The Best Places to Go Camping in California

The small town of Beckwourth is located on the Middle Fork Feather River just east of the city of Portola – which is home to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum – and is named for the nearby Beckwourth Peak. The mountain is part of the northern extension of the Sierra Nevada Range and is best hiked in dry weather during spring and fall. From the top, you’ll be rewarded with impressive views of the surrounding mountains and valley. Planning an action-packed trip to Beckwourth? Book into the nearby Hidden Trails Campsite, which boasts more than 30mi (48km) of bike trails.

If exploring on two wheels is your thing, head to Hidden Trails Campsite, where you’ll find mountain bikes, electric bikes and more – with trails to match. There’s 30mi of trail on the 1,800-acre (728ha) private ranch, as well as the nearby Downieville Downhill and Mills Peak. When you’ve had enough of riding, stretch your legs with a hike to Beckwourth Peak. The comfortable campsite features Tentrr signature kit, including a canvas tent with queen-size bed and timber deck.

Combine an urban escape with world-class vineyards in Santa Rosa, a city at the heart of Sonoma County’s wine country, just 55mi (89km) from San Francisco. Discover the local produce and wine at restaurants such as the Michelin-starred Farmhouse Inn or Willi’s Wine Bar, and explore the great outdoors – the city boasts an extensive trail system, 66 parks, six lakes and is just moments from the dramatic Pacific coastline. Immerse yourself in the local food and wine scene by pitching a tent at Mystic Mountain Tent Camp, a working farm surrounded by vineyards.

While the town of Los Gatos, in the San Francisco Bay Area, might be best known as part of Silicon Valley (it’s where Netflix is headquartered), it also sits in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. This expanse of wilderness offers the perfect antidote to city life, and boasts beautiful campsites, such as Sunrise Point. In Los Gatos itself, you’ll find everything from hiking and biking to wine tasting and yoga. Make sure to visit Vasona Lake County Park, which hosts free concerts every Saturday in June and July.

Pitch a tent above the fog and clouds at this campsite in the Santa Cruz Mountains set 2,000ft (610m) above sea level. This site, among majestic mature trees, is notable as the location where Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English translated the religious text Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu between 1968 and 1972. It’s also where the San Lorenzo River originates as a slight trickle during heavy rains. Take in the sunrise or listen to the sounds of birdsong from one of the benches on the surrounding hiking trails.

Located at the southern tip of Silicon Valley in the Bay Area, Morgan Hill is one of the most exclusive cities in the country. Not only is it home to some rather palatial residences and the headquarters of several high-tech companies, but also Michelin-starred restaurants, wineries and nature parks – making it an ideal destination for a luxurious romantic getaway. Book a table at Odeum, where chef Sal Calisi serves up Roman and Greek cuisine with a Spanish twist, and try local wines at one of the 15 wineries within 15 minutes of downtown. Then, get back to nature at a nearby glampsite, such as Tule Ranch Deluxe Campsite – think chandeliers, queen-size beds and sun showers.

Seeking a campsite for couples? This glampsite, overlooking a pristine 50 acre eco-ranch on the tip of the San Francisco Bay peninsula, has everything you need for a romantic getaway – a wine-barrel sun shower, running water, an antique picnic table, a swinging chair and a queen-size bed in a palatial canvas tent lit by a chandelier. Find adventure on the adjacent 1,000-acre (405ha) open-space preserve and visit the nearby city of Morgan Hill for wineries, breweries and restaurants.

This city, with small-town vibes, has been known for its wine – particularly reds – since the late 1800s, and today is an epicurean’s paradise, with wineries, breweries and some of the region’s best restaurants. And there’s no better way to experience this wine region than glamping in a vineyard. Grab a cold brew at Spearhead Coffee then head to Los Robles Cafe for a breakfast burrito; for dinner, check out the hot skillet cornbread at the Hatch Rotisserie and Bar. There’s plenty more besides food and drink to keep visitors busy, though, including Franklin Hot Springs and Charles Paddock Zoo.

Pair a spacious canvas tent – equipped with a queen-size bed and timber deck – with views over a working vineyard in the rolling hills of Paso Robles, and you have the perfect recipe for a luxury glamping getaway. Paso Robles downtown is just 20 minutes away, while the beautiful coastal beaches of Moonstone Park are just half an hour’s drive. Fancy getting active on the water? Take a day trip to Morro Bay to rent kayaks at Rock Kayak. Back at the campsite, you might even meet the friendly camp dog, Reina.

This creative community lies in Antelope Valley at the western edge of the Mojave Desert, some 80mi (129km) from Los Angeles. It’s perhaps best known for hosting the annual California Poppy Festival each April, a two-day celebration of the state’s flower. Just west of Lancaster, you’ll find the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, a protected area of more than 1,700 acres planted with native wildflowers. Head 25 minutes west and you’ll find Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles, a protected Joshua tree camping site in front of the snowy Tehachapi Mountains.

In search of the legendary Joshua trees but don’t want to make the trek from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree National Park? This protected 2.5 acre (1ha) site in the Antelope Valley, between the Tehachapi and San Gabriel Mountains, is 50mi (80km) closer – but still feels like the Wild West. You’ll find long dirt roads, tumbleweed and sun-bleached bones, alongside epic landscapes. The quaint town of Neenach is just 20 minutes away and has a general store and cafe that makes a mean breakfast burrito.

Hidden away in the Santa Ynez Valley is this small city known as the “home of split pea soup” thanks to Pea Soup Andersen’s, a popular restaurant for travellers taking Highway 101. As well as some seriously tasty pea soup, Buellton is home to vineyards growing world-class pinot noir and chardonnay – made possible thanks to the region’s year-round sunshine – a botanic garden at River View Park, and countless hiking, biking and horse-riding trails. Camping at the nearby Cactus Flower Ranch is the ideal way to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the region.

Escape the everyday at this 43-acre (17ha) site, which has lots of private spots hidden amid the rolling hills to pitch your own tent or park a small trailer or RV. You’ll need to bring everything you need for your trip – including drinking and washing water, chairs, tables and shade – but you’ll also find a communal campfire pit and BBQ, outdoor shower, outhouse and games room, as well as propane fire pits for hire. For the best and quietest sites, however, head away from the communal areas to the backcountry.

This tiny town in the Cuyama Valley, Santa Barbara County, is just off the historic Route 166, nestled amid mountain ranges, national forests and wildlife refuges. Go hiking in the pristine Los Padres National Forest, discover the cave paintings of Carrizo Plains National Monument, birdwatch at Bitter Creek Wildlife Refuge – where you might even spot an endangered California Condor – or spend the night under the stars at the Ojai Backcountry campsite.

There’s plenty of options for campers of all kinds at this mountain hideaway, nestled between farming communities and Los Padres National Forest. Choose from four different types of tipi, or bring your own tent or RV, and enjoy the remote surroundings, which are home to mountain lions, bobcats, wild horses and coyotes. Hikers will love Los Padres National Forest, which is home to more than 200 different trails, as well as four hot springs open to visitors.

Valley Center, one of San Diego County’s oldest towns, is known today for its wineries, breweries and organic farms. Discover the town’s rich past – and the smallest post office in the world – at the Valley Center History Museum; learn all about otters at Nurtured by Nature, which also offers a close-up swimming encounter with otters; and stock up on nuts from around the world at Bates Nut Farm. There’s also a wide choice of campgrounds in and around the town, including the secluded Chandelier Springs Creekview.

The Campkeeper of this forested backcountry site is Doug, a musician who believes in the power of camping to inspire creativity – and it doesn’t get much more inspiring than Chandelier Springs Creekview. The seriously secluded campsite overlooks a year-round stream and you’ll need to bring everything you need with you. Enjoy hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as a number of wineries and farmer’s markets within 15mi (24km) of the site.

The artsy town of Joshua Tree is located just outside the famous Joshua Tree National Park, which spans the Colorado and Mojave Deserts and is dotted with its namesake trees. The area has been attracting creatives and musicians since the Sixties and is still a haven for live music – check out Pappy & Harriet’s in nearby Pioneertown. The real highlight here, however, is the spectacular landscape, which is dotted with plenty of inspiring camping sites set among dramatic rock formations. Take J Tree Boulder Garden, set on a boulder-studded hillside just outside the park. Just make sure to book in advance, as camping is a popular option here.

Sleep under the stars at the edge of Joshua Tree National Park at this 2.5-acre (1ha) kid- and pet-friendly campsite. The boulder-dotted hillside site features several natural terraces that make perfect flat sleeping surfaces, and it boasts an outhouse with some seriously enviable views. Keep in mind that cars aren’t able to reach the campsite itself so you’ll need to hike the rest of the way – gear included. Just follow the cairns (rock stacks) and you’ll be there in about five minutes.