Camping with Kids in Southern California

Do you like to camp? Whether you’re looking to go on your first trip, or you're fiftieth, here are some ideas for places to camp in Southern California.

These are places that have come well-recommended by other SoCal families, or are places my own family has visited!

LA County:

• Leo Carrillo State Beach (Malibu) - short walk to the beach!

• Malibu Creek State Park - the rock pool makes the coolest swimming hole!

• Point Mugu State Park - people especially recommend the Sycamore Canyon campsites

• Table Mountain (near Wrightwood) - highly recommended by the SoCal Nature Kids community!

• Camp Williams (near Azusa) - riverfront with amenities like panning for gold!

• Catalina Island - Hermit Gulch campground

OC

• Crystal Cove - Moro Campground - tide pools, ocean, hiking - cabins available too! Very popular

• Newport Dunes - by the beach - inflatables in the summer

• O’Neill Regional Park - hikes, playground, creek

• Doheny State Beach (Dana Point)

• San Clemente State Beach (esp. Holidays RV rental)

• Casper’s Wilderness

Inland Empire:

• Yucaipa Regional Park - good for groups

• Lake Hemet - privately owned, cabins too

• Rancho Jurupa (Riverside) - splash pad, mini golf, near city of Riverside

• Lake Perris

• Lake Skinner (Temecula)

• Vail Lake KOA (Temecula)

• Chino Hills State Park

• Prado Regional Park

• Calico Ghost Town

• Joshua Tree National Park - desert environment, hiking, stargazing. Fall - Spring (skip hot summer). Try Jumbo Rocks or Black Rock campgrounds

• Green Valley Family Campground (near Lake Arrowhead) - hiking, water activities

• Serrano Campground - near Big Bear

• Hurkey Creek (Idyllwild)

• Idyllwild Campground (Mt. San Jacinto)

• Hesperia Lake Park

• Barton Flats

• Dogwood Campground - near Lake Arrowhead

San Diego:

• William Heise (Julian)

• Rancho Cuyamaca (Julian)

• South Carlsbad (cute Camp Store/restaurant here)

• San Elijo State Beach

• San Onofre - Bluff Campground

• Kumeyaay Lake Campground

• Santee Lakes

• Palomar Mountain, esp. Doane Valley Campground

• Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay (RV and cabins only)

• San Diego Metro KOA

• Silver Strand Coronado

• Lake Jennings

• Campland on the Bay

• Mt. Laguna campground

• Anza Borrego: Borrego Palm Canyon Campground or Bow Willow

• La Jolla Indian Campground (Pauma Valley - near Palomar)

• cabins: Dos Picos, Agua Caliente, and Lake Morena

Further North:

• Cachuma Lake (Santa Barbara area) - stunning lake (no body contact).

• Flying Flags - Solvang

• Carpinteria State Beach

• El Capitan State Beach - closed as of 2023 due to flooding

• Lake Casitas Rec Area - Ventura

• McGrath State Beach

• Wheeler Gorge Campground - Ojai - seasonal stream runs through campground (dry in summer)

• KOA at Ventura Ranch

• Kern River Campground - Bakersfield

• Wind Wolves Preserve (free!)

• Jalama Beach - near Santa Barbara. Famous burgers!

Beyond:

• Zion Ponderosa (by Zion National Park - we’ve stayed here several times and enjoyed it - they have glamping, cabins, tent camping, with access to Bryce and Zion.)