California's Best Camping

A Guide to the Golden State's Finest Campgrounds


California's Best Camping

Complete Information about more than 600 of California's Best Campgrounds


Complete Information about more than 600 of California's Best Campgrounds


Find campgrounds with all the right amenities and outdoor activities for your vacation.


  • Full RV Hook-ups
  • Hot Showers
  • Ocean-side
  • Great Fishing
  • Waterskiing and wakeboarding
  • National Park Wonders
  • Equestrian Facilities
  • Children's Programs

Lassen National Park

Yosemite National Park


California's Best Camping

      covers more than 600 of the finest campgrounds in California.
      From San Diego beaches to the Redwood Empire,
      From Big Bear and Silverwood to Shasta and Trinity,
      & all up and down the Sierra Nevada.

For Every Campground . . .

  • Complete campground descriptions

  • Campground facilities and amenities

  • Camping fees, check-in and check-out times

  • Reservation links whenever available

  • Nearby attractions and recreation

Visit our new sister website   -   Oregon's Best Camping


Looking for Something in Special?
Try Our Helpful Campground Indexes

Are you looking for a particular kind of campground? Perhaps you are trying to find equestrian group campgrounds or beach camping. Check out the campground guides below to narrow your search.

Favorite Camping Areas Index

A list of all the most popular California camping areas, with links to campgrounds in each area.

Best Family Vacation Campgrounds

Recommendations of wonderful California camping spots for families with children.

Ocean-front Campgrounds

Coronado to Eureka - find a California campground that looks out on the ocean.

Equestrian Campgrounds

Individual or group campsites designated for people with horses.

Total Campground Index

An index of more than 600 California campgrounds that rank as the Golden State's best.


It's Time to Start Planning for 2024 Camping Trips

As you may have discovered, reservations for the most popular campgrounds fill up quickly. However, many campgrounds offer reservations 6 months in advance of your arrival date. By planning your summer camping trips now and marking your calendar 6 months in advance of the dates you plan to arrive, you will be more likely get the campsite you want than if you wait until late spring.

Even if you haven't decided on a camping date or location, now is a good time to browse through the various camping areas around California to discover what is available.


Find More Great Adventures -
Visit Our Sister Websites

California's Best Beaches logo California's Greatest Lakes logo Oregon's Best Camping logo

Campground Ratings

Gold Star - The best of the best campgrounds. Not only are the campgrounds equipped with very good amenities and in beautiful settings, they are close to outstanding recreational opportunities such as natural wonders, waterskiing, beaches, or special attractions.

Green Star - Campgrounds with good facilities and located close to a variety of activities, whether its trails among redwoods, a beach-front location, or a beautiful mountain lake.

Green Triangle - Comfortable campgrounds equipped with basic amenities and near some worthwhile recreational attractions. These are sometimes smaller, more remote campgrounds which, nevertheless, may have exceptional views. Ease of driving access is sometimes a consideration.

Green Dot - Campgrounds we have not included in our reviews, either because much better campgrounds are nearby or because the facilities or available recreation opportunities are negligible.

Everyone is Different

Everyone's interests are different, so a perfect campground for one might be only mediocre for another. Use our symbols as a starting point on your quest to find the best campground for you.

Types of Campgrounds Included

Our reviews include publicly operated campgrounds such as Forest Service, National Park, State Park, BLM, and Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds. We also include many regional and county park campgrounds along with campgrounds offered by public and private utilities such as electric companies and irrigation districts. We do not include private RV Parks nor most privately operated campgrounds.

Campground Fees

Prices listed for campground stays are the basic campsite fee and do not include any reservation fees. Often there are discrepancies between the fee shown on the campground agency's website and the price listed by the reservation website. In those cases, we have displayed the higher of the two.

TOP

California's Best Camping covers more than 600 of the finest campgrounds in California.


      From San Diego beaches to the Redwood Empire,

      From Big Bear and Silverwood to Shasta and Trinity,

      & all up and down the Sierra Nevada.


For Every Campground . . .

  • Complete campground descriptions

  • Campground facilities and amenities

  • Camping fees, check-in and check-out times

  • Reservation links whenever available

  • Nearby attractions and recreation

COVID-19: During the COVID-19 pandemic most campgrounds are closed, but reservations for some campgrounds can still be made for dates later in the year.

April 2020 - Read about our popular new website:     Oregon's Best Camping



Antelope Lake, Plumas National Forest, CA

Mountain Lakes

Lake Tahoe   Shaver Lake   Big Bear Lake   Mammoth Lakes   Union Valley Lake   Pinecrest Lake . . . and many more

Campground at North Grove Campground, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, CA

Sandy Beaches

Pismo Beach   New Brighton   San Elijo   Seacliff   Carpinteria   Doheny Beach . . . and dozens more

Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, CA

National Parks

Yosemite   Lassen Volcanic   Sequoia   Kings Canyon   Joshua Tree   Pinnacles   Death Valley . . . and others

Sequoia trees, Sequoia National Park, CA

Towering Redwoods and Sequoias

Jedediah Smith   Calaveras Big Trees   Humboldt Redwoods   Prairie Creek . . . and plenty more

famikly camping with campgfire, CA

Family Friendly

Shaver Lake   Pinecrest Lake   Big Basin   Lopez Lake   Yosemite   Hendy Woods   Cachuma Lake . . . and counting

water skier on a California lake

Waterskiing & Boating Lakes

Shasta Lake   Castaic Lake   Oroville   Nacimiento   Millerton   Folsom . . . and many more

Point Lobos, CA

Dramatic Coastlines

Big Sur   Sonoma   MacKerricher State Park   Salt Point   Mendocino   Patrick's Point   Humboldt   Del Norte. . . and others