Best Places to Camp in California State Parks
California’s state parks are spectacular by day, but staying overnight offers a deeper experience. Pitch a tent along the state’s wild coastline to enjoy stretches of golden sand, rocky coves, rolling dunes, and wave-carved bluffs. Or head inland where stark desert and alpine green collide, and mountain peaks offer views over the Pacific Ocean.
Here are the best campgrounds in California’s state parks system, organized by region:
Northern California
Agate Beach Campground, Sue-meg State Park
Camp nestled in the pines and enjoy the best of wildlife and hiking trails amid the sound of waves crashing against the rocky headlands.
Wright’s Beach Campground, Sonoma Coast State Park
Camp close enough to smell the salty air and hear the crashing waves from Wright’s Beach, the perfect place to take a family.
Central California
El Capitán State Beach Campground
This campground is pitched on bluffs above the Pacific, with campsites under a canopy of sycamores and oaks that grow along El Capitán Creek.
Morro Bay Campground
Nestled in mixed forest between the park’s marina, golf course, and hiking trails, this campground in Morro Bay State Park offers an adventure-filled weekend walking distance from your campsite.
Southern California
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area Campground
The campground is situated on an isolated ridge with sweeping views of the wide desert valleys, jagged mountain ranges, and volcanic mesas below.
Ricardo Campground, Red Rock Canyon State Park
Dramatic cliffs form the backdrop at Ricardo Campground, where campsites are established in the cove-like spaces at the base of the sandstone formations.
Picacho Campground
The developed sites at this remote campground in Picacho State Recreation Area are well-spaced amid striking volcanic rock formations, just a stone’s throw from the Colorado River.
Plan your adventure with the essential guide to California’s state parks
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