Southern California's Most Popular Camping Regions
- Lakes, mountains, and beaches - Southern California campgrounds offer a spectacular array of camping choices to match everyone's interests.
- Choose a region to narrow your choices and we'll guide you to the best Southern California campgrounds. Discover the adventures that await you.
Note: To enhance continuity between maps, we have included some overlap with our central California map.
Orange and Riverside Counties Campgrounds
A number of wonderful country regional parks highlight the camping opportunities in Orange County and in western Riverside County. With easy access from urban areas, the campgrounds make great weekend retreats.
Lake Skinner
- Lake Skinner - 1,400 surface acres - fishing and boating. Splash Pad play area, movies and concerts. Featuring 257 campsites, most with full hook-ups.
- Rancho Jurupa Park - West of Riverside along the Santa Ana River. Features lakes, rock climbing playground, disc and miniature golf, many full hook-up sites, and WiFi.
- Lake Perris - Bring your boat and enjoy days on the water. RV sites have partial hook-ups.
- Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park - Located only a short drive east from San Juan Capistrano, Caspers Wilderness Park offers RV and tent camping along with group and equestrian campsites.
Greater Los Angeles Area Campgrounds
With the Angeles National Forest and a number of great lakes, residents of the greater LA area have a wide range of camping choices close at hand.
Yucaipa Regional Park
- Yucaipa Regional Park - Visitors enjoy three lakes, a swim area with a sandy beach and dual water slides. Well-spaced campsites with full hook-ups in grass and shade tree park-like setting.
- Silverwood Lake - Camp on the shore of one of the area's most popular lakes. Fish, jet ski, waterski, relax, and enjoy the warm sunshine.
- Angeles National Forest - Drive up the Angeles Crest Highway for wonderful views of the area and a variety of campgrounds. Hike, mountain bike, sit by the campfire, and gaze at the stars.
- Castaic Lake - Camp beside the Lagoon where you can fish, swim, and paddle your kayak. Or take your boat up to the main lake for waterskiing and wakeboarding.
- Lake Piru - Find nice campsites at Lake Piru in the shade of olive trees. Enjoy boating, waterskiing, fishing, and now even jet skis.
- Malibu Creek State Park - Tucked away among the trees north of Malibu is a pretty little state park with hiking trails and a pleasant campground. Close enough to drive to the beach for the day.
Central Coast Campgrounds
A variety of wonderful campgrounds spread along the central coast from in San Luis Obispo County and inland to several popular recreation lakes.
Morro Bay
- Morro Strand - Campsites with great ocean views, best for RVs or trailers, but tent sites available. Walk only a few feet from you campsite onto the beach.
- Hearst San Simeon State Park - Campgrounds at the state park make a wonderful place from which to visit Hearst Castle, watch elephant seals at Piedras Blancas, and take in the ambiance of Cambria.
- Morro Bay - Campers at Moro Bay State Park can paddle around the bay in kayaks, bask in the sun on nearby beaches, and explore Montaña de Oro State Park.
- Pismo Beach - Camp at Pismo State Beach and roll your 4-wheeler out at Oceano Dunes, or wend your way north to beautiful Avila Beach.
- San Antonio and Nacimiento Lakes - Camp on the shore of a great fishing and waterskiing lake.
Santa Barbara - Ventura County Campgrounds
Coastal areas of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties are known for wonderful beach camping as well as some great lakes.
- Carpinteria Beach - Ever popular Carpinteria Beach has a string of great ocean-side campsites for both tents and RVs, excellent facilities, and a variety of attractions.
- El Capitan State Beach - Campsites among the trees on bluffs overlooking a beautiful stretch of ocean.
- Cachuma Lake - Only a short drive from Santa Barbara, Cachuma Lake is known as a fishing paradise. Campers enjoy a swimming pool, playgrounds, fireside theater, marina, golf, and more.
- Lake Casitas - With more than 400 campsites along its shore, Lake Casitas is one of the most popular recreation destinations in Ventura County. A water park, fishing, disc golf, and cycling are only a few of its attractions.
Southern California Beach Campgrounds
From Malibu to San Diego, Southern California beach campgrounds are among the most popular in the state.
San Elijo Beach
- San Elijo Beach - Campsites spread along a bluff overlooking the ocean. Some with full hook-ups. Hot showers and a camp store.
- Leo Carrillo State Park - Great amenities at the campground with a short stroll to scenic beaches. Close to popular Zuma Beach.
- Crystal Cove - Enjoy full hook-ups for your RV, tour historic beach cottages, tide pools, and the Outdoor Nature Center. Swim, surf, and relax on the sand.
- San Clemente - Camp near Calafia Beach and stroll miles of warm sand. Fish from the pier or try a little surfing at popular spots.
- San Onofre - Great year-round camping at San Mateo Campground, popular surfing spots, nature trail.
- South Carlsbad - Wide, sandy beach near well-known surfing destinations. Full hook-ups now available. Rent bicycles and cruise the Carlsbad Seawall Promenade.
Barton Flats Campgrounds
Slip away into the San Bernardino National Forest south of Big Bear Lake and find a wonderul array of campgrounds near Jenks Lake. The campgrounds are only about a half hour drive from Big Bear.
- Barton Flats Campground - Hike and fish along the Santa Ana River or spend the day and Jenks Lake. Relax in camp with great amenities like restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers.
- Heart Bar Campgrounds - Set out on hiking and horseback riding trails into the San Gorgonio Wilderness.
- South Fork Campground - Camp next to the Santa Ana River and hike on the Santa Ana River Trail. Attend campfire programs at Grayback Amphitheater.
San Jacinto Mountains Campgrounds
Soaring peaks and secluded valleys make the San Jacinto Mountains a wonderful camping destination.
- Mount San Jacinto State Park - Camp at Idyllwild Campground and enjoy great amenities. Hike the nature trail, tour the visitor center, and spend time in the Idyllwild Nature Center.
- San Bernardino National Forest - Adventurous campers find some great campsites which can serve as bases for launching hikes into the wilderness. Discover the Panorama Point Trail or spend the day at Lake Fulmore.
- Riverside County Parks - Several county parks in the area offer comfortable camping and access to all the recreation in the area. Try camping at Idyllwild, Hurkey Creek, and McCall Equestrian county parks.
Palomar Mountain Area Campgrounds
Camping in the shadow of famous Palomar Mountain is a unique experience. Many area campgrounds have star gazing programs.
- Palomar Mountain State Park - Palomar Mountain State Park is at 5,000 feet, several miles west of the observatory. Hike the Doane Valley Nature Trail and fish in Doane Pond.
- Observatory Campground - Only 2½ miles from the observatory. Participate in the Explore the Stars - Sky Parties offered from spring through fall.
- Dripping Springs Campground - Gateway to the Agua Tibia Wilderness, a favorite staging area for equestrians.
Joshua Tree National Park Campgrounds
The amazing scenery of Joshua Tree National Park attracts visitors from far and wide. Most campers avoid the high temperatures of summer.
- Black Rock Campground - Camp near some of the best groves of Joshua Trees, visit the Black Rock Nature Center and Joshua Tree Visitor Center.
- Indian Cove - Marvel at the amazing rocks, sculpted over the centuries by wind and rain. Tour the Oasis Visitor Center and enjoy interpretive programs.
- Jumbo Rocks - Camp among massive boulders. Explore places such as Skull Rock, Arch Rock, and the Chollas Cactus Garden.
