Best Camping Spots in Southern California: A Complete Guide

Southern California is renowned for its diverse landscape, offering a wide range of camping options. If you are planning to camp with your family or friends, you need to select a suitable camping site.

In this article, we will help you find a pleasant spot to enjoy your vacation at the beach, in the mountains, by the lake, or in the forest. We will discuss the best camping spots in Southern California and help you consider the essential factors when choosing the ideal spot.

Best Beach Camping In Southern California

Doheny State Beach

Doheny State Beach is one of the most popular camping spots in Southern California. It is also known for its historic presence, and people often refer to it as California's first state beach. It is situated in Dana Point, Orange County, and features low to moderate tides, considered safe for swimming, surfing, and paddleboarding.

Doheny Beach has multiple camping spots, with an estimated number exceeding 150. It remains calm and is considered one of the best spots for fishing and family picnics. For the convenience of visitors, the campsite features tables, showers, restrooms, and fire pits to provide an unforgettable experience.

Leo Carrillo State Park

Leo Carrillo State Park is also one of the best beaches in Southern California. It offers a wide sandy campground where people can stay safely and enjoy the tides. The beach has the most scenic nature with beautiful sea caves and cliffs. It also has tide pools where people enjoy watching exotic fish.

The beach is also equipped with amenities, providing campers with restrooms, showers, and picnic tables. Campers prefer it due to the hiking experience, and it also lets them enjoy watching the sunset and sunrise from a panoramic view.

Best Lake Camping In Southern California

Silverwood Lake State

Silverwood Lake State Park is situated in San Bernardino, offering a wide spread mountainous view. Due to the hills, campers find the place filled with fresh air and often feel a cooler temperature as compared to the city. It has a calm environment with breathtaking views of hills covering the lake.

The campground has necessities available where campers can use restrooms, fire rings, and picnic points. There are designated areas marked for campers to enjoy boating and fishing. Swimming is also a popular activity during the summer, while other activities remain active throughout the year.

Lake Perris State Recreation Area

Lake Peris covers a wide area situated outside the Riverside. It is also a nearby camping spot where campers love catching trout and catfish. It is equipped with modern campsites with over 300+ restrooms where campers can stay comfortably. The lake is surrounded by short hills and a sandy beach area.

Boating is very common on this lake, which is offered by experienced professionals. Moreover, it also has a museum nearby where families can also enjoy watching historic and cultural findings.

Best Forest Camping In Southern California

Holcomb Valley Ranch

Holcomb Valley Ranch is a wide forest in the heart of the San Bernardino Mountains. The forest has large pine trees and dense meadows with open skies, which gives a soothing experience. It offers a quiet and overwhelming feel, which is often an ideal choice for the campers.

People usually tie traditional camps there and enjoy riding on horses, dirt bikes, and off-road vehicles. The forest is also near Big Bear Lake, which offers a wide range of activities such as swimming, fishing, and having lunch.

Splitrock Farm & Retreat

Splitrock Farm & Retreat is a simple and homely forest for camping. It is located in Fallbrook, home to a vast number of citrus and avocado farms. The place would be an ideal choice for couples and family groups who want to enjoy nature.

It has various camping spots where campers can bring bonfires and enjoy watching stars at night. The farms make this spot more lively, where people can enjoy peace and take a break from busy urban life.

Best RV Camping In Southern California

Champagne Lakes

Champagne Lakes is situated in northern San Diego, offering a wide space for RV camping. It features wide green spaces, walking trails, and a lakeside view, providing a fresh and soothing atmosphere. The place is an ideal choice for retired individuals and older people seeking peace.

It also serves modern amenities that travelers can easily access. According to the reviews, it is more lively during the day and is considered the best for families who want to take their children for a short outing.

Campland On The Bay

Campland On the Bay is also located in San Diego, but in a more modern environment than Champagne Lakes. It offers clean surroundings with access to a park and swimming pools for entertainment.

In addition, campers also receive Wi-Fi service to enjoy their vacations in a resort-like manner. It offers diverse camping activities, making it attractive to families and friends for a more entertaining environment.

How To Choose Best Camping Spots In Southern California?

Let's see the key factors to help you find the perfect place for camping.

• Amenities and utilities
• Clean restrooms
• Safety from wild animals
• Entertaining activities
• Availability of reservations

These are the key factors that you must consider while choosing a camping spot. Other factors would depend on your choice, whether you prefer camping near forests, lakes, mountains, or beaches.

Bonus: Camping Security Cameras Recommendation

Reolink Go PT Ultra

Reolink GO PT Ultra is a 4G battery-powered camera perfect for outdoor and off-grid adventures. It can also be connected to a solar panel for automatic recharging. It can work even in remote locations because it requires a SIM card to access the internet.

The camera captures in 4K resolution, ensuring optimal clarity and detail. It also features dual night vision, allowing for clear and colorized videos to be recorded at night. With pan-and-tilt motion, it covers a massive area. If any motion is detected, it sends accurate alerts to the connected devices.

Reolink Altas PT Ultra

Altas PT Ultra is a Wi-Fi 6 security camera with battery and solar compatibility. Its powerful battery can last up to 500 days, which is ideal for camp sites. It also has a solar panel to recharge the battery automatically. Its 10-second pre-recording feature records every detail while saving battery power.

It's a 4K security camera with pan-and-tilt motion to cover 360⁰. It's equipped with Reolink ColorX night vision to record colored videos even in extreme darkness. It can smartly detect objects and automatically track their movement for enhanced safety.

FAQS

1. Where is the most beautiful place to camp?

We have shared the most beautiful places to camp in different terrains. You can choose whether you want to camp on a beach, in a forest, or by a lake, and then select the best location.

2. What is the hardest campground to book in California?

The hardest campgrounds to book in California are those in the Inyo National Forest, specifically North Pines and Twin Lakes. Their tickets normally get sold within minutes of the reservation announcement.

3. What is the rule #1 of camping?

Rule #1 is to leave no traces behind. It's your responsibility to keep the area clean, to respect nature, and to maintain it.

Conclusion

Northern California is full of camping sites. People love camping during vacations to enjoy nature and get some peace from urban life. However, choosing the site has always remained a problem. To resolve this, we have discussed some popular sites that you can consider for planning a family picnic.