SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAMPING

Southern California is a camping paradise. In many spots, you can camp any time of year without undue discomfort. One exception to that rule is the deserts, where temperatures can be dangerously hot in the summer. Many popular So-Cal sites combine camping with water sports and hiking opportunities. And for city dwellers who want a nearby taste of the outdoors there are good parks close to home. Here we’ve highlighted just a few of the dozens of campgrounds in this area. Wherever you go, always check ahead for space availability.

Desert Camping

Southern California’s deserts offer unparalleled peace, quiet, and recreation areas. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, 90 miles east of San Diego, is the largest state park at 600,000 acres. It offers amazing shows of wildflowers in the spring, a hike through a dry canyon to a waterfall and palm grove, and unsurpassed sunsets from Font’s Point. Other desert areas that offer camping escapes in this part of the state include Joshua Tree and Death Valley national parks.

Colorado River Camping

Going to “the river” is a popular Southern California weekend getaway. Even in the summer you can keep cool by boating, swimming, and riding jet skis. Or you can just float around in an inner tube. The Parker Strip Recreation Area offers an 11-mile drive along the river and includes access to both water and land activities, such as hiking and off-highway vehicle use. Camping facilities range from basic at Picacho State Recreation Area (24 miles north of Winterhaven) to RV resorts such as the Emerald Cove Resort in Earp and the NorthShore Resort near Needles, only 20 minutes from Laughlin, Nevada.

Close-To-the-City Camping

There are numerous campgrounds close to Los Angeles and San Diego. Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is about 50 miles east of San Diego. It offers two campgrounds and hiking trails with spectacular views of the desert to the east and the coast to the west. For fishing and boating, try Santee Lakes Regional Park just 20 minutes from downtown San Diego. In western Los Angeles County, Malibu Creek State Park is a popular park famous as the set of the 1970’s TV series M*A*S*H.