Camping in California

The backbone of California camping. Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon national parks anchor the range. Campgrounds from 4,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern Sierra provide high-desert camping with mountain access. Season runs June through October at most elevations. Mammoth Mountain RV Park and McGee Creek RV Park and Campground near Mammoth Lakes anchor the Eastern Sierra, while Creekside RV Park in Bishop serves the southern end of the range.

Redwood forest and rocky coastline from Big Sur north through Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties. Cool and foggy year-round. Campgrounds sit among old-growth trees and on coastal bluffs. Big Sur's campgrounds are among the most sought-after in the state. Riverside Campground and Cabins and Big Sur Campground and Cabins along the Big Sur River provide the most sought-after coastal sites, with Mendocino Grove offering glamping-style camping further north.

Joshua Tree and Death Valley national parks define the region. Winter camping is the norm with comfortable daytime temps in the 60s and 70s. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park adds another major camping destination. Summer is off-season due to extreme heat. Joshua Tree Lake RV and Campground provides the primary private option near Joshua Tree, while Furnace Creek Campground anchors Death Valley camping.

San Diego, Orange County, and the Channel Islands offer beach-adjacent camping in a Mediterranean climate. Year-round camping with the mildest weather in the state. Campgrounds are heavily used and require advance reservations. Campland on the Bay on Mission Bay in San Diego and San Onofre Beach Camp near San Clemente put campers on the water, with San Elijo State Beach in Cardiff adding coastal bluff sites.

Lassen Volcanic and the Shasta-Trinity region offer less crowded mountain camping. Volcanic terrain, alpine lakes, and dense conifer forests. Susanville and the Modoc Plateau extend into high desert. Shorter season than the Sierra due to heavier snowfall. Eagle Lake RV Park near Susanville and Burney Falls Resort RV Park near Burney provide developed options along the volcanic corridor.

The agricultural heartland between coast and mountains. Gold Country foothills along Highway 49 provide rolling terrain with oak woodlands and seasonal creeks. Hot summers drive most camping to the foothill transition zone. Bakersfield and the southern valley connect to Sequoia access. Orange Grove RV Park and Resort in Bakersfield serves travelers heading to Sequoia, while Sacramento Shade RV Park provides capital-area access.