To many people on the West Coast, camping is part of the culture. There are literally hundreds of campgrounds, state and national parks and tucked-away dispersed camping gems that are worthy of being on this list. You can find campgrounds with sweltering desert heat or cool ocean breezes under shady trees and everything in between.
The No. 1 campground on the 2025 Best Places to Camp in the Pacific Region list is Alabama Hills Recreation Area in California, one of the most stunning natural settings in the country. California is home to half of the campgrounds on this list, with Upper Pines in Yosemite National Park ranked No. 2. Oregon’s top spot is Tillicum Beach Campground, which comes in at No. 3 this year. White River Dispersed Camping in Washington rounds out the top five.
Check out these and the rest of this year’s Best Places to Camp Regional Award winners in the Pacific Region, which are based on reviews and ratings from The Dyrt’s vast community of campers.
1. Alabama Hills Recreation Area — California
Location: Lone Pine, CA
What makes it great: Here in the Eastern Sierra, find the desert twin of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and its Yosemite crown jewel. Instead of the deep, cold waters of Lake Tahoe, we have the ultra-saline Mono Lake, known for its alien geology and a variety of brine shrimp found nowhere else in the world.
Instead of towering redwoods we have scrubby sagebrush, cacti and fossilized forests. Instead of climbers spending days ascending the faces of Yosemite, we have the legendary bouldering grounds of Bishop. Alabama Hills is in the middle of this dry, windswept, and jaw-dropping landscape.
This formerly dispersed camping area, surrounded by and studded with granite monoliths, now has designated sites, so you’ll need to show up early.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Was one of the most beautiful campgrounds I’ve stayed at.” — Kai K
“THIS PLACE IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. HEAVEN ON EARTH!!!” — Fabiola T
Campground details
Price: Free
Number of sites: 50
RV sites: No
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
2. Upper Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park — California
Location: Curry Village, CA
What makes it great: It’s not easy to snag a campground at Upper Pines and the reason isn’t difficult to see. This is the heart of Yosemite National Park, one of the most sought-after destinations in the U.S. national park system.
True to its name, the campground here sits under a towering canopy of pine trees. Sites are relatively close quarters, but it’s a small price to pay for close proximity to everything that the Yosemite Valley has to offer.
Park shuttles are a walk away, as is Mirror Lake. Again, it’s a sought-after destination and reservations are required year-round.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Wonderful place to camp if you will be hiking Yosemite. Walking distance to trails. I’ve been in December and in summer, much less crowd in the snow and it’s beautiful.” — Cecil K
“You are in the middle of these grand rocks, you can hear waterfalls in the background, and you can walk to some fantastic trails.” — Alix F
Campground details
Price: $36
Number of sites: 235
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
3. Tillicum Beach Campground — Oregon
Location: Waldport, OR
What makes it great: Tillicum Beach is a small campground that offers expansive Pacific views and it’s close to some of the Oregon coastline’s greatest hits. Drive-in campsites that practically touch the beach here are the main selling point, offering rare opportunities to watch the sunset over the ocean from the comfort of a tent or RV.
Nearby US Route 101 makes this campground an ideal road-trip stop-off. Close by are the towns of Waldport and Yachats. The latter, nestled between Oregon’s Coast Range and the ocean, is a classic coastal destination for humans and whales alike. Near Yachats you’ll find Thor’s Well, a bottomless-seeming hole in a coastal rock formation that swallows up the ocean around it in dramatic fashion.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Best campsite of week long Oregon trip. The sites that sit along the beach are fantastic. Even the sites that are not beach side on the inside loop are well wooded and have privacy with a little bit of an ocean view.” — Melissa W
“This campground is right on the beach, and some primo spots have a full ocean view. — Laura M
Campground details
Price: $34-$44
Number of sites: 61
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
4. Jumbo Rocks Campground — Joshua Tree National Park — California
Location: Twentynine Palms, CA
What makes it great: Erupting from the otherwise stark desert floor, the rock outcroppings of Jumbo Rock are the main attraction at this campground. Smoothed over the course of millions of years by wind and water, the rocks are a playground for climbers and explorers.
At dawn and dusk they’re known to turn bright pastel shades and, come nighttime, offer an otherworldly backdrop for flickering campfire light. The campsites are mostly on flat sandy surfaces between the boulders and reports are that things can be somewhat tight between neighbors.
Cell service here is non-existent. Amenities include campsite grills and firepits, as well as numerous toilets. Note that with Los Angeles just a few hours away booking here can be a challenge.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Secluded site, epic sunrise & sunset viewing from scaling the rocks in the campsite, beautiful star-gazing.” — Sierra T
“As the name implies, there are SO MANY ROCKS to climb around on, which our 9 year old totally loved. He was scampering around morning to night. And the campground itself was clean and well maintained.” — Matt S
Campground details
Price: $30
Number of sites: 124
RV sites: No
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
5. White River Dispersed Camping — Washington
Location: Enumclaw, WA
What makes it great: Near the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park and at the very edge of the powerful White River sits this collection of popular dispersed (read: unofficial) sites.
In exchange for amenities like bathrooms, showers and a well-maintained entrance road (low-clearance cars may not be appropriate), find a taste of lush, mossy Pacific-Northwest wildness.
The river sits steps from your tent with rocky beaches and precipitous bluffs lining its frigid, glacier-fed course. A couple miles up the road is the Silver Creek Visitor Information Center, offering Wi-Fi and limited supplies; cell service at the campground itself is reported to be so-so at best.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “This place was gorgeous. Right off a busy road but with being right by the water it tunes out the noise of the traffic. Plenty of spots and can drive in further to be more secluded if needed.” — Bella M
“I stayed here two nights while visiting MRNP. It was an absolutely beautiful location. … I managed to find a spot tucked super far in that had a small private beach.” — Corbanzo B
Campground details
Price: Free
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: No
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
6. Cape Disappointment State Park Campground — Washington
Location: Ilwaco, WA
What makes it great: Cape Disappointment is a legendary spot in the stunning Northwest — already with its rainforests and volcanic mountains and dramatic shorelines — and that’s saying a lot.
Picturesque lighthouse? Check. Secluded cliff-shrouded cove? Check. Vast sandy beaches? Check. The campground, meanwhile, has sites that are large and well-maintained. If seclusion is what you’re after, note that there’s no cell service in the campgrounds.
On either side of the park are the quaint coastal towns of Ilwaco and Long Beach (which boasts somewhat dubiously the “longest beach in the world”), which offer supplies and snacks. All in all a legendary place to fall asleep to the crashing of ocean waves.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Having the beach close by made for amazing white noise when you’re going to sleep. We had a great time relaxing and exploring.” — Joelle H
“The campsites are spacious. You stay under the canopies of mossy trees and the beach is a short walk away. — Nicole L
Campground details
Price: $40
Number of sites: 210
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
7. Sawtooth Canyon Campground — California
Location: Barstow, CA
What makes it great: Sawtooth Canyon is known to rock climbers as New Jack City, a winter climbing destination offering 400-plus sport routes and expansive views over the desert floor. Expect to be sharing the campground’s limited space (less than 15 sites) with said thrill-seekers making weekend pilgrimages from Los Angeles, a mere two-hours away.
Nestled among looming rock outcroppings and spartan desert, the campground can be likened to a secret Joshua Tree. Each campsite offers a picnic table and shade-canopy, while campground amenities are limited to pit toilets.
Be sure to bring your tent stakes; a regular remark from campers is the prevalence of strong winds. Civilization isn’t far away from Sawtooth Canyon, with Barstow to the north and Victorville to the south; Interstate 15 will take you into San Bernardino and L.A. beyond.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “At the end of a mile-long dirt road we found camping spots that rivaled the Joshua Tree park … large rock backdrops, nearby potties, remoteness!” — Jennifer P
“This is truly an amazing spot incredible clean quiet and spectacular views all around.” — Mama J
Campground details
Price: Free
Number of sites: 13
RV sites: No
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
8. Fort Stevens State Park Campground — Oregon
Location: Hammond, OR
What makes it great: Fort Stevens State Park is on the site of a former military installation that once guarded the mouth to the mighty Columbia River. Now, it’s one of the largest public campgrounds in the United States with around 500 sites.
The surrounding park is itself likewise huge at 4,300 acres. Many attractions here revolve around the ruins of the former base as well as a collection of now-skeletal shipwrecks protruding from the beach sand.
Fort Stevens is far from remote and can be quite busy at times, not just with campers but daytripping tourists as well. At the park’s boundary sits the town of Warrenton, and just beyond that is Astoria, a classic coastal town with breweries and a boardwalk set to the din of barking sea lions.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “There is so much to do here and every time I’ve been to Ft. Stevens, we just scratch the surface.” — Christina F
The park was full. And yet there are so many places to explore and relax that we never felt too crowded.” — Kelly H
Campground details
Price: $15-$114
Number of sites: 521
RV sites: No
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
9. Deception Pass State Park Campground — Washington
Location: Oak Harbor, WA
What makes it great: The namesake of Deception Pass State Campground lies just a short, stunning walk away. Here, a narrow strip of swiftly moving water — the direction depending on whether the tide is flowing in or out — whirlpools and standing waves separates Puget Sound from the Strait of Juan de Fuca and its Pacific Ocean outlet.
Above it spans Deception Pass Bridge, a spectacular sight in its own right. Also walking distance are the sorts of moody, meditative beaches that only the Pacific Northwest can provide.
The campground itself is close-quarters and very well-maintained. Supplies are just (barely) offsite in the form of a well-stocked gas station.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Definitely worth a stay with its proximity to the beach, stargazing, hiking. The whole area feels magical. Plus Anacortes is a fun town just a few minutes away.” — Will L
“This is a beautiful campground with plenty of hiking opportunities and gorgeous views.” — Jacob L
Campground details
Price: $12-$40
Number of sites: 315
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
10. Morro Bay State Park Campground — California
Location: Morro Bay, CA
What makes it great: Fifteen miles downhill from San Luis Obispo and a short bike ride from the charming beach town of Morro Bay sits this unassuming campground bordered by a tidal estuary on one side and a golf course on another.
A boardwalk trail from the campground leads into the estuary itself, offering an ideal platform for birdwatching and taking in scenic views. Just across the road sits a marina with a cafe and kayak rentals.
On-site is a park museum, which showcases local Native American history, geology and oceanography.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Location, Location, Location. Quick walk to the harbor, cafe, waterfront and walking trails.” — Louis F
“Peaceful and gorgeous view. Love waking up to the beach. It’s close to everyone but it seemed like we were alone because everyone that camped there was really quiet!” — Vanessa C
Campground details
Price: $35-$165
Number of sites: 140
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes