Best Campgrounds in California

Tiered campsites cascade down coastal bluffs where every spot commands sweeping Pacific Ocean views, placing you at the edge of land and sea. Token-operated hot showers stay spotless, and a short trail leads directly to the beach for sunset walks along the shore.

Windswept ridges and rare island foxes await at this remote Channel Islands outpost, where sturdy shelters protect campers from relentless ocean gusts while maintaining that true wilderness feel.

Nestled among towering ancient sequoias at 4,800 feet, this tent-only retreat delivers an intimate escape where the Tule River's gentle rush lulls you to sleep beneath some of Earth's largest living trees.

Towering pines frame spacious campsites at 7,000 feet elevation, where cool mountain air and the nearby Santa Ana River create an alpine escape from Southern California's heat.

Towering hardwoods shelter secluded sites along a babbling creek at 5,300 feet, where each morning brings mist rising off the glassy, motor-free reservoir.

Volcanic rock formations tower around spacious sites where desert silence replaces cell service and Milky Way views replace light pollution. The celebrated ring trail winds through spectacular geological formations right from camp, offering ladder-assisted descent through narrow rock passages.

Desert oasis camping puts you steps from the legendary Palm Canyon Trail, where a shaded grove of native palms awaits at the end of a scenic hike. Token-operated hot showers and well-maintained facilities let you rinse off the trail dust before gathering around your fire ring under...

Towering Sierra peaks frame 28 sun-soaked campsites where paved paths meet wilderness trails leading into the John Muir backcountry. Bear-proof lockers at every site let you focus on casting into crystal streams and scaling granite walls instead of worrying about nighttime visitors.

Tucked along rushing Big Pine Creek, this Sierra Nevada campground puts you steps from pristine wilderness trails leading into the John Muir backcountry. Anglers cast lines into cold mountain waters while hikers return to paved sites and modern facilities after exploring high-alpine terrain.