Beyond the campgrounds we've selected above, each state has a myriad other campgrounds that feature yurts and cabins - plus tent sites for the warmer regions of California… The Pacific Coast Highway's roadside attractions include pristine beaches, lush forest, wineries, charming towns, and the best oceanfront camping California has to offer. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest adventures, workouts, destinations, and more. Your vehicle is the perfect mobile basecamp to transport you to hidden natural wonders, where time slows down and the only set schedule moves along on its own course. An island camping escape is a mere 50 minute boat ride away from the southern California coast. You'll also find some … Julia Pfeiffer Burns and Andrew Molera State Parks both have walk-in and environmental campsites, but no car camping or dogs are allowed at either. Nestled in a Monterrey pine forest and situated just east of Highway 1, Plaskett Creek Campground is a short walk away from the nearby Sand Dollar Beach and Jade Cove. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it has spots for tent and RV camping. Located just north of Point Conception, near Lompoc, Jalama Beach Park is a county-maintained park that has a store and restaurant area. Flying into lax and renting a van and plan on cruising up and down the coast for 6 days exploring and camping on the beach, or pretty … You’re just along for the ride because you chose to be there, making the drive with enough provisions to see you through on your car-based camp excursion. Read More. Coast to Coast RV Resorts from Good Sam - the largest network of RV resorts and campgrounds across North America offering full service camping facilities and planned activities for families of all ages. All you need is for happenstance to deliver; when you put yourself out there in the unknown, expect the unexpected and enjoy the ride while soaking in the many surprises at some of California’s best car camping locales. The Golden State boasts more than 1,100 miles of breathtaking coastline ideal for you to enjoy camping on the California sand. Dogs are not allowed at environmental sites or on any trails within the state park, but they are allowed at the five horse camps. Directly across the highway from the campground is the Vicente Flats Trailhead, which leads into the Ventana Wilderness. The Los Padres National Forest spans a large portion of the area, lending to nine state parks. McWay Falls—an 80-foot waterfall that drops into a small, remote beach—is one of the most famous landmarks here. PROS: One of coastal California… Erected on a chunk of volcanic rock in 1889, this landmark rises 361 feet above the Pacific. Then, there's the Point Sur Lighthouse in Big Sur. If you do manage to get a spot, aim for sites 34, 35, 36, which offer the best ocean views. Answer 1 of 12: Hi, planning an epic mommy/kid trip in about 2 months. Pismo State Beach has two popular campgrounds that are connected by a nature trail: North Beach and Oceano. Hate car camping? There are 28 RV sites with electricity hookups and a total of 126 campsites with restrooms and showers. North of Morro Bay and south of Cayucos is Morro Strand State Beach Campground, offering classic beachfront camping with 3 miles of state beach and waterfront campsites. It's known for its idealistic location between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the sea and its recognizable Mediterranean-style buildings with red-tile roofs. California’s Mendocino Coast is one of the Pacific Coast Highway’s greatest hidden treasures, and Manchester Beach KOA is located right on the coast of Manchester, Califonia, along a marine tural … The 6 Best Winter Thru-Hiking Trails in the U.S. We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Men's Journal and its partners. Reached via a 1.5-hour ferry ride, the five islands encompassing this offshore national park offer a glimpse of what the California coast looked like hundreds of years ago. Kirk Creek Campground, CA. If you're feeling generous with your funds, you can also opt for a helicopter ride, leaving out of Long … Call ahead when planning your camping locations to make reservations whenever possible. There are 76 standard campsites and restroom facilities, but no showers or hookups. Men’s Journal has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. The Hearst San Simeon State Park and nature preserve is one of the oldest units in the California State Parks System. This region is also known for its hot springs, commercialized by the likes of Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort in Avila Beach, whose in-room hot tubs are filled with natural spring water, and Esalen Institute, which has a communal, cliffside hot pool with an ocean view. Here's a list of some of the best campgrounds in Northern California: Lassen Volcanic National Park 50 miles east of Redding, ... or to simply watch the summer fog roll in and out of the craggy coast. ... Central Coast. Site 21 has the best ocean view and the closest beach access while sites 35 and 23 are the most private and shaded. To get one of the coveted beachfront sites, 53 through 64, you'll have to arrive midweek or patiently wait for a site to vacate; only group sites are available by reservation. 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