California campgrounds: There is an astounding variety of places to camp in California, from oceanfront sites with a view, to campsites under the redwoods and much, much more. In order to explore more of these beautiful places, we got a travel trailer several years ago and take our two kids on as many adventures as possible, mostly to California campgrounds. Here are 20 campgrounds in amazing locations that we’ve enjoyed from Central to Northern California.

One important point about camping in California is that the best campgrounds are full almost all the time! Even though we try to get reservations well in advance, it can be very hard to reserve at the best parks, especially if you travel on weekends or during school vacations.

That means this list is missing some of the best campgrounds in California because we simply haven’t been able to stay there. We also rule out first-come first-serve or tent-only campgrounds. However, this camping California list should help you find some great California campgrounds to plan your journey through the central and northern parts of the state.

20 California Campgrounds in Fantastic Locations

1. Manzanita Campground, Lassen National Park

Lassen National Park is a nature lover’s paradise with star-filled night skies, volcanoes, and hiking trails with spectacular views. The park has a few campgrounds, but for the best overall experience, try Manzanita Lake Campground.

Located just a mile from the park entrance and within walking distance of Manzanita Lake, the campground allows you to spend the day on the lake swimming, fishing, or kayaking, or going to one of the many nearby attractions like Mt. Lassen or Cinder Cone.

The largest campground in the park, Manzanita Lake Campground has a few loops for tents and trailers/RVs as well as small rustic cabins close to the lake. The campground itself is pretty basic — the highlights are star gazing at night, the location inside the park, and trails with a view along Manzanita Lake. There is a store selling supplies and basic cafe food with large (if crowded) bathrooms for hot showers. 

Why we recommend Manzanita Lake Campground:

• excellent location inside Lassen National Park
• awesome star-gazing from the campground
• location on the lake for easy walks and water play

Things to keep in mind:

• dry camping (tents or RVs with no hookups)
• rustic cabins for rent near the lake
• crowded bathrooms with flush toilets and pay showers
• store and cafe on site
• an easy drive to most of the park’s attractions

2. Pinnacles National Park Campground

Pinnacles National Park Campground is another campground that itself is nothing to write home about, but staying inside Pinnacles National Park makes it totally worth it.

While the campground is limited, with smallish sites and basic bathrooms with flush toilets and running water, the campground is within walking or easy driving distance of some beautiful hikes. We loved visiting in the spring when an array of wildflowers were in bloom and the summer heat hadn’t arrived yet.

More detail about the campsites in Pinnacles National Park: The sites are fairly small but not too close together. Some sites have electrical hookups, but these are crowded together with no shade. I’ve heard there are tent cabins for rent now as well.

Water is available throughout the campground, and there is a dump station on site (although occasionally it is under maintenance). The campground store has basic supplies and friendly park rangers who will happily answer questions and offer the junior park ranger program to your little ones. There is also a pool open at least from May to September (depending on weather).

Why we recommend Pinnacles National Park Campground

• excellent location inside Pinnacles National Park
• located near several amazing hikes
• excellent star-gazing due to isolated location

Things to keep in mind:

• the best sites are #6, 14, 20, 21, 27, 31 and 32
• large RVs camp at the crowded RV ring with partial hookups (no shade)
• smaller trailers and tents have individual sites, some with partial shade
• this place gets hot! Try for a site with afternoon shade
• bathrooms get busy and we found the whole campground to be lacking maintenance
• store and park rangers on site
• watch for rattlesnakes on trails

Related post: First Time Camping Tips

3. Olema Campground, Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore is a special place to experience nature, and the Olema Campground gives visitors direct access to the trails and beaches of Point Reyes. While the campground can feel crowded, its location right next to the entrance to Point Reyes National Seashore makes it a convenient place to stay.

Stop at Bear Valley Visitors Center just down the road from the campground and learn about the history and earthquake activity of this special area. The campground is also just two miles from the town of Point Reyes Station, where you can shop in the small stores or eat at a cafe. 

The cypress tree tunnel about 30 minutes from the campground

Why we recommend Olema Campground:

• excellent location right next to Point Reyes National Seashore
• located just 2 miles from the town of Point Reyes Station for shopping, meals, etc.
• dog friendly with a small dog park

Things to keep in mind:

• 187 sites for RVs and tents
• try to get a site closer to the boundary of the campground 
• bathrooms with hot showers at no extra charge
• campground office with a small store
• you have to call to reserve camping spots
• it can be very muddy in the spring

4. Fallen Leaf Lake Campground

Fallen Leaf Lake Campground is my family’s favorite Tahoe campground! This large campground has plenty of sites to chose from, some close to the lake or the creek, others close to the bike path or the meadow. Book in advance for the best sites.

There is so much to do here! Fallen Leaf Lake is a pristine alpine lake where you can kayak, paddleboard or swim. Just 5 minutes away are gorgeous Lake Tahoe, Taylor Creek Visitor Center, and Tallac Historic Site. There are hiking trails and bike paths from the campground, or you can reach many Lake Tahoe hikes and Angora Lakes by a short drive.

Why we highly recommend Fallen Leaf Lake Campground:

• excellent location next to Lake Tahoe and near the town of South Lake Tahoe
• wildlife (lots of birds, an occasional porcupine or beaver, and bears)
• location on the lake for hikes and water play

Things to keep in mind:

• 206 dry camping sites to choose from (tents or RVs with no hookups)
• yurts for rent 
• nice private bathrooms with flush toilets and showers
• store on site
• reserve early and try weekdays for prime sites (we love #7, 94, 95, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68)

5. KOA at Cloverdale

Down small winding roads in the Sonoma County wine country is the Cloverdale KOA. The campground offers cabins as well as RV and tent campsites plus family-friendly activities. Nearby walking trails provide some nice, quiet walks, with deer roaming the hills and small canyons to explore. 

The cabins (no bathrooms) and lodges are convenient but overpriced and quite rustic. A nice touch is the wooden swing on the front porch and fire pit out front.

Why we recommend KOA at Cloverdale:

• beautiful location on a hill overlooking wine country
• near some of Sonoma County’s best wineries
• one of the few campgrounds in this area

Things to keep in mind:

• try to get a site with a view
• the cabins are rustic and overpriced
• you have to drive to access activities
• limited walking trails from the campground with deer roaming the hills and small canyons to explore

6.  Samuel P. Taylor State Park

Samuel P. Taylor State Park is a beautiful state park near Point Reyes National Seashore just north of San Francisco. The park offers so many things to enjoy: campsites among redwoods, biking along the creek, the chance to watch salmon spawn, hiking trails, and a beautiful creekside picnic area under redwoods.

The Cross Marin Trail bike path is the park’s only dog-friendly trail; it runs about three miles through the park along Lagunitas Creek. 

The campground has a few different areas — most of the sites sit beneath redwood trees with others at Devil’s Gulch and Madrone under oak and bay laurel trees. Newly built cabins are also available to rent. 

Why we love the Samuel P. Taylor Campground:

• excellent location near the coast and Point Reyes National Seashore
• variety of landscapes including redwood groves, a canyon, and a large creek
• lots of hiking trails from the campground
• the picnic area under the redwoods and next to the creek is lovely

Things to keep in mind:

• dry camping (tents or RVs with no hookups) or cabins
• very popular campground — reservations are a must!
• it can be cold under the trees, so prepare with layers
• dogs allowed on only one trail

7. D.L. Bliss State Park, Lake Tahoe

{Closed for 2023!} One of the most beautiful campgrounds that I’ve ever seen is at D.L. Bliss State Park on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. With campsites that overlook the water and miles of hiking trails just steps from the campground, this is a spectacular place to stay. However, keep in mind that the park has small roads and small sites, so only small RVs can fit here. Check the website for more information. 

There’s lots to do here without even leaving the park. Try the short but interesting Balancing Rock trail and hike the Rubicon Trail for incredible up-close views of the lake. Sugar Pine Point State Park and Emerald Bay are just a short drive away, while Tahoe City and South Lake Tahoe are not too far for shopping, restaurants, etc. 

Why we recommend D. L. Bliss Campground:

• stunning location on the shore of Lake Tahoe
• awesome walks and hikes from the campground
• location on the lake for easy water play

Things to keep in mind:

• Advance reservations are a must here!
• dry camping (tents or RVs with no hookups)
• small sites — check the website carefully
• nearby towns are a bit of a drive
• check out nearby Sugar Pine Point SP and Emerald Bay 

8. Carmel by the River RV Park

This privately-owned RV park offers RVers a chance to stay in beautiful Carmel Valley just a short drive from Carmel, the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur. The park offers the usual RV park set up: full hookups, store, sites close to each other but with plants separating sites to provide privacy. Note that the road that leads to the park is narrow, so avoid arriving at night.

While staying here, try walking down the road, past the horses and to the house with the pigs outside. Kids can grab a handful of food and feed them. Just a short drive away are the town of Carmel Valley and nearby wineries, the cafe and produce stand at Earthbound Farms, and Palo Corona Regional Park, where the Inspiration Point hike provides beautiful views of the ocean (see above).

Why we recommend Carmel by the River RV Park

• great location in Carmel Valley
• a sweet walk down the hill past horses and pigs (which you can feed)

Things to keep in mind:

• sites have full hookups
• bathrooms with flush toilets and showers
• store on site
• you need to drive to nearby attractions
• the road to get here is narrow and hard to navigate at night or with a large RV

9. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Sonoma County

Lots of hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty and a creek running through the campground make this kid-friendly campground a great choice for families. Don’t miss the hike to the top of Sugarloaf Ridge or the waterfall trek down into the redwood canyon.

The location in Sonoma County means that incredible wine and food are a short drive away. However, this campground makes a great weekend escape just in the state park itself. Learn all about Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground here.

Why we recommend Sugarloaf Ridge SP Campground:

• very kid-friendly with a creek & easy walking trails through the campground
• campground store with ice cream
• 21 miles of hiking trails to explore from the campground

Things to keep in mind:

• dry camping (tents or RVs with no hookups)
• the yurt site. #15 is the best!
• other nice sites are 26-28 (the best), 1, 2, 3, 6, 22, 23, 42, 50
• nice bathrooms with flush toilets and showers
• the road to get here is narrow

10. Grover Hot Springs State Park, Markleeville (south of Tahoe)

{Hot spring pool complex is still closed in 2023 due to fire damage!} Grover Hot Springs State Park is a small state park south of Tahoe, but the real attraction here is the pools from the six natural hot springs. The hot springs complex includes one large hot water pool and one cold swimming pool for cold plunge. The pools themselves are not much to look at but have views of the surrounding mountains.

Plan to spend two nights here, which is enough time to explore the park, enjoy the hot spring pools, and hike on nearby trails. The campground leads to the meadow, where you can walk on the elevated plank trail and then to points of natural and historic interest.

Behind the meadow is the Burnside Lake Trail; after 1.5 miles, it reaches a waterfall, but it continues if you would like a longer hike. 

Why we recommend Grover Hot Springs Campground:

• the hot springs!
• easy walking trails from the campground

Things to keep in mind:

• dry camping (tents or RVs with no hookups)
• no dump station on site
• sites accommodate trailers of up to 24′ or motorhomes up to 27′
• make reservations for the hot springs pools in advance or when you arrive
• there is fire damage surrounding the park
• the small town of Markleeville is a short drive away
• not far from Lake Tahoe and other lakes 

11. Rock Creek Lake, Eastern Sierra

If you’re looking for an unforgettable camping experience in one of the most beautiful places in the state, try camping off of Highway 395 in the Eastern Sierra. This isolated part of California has stunning mountains, beautiful alpine lakes, and unusual attractions like the tufa spires of Mono Lake and the ghost town of Bodie. 

Just off the highway is a series of campgrounds located on lakes, but Rock Creek Lake tends to be less crowded than others, especially the popular June Lake loop. 

Rock Creek Lake is one of the most beautiful California campgrounds. It’s a wonderful place for water play, SUP or kayaking, hiking, and trout fishing. At 10,000 feet, the weather here is a bit unpredictable, so expect chilly nights and even some storms in the summer. The campground offers tent and limited RV camping including lakeside sites and nice walk-in tent sites next to a creek.

The main attractions here are the spectacular nature and fishing and hiking opportunities. Despite being at about 10,000 feet of elevation, the hiking along Little Lakes Valley is not particularly difficult but takes you along a series of gorgeous mountain lakes:

Why we highly recommend Rock Creek Lake Campground:

• this place is stunning!
• excellent hikes from the campground
• awesome star-gazing opportunities from the campground
• location on the lake for beautiful walks, fishing, and water play

Things to keep in mind:

• dry camping (tents or RVs with no hookups)
• limited or no cell service
• RV sites are small — basically 2 parking spaces and a picnic table
• showers are located just outside the campground at the nearby store/cafe
• bears are active here
• high elevation so it can get cold

13. Coloma Resort, Placer County

Located on the American River just an hour east of Sacramento, Coloma Resort is a popular campground for families. With tent campsites, RV sites, cabins, and even covered wagon rentals, there are plenty of options, but note that the best sites by far are those on the river, especially the few with shade.

The resort has family-friendly facilities like playgrounds, store, pool, common areas where kids can play. The campground offers the chance to explore Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, just a short walk across the river from the resort.

Explore the interpretive exhibits and historic buildings, pan for gold, visit the blacksmith shop, and learn about the history in the museum before taking one of the hiking trails up to the Marshall monument. If you want a longer hike, ask at the museum desk for more information about the trails in the hills behind the park. 

Why we recommend Coloma Resort Campground:

• riverfront campsites, especially 41-45 with private river access
• hikes from the campground
• convenient location to Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

Things to keep in mind:

• many of the sites are very close together or in full sun
• cafe is across the river near the state park
• great for families and kids
• large group sites available
• be careful with the river when the water runs fast and cold

14. Basalt Campground, Central California

{Closed for the 2023 season due to a dam project!} Basalt Campground is located next to the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area in Merced County. In the warmer months, people flock here for boating and fishing, but in the off season, this is a good place to stop if you’re looking for a quiet, family-friendly camping experience or a nice stopover on your way to another destination.

There’s not much to do here besides some short walks and a visit to the reservoir (try driving about 20 minutes to Dinosaur Point), so I wouldn’t recommend coming here to spend a few days, but we enjoyed spending two nights at Basalt Campground.

Why we recommend Basalt Campground:

• this place is very quiet except in the summer — a great place to stop for 1 night for a rest
• lots of rabbits and birds
• easy kid-friendly walks from the campground
• located near San Luis Reservoir State Rec Area
• clean private bathrooms

Things to keep in mind:

• the campground and rec area are temporarily closed due to dam projects
• this place gets hot and crowded with boaters in the summer
• a good place to stop on the way to Pinnacles National Park
• explore all parts of the campground for short trails that lead off the campground and up the hills

15. Richardson Grove State Park

If you’re headed to the Northern California coast and want to spend some time among the redwoods, you have several campgrounds to choose from. Richardson Grove State Park and the nearby Humboldt Redwoods (below) are not as far north as Redwoods National Park and provide access to the Lost Coast.

We stayed here as a stop on our coastal road trip before continuing to Arcata/Eureka and then north for a Southern Oregon road trip. This part of Northern California is quiet and laid back due to its isolated location.

If you cannot get a site at Humboldt Redwoods State Park or want to avoid the larger park’s crowds, stay at nearby Richardson Grove State Park Campground on the Eel River. The campground is pretty basic but is connected to the state park trails where you can walk by massive redwoods and learn about the history of these majestic trees. We stayed here two nights and loved it.

Why we recommend Richardson Grove State Park Campground:

• good location inside one redwood state park and near other redwood parks
• near the Avenue of the Giants
• interesting and beautiful redwood walks in the campground

Things to keep in mind:

• dry camping (tents or RVs with no hookups)
• slightly crowded campground with small, uneven sites
• it gets hot here in the summer!
• the river can have algae — check before you swim!

16. Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Of the two redwood parks (Richardson Grove SP and Humboldt Redwoods SP), we preferred this one located right on the Avenue of the Giants. As the largest redwoods state park in California, it offers a lot for visitors to do!

The park contains Rockefeller Forest, the world’s largest remaining old-growth forest of coastal redwoods! Here you can find some of the state’s most amazing old trees like the Giant Tree (354 feet tall and almost 17 feet wide!) and a drive-through tree. Even though the campground was busy when we were there in the summer, the hiking trails we walked were incredibly quiet. 

Humboldt Redwoods State Park has several campgrounds, so check the website and reservation system to find the right fit for you. 

Why we recommend Humboldt Redwoods State Park Campground:

• large state park with much to offer, especially for families
• great redwood walks in the campground 
• unforgettable location next to the Avenue of the Giants

Things to keep in mind:

• dry camping (tents or RVs with no hookups)
• no dump station on site
• it can get hot here in the summer!

17. Marble Quarry RV Park

If you’re looking for a California Gold Country getaway, you can camp at the Indian Grinding Rock State Park near Volcano, Coloma Resort (above), or Marble Quarry RV Park near Columbia State Historic Park. This is a great place to camp with kids because the RV park is family-friendly and the town of Columbia is a short 1/4 mile walk away from the campground. 

The town of Columbia is a state historic park that looks like it did back in the 1850s when gold was discovered in this area. You can easily spend a day here perusing the old shops, eating in the historic saloon, taking a stagecoach ride, panning for gold, and learning about the history of the Gold Rush.

Besides Columbia, other nearby places include the town of Volcano with Indian Grinding Rock State Park and Black Chasm Cavern (climb down into the cave!), Calaveras Big Trees State Park (for giant sequoia trees), and Yosemite National Park (an hour from Columbia). With all there is to do nearby, you could make this your home base for at least two nights.

Why we recommend Marble Quarry RV Park:

• good location within walking distance of Columbia State Historic Park
• near other Gold Country sites and Calaveras Big Trees State Park (worth a visit!)
• nice cabins for rent
• full hookups for RVs
• plenty for kids to do

Things to keep in mind:

• RV sites are fairly small and lack privacy
• kid-friendly with a sports lawn for games and a swimming pool

18. Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park offers peaceful camping in the heart of California’s fanciest wine country. This campground is family-friendly with small campsites nestled under the trees, nice yurts for rent, a creek running on one side of the campground, and a swimming pool nearby. Lots of birds live here — keep an eye open for the beautiful crow-sized pileated woodpecker.

You can hike trails inside this park and to the neighboring Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park. Walk through the woods to Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park to see the tiny pioneer cemetery with headstones of Napa Valley’s early settlers from the mid 1800s, and the huge mill dating from 1846.

Why we recommend Bothe-Napa Valley State Park Campground:

• amazing location in the heart of Napa Valley
• hiking trails from the campground
• a creek runs through the campground
• lots of shade

Things to keep in mind:

• dry camping (tents or RVs with no hookups) or yurts
• smallish sites, better for small trailers of less than 24′
• it can be very hot here in the summer, so get a site with full shade and bring your swimsuits!

19. Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground

Half Moon Bay State Park is one of the best California campgrounds. It sits right on the coast with spectacular views of the ocean, trails for walking or biking, and access to miles of gorgeous beaches. Half Moon Bay has some of my favorite California beaches plus lots to do nearby. This campground fills up fast, so consider making reservations way in advance and staying during week, especially before summer vacation begins.  

Why we recommend Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground:

• amazing location overlooking the ocean
• electrical hookups at some sites
• accommodates large RVs
• convenient on-site dump station
• premium sites with hookups and an ocean view are $65/night
• interpreter-led activities are held throughout the summer 

Things to keep in mind:

• camping for tents or RVs (some with partial hookups)
• hiker/biker campsites for 1 night only, first-come first served
• large group tent-only camping at nearby Sweetwood Group Camp
• very in-demand campground means reservations are a must
• bring layers for the coastal weather
• bring bikes

20. Inn Town Campground

Located just 1 mile from Nevada City, Inn Town Campground is a family-friendly campground with all kinds of options — tent sites, RV sites, glamping tent cabins, and RV rentals. This was the first place we camped with our kids and loved the experience because of all the kid-friendly activities like foosball, outdoor movies on a big screen, community fire pits, swimming pool, and the communal kitchen where we could store and prepare food. 

Why we recommend Inn Town Campground:

• convenient location near Nevada City and swim holes
• electrical hookups, RV rentals, & glamping tents under tall trees
• accommodates various sizes of RVs
• nice private bathrooms with showers 
• a short drive to Edwards Crossing South Yuba River swim hole

Things to keep in mind:

• coin-operated laundry on site
• plan for plenty of time at the campground if you stay with kids
• if you’re tent camping, try to get one of the spots at the periphery next to the creek

On our wish list: 

• Bodega Dunes Campground at Bodega Bay (recommended by a friend)
• Donner Lake State Historic Park (recommended by a friend)
• June Lakes Campground off Hwy 395
• Sunset State Beach Campground near Santa Cruz
• Any campground in Yosemite

What are your favorite California campgrounds?