Home to 840 miles of coastline, 280 state parks, and nine national parks, the Golden State has plenty of picturesque campgrounds on offer. Here are a few of our favorites.
Camping is a great way to get outside and drink in the views. While some campgrounds are located in a dirt parking lot, others offer stunning views with endless outdoor activities at your fingertips.
And as the fourth-largest state in the U.S., California has more to boast than most: 163,695 square miles; hundreds of state parks, state beaches, and state forests; and, according to the LA Times, over 13,000 campsites.
Here are seven California campgrounds that you’ll be dying to write home about. We’ve also included where they are located, as well as must-have info to prepare for your visit.
The Most Scenic Campgrounds in California
Moro Campground, Crystal Cove State Park
![Crystal Cove State Park Moro Campground - Crystal Cove State Park Moro Campground](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/04/Crystal-Cove-State-Park-Moro-Campground.jpg)
Located in Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach, Moro Campground is perched atop a hill with panoramic views of the ocean. The campground offers options for tents and RVs, and it provides easy access to the coast and the canyon.
If you’re feeling adventurous, Moro Campground also has three primitive hike-in sites: Deer Canyon Campground, Upper Moro Campground, and Lower Moro Campground. These campgrounds are all worthy of a visit, but when it comes to views, the bluff campsites are the best.
Crystal Cove is home to 3.2 miles of coastline, 46 historic beachfront cottages, and 2,400 acres of backcountry wilderness, so there is no short supply of outdoor activities available. Laguna Beach is also home to numerous art galleries, shops, and fun restaurants, so a trip into town is definitely worthwhile.
- Operating season: year-round
- Number of sites: 32 primitive sites, 27 hookup sites, 30 non-hookup sites, 6 ADA-accessible sites
- Fee: $25-75/night
Housekeeping Camp, Yosemite National Park
- Operating season: April 8-October 11, 2022
- Number of sites: 266 units/sites, with ADA available upon request
- Fee: $100-150/night
Morro Bay State Park Campground, Morro Bay
![Morro Bay State Park Campground - Morro Bay Morro Bay State Park Campground - Morro Bay](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/04/Crystal-Cove-State-Park-Moro-Campground-.jpg)
- Operating season: year-round
- Number of sites: 134 campsites (includes 30 RV hookup and 12 ADA-accessible sites)
- Fee: $35/night, $50/night for hookups
Hidden Valley Campground, Joshua Tree National Park
- Operating season: year-round
- Number of sites: 44 sites (tents and RVs)
- Fee: first-come, first-serve, $15/night
Pfeiffer Big Sur, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
![Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/04/Pfeiffer-Big-Sur-State-Park.jpg)
- Operating season: year-round
- Number of sites: 189 sites (tents and RVs) and one cabin
- Fee: $5 for hike-in/bike-in site, $35/night for a standard site, $50/night for hookups
- Maximum stay: yes, 7 nights max during busy season (30-day cap stay per year)
Rippers Cove, Catalina Island
![Rippers Cove - Catalina Island Rippers Cove - Catalina Island](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/04/Rippers-Cove-Catalina-Island.jpg)
- Operating season: year-round
- Number of sites: 3 boat-in only sites (meaning you either must boat, kayak, or SUP)
- Fee: $23/night/person
Mill Creek Campground, Redwood National Park and State Parks
- Operating season: May-September
- Number of sites: 145 sites for tents, RVs, and trailers, and 6 ADA-accessible sites
- Fee: $7/night hike-in sites, $35/night standard sites