Best Camping Sites To Visit Californa USA, What are California’s best camping sites? Camping sites California.
It goes without saying that California offers some of the country’s top beaches and coastline. People from all around the world visit.
On a day trip to one of California’s many breathtaking locations, there is only so much you can see and do.
California offers an abundance of beautiful places to set up a tent, including cliff-lined beaches, towering mountain ranges, and Redwood forests. There is something in the Golden State for every type of camper, in every type of season, whether you know how to set up camp like a pro or have never slept outside. California offers several fantastic sites to camp in the winter, but there are even more options now that spring and summer are just around the bend. Here are our top suggestions for discovering the greatest camping spots in California
1 COLD SPRINGS CAMPGROUND
Pitch a tent in seclusion in a secluded campground in Sequoia National Park, surrounded by aspen and evergreen woodlands.
Cold Springs Campground is about two hours from the main park entry, along a route so windy that RVs and trailers are not permitted at the campground. Hikers will like the abundance of day treks available.
Many campers go with their folding ebikes for maximum adventure.
Camping costs $12 per night with pit toilets and a seasonal water supply. The campsite is available throughout the summer and into the fall. Tent campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
2. CAMPGROUND MINARET FALLS
The skiing season may come to an end when the snow on Mammoth Mountain melts, but the hiking season has only just begun. Stay at Minaret Falls Campground for easy access to the Reds Meadow Valley’s high alpine lakes, pine woods, and mountain vistas. Hike to Rainbow Falls or discover Devil’s Postpile National Monument’s bizarre basalt columns. Minaret Falls Campground is open throughout the summer months, and camping is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping costs $23 per night and includes water and pit toilets. Families will love this campsite, as will explorers looking for a base camp while exploring the area’s rivers and panoramas.
3. Malibu Sycamore Canyon Campground
This campground is a short walk from Point Mugu Beach and boasts rugged cliffs, stunning ocean views, and excellent fishing. This location is far enough away from Malibu to feel like you’ve discovered your own more secluded slice of heaven.
4. Crystal Cove State Park.
Due to its proximity to Los Angeles—just one or two hours south—Crystal Cove State Park makes for the ideal weekend retreat in southern California for city dwellers. The park is close to services and has miles of bluffs and sand beaches along the Pacific Ocean that are great for hiking, swimming, and surfing. Family and RV sites with water and flush toilets are available at Moro Campground for $55 per night. All seasons are suitable for camping. To reserve a space, make an online reservation.
5. Avalon – Catalina’s Two Harbors
Take a 50-minute boat journey off the coast of Southern California to reach this lovely camping area for an island retreat. Beautiful beach views and access to several hiking routes can be found here. Snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding are all water activities. If you want to pamper yourself instead of roughing it for an evening or two, there is a general shop and restaurant nearby.
6. NEVADA BEACH CAMPING
This campsite is a few kilometers from South Lake Tahoe and offers stunning views of Lake Tahoe against the backdrop of the mountains. The campground is available from May to October and is ideal for families, first-timers, and all sorts of travelers, particularly those who prefer water activities. For $35 per night, reserve a place online, especially during the summer. Stay in a tent or an RV and have access to drinking water, bathrooms, food stores, and petrol stations nearby.
7. White Tank Camping
In the shadow of massive granite rocks and the park’s characteristic Joshua trees, sleep beneath a night sky filled with stars. This campground is first-come, first-served and only 15 spaces, so it provides more seclusion and peace than the park’s other campgrounds. The campground is available all year round, but because the summers are unbearably hot, go there in the spring when wildflowers are blooming and the desert is ablaze with color. The camp is close to a few bouldering and climbing locations, as well as the Arch Rock Nature Trail. Adventurers wishing to explore or those seeking desert seclusion will love this camping location. Pit toilets and no water access are included in the $15 nightly rate.
8. Scorpion Ranch Santa Cruz Island
Pack your belongings and take a boat to Channel Islands National Park in Ventura to camp at Scorpion Ranch on Santa Cruz Island. As part of the boat voyage to the national park, take a free, unauthorized dolphin and whale viewing cruise. The Scorpion Ranch Campground features 25 individual sites that can accommodate up to 6 people and 6 group sites that can accommodate up to 15 people; it is a half-mile flat walk from the pier and beach. Because there are no services on the island, you must pack everything in and out.
9. Hidden Valley – Twentynine Palms
Spend the night beneath a beautifully black starry sky for the ultimate Joshua Tree camping experience. Aside from camping, Joshua Tree National Park is well-known for its world-class rock climbing, stunning boulders, and overall magnificent scenery.
10. TUOLUMNE MEADOWS CAMPGROUND
Stay amid the beauty of Yosemite National Park’s high country, a site that attests to the great strength of glaciers and granite rock. Tuolumne Meadows Campground is located 8,600 feet northeast of Yosemite Valley on Tioga Road. The campsite is divided into two sections: reservations-only and first-come, first-served, so campers who arrive early enough can obtain a place. The campsite is located away from the popular Yosemite Valley, yet it still provides access to the high Sierra Nevada Mountains’ glacial-fed lakes, valleys, and meadows. The Unicorn Lake route is easily accessible from the campsite, and the bus system transports hikers to the Tioga Pass Trailhead, Cathedral Lakes Trailhead, and other nearby trails. Camping costs $26 per night.
11. SONOMA COAST STATE PARK
Sonoma Coast State Park draws visitors with its rugged rocky cliffs, picturesque coastal bays, and tidepools teeming with marine life. It is only a few hours north of the San Francisco Bay region and provides the ideal summer vacation for families or first-time campers. Enjoy the sunset from camp or explore the beach, but don’t swim because the ocean currents are unpredictable. The park has three campsites, with the greatest facilities, such as showers and dump stations, at Bodega Dunes Campground. Camp sites cost $35 per night, while hiker and biker sites cost $5 per night. Reservations are strongly advised, particularly during the busy summer months.
12. Francis Beach Campground – Half Moon Bay
Surfers should pitch a tent and spend the night at this spot! This camping location is directly on one of Half Moon Bay’s most reliable surf places. There are also some wonderful treks in the region if you want to stretch your legs and get away from the ocean for a while. Picnic tables, barbecues, fire rings, and hot showers are among the amenities. Nothing beats waking up to the sounds of the ocean and being able to jump right in with your board.
13. BUTTE LAKE CAMPGROUND
This campground is located in the far northeast corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park, just on the Caribou Wilderness boundary. At 6,000 feet, camp in the shadow of pine trees along the beaches of an alpine lake. Adventurers seeking seclusion will like this location, which is away from the main campsites yet accessible to various trails. Hike up Cinder Cone, swim in Bathtub Lake, climb Prospect Peak, or wander through the Painted Dunes. Weather permitting, the campground is open from June to October, and reservations may be made online. It costs $22 per night and, while RVs are permitted, there are no connections.
14. Wildrose Campground – Inyo County
Death Valley, which is part of the Mojave Desert, presents a rare chance to set up tent amidst undulating hills. This campground is close to Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, a fantastic location to sand surf or just jump about, and it provides access to gorgeous wide open landscapes. Sand may get pretty warm during the day, so be prepared with the right footwear.
15. Mendocino Grove
If roughing it along the North Coast isn’t your thing, reserve a space at Mendocino Grove. Forget the sleeping bag: this luxurious glamping site features 60 spacious tents with comfortable mattresses, rich linens, and toasty blankets. If you’d prefer cook than eat out, communal gas grills are available, but you’ll need to bring your own equipment and grilling gear.
16. PFEIFFER BIG SUR STATE PARK
At Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, you may see plenty of animals as well as coastal Redwoods, a lovely river canyon, and other natural features. The river meanders through the park, providing several opportunities for strolling along the river’s banks under the shadow of a luxuriant redwood forest. Families will love this location because it is only 25 miles from Carmel’s facilities and includes hikes for every skill level. Although not all trails and surrounding state parks stay open, camping is permitted here all year long. Wintertime bookings are also not feasible. A typical tent site costs $35, a riverside site costs $50 per night, and a hiker or biker site costs $5. Water, restrooms, and showers are all accessible.
17. Wild Willy’s Hot Spring – Mammoth Lakes
This campground is close to Mammoth Lakes and offers hot springs and breathtaking views of the Eastern Sierras. An memorable experience is having a soak in the springs while admiring the landscape. If you intend to remain the night, be sure you are on BLM property and follow appropriate Leave No Trace principles.
18. Limekiln State Park – Big Sur
This is a lovely Big Sur seaside camping location with quick ocean access and magnificent cliffside views. The park is named after the lime kilns, which were previously used to extract lime from limestone to make mortar and concrete.
19. Coast Camp
Coast Camp is the ideal location to practice backpacking; it is situated in the Point Reyes National Seashore, one hour north of San Francisco. This hike-in campsite, which is hidden in the sand dunes next to Limantour Beach, has 14 distinct sites and is reached by a 1.7-mile broad, level fire track, which is really a dirt and gravel road.
You still have some creature amenities nearby, such as water, picnic tables, and vault toilets, but the absence of mobile coverage makes this location feel distant. Don’t forget to pick up a beach bonfire permit at the Bear Valley Visitor Center when you pick up your camping permit since you may scavenge driftwood from the beach to make a campfire.
20. Algoma Campground – Shasta Trinity National Forest
Free overnight accommodations are available near the Upper McCloud River, where you may thoroughly explore the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. This location is perfect if you’re looking for some peace & quiet because it gets less traffic.
