Skip to main content
Best Campgrounds

Home / Best Campgrounds by State / California

Best Campgrounds in California

best campgrounds in California

A field-guide comparison of ten California campgrounds ranging from Lake Tahoe resort-adjacent tent sites to high-desert equestrian camps, ranked by what they offer different kinds of trips.

California camping covers a lot of ground: Lake Tahoe beaches, Sierra river corridors, group sites, RV-friendly resorts, and a few very specific setups like horse camps. I would start by matching the campground style to the trip you actually want, then use site count, amenities, vehicle limits, and booking rules to narrow the choices.

8 min readUpdated: Jul 8, 202610 campgrounds
View of Lake Tahoe from the lodges at Meeks Bay Resort
Meeks Bay Resort on Lake Tahoe's west shore

Quick Picks

  1. 01

    Most versatile

    Meeks Bay Resort

    99 sites spanning cabins, full-hookup RV sites, and tent sites with a 60-foot max vehicle length

  2. 02

    Best tent-only Tahoe spot

    Badgers Den at Camp Richardson Resort

    84 tent sites with walkable beach access and resort amenities like a general store, marina, and showers

  3. 03

    Equestrian pick

    AGNEW HORSE CAMP

    Four equestrian sites with horse corrals and direct access to Ansel Adams Wilderness trails

How These Campgrounds Compare

I would narrow California by trip style first. Meeks Bay and Badgers Den have the most capacity, while Dark Day and Agnew Horse Camp are small, specialized picks. Badgers Den is tent-only, Meeks Bay is the best fit here for larger RVs with full hookups, Kirch Flat and Red Fir work for group trips, and Agnew Horse Camp is the clear equestrian option. Los Prietos needs a direct vehicle-length check before you plan around it.

Cabin stay

1. Choosing by region and trip style

Gadu, Washoe Summer House
Meeks Bay Resort
Lake Tahoe dominates this list with two campgrounds: Meeks Bay Resort on the west shore and Badgers Den at Camp Richardson on the south shore. The Sierra Nevada foothills and high country are represented by Frenchman, Indian Springs, Robinson Creek North, Red Fir, and Agnew Horse Camp. Southern California appears once with Los Prietos near Santa Barbara, and the Central Valley foothills have Kirch Flat on the Kings River. Dark Day rounds out the list near Bullards Bar Reservoir north of Nevada City.
Tahoma, CABest months: Check current operating dates before travelReservable
View campground details

RV and tent

2. What to verify before booking

Badgers Den at Camp Richardson Resort campground site
Badgers Den at Camp Richardson ResortTent sites at Badgers Den, Camp Richardson Resort
Before booking, I would double-check the details that can make or break a California trip: current season dates, road access, check-in times, and vehicle limits. Los Prietos especially needs a call or official-page check before you rely on the vehicle-length number, and Red Fir's check-in/check-out times are worth confirming too. Treat this guide as a shortlist, then verify the final details with Recreation.gov or the managing forest office.
South Lake Tahoe, CABest months: Check current operating dates before travelReservable
View campground details

RV and tent

3. Reservability and booking logistics

Robinson Creek North campground with Jeffrey pines
ROBINSON CREEK NORTHRobinson Creek North near Bridgeport
All ten campgrounds are reservable. Most use Recreation.gov as the booking provider, while Indian Springs also offers direct booking through its own website. Meeks Bay Resort has the most complex booking policy, requiring a 50% non-refundable down payment with the balance due 30 days before check-in. Frenchman only makes 12 of its 38 sites reservable during peak season, with the rest available first-come. For small campgrounds like Dark Day (10 sites) and Agnew Horse Camp (4 sites), booking early is especially important.
BRIDGEPORT, CABest months: Check current operating dates before travelReservable
View campground details

What to Pack

  • Bring all supplies if staying at Kirch Flat, which has no running water, no cell service, and nearest services 45 miles away in Sanger
  • Pack bear-proof food storage if heading to Badgers Den, though bear-proof lockers are provided at each site
  • Verify whether you need shower tokens at Meeks Bay Resort, where hot private showers require token purchase
  • Bring garbage bags to Kirch Flat, where campers are explicitly asked to pack out all trash and food
  • Check road conditions before driving to Agnew Horse Camp or Red Fir, as both involve narrow or seasonal access roads at high elevation

Featured basecamps

Top Campgrounds

Gadu, Washoe Summer HouseCabin stay#1

Meeks Bay Resort

Tahoma, CA
Price unknownBookable

Best for: Cabin campers comparing California options near Tahoma.

  • 99 sites
  • Cabin option
  • Reservable

Meeks Bay Resort has 99 sites with cabin options; confirm booking details before travel.

View campground details
ROBINSON CREEK NORTH campground photoRV and tent#3

ROBINSON CREEK NORTH

BRIDGEPORT, CA
Price unknownBookable

Best for: Rv and Tent campers comparing California options near BRIDGEPORT.

  • 53 sites
  • Rv and Tent option
  • Reservable

ROBINSON CREEK NORTH has 53 sites with rv and tent options; confirm booking details before travel.

View campground details
FRENCHMAN Entrance SignRV and tent#4

FRENCHMAN

BLAIRSDEN, CA
Price unknownBookable

Best for: Rv and Tent campers comparing California options near BLAIRSDEN.

  • 38 sites
  • Rv and Tent option
  • Reservable

FRENCHMAN has 38 sites with rv and tent options; confirm booking details before travel.

View campground details
Indian Springs EntranceRV and tent#5

INDIAN SPRINGS

Nevada City, CA
Price unknownBookable

Best for: Rv and Tent campers comparing California options near Nevada City.

  • 36 sites
  • Rv and Tent option
  • Reservable

INDIAN SPRINGS has 36 sites with rv and tent options; confirm booking details before travel.

View campground details
LOS PRIETOS campground photoRV and tent#6

LOS PRIETOS

SANTA BARBARA, CA
Price unknownBookable

Best for: Rv and Tent campers comparing California options near SANTA BARBARA.

  • 38 sites
  • Rv and Tent option
  • Reservable

LOS PRIETOS has 38 sites with rv and tent options; confirm booking details before travel.

View campground details
Bullards BarTent camping#7

Dark Day Campground

Camptonville, CA
Price unknownBookable

Best for: Tent campers comparing California options near Camptonville.

  • 10 sites
  • Tent option
  • Reservable

Dark Day Campground has 10 sites with tent options; confirm booking details before travel.

View campground details
RED FIR campground photoGroup option#9

RED FIR

Camino, CA
Price unknownBookable

Best for: Group and Tent campers comparing California options near Camino.

  • 1 site
  • Group and Tent option
  • Reservable

RED FIR has 1 site with group and tent options; confirm booking details before travel.

View campground details
AGNEW HORSE CAMPCampground#10

AGNEW HORSE CAMP

MAMMOTH LAKES, CA
Price unknownBookable

Best for: Equestrian campers comparing California options near MAMMOTH LAKES.

  • 4 sites
  • Equestrian option
  • Reservable

AGNEW HORSE CAMP has 4 sites with equestrian options; confirm booking details before travel.

View campground details

When to go

Treat every California pick here as season-sensitive until you confirm current dates. High-elevation places like Agnew Horse Camp (8,376 ft) and Robinson Creek North (7,119 ft) can have summer-only access or road closures, while lower foothill sites may be more comfortable outside peak heat. Check the official Recreation.gov or forest service page before booking.

Family fit

Families will find the most site availability at Meeks Bay Resort (99 sites) and Badgers Den at Camp Richardson (84 sites), both on Lake Tahoe with amenities like fire pits, picnic tables, and hiking trails. Meeks Bay offers the broadest site mix with cabins, RV sites with full hookups, and tent sites, though its no-pets policy is a dealbreaker for families traveling with dogs. Dark Day Campground has only 10 tent sites near Bullards Bar Reservoir with a boat ramp, which could suit a small family fishing trip but limits availability.

Adult fit

Adults looking for quieter or more specialized trips have several options. Kirch Flat Group Campground is a single group site on the Kings River with light usage and no cell service, suited for a self-contained group trip. Red Fir is a primitive group campground at Loon Lake with one accessible site. Agnew Horse Camp is an equestrian-only camp with just four sites near the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Indian Springs offers walk-to tent sites along the South Yuba River with OHV trail access, which could appeal to adults who want a mix of river time and off-road riding.

More campground guides

Keep planning with other published state and topic guides.

Browse all guides
View of Lake Tahoe from the Lodges
RV

Best RV Campgrounds in California

Compare California RV campgrounds with approved images by hookups, length notes, site counts, and booking caveats.

7 campgrounds

Camper van at the Gros Ventre Campground
Activity

Best Campgrounds for Fishing

Campgrounds with fishing amenities, boat ramps, and named waters, from Lake Tahoe to the Rio Grande. Compare site types, hookups, and access before booking.

10 campgrounds

Meeks Bay Resort Entrance Sign
Activity

Best Campgrounds for Hiking

Compare US campgrounds with hiking access, from wilderness trailheads to lakeside loops, and see what to verify before booking.

10 campgrounds

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to camp at these California campgrounds?â–¼

I would be especially careful with high-elevation sites like Agnew Horse Camp (8,376 ft) and Robinson Creek North (7,119 ft), where summer-only access can be a real constraint. Kirch Flat is more comfortable in spring and fall because summer heat can be intense. Check the official Recreation.gov or forest service page for current operating dates before planning.

How early should I reserve a campsite in California?â–¼

Most of these California picks can be reserved through Recreation.gov or direct booking. Meeks Bay Resort requires a non-refundable 50% down payment with the remaining balance due 30 days before check-in, so book well ahead. Frenchman only makes part of its campground reservable during peak season, and small places like Dark Day or Agnew Horse Camp are worth reserving as early as the booking window allows.

How do I choose between RV-friendly and tent-only campgrounds on this list?â–¼

Meeks Bay Resort is the strongest RV option here, with full hookups and a 60-foot maximum vehicle length. Frenchman, Dark Day, and Robinson Creek North can also work for RVs, while Badgers Den is tent-only. Los Prietos needs a direct vehicle-length check before you plan around it. Indian Springs and Robinson Creek North accept both RVs and tents but do not offer hookups.