RV Camping in California
With a rich variety of landscapes, the Golden State offers plenty of opportunities for the ideal California camping experience. Whether you want to camp on the beach, in the desert, in the mountains, or near world-famous attractions, finding the right California RV campground will be a breeze.
Beach Camping
If you want a camping vacation where you can wake up in the mornings and surf the waves, or simply enjoy the beauty of the dramatic bluffs while you watch for whales and dolphins, you can find hundreds of coastal California RV campgrounds. From the rugged northern beaches in Del Norte County to the most southern in San Diego County, California’s coastline stretches for an impressive 840 miles.
There’s just one catch with beach camping: You’ve got to plan ahead. Reservations need to be made well in advance, especially if you’re going to camp at one of the State Beach Campgrounds. One of the most popular California RV campgrounds is San Elijo State Beach in San Diego County. Reservations open six months in advance, but often fill up quickly during peak months. You’ll probably have better luck getting a beach spot with a private campground. If you want to camp in style, try one of the luxury coastal RV resorts.
Desert Camping
Camping in the remote desert of California is a unique experience. The vast openness make deserts ripe for exploration. Death Valley National Park has the largest area of designated national park in the contiguous U.S. with a staggering 3,099,770 acres. This popular destination features beautiful canyons and colorful volcanic and sedimentary hills that will inspire even the most resistant artist.
Other popular California desert camping destinations include the Mojave, Joshua Tree National Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and more. Desert camping offers ecological wonders yet the wide open spaces and rolling sand dunes make for the perfect recreational vehicle playground. Load up your ATVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles, 4x4s and get rollin’!
Mountain Camping
From the Sierra Mountains to the San Bernardino Mountains, the alpines of California offer peaceful getaways or family adventure. Kayaking, paddle boat cruises, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking can be found at most mountain destinations. One of California’s most popular attractions, Lake Tahoe’s deep lake is stunningly clear and blue. Bear Valley, Mammoth, and Yosemite are other popular destinations. And even though they attract big crowds in the winter with skiing and snowboarding trails, spring and summer months are less crowded and great for mountain camping.
World-Famous Attractions
California’s iconic landmarks stretch from North to South. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is the largest suspension bridge in the world and of the most popular tourist attractions. Bay Area visitors also must see Alcatraz Island, once a high-security prison. Historic Fisherman’s Wharf is another bustling tourist attraction in San Francisco.
In Southern California, the landmarks of the Hollywood Sign and Disneyland are known around the world. Los Angeles is home to Universal Studios, Grauman’s Chinese Theater and buzzes with nightlife, shopping, and movie stars. Travel a little farther south and visit the world famous San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park.
Californians like to brag that they can surf in the morning then be in the mountains by the afternoon. It’s true. When you RV camp in California,go ahead and plan out your perfect camping experience, but remember, you can always change your mind and try something completely different-without going very far.
