictable. Fall offers fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures. Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park Campground provides a shaded retreat amongst towering redwoods with hiking trails and basic amenities, making it perfect for summer visits when the shade is welcome. Winter camping can be challenging in higher elevations due to snow and cold temperatures. For year-round options, consider Laguna Mountain Campground, a BLM gem, though be cautious of muddy conditions after rain. Always check road conditions and weather forecasts before heading out, as Northern California's diverse microclimates can vary significantly.
What are the best campgrounds in California for first-time visitors?
What are the best campgrounds in California for first-time visitors?
For first-time visitors to California, Lodgepole Campground — Sequoia National Park offers an iconic experience with GIGANTIC trees, numerous trails, and both cabin and tent camping options. It's an excellent year-round destination that showcases California's natural beauty. Another great option is Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground, which provides beachfront camping with gorgeous coastal views. First-timers should also consider Upper Pines in Yosemite for its accessibility and amenities, or Joshua Tree National Park campgrounds for a desert experience. Many of these popular destinations require reservations weeks or months in advance, especially during peak seasons.
How much do popular California campgrounds typically cost?
How much do popular California campgrounds typically cost?
California campground costs vary widely based on location, amenities, and season. Laguna Seca Recreation Area charges $40-50 for dry camping (no hookups), while Bolsa Chica State Beach Campground offers beachfront sites with water and electric hookups at premium prices. State park campgrounds typically range from $25-45 per night for basic sites, with additional fees for hookups or premium locations. National park campgrounds generally charge $20-35 per night. For budget options, BLM dispersed camping sites like Trona Pinnacles or Alabama Hills Recreation Area are often free or have minimal fees ($5-15). Reserve America handles bookings for many California state parks with a reservation fee of $7.99 in addition to the camping fee.
What amenities are available at top-rated California RV campgrounds?
What amenities are available at top-rated California RV campgrounds?
Top-rated California RV campgrounds offer varying levels of amenities to accommodate different camping styles. Pinnacles Campground — Pinnacles National Park provides water, toilets, and big-rig-friendly sites with electrical hookups, though no sewer connections. For beachfront luxury, South Carlsbad State Beach Campground offers water and electric hookups, restrooms with showers, and direct beach access. Many premium RV parks include full hookups (water, electric, sewer), WiFi, cable TV, swimming pools, laundry facilities, and camp stores. State park campgrounds typically provide more basic amenities like potable water, flush toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. Dump stations are common at larger facilities, though not always included in the camping fee. Most popular RV destinations require reservations, especially during peak seasons.
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