These Are the Best Campgrounds in California, According to Camping Experts

There's no doubt that California has some of the most enviable camping destinations in the entire country. It’s also true, however, that they are some of the most difficult to book. Folks in every state will complain about how quickly the best state parks are snapped up, but campers in California really do have it a bit worse than the rest of us.

Let’s face it—who doesn’t want to camp on the beach as the sun sets over the Pacific? For those of you who can’t plan ahead far enough in advance to get those popular public campground sites, it's possible to find amazing private campgrounds in the most popular places, from the northern redwoods down to San Diego.

California is truly the camping version of choose-your-own-adventure. Head to the far north to the redwoods and wander through some of the oldest forests in the world. Visit Lake Tahoe for extraordinary hiking and boating. Park the RV right outside of San Francisco and explore the Golden City. Watch the big-wave surfers in Santa Cruz. Wander around wine country, snap a pic at the end of Route 66, or soak in the sun in San Diego. If there's a dreamy California destination that you’ve been dying to visit, we promise there is a great camping option nearby. Just make sure you plan ahead to snag a spot.

Stephanie and Jeremy's Campground Picks in California

Jeremy and Stephanie Puglisi are the hosts of The RV Atlas podcast, which has been downloaded more than 12 million times by RV and camping enthusiasts. They are also the authors of the popular "Where Should We Camp Next?" book series, including "Where Should We Camp Next?", "Where Should We Camp Next? National Parks", "Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping", and "Where Should We Camp Next? Camping 101". As bestselling authors and longtime RV travelers, they share expert campground recommendations, road trip inspiration, and practical advice for families and adventurers who love the great outdoors.

Here are their picks for family-friendly, budget-friendly, and public campgrounds in California:

Family-Friendly: San Francisco North / Petaluma KOA, Petaluma

Site types: RV, tent, camping cabins, and deluxe cabins

Located just 34 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, this KOA serves both as a base camp for day tripping into the Golden City, or a peaceful weekend escape for those who live and work in the Bay area. It’s located right in the heart of Sonoma County’s wine country, with redwood trees and beaches nearby, and can even serve as a great weeklong vacation destination. 

The campground is large and packed with activities and amenities and kids love the jumping pillow, farm-themed playground, pool, and rock climbing wall. Your kids will flip when they find the slurpee machine in the camp store. Younger kids will also love the small petting zoo. It can get super busy on the weekends, especially holiday weekends, so those seeking peace and quiet might choose to book a site far away from the action, or visit during the week. If you're an Alfred Hitchcock fan make sure you visit Bodega Bay where "The Birds" was filmed. Just take caution if they start to gather.

Budget-Friendly: Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach

Site types: RV and tent

The highlight of Crystal Cove State Park is its 3 miles of stunning Pacific Coastline right smack in the heart of busy and bustling Orange County, California. This place is a straight up coastal oasis right in the middle of one of the most densely populated parts of the state. The park is often packed with hikers, bikers, surfers, sunbathers, swimmers, and those simply strolling along on the beach in one of the park’s seven coves exploring the tide pools.

The Moro Campground is situated (somewhat) high above the beach with sweeping views of the ocean from some of the campsites—and the sunsets, as you might expect, are colorful and often epic. Most of the sites are large and offer some scrubby bushes that create privacy between the sites—though there isn’t much shade. Tent campers here love the clean restrooms and hot showers and everyone loves that the park is clean and well maintained by its famously friendly staff. Keep your eyes peeled for pods of dolphins swimming by and don’t forget your hiking shoes—there are real trails in the park if you want a break from the beach.

National Park Gateway: Upper Pines Campground, Yosemite Valley

Site types: RV and tent

Wake up surrounded by the delicious smell of ponderosa pines, the gentle sounds of the Merced River, and views of Yosemite’s granite cliffs at this iconic national park’s largest campground. Upper Pines has 238 sites that can handle trailers up to 25 feet and motorhomes up to 35 feet and it's a tent camper’s paradise. There are three other campgrounds inside of Yosemite National Park but this is our top pick because of the wide variety of sites for small and medium sized RVs.

The back-in sites on the exterior side of each loop are preferable because there will be no one behind you. Interior sites are still great if that’s all you can get—but you will have less privacy and more neighbors.

You can walk directly from your site to several of the park’s most famous hiking trails—some of which are easy like the hike to Mirror Lake, and some of which are incredibly difficult, like the hike to Half Dome. Getting reservations can be tricky—so try to make your reservations right when the booking window opens. Cancellations do happen—so if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Explore More Campgrounds in California

California’s incredible diversity makes it one of the most exciting camping destinations in the country. Whether you want to sleep under towering redwoods, wake up to Pacific Ocean views, or camp near some of the most iconic national parks, there’s a perfect spot waiting for you. The key is planning ahead—especially for the most sought-after locations.

Where Should We Camp Next?

If you're looking for even more inspiration, the "Where Should We Camp Next?" series features dozens of additional campground recommendations across California and beyond, ensuring you’ll always find the perfect place to set up camp.

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