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Best Tent Camping in California

10,000
Reviews

Tent camping opportunities in California range from coastal state parks to high-elevation wilderness sites, offering diverse experiences for tent campers throughout the state. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground features walk-in tent sites along California's dramatic central coast, while tent campsites at Ventana Campground provide a quieter alternative with similar coastal access. North Grove Campground in Calaveras Big Trees State Park offers tent camping among ancient sequoias, approximately 4 hours east of San Francisco.

Sites at California's tent campgrounds typically feature dirt or gravel pads with picnic tables and fire rings, though amenities vary widely between established and primitive locations. Campers should note that many tent-only areas lack potable water, requiring visitors to bring their own supply or use water treatment systems. Walk-in tent sites often provide more seclusion but require carrying equipment from parking areas. Many tent campgrounds have bear boxes for food storage, particularly in the Sierra Nevada region, while coastal tent sites typically don't require bear-resistant containers. Seasonal closures affect high-elevation tent camping, with many Sierra locations inaccessible until late spring snow melts.

Tent campers seeking solitude can find deeper wilderness experiences at walk-in sites throughout the state. "Even on weekends, sites remained peaceful," noted one visitor at Hardin Flat Road near Yosemite. These tent-focused campsites often provide better wildlife viewing opportunities than larger, mixed-use campgrounds. According to reviews from The Dyrt, primitive tent areas like Pine Creek Road Camp offer free camping in beautiful locations with easy access to connecting trails, though spots are limited and sometimes difficult to find. Tent-only backcountry sites, like Black Mountain Backpacking Camp in Monte Bello Open Space Reserve, provide an accessible introduction to wilderness tent camping with a short 1.5-mile hike in and amenities including pit toilets and bear boxes. Walk-in tent locations in northern California generally offer more tree cover and privacy than southern California desert tent sites, where shade can be minimal.

Campground Showdown in California

Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park CampgroundPfeiffer Big Sur State Park CampgroundPfeiffer Big Sur State Park CampgroundPfeiffer Big Sur State Park CampgroundPfeiffer Big Sur State Park CampgroundPfeiffer Big Sur State Park CampgroundPfeiffer Big Sur State Park CampgroundPfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground
Click to VoteCampground A
OR
Limekiln State Park CampgroundLimekiln State Park CampgroundLimekiln State Park CampgroundLimekiln State Park CampgroundLimekiln State Park CampgroundLimekiln State Park CampgroundLimekiln State Park CampgroundLimekiln State Park Campground
Click to VoteCampground B

Round 1 of 5

Best Tent Campgrounds in California (756)

    1. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground

    74 Reviews
    Big Sur, CA
    Website
    +1 (831) 667-2315

    $50 - $75 / night

    "With a stream running near the hike and bike camping area and tall trees offering a cool shade it is a wonderful reprieve from the outside world.  "

    "Site 100 is located on the last/ end loop of the campground in Weyland Camp. It is on the outer edge farthest from the river."

    2. Limekiln State Park Campground

    42 Reviews
    Lucia, CA
    Website
    +1 (805) 434-1996

    $50 / night

    "There are 12 ocean sites, three of them are up a rocky slope. There are other sites in the redwoods."

    "The trails are easy and worth it. Camp hosts have been wonderful. Restrooms are clean. Sites are always booked up so don’t expect to walk in!"

    3. Doheny State Beach Campground

    37 Reviews
    Capistrano Beach, CA

    $50 - $350 / night

    "Excellent beach camping and tent friendly. plenty of shade and nearby restaurants and shops. Definitely recommend this location."

    "the restrooms were clean and showers hot. great views and great for families. most sites are a good size but only room for two vehicles. No wifi but a good book will do. The staff was nice."

    4. North Grove Campground — Calaveras Big Trees State Park

    23 Reviews
    Arnold, CA
    Website
    +1 (209) 795-2334

    $25 - $70 / night

    "The campground we chose was kind of close to the road which would have been the only real negative."

    "Flush toilets, and showers available (tokens required). Our visit was late fall so not crowded at all. We were able to change to a more level campsite when we arrive - staff were very accommodating."

    5. Ventana Campground

    25 Reviews
    Big Sur, CA
    Website
    +1 (831) 667-2331

    $85 - $105 / night

    "We found it to be clean, in good repair, and the hosts were very warm and welcoming."

    "The redwood forest provides incredible shade, keeping the campsite cool even on warm days, and the atmosphere feels peaceful and magical."

    6. Hardin Flat Road

    22 Reviews
    Eastman Lake, CA

    "There’s enough space for you to distance yourself from others. No bear boxes or bathrooms but very safe and easy to access."

    "We had a lot of space, good amount of tree cover when I rained. There’s a bunch of different spots to choose from, the one by the creek would have been nice."

    7. Kumeyaay Lake Campground

    20 Reviews
    Santee, CA
    Website
    +1 (619) 668-2748

    $24 - $25 / night

    "This campground is located in the Mission Trails Regional Park, and we absolutely loved it. There are clean bathrooms with flushable toilets and showers, and sinks to wash off things."

    "No hookups here but they have great clean bathrooms and hot showers. Lots of hiking/biking straight from your campsite. This place is a jem, being so close to most parts of San Diego."

    8. Usal Beach Campground

    19 Reviews
    Leggett, CA
    Website
    +1 (707) 247-3318

    "It’s a 6-mile 4x4 drive to get to the beach, but the beach itself is glorious, mystical, magical, and everything I could hope for."

    "6 miles of potholes, rough dirt road and some deep puddles and you'll find a beautiful sandy beach with camping spots above the tide and some in the trees for privacy. Fire pits built all over."

    9. Santa Cruz Island Scorpion Canyon Campground — Channel Islands National Park

    18 Reviews
    Oxnard, CA
    Website
    +1 (805) 658-5730

    $15 - $40 / night

    "We departed at around 9 am and arrived at around 10:30. We had to check in by 8 in the parking lot at Ventura bay."

    "This place had been on my bucket-list of camping forever and it takes a decent amount of planning because not only can you only access the campground by private boat, once there you have to walk in about"

    10. Ben Ries Campground — Butano State Park - CLOSED INDEFINITELY

    18 Reviews
    Pescadero, CA
    Website
    +1 (650) 879-2040

    $35 / night

    "It is a smaller park than many of the other redwoods parks in Northern California, so it was very nice and peaceful. Butano is a bit off the beaten path to get to, but so worth it."

    "The campsite has car camping and walk-in sites. I had sites 5 and 6. The map for the campground is deceiving as they looked close together and connected but they were separate."

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Showing results 1-10 of 756 campgrounds

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Tent Camping Reviews in California

10000 Reviews of 756 California Campgrounds

  • Rob H.The Dyrt Pro User
    Nov. 14, 2026

    Veteran's Memorial Park Campground

    Monterey Veterans Memorial Park Campground

    This place is a quiet, first come first serve campground that does not have hookups of any kind. There are showers ($4), restrooms and a dump station ($15 unless you camp then one dump is free). The restrooms are pretty clean but we didn’t try the shower. Our 23’ Entegra Condor was a few feet over the advertised limit of 21’. We had no problem finding a spot and no one said anything to us. Most of the spots needed leveling. This well established campground is Very dark at night. My wife and I have flexibility so working here for a day was high up on our priority and some things are more important to us: a lot of trees but good Starlink coverage and our campsite (19) had great sun exposure so we picked up a few % on the battery from the solar (good because we didn’t have any hook ups). Generators can be ran 3 hours per day from 8am to 8pm but who is tracking how many hours? We ran it about 3-4 hours per day without any complaints.

    Local Vibe: it’s a 1.5 mile walk to downtown with plenty of places to eat and about 2.5 miles to cannery row. DoorDash delivered to the campground.

    Monterey’s weather Oct-Dec is amazing. We had a good wind and rain one day and the next day (mid November) we were walking along the coast in shorts.

  • Kevin M.The Dyrt Pro User
    Nov. 14, 2026

    Wheeler Gorge Campground

    For beauty close to Ojai it's 5 star, if your tent camping 5 stars....if your In A rv it's a 3 only due to very few level sites and some really odd sites.... pit toilets but new and clean no cell service but starlink rocked....very close to Ojai so I will return

  • AThe Dyrt Pro User
    Nov. 14, 2026

    North Black Canyon

    Off shoot from Black Canyon Road. 2-3 spots available. Road a bit rough in spots but made it with 26’ RV just fine. Close to Hole In The Wall. Decent AT&T signal.

  • Caleb C.
    Nov. 14, 2026

    Desert View RV Resort

    Only stayed one night, but the hedges between each site make it very private.

  • EThe Dyrt Pro User
    Nov. 14, 2026

    Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground

    Great campground hidden in the woods. $35 a night isn’t a bad price. Sowers are $1 for a 4 minute token and they look pretty nice. Fun spot to spend a weekend at or quick stop on the road.

  • Dave B.The Dyrt Pro User
    Nov. 13, 2026

    BLM mp 138.0 spur Dispersed

    Been here before over the last couple of years. Decided to write a review this time. Road in is good for all vehicles. Lots of spots to stay away from any neighbors. Decent scenery and pretty quiet. Good cellular with Verizon. Not far from the Q and Parker.

  • AimeeThe Dyrt Pro User
    Nov. 13, 2026

    Chiriaco Summit Dry Camp Area

    Quaint little spot behind the museum with designated areas - all free - and close to gas and convenience store as well as cafe. Great stop off if the 10fwy.

Guide to California

Tent camping in California offers a diverse range of experiences, from coastal retreats to serene forest getaways. Whether you're seeking adventure or relaxation, there's a perfect spot waiting for you.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

Tips for tent camping near popular attractions

Unique features of California campgrounds

  • Experience the charm of Manker Campground, nestled in Angeles National Forest, with access to numerous hiking trails and beautiful mountain views.
  • Camp at Limestone Campground for spacious sites above the river, perfect for cooling off on hot days and enjoying the serene surroundings.
  • Enjoy the remote beauty of Usal Beach Campground, where you can camp right on the beach and soak in breathtaking sunrises.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best tent camping locations in California?

California offers exceptional tent camping experiences ranging from beaches to mountains. Parsons Landing Campground on Catalina Island provides a secluded beach camping experience with sandy shores and crashing waves. Sites feature wind shields, picnic tables, and food storage boxes. For mountain lovers, Thousand Island Lake Backcountry in the Ansel Adams Wilderness offers stunning 360-degree mountain views at nearly 10,000 feet elevation with pristine waters for fishing, swimming, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Other notable options include Yosemite National Park's backcountry sites, the redwood groves at Calaveras Big Trees, Channel Islands National Park, and Mount Tamalpais State Park, all offering unique ecosystems and terrain for tent campers to explore.

What should I pack for tent camping along the California coast?

When tent camping along the California coast, pack layers for variable temperatures—mornings and evenings can be significantly cooler than daytime, especially with coastal fog. Bring a quality tent with a full rain fly and footprint, as coastal humidity and occasional precipitation can be factors. At Pantoll Campground on Mount Tamalpais, campers appreciate having wind protection gear. Include a warmer sleeping bag than you might expect (rated 10-15°F below expected lows). For Santa Cruz Island Scorpion Canyon Campground, pack all necessary water and supplies, as services are limited. Essential items include sunscreen, hat, beach towel, binoculars for wildlife viewing, headlamp, portable stove (during fire restrictions), insect repellent, and waterproof storage for electronics and valuables.

Are there any tent-only campgrounds in California for a more secluded experience?

Yes, California offers several tent-only campgrounds perfect for secluded experiences. Sheep Camp Primitive Campground in Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area features just four tent sites alongside a small stream providing peaceful white noise. Little Jimmy Trail Campground is a backcountry hike-in only option with about seven first-come, first-served sites, located just two miles off Angeles Crest Highway. It features fire rings and vault toilets. For boat-in seclusion, Lake Clementine Boat In offers designated tent sites accessible only by water. Hetch Hetchy Backpacker's Campground in Yosemite and walk-in sites at Steep Ravine on Mount Tamalpais provide additional tent-only options where motorized vehicles and larger RVs cannot intrude, creating a more immersive natural experience.

What are the best times of year for tent camping in Southern California?

The best times for tent camping in Southern California are spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) when temperatures are moderate and crowds are thinner. Summer (June-August) brings hot days, especially inland, though coastal areas like Black Jack Campground on Catalina Island remain pleasant with ocean breezes. Winter (December-February) offers mild daytime temperatures at lower elevations and in desert regions like Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area, with nighttime temperatures that can drop significantly. Spring wildflower blooms create spectacular landscapes in areas like Anza-Borrego Desert. Consider elevation when planning—mountain areas have shorter seasons (typically June-September), while coastal and desert regions are accessible year-round with proper preparation for seasonal conditions.

Keep Exploring

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