Best Places to Camp in California: Complete Camping Guide
The best places to camp in California include Yosemite for granite cliffs, Big Sur for ocean bluffs, Joshua Tree for desert boulders, Redwood National and State Parks for ancient forests, Emerald Bay for Lake Tahoe views, and Catalina Island for coastal adventure.California is not a one-style camping state; it offers beach camping, mountain camping, desert camping, redwood camping, lake camping, RV camping, primitive camping, and backpacking within one road-trip-friendly state.
California camping should be planned by region, season, and reservation system.State park campsites generally open on ReserveCalifornia six months in advance, while many federal campgrounds use Recreation.gov and may follow park-specific booking windows.
Quick Answer: Top Camping Spots by Trip Style Trip Style Best Place Best For First-time California camping Yosemite Valley Iconic scenery, waterfalls, shuttle access Ocean-view camping Kirk Creek, Big Sur Bluff campsites above the Pacific Desert camping Joshua Tree Rock formations, stargazing, climbing Giant trees Redwood National and State Parks Old-growth redwoods and coastal forest Lake camping Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe Blue water, kayaking, Rubicon Trail Family beach camping Leo Carrillo, Malibu Tide pools, beach walks, shaded campground Southern California beach camping Crystal Cove Ocean-view bluff camping near Laguna Beach Remote island camping Catalina Island Boat access, hiking, beach camps Backpacking coast camp Point Reyes Hike-in coastal sites Winter desert camping Death Valley Warm-season escape, huge desert scenery Volcanic mountain camping Lassen Volcanic Lakes, hydrothermal areas, quieter trails Eastern Sierra camping Alabama Hills Free permit, desert rocks, Sierra views Giant sequoia camping Sequoia & Kings Canyon Sequoia groves, mountain rivers, high country 1.Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park is one of the best places to camp in California because it combines dramat...