Campgrounds in SoCal: Best Family Options
Camping in Southern California is truly the best. We have it all–mountain camping, beach camping, desert camping, and even camping smack in the middle of various cities. So, whether you’re a brand-new camper or a seasoned vet looking for fun, new places for the family, you can find a good option for you and your family at one of these awesome campgrounds in SoCal.
I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite Southern California family campgrounds below, in no particular order. To be honest, I have a hard time choosing my favorite because they’re all pretty awesome. It really just depends on what you’re looking for and what time of year you’ll be camping. These campgrounds have amenities and activities that are extra fun for the kiddos. Hence why they are the best campgrounds in SoCal for families.
If you want to explore further north, check out this list of the best campgrounds in Northern California.
🌊 Campland on the Bay – San Diego
Located on the shores of Mission Bay, Campland on the Bay is a family favorite. And there is plenty to do there. The campground has more than 500 sites for tents and RVs. And amenities include a skate park, swimming pools, beach volleyball courts, bike rentals, and more. The campground also features an on-site restaurant, convenience store, Wi-Fi, marina with rental slips, fitness center, and dog park.
🏕️ Yucaipa Regional Park – San Bernardino County – One of the best campgrounds in SoCal with water slides
Yucaipa Regional Park is perfect for families seeking both relaxation and recreation. The campground offers full hook-up, spacious sites, play structures, a frisbee golf course, and a lake for fishing and pedal boats. During the summer months, there’s a swim complex (for an additional charge) with water slides that you can access. There are also nearby hiking trails.
This campground is right in the middle of a city, so if you forget something, it’s easy to run to a store. But if you’re looking for a remote destination, this won’t be the pick for you. Read more about this campground here.
🌲 Dos Picos County Park – Ramona
Nestled in a peaceful valley, Dos Picos County Park offers a serene camping experience. The park features cabins, tent, and RV sites, along with a playground, hiking trails, and picnic areas. It’s an ideal spot for families looking to unwind in nature. And it’s just far away enough that you feel removed from the busyness, but still convenient to sneak away to for a couple of nights.
Read more about this campground here.
🌄 Hurkey Creek Park – Mountain Center
Situated near Idyllwild, Hurkey Creek Park provides a tranquil forest setting with tent and RV sites. There are a lot of excellent trails to hike or bike nearby. And the creek is a refreshing place to hang out for the day. We loved the amount of wide-open grassy space for the kids to play some football. And there is a play structure on site. This campground is known for its scenic beauty and peaceful atmosphere.
You can read more about this campground here.
🚣♀️ Lake Hemet Campground – Riverside County – One of the best campgrounds in SoCal on a lake
Lake Hemet Campground is a lakeside retreat offering fishing, kayaking, and a seasonal swim area at the lake. The campground provides tent, RV, and cabin rentals, along with amenities like flush toilets, showers, fire rings, picnic tables, and BBQ grills. There are common spaces that offer basketball, volleyball, tetherball, and a dog park. And families can also enjoy the on-site store, playground, and dog-friendly beach.
Read more about the Lake Hemet campground here.
🏖️ Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina – Newport Beach
For a blend of outdoor adventure and resort-style comfort, Newport Dunes offers beachfront access, a massive inflatable water park, swimming pools, hot tubs, a playground, and water sports rentals. Families can choose from beachfront cottages, spacious RV sites, and enjoy movie nights on the beach during summer. There is a restaurant on site as well. This is perfect for someone who wants the amenities (and the cost) of a resort, but the experience of a camping trip.
Read more about our experience there.
🌳 Serrano Campground – Big Bear Lake
Located near the shore of Big Bear Lake, Serrano Campground offers tent and RV sites with amenities like hot showers and full hook-ups. Families can enjoy activities such as swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. The mountains are the perfect place to escape to when seeking a sky full of starts and some peaceful nights.
The Serrano Campground also hosts campfire interpretive programs, which can be fun for families. This is one of the most popular campgrounds in Big Bear and is very popular in the summer and fall months.
🌅 Crystal Cove State Park – Laguna Beach – One of the best beach campgrounds in SoCal
Crystal Cove State Park’s Moro Campground allows families to camp along the Pacific coastline. The park features 57 family campsites with picnic tables, restrooms, and showers. Activities include swimming, biking, hiking, surfing, and sunbathing. And during low tides, you can find some good tide pools. This campground is extremely popular and books up 6 months in advance, especially during the summer months. But if you can score a campsite there, you won’t be disappointed.
Check out other great beach campgrounds in Southern California.
🏕️ Rancho Jurupa Park – Riverside
Rancho Jurupa Park offers a range of family-friendly amenities, including a splash pad, mini-golf, and proximity to the city of Riverside. The campground accommodates both tents and RVs, making it a convenient option for families. Kids can enjoy the play structure and grassy areas. And because this campground is in the middle of a city, it’s easy to run to a store or go out to grab a bite to eat.
🌵 Agua Caliente County Park – Julian – One of the best desert campgrounds in SoCal
Nestled in the Anza-Borrego Desert, Agua Caliente County Park offers a unique desert camping experience, renowned for its natural hot springs and rugged beauty. This campground feels like a true escape, and the limited to non-existent cell service provides a true escape. The park features 142 campsites, including full and partial hook-up sites for RVs, tent-only sites, and seven temperature-controlled cabins.
One of the biggest highlights of this campground is the access to three spring-fed pools: an indoor therapeutic spa, an outdoor swimming pool, and a children’s wading pool. The park also offers many hiking trails, picnic areas, shuffleboard, horseshoe pits, and a group campsite.
Read more about the Agua Caliente campground here.
More Camping Resources:
- One Pot Dishes for Camping
- What You Need in Your Camping Kitchen
- Camping Games the Whole Family Will Love
- What to do When Camping
- Best Campgrounds in SoCal For Fall Camping
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Jaime
Thanks for reading my post. My name is Jaime and I am a mom to three busy children. When we're not at the soccer and football fields, we try to get away as often as possible. I'm a teacher and my husband is a firefighter, so we mostly get away for long weekends or over the school breaks. I hope to inspire busy families to take time to recoup and relax while making memories on camping trips or cruise ships, or at the fancy resort pool--we love it all! Follow me on Instagram for real-time inspiration.
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