California Outdoor Guide: Campgrounds, Trails, Beaches & RV Spots
Key Takeaways
- California is really four outdoor states in one — North Coast/Redwoods, Sierra Nevada/Tahoe, Central Coast/Big Sur, and Southern California/Desert each deliver a completely different trip
- Yosemite Valley and Pfeiffer Big Sur campgrounds release exactly six months ahead and book out in seconds — set a calendar reminder if either is on your list
- Muir Woods requires a mandatory parking or shuttle reservation year-round — there’s no walk-up parking at all
- McWay Falls Overlook Trail in Big Sur has been closed since April 2025 for repairs — check current status before planning a trip around it
Pick One Region, Not the Whole State
California is too big to “do” in one trip. This guide is organized by region on purpose — pick the one that matches what your family actually wants.
North Coast / Redwoods
Campgrounds
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park — Crescent City
Old-growth redwoods along the Smith River, among the best places in the state to camp among genuine giants. Reserve as soon as the window opens.
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Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park — Orick
The Elk Prairie Campground puts you among redwoods with resident Roosevelt elk, and trailheads lead to Fern Canyon and nearby beaches.
Learn moreHiking Trails
Muir Woods Main Trail / Redwood Creek Loop — Mill Valley
A 2-mile easy boardwalk loop through old-growth coast redwoods, stroller-friendly for much of the way. A mandatory parking or shuttle reservation is required year-round — there’s no walk-up parking at all, and it sells out weeks ahead on weekends.
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Fern Canyon Trail — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
A roughly 1.1-mile loop through a fern-walled canyon (the one filmed in Jurassic Park: The Lost World), with stream crossings — bring waterproof shoes. A free day-use permit is required May 15 through September 15.
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Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail — Redwood National and State Parks (Orick)
An easy 1.4-mile loop through misty upland old growth, no permit required — but genuinely crowded, so arrive early for parking.
Learn moreBeaches
Gold Bluffs Beach — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
A wild, elk-frequented beach paired with Fern Canyon — remote and scenic rather than a swimming destination.
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Limantour Beach — Point Reyes
A quieter family alternative with real wildlife visible along the shore.
Learn moreRV Spots
Jedediah Smith & Prairie Creek Redwoods (Elk Prairie)
Both accommodate RVs among the redwoods — book early, and verify rig length and dump-station access, since hookups are limited.
Learn moreSierra Nevada / Lake Tahoe
Campgrounds
Yosemite Valley campgrounds (North Pines, Upper Pines, Lower Pines)
Walking distance to the valley’s main attractions — the most in-demand family camping in California. Reservations release exactly six months out and book in seconds; be online right when the window opens.
Tuolumne Meadows Campground — Yosemite (Tioga Road, 8,600 feet)
A high-country base among granite domes and alpine meadows, for families wanting a cooler, quieter alternative to the valley.
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D.L. Bliss State Park — Lake Tahoe
Classic lakeshore camping on Tahoe’s west side, perfect for summer swimming and access to the Rubicon Trail.
Learn moreHiking Trails
Mirror Lake Trail — Yosemite Valley
An easy roughly 2-mile out-and-back to the base of Half Dome, with genuine boulder-scrambling for kids along the way.
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Lower Yosemite Falls & Bridalveil Fall — Yosemite Valley
Short, paved, stroller-accessible walks to the base of two iconic waterfalls — best in early summer when flow is strongest.
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General Sherman Tree Trail — Sequoia National Park
A 1.1-mile round trip (paved, downhill out and uphill back) to the largest known living single-stem tree on Earth by volume — a genuinely awe-inspiring stop, with an accessible route available.
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Eagle Falls / Eagle Lake Trail — Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe
A roughly 2-mile moderately challenging out-and-back past waterfalls to an alpine lake, requiring a free self-issued day permit. Parking fills by around 8am.
Learn moreBeaches & Lakes
Lake Tahoe — Kings Beach & D.L. Bliss/Lester Beach
Crystal-clear water, sandy shores, and warm-enough summer swimming — Kings Beach specifically noted for its clarity.
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Emerald Bay State Park
Iconic Tahoe scenery paired with the historic Vikingsholm castle at the head of the bay.
Learn moreRV Spots
Yosemite (Upper Pines)
RV-capable, though with no hookups and length limits — book at the six-month mark alongside everyone else.
Learn moreTahoe-area private parks (e.g., Village Camp Truckee)
Modern RV sites near the lake with cabins, for families wanting full-service comfort close to the water.
Central Coast / Big Sur
Campgrounds
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Classic redwood camping with the Big Sur River running through — kids can splash in the shallow sections. Sites release six months to the day and book in seconds.
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Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (environmental sites)
Scenic hike-in camping options for more adventurous families wanting a deeper Big Sur experience.
Learn moreHiking Trails
McWay Falls Overlook — Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Normally a short, easy walk to one of California’s most iconic ocean-plunging waterfalls — but the overlook trail has been closed since April 2025 for a retaining-wall repair. Check current status before planning around it; the falls are viewable only from a Highway 1 pull-off in the meantime.
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Pfeiffer Falls / Valley View Loop — Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
A roughly 2-2.8 mile easy-to-moderate loop to a 60-foot waterfall and a Big Sur Valley overlook. Reopened in July 2025 after a multi-year bridge repair — dogs aren’t allowed, and parking fills early.
Learn moreBeaches
Pfeiffer Beach — Big Sur
Famous for purple-tinged sand and dramatic rock arches — a scenery destination more than a swimming one.
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Natural Bridges State Beach — Santa Cruz
Real tidepools plus a wheelchair and stroller-accessible Monarch Butterfly Preserve boardwalk, active October through April.
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Main Beach — Santa Cruz
Wide, lifeguarded sand backed by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk — a top all-around family choice on this stretch of coast.
Learn moreRV Spots
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Some RV-capable sites with length limits and no hookups — book at the six-month mark.
Learn moreSanta Cruz-area private parks and KOAs
Fuller-hookup options near the boardwalk for families wanting more amenities than the state park offers.
Southern California / Desert
Campgrounds
San Elijo State Beach Campground — Cardiff/Encinitas
Bluff-top oceanfront sites, ideal for boogie boarding, surfing, and biking — a top San Diego-area family beach campground. Book early.
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Jumbo Rocks Campground — Joshua Tree National Park
The park’s most iconic campground, surrounded by boulders, with excellent stargazing. Spring and fall are best — summer heat makes this genuinely difficult.
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Black Rock & Cottonwood — Joshua Tree National Park
The only two campgrounds in the park with running water and flush toilets, making them the most comfortable options for families.
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Lake Hemet — San Jacinto Mountains, near Idyllwild
Spacious lakeside camping with fishing, kayaking, and a summer swimming area — a good pick if you want lake time alongside desert exploring.
Learn moreHiking Trails
Hidden Valley Nature Trail — Joshua Tree National Park
A 1-mile easy loop through a boulder-enclosed valley — genuinely great for kids.
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Barker Dam Trail — Joshua Tree National Park
A roughly 1.1-1.5 mile easy loop to a historic ranching dam that holds water after rain, plus a real Native American petroglyph panel. Go in the morning for the best light and fewer crowds.
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Cholla Cactus Garden — Joshua Tree National Park
A quarter-mile flat, paved loop through dense teddybear cholla — spectacular at sunrise or sunset.
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Ryan Mountain — Joshua Tree National Park
A 3-mile strenuous round trip with about 1,050 feet of gain and no shade, to the park’s best 360-degree panorama. Start early and bring extra water.
Learn moreBeaches
Coronado Beach — San Diego
Sparkling, wide sand by the Hotel del Coronado, with restrooms, showers, and shaded picnic tables — a genuinely great all-around family beach.
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La Jolla Shores — San Diego
Wide beach with gentle waves for swimming and boogie boarding, plus an adjacent playground. La Jolla Cove nearby is the standout snorkeling spot, with calm water and real marine life.
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Zuma Beach — Malibu
Soft sand, multiple lifeguard stations, and a kids’ play area — one of the cleanest beaches in the state. Watch for occasional rip currents, and check for post-fire water-quality advisories before visiting.
Learn moreRV Spots
San Elijo & South Carlsbad State Beaches
Oceanfront RV sites with partial hookups at some spots — the marquee Southern California beach-RV experience. Book far ahead.
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Black Rock & Cottonwood — Joshua Tree National Park
RV-accessible with water and flush toilets, though no hookups — Cottonwood in particular is a genuine family favorite.
Learn morePlanning Your Trip
Pick one region and commit — trying to combine two in a single trip usually means too much driving and not enough time in either place. For the easiest first-time California trip, Southern California’s beaches and Joshua Tree pair well together within a manageable drive. For the biggest “wow” factor, Yosemite anchors the Sierra Nevada region unlike anywhere else in the state — just be online the moment reservations open.