KOA Campgrounds in California

Campgrounds in California

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Camping in California

When you want to get outdoors and explore natural America, campgrounds in California are some of your best options. Kampgrounds of America offers several places and a variety of ways to camp in California. Plan your inexpensive, exciting adventure today when you search for areas to camp in California at KOA.

Want to explore the great state of California in depth? Register for the KOA Rewards program to save on your next adventure.

Popular California Attractions

  • Joshua Tree National Park
  • Lake Tahoe
  • Hearst Castle
  • Palm Springs Golf Courses
  • San Diego Zoo
  • Point Reyes National Seashore
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium

Find Your California Campground

Avila / Pismo Beach KOA Photo
KOA Holidays
Avila / Pismo Beach KOA
San Luis Obispo, CA
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Bakersfield KOA Journey Photo
KOA Journeys
Bakersfield KOA Journey
Bakersfield, CA
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Banning Stagecoach KOA Journey Photo
KOA Journeys
Banning Stagecoach KOA Journey
Banning, CA
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Barstow / Calico KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Barstow / Calico KOA Holiday
Yermo, CA
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Benbow KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Benbow KOA Holiday
Garberville, CA
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Boulevard / Cleveland National Forest KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Boulevard / Cleveland National Forest KOA Holiday
Boulevard, CA
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Burney Falls / Hat Creek KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Burney Falls / Hat Creek KOA Holiday
Hat Creek, CA
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Cloverdale / Healdsburg KOA Photo
KOA Holidays
Cloverdale / Healdsburg KOA
Cloverdale, CA
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Coleville / Walker KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Coleville / Walker KOA Holiday
Coleville, CA
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Crescent City / Redwoods KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Crescent City / Redwoods KOA Holiday
Crescent City, CA
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Lake Isabella / Kern River KOA Photo
KOA Holidays
Lake Isabella / Kern River KOA
Weldon, CA
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Lake Tahoe KOA Photo
KOA Holidays
Lake Tahoe KOA
South Lake Tahoe, CA
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Lost Hills KOA Journey Photo
KOA Journeys
Lost Hills KOA Journey
Lost Hills, CA
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Manchester Beach / Mendocino Coast KOA Journey Photo
KOA Journeys
Manchester Beach / Mendocino Coast KOA Journey
Manchester, CA
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Moss Landing KOA Express Photo
KOA Holidays
Moss Landing KOA Express
Moss Landing, CA
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Mount Shasta City KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Mount Shasta City KOA Holiday
Mt Shasta, CA
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Mt. Lassen / Shingletown KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Mt. Lassen / Shingletown KOA Holiday
Shingletown, CA
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Needles KOA Journey Photo
KOA Journeys
Needles KOA Journey
Needles, CA
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Oroville / Feather Falls Casino KOA Journey Photo
KOA Journeys
Oroville / Feather Falls Casino KOA Journey
Oroville, CA
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Palm Springs / Joshua Tree KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Palm Springs / Joshua Tree KOA Holiday
Desert Hot Springs, CA
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Parker Strip / Colorado River KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Parker Strip / Colorado River KOA Holiday
Earp, CA
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Red Bluff KOA Journey Photo
KOA Journeys
Red Bluff KOA Journey
Red Bluff, CA
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Salinas / Monterey KOA Photo
KOA Holidays
Salinas / Monterey KOA
Salinas, CA
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San Diego Metro KOA Resort Photo
KOA Resorts
San Diego Metro KOA Resort
Chula Vista, CA
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San Francisco North / Petaluma KOA Photo
KOA Holidays
San Francisco North / Petaluma KOA
Petaluma, CA
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Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
Watsonville, CA
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Santa Cruz North / Costanoa KOA Photo
KOA Holidays
Santa Cruz North / Costanoa KOA
Pescadero, CA
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Santa Margarita KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Santa Margarita KOA Holiday
Santa Margarita, CA
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Temecula KOA at Vail Lake Photo
KOA Holidays
Temecula KOA at Vail Lake
Temecula, CA
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Trinity Lake KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Trinity Lake KOA Holiday
Trinity Center, CA
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Ventura Ranch KOA Holiday Photo
KOA Holidays
Ventura Ranch KOA Holiday
Santa Paula, CA
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Visalia / Sequoia National Park KOA Journey Photo
KOA Journeys
Visalia / Sequoia National Park KOA Journey
Visalia, CA
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Choose a Variety of Ways to Stay

The idea of camping in California means different things to different people. You’ll find plenty of different ways to camp when you choose to camp at a KOA campground. Your options include:

  • Tent camping: At KOA, you’ll find traditional Tent Sites where you can pitch your tent and enjoy nature. For many, tent camping is the essence of the camping experience, and KOA accommodates that essential experience with some of the best tent camping sites you’ll find in California complete with great campground amenities.
  • Cabin camping: KOA also offers Camping Cabins for those who want to pack a little lighter. Get all the benefits of camping while enjoying an elevated camping experience when you choose a Camping Cabin at KOA.
  • Deluxe Cabin camping: Take your camping to the next level with the Deluxe Cabins. These types of cabins offer additional amenities like a private bathroom, and often kitchenettes, linens and more.
  • RVing: When you need a place to hook up your RV and enjoy a night in a safe, comfortable and clean RV Site, choose RV campgrounds in California at KOA. At some KOA campgrounds you will even find KOA Patio Sites®. Stay for a night on your way to your final destination or stay for an extended period of time — the possibilities are endless!
  • Unique lodging: Many KOA campgrounds also offer unique lodging, including teepees, Airstreams, yurts, Glamping Tents and more!

No matter how you choose to camp in California, you will enjoy clean and convenient lodging and a customer-focused experience when you decide to make your camping reservations at KOA.

Camp Near Popular California Attractions

Camping will be an enjoyable experience for the whole family, no matter where you choose to stay. It's even more exciting when you're close to California attractions — places where you and your whole family can see something interesting, experience history or otherwise make memories and have fun.

California has many popular attractions for families to visit, including Lake Tahoe, Joshua Tree National Park, the renowned golf courses of Palm Springs, Monterey Bay and its world-class aquarium, the San Diego Zoo, Hearst Castle and so many others.

Whether you’re interested in camping in southern California or northern California, choose KOA for an experience you and your family will never forget.

The Benefits of Staying at a KOA Campground in California

What makes KOA your best option for camping in California? At KOA campgrounds, you have access to an unmatched camping experience, including convenient amenities and plenty of activities. Some of the many features that you’ll find at KOA campgrounds include laundry facilities, playgrounds for the kids, clean bathrooms with hot water and much more.

Many people enjoy camping in California for a variety of different reasons. No matter your reason, you'll enjoy the best possible experience when you choose to stay at KOA. Let loose and have some fun when you select from among KOA's many campgrounds in California.

Make RV, tent, cabin or other camping reservations for your next camping trip in California today!

FAQs for Camping in California

Enjoy the great outdoors while camping in California. The state is a wonderful place to go camping with family or friends. With the various landscapes, from forests and mountains to beaches, you can have fun traveling throughout the state to experience all the different campgrounds.

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, the state's government enacted a stay-at-home order. Following the order, camping became banned in California's national and state parks. As of January 2021, when the stay-at-home order was lifted, camping returned to the parks. You can camp throughout California.

California has great weather year-round, but the best time to visit California is during the summer months, from June to September. The warm weather makes it ideal for travelers to sightsee and spend as much time outside as possible. March to May is also an excellent time to visit the state, but there can still be cooler temperatures in the northern parts.

Some of the summer months, like July, can get hotter, so be careful while camping or traveling.

Finding a campground in California for your next camping trip is easy at KOA. KOA has over 30 campgrounds throughout the state with wonderful campsites and amenities. Whether you're looking for a place to stay for a while or just overnight, there is a campground that has everything you need to be comfortable.

Browse online to find the campground that best suits your needs.

Sometimes, you may have difficulty finding campsites in California. Camping is so popular that the demand for camping sites often exceeds the supply. Depending on the campground, you may have to reserve your campsite months in advance. If you know you're going on a camping trip within the next several months, ensure you have a campsite booked so you do not have to worry about finding a place to stay when it gets closer to your trip.

Reserving your campsite six months in advance is a good way to ensure you get to stay at the campground that best suits your travel plans.

You can camp for free on public lands in California for up to 14 days within a 28-day cycle, whether consecutively or in separate visits. Once your 14 days are complete, if you want to continue camping on public land, you must move to a different area outside a 25-mile radius of your current location. Moving to other sites during extensive camping periods helps preserve the natural land.

Additionally, California's many national parks and forests offer dispersed, or free-of-charge, camping opportunities.

The cost of your campsite while camping at a campground differs based on where you go. The method of camping, whether staying in an RV, tent or cabin, also factors into the price. Typically, the average cost of staying at a campground in California is about $60, with campsites ranging from $35 to $90 per night, depending on whether you're staying at private sites.

If you want to park your RV in California, you must follow the local RV parking rules and regulations during your trip. Most counties have ordinances regarding where you can park RVs and how long. If you aren't planning to stay on a campground, ensure you check the regulations for the county you are traveling to before deciding where to park.

Typically, parking on public streets has restrictions, so check thoroughly to see if you're allowed to park on the road before doing so. The best RV parking solution is to park at a designated RV site or park.

The average cost of parking an RV while camping in California differs depending on where you stay and for how long. Some RV parks could charge $30 to $100 per day. The cost depends on various factors, such as the amenities that come with staying on a campground and the time of year you plan to RV camp. Some places may offer discounts during the slower winter season.

California is a large state with plenty of fun attractions the whole family will love. From the Hollywood sign to Pasadena's Rose Bowl Flea Market, the things you can do are endless. Following are some of the top attractions in the state's different regions:

  • Disneyland and California Adventure: The Disneyland and California Adventure parks are a must-visit for many families. Embrace your inner child while riding rides and indulging in delicious food you can only get at the parks.
  • Golden Gate Bridge: See the iconic Golden Gate Bridge landmark in person during your visit. Take photos that remind you of your favorite sitcom and learn about the bridge's history.
  • San Diego Zoo: Walk around the San Diego Zoo to see and learn about animals and conservation efforts worldwide. Visit the various exhibits or participate in interactive experiences.

Enjoy the beautiful outdoors while spending time in the Golden State. The best outdoor activities in California that locals and visitors have fun doing include:

  • Camping: One of the best ways to spend time outside is camping. You could stay at a campground like one of the many KOA campgrounds throughout California.
  • Hiking: With the unique topography throughout the state and the many parks, you can go hiking with sensational views. Californians and visitors alike love hiking the divergent trails.
  • Surfing: California is the perfect place to surf year-round. Ride the waves or learn how to when you visit. The state has over 400 surfing spots.

Whether you're camping in Northern, Central or Southern California, there are plenty of national parks to hike in when you want to get outdoors. Some of the best national parks in California include:

  • Yosemite National Park: Visit one of the state's most iconic national parks during a trip to Yosemite National Park. While walking around the park, you'll have access to gorgeous sights of waterfalls, deep valleys, meadows and vast sequoia trees.
  • Joshua Tree National Park: Traverse two different desert ecosystems at Joshua Tree National Park. You'll have a chance to see many distinct plants and animals when you hike the varied trails.
  • Redwood National and State Parks: Hike through the tremendous redwood trees at the Redwood National and State Parks. You'll enjoy seeing the diverse landscapes and the tall trees from your vantage point.

There are countless state parks in this state. Some of the best state parks in California that you could visit include:

  • McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park: Go on various hikes and see the beautiful Burney Falls when you take a trip to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Northern California.
  • Bodie State Historic Park: Visit a real ghost town during your trip to the state. Bodie State Historic Park is a preserved ghost town in Central California that used to be active during the gold rush. Once all the gold ran out, the people abandoned it.
  • Anza Borrego Desert State Park: Travel to Southern California to visit the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, where you can see landscapes historically inhabited by local Native Americans. Along with the awestriking views, you'll also see interesting artifacts and art.

Some of the best food in California comes from the melting pot of cultures in the state. Expand your tastes when visiting places such as:

  • Solvang: Find traditional Danish dishes and treats in Solvang, the Danish village in California that takes you to Denmark without leaving the country. Have fun learning about Danish traditions while eating sweet treats.
  • San Francisco's Chinatown: If you travel to San Francisco, visit Chinatown. It is the oldest Chinatown in the United States. There, you'll find delicious, authentic Chinese food.
  • San Diego: Indulge in savory Cal-Mex food, from street tacos and tamales to carnitas and adobada in San Diego. The city's proximity to Mexico makes it popular to get delicious food with heavy Mexican influences.

California Campgrounds Map

Click a neighboring state or province on the map to view campgrounds for that area