Best Campgrounds Near Chico
20 hand-picked camping destinations curated for families visiting REI Chico. Each campground selected for quality, scenery diversity, and memorable experiences.
Showing 20 campgrounds
Featured Picks
Philbrook Campground
Philbrook is the standout close-to-Chico option, with a stellar rating and easy access to a calm mountain reservoir for paddling, swimming, and shoreline fishing. Shaded forest sites and the short drive make it ideal for first family campouts after a stop at REI Chico.
Rim Campground
Rim Campground puts families within walking distance of Burney Falls and Lake Britton, combining an iconic waterfall, lakeside play, and a volcanic forest setting. Its strong reviews, trail access, and options for fishing, swimming, and biking make it a premier weekend destination.
Peninsula Tent Campground
Peninsula Tent Campground sits right on Little Grass Valley Reservoir, offering a classic big-lake family experience with boating, swimming, shoreline hikes, and nearby biking. Its combination of water access and shady forest campsites makes it an excellent all-around choice within a reasonable drive from Chico.
Huckleberry Campground
Huckleberry pairs towering coast redwoods with direct access to the South Fork Eel River, giving families shaded camps, short hikes, and swimmable river spots in one package. Its high rating and classic redwood scenery make it the top pick for a first redwoods weekend from Chico.
Kangaroo Lake Campground
Kangaroo Lake offers rare drive-up access to a deep high-mountain lake, so families can enjoy alpine scenery, easy shoreline exploring, and cool-water swims without a backpacking trip. Its excellent reviews and mix of hiking and fishing make it a great step-up adventure for families ready to go a bit farther from Chico.
Battle Creek Campground
Battle Creek Campground delivers the classic creekside Sierra experience, with shady forest sites, a tumbling stream for wading and swimming, and nearby trails and fishing access. It is a strong family option for those wanting a cooler, flowing-water setting without a long drive.
More to Explore
Gerle Creek
Gerle Creek is one of the most-loved options on the list, with many reviews highlighting its mix of granite-lined creek, small reservoir, and forest shade. Families get easy water access plus trails and biking, making it a versatile Crystal Basin basecamp.
Cherry Hill Campground
Cherry Hill sits right on Butte Creek in a lush conifer forest, offering a quiet, woodsy feel close to Chico. Strong reviews, creekside relaxing and fishing, and nearby riding make it a nice alternative when Battle Creek or Philbrook are full.
Almanor
Almanor offers a big-lake vacation feel with a short enough drive for a long weekend, plus a large number of strong reviews. Lake Almanor’s size, nearby amenities, and options for hiking, biking, fishing, and swimming make it ideal for multi-family trips.
Spring Creek
Spring Creek gives families access to Frenchman Lake and its high-country shoreline, with good reviews for the combination of swimming, fishing, and nearby trails. The open, volcanic-feeling landscape contrasts nicely with the denser forests closer to Chico.
Navarro Beach Campground
Navarro Beach is the go-to coastal option, set where the Navarro River meets the Pacific with nearby redwoods and a sandy beach. It brings ocean scenery, tide exploration, and river play into the mix for Chico families willing to drive a bit farther.
Mount Rose (Nv)
Mount Rose Campground offers high-elevation camping with big Sierra views and quick access to Lake Tahoe, plus an outstanding rating and many reviews. It is ideal for active families focused on hiking and biking who want a cooler, alpine base for exploring Tahoe.
Jamison Creek Campground
Jamison Creek Campground sits in dense conifer forest with a creek running through and trail access to nearby alpine lakes, making it a great pick for hiking-oriented families. Its high rating and alpine basin scenery provide a different feel than the larger reservoirs.
Silver Lake Campground
Silver Lake Campground offers quiet, small-lake camping with no big marinas or crowds, appealing to families who want a calmer paddle-and-fish experience. The forested shoreline and good reviews make it a nice low-key alternative to the busier reservoirs.
Grouse Ridge Campground
Grouse Ridge Campground sits amid a cluster of small alpine lakes and granite ridges, offering a semi-wild feel that many families love once they have a bit of camping experience. Hiking, swimming, fishing, and even biking on nearby roads and trails make it a great high-country adventure base.
North Fork (Ca)
North Fork Campground sits along the North Fork American River with access to swimming holes and waterfalls, giving families a rugged river-canyon option within a day-trip drive. Its strong reviews and mix of hiking and water play distinguish it from the lake-focused sites.
Lime Saddle Campground
Lime Saddle is one of the closest options to Chico, overlooking Lake Oroville with quick access to the marina for paddling and swimming. Despite a slightly lower rating than the very top picks, it offers full services and all four key activities, making it a practical choice for new campers.
Black Miners Bar Campground
Black Miners Bar Campground sits right by Lake Natoma with easy access to paved bike paths, paddling, and lakeside play, and it carries a strong rating. It is a great choice for families who want a more developed setting with plenty of biking and water options.
Steel Bridge Campground
Steel Bridge Campground provides direct access to the Trinity River in a dramatic forested canyon, which reviewers praise for swimming, fishing, and river exploration. It offers a different, more free-flowing river experience than the reservoir-based campgrounds.
Calpine Lookout
Calpine Lookout is a unique fire lookout rental with panoramic views over Sierra Valley, offering a memorable stay for families with older kids. Its excellent rating and combination of nearby trails and biking make it a specialty pick for those seeking a one-of-a-kind experience.
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