North California Family Friendly Campgrounds

The whole family will enjoy exploring the miles of trails through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.  The majestic trees and the peaceful nature setting is a relaxing and rejuvenating place to just enjoy nature.  From mid to late summer, the Smith River water levels are low enough to provide a natural water playground for kids (and adults) of all ages.

There are interpretive programs (summer), fishing, and scenic, foresty campsites.  Camping season is open year-round.  Campground amenities feature clean restrooms and hot showers ($).

RV/Tent/Trailer Sites

Hike/Bike Sites:

Group Camping Site:

Cabins

A low-key, family-friendly campground with large grass and river sites near fishing, hunting and rafting.  Kids will enjoy mini golf, the swimming pool, as well as hiking and biking on nearby trails.  Facilities are on the older side, but campers report that they are well-maintained and clean.

Sites:

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is within the Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau natural region.  There is forest and five miles of streamside and Lake Burney shoreline.  The amazing 129-foot Burney Falls is the centerpiece to this state park.

Kids can swim and wade in both the Falls and Lake Britton.  You can also rent boats (or bring your own) for boating on the lake as well as fishing for trout, bass, bluegill and crappie.  Enjoy a leisurely afternoon picnicking at one of the many family picnic tables near the lake, creek, and visitor center.

There are several hiking trails, including Burney Creek Trail which leads through the backcountry and Pioneer Cemetery Trail – a biking and hiking trail which follows a historic wagon trail to the Pioneer Cemetery.

Tent Sites:

RV/Camper Sites:

Cabins:

Lassen Volcanic National Park campgrounds are located between 5,700 – 6,800 ft – so be prepared for chilly mornings and nights.  There are eight separate campgrounds throughout the park with over 500 campsites.

With over 150 miles of hiking trails, you could quite literally spend a week hiking and never walk the same trail twice.  In the winter snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular.  There are ranger-led programs in both summer and winter for all ages.

8 Campgrounds in Lassen Volcanic

Butte Lake Campground
Open Dates: 5 June – 20 October

Juniper Lake Campground
Open Dates: 26 June – 6 October

Lost Creek Group Campground
Open Dates: 19 June – 22 September

Manzanita Lake Campground
Open Dates: 1 June

Summit Lake NORTH Campground
Open Dates: 26 June – 29 September

Summit Lake SOUTH Campground
Open Dates: 26 June – 29 September

Southwest Walk-In Campground
Open Dates: 1 June

Warner Valley Campground
Open Dates: 12 June – 12 October

The infamous Donner Party’s journey West back in the 1830’s is one of the tales from history that few can forget!  Families can come visit this beautiful state park located just east of the Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada.  Learn more about the Donner tragedy, the Chinese railroad builders, Washoe life, the 1840s emigration and more at the extensive visitors center.

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy fishing for Kokanee salmon and trout from Donner Lake and Donner Creek.  Camping is open Memorial Day to mid-October (weather permitting).  At Donner Lake you can picnic and swim and lounge at the sandy beach.

Camping Sites:

Camp Richardson has plenty of activities for both summer and winter campers.  In the summer there is boating, biking, and hiking, fishing, swimming and more.  In the winter you can cross country ski, snowshoe, ice-skate, and sled!

There is a full-service marina with boat rentals, restaurant on the lake, general store, sports center (where you can rent bikes, paddle boards, and other sporting equipment) and an ice cream shop.

Campsites are walking distance to the lake.

Tent Camping:

RV Camping:

Families who love to explore the outdoors will enjoy this campground set against the background of the Sierra Nevadas.  Summer activities include bike, hike, boat, fish, swim, horseback ride, off-road vehicle, rock climb, and wildlife watch.  Winter activities – show shoeing, hiking, and shivering.  The campground is in the timber belt and is close to Wright lake shore.

Tent Only Camping:

Tent/Trailer/RV Camping:

Equestrian Camping (tent/trailer/RV):

A hidden favorite campground, Silver Lake West is quiet, peaceful, and campsites are private.  The scenery is picturesque and exactly the place to relax and recharge from life.  Kids will enjoy the hiking trails, scrambling on the large boulders, and swimming at nearby Silver Lake.

This is a low-key camping experience for families seeking a special time in nature.

Discount for seniors, disabled, and military.

Tent/Trailer/RV Camping:

Located on the oceanside of Highway 1 adjacent to Gerstle Cove, a State Marine Reserve.  This is a small family-friendly campground with only 30 sites total.

Kids will love exploring the numerous tidal pools during low tide – just be very careful when handling the animal habitats as it is easy to hurt the fragile marine animals.  You can see sea stars, muscles, sea urchins, and tiny young fish who spend their lives in the tide pools.

Divers come from afar to free dive in the healthy kelp forest located in Gerstle Cove.  You can also boat, windsurf, and fish.  Its possible to spot Gray Whale migrations along the coast January – April.

Tent/Trailer/RV Camping:

Sonoma Coast State Park has sandy beaches, secluded coves, rugged headlands, natural arches, a craggy coastline with tide pools and offshore reefs.  Families will enjoy spending their holiday exploring the 16 miles of shoreline along the Pacific Ocean.  From Dec – April there are volunteers at the park to help visitors spot the annual gray whale migration.  Year round you will see harbor seals – with pup season running from Mar- Jun (never approach a seal pup who is alone on the beach – he is just waiting for Mom to come back from feeding in the ocean).

If you have a California fishing license, you can try your luck catching rockfish, perch, salmon, steelhead and smelt.  You can also collect mussels and cockles.  Hike or bring your own horse to enjoy the 5-mile trail system that winds through Bodega Dunes.

Bodega Dunes Campground– the most amenities

Wrights Beach Campground – less fancy, does have bathrooms but no showers

Willow Creek Campground – “Environmental Camp” – primitive, few amenities

Pomo Canyon Campground – “Environmental Camp” – primitive, few amenities

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is home to two groves of giant redwoods.  Families will enjoy the hiking trail that winds through the forest of the mammoth trees.  You can attend interpretive programs taught by park rangers, wildlife lectures, and guided nature walks.  Children ages 7-12 can partake in the Junior Ranger activities and children ages 3-6 can join int the Junior Cubs.

Tent/Trailer/RV Camping:

Pinecrest campground is a popular camping spot for families who want to enjoy playing at Pinecrest Lake.  You can rent small boats, go fishing or swimming, or paddleboard at the lake.  There is a 4-mile hiking trail that circles the lake and a paved biking trail.  Senora Pass is located nearby and is a scenic winding highway that has guided people across the Sierra Nevada since 1852.

Due to the popularity of this campground, you need to make reservations for camping anytime Memorial Day Weekend thru Labor Day Weekend.

Tent/Trailer/RV Camping:

Only 30 minutes away from downtown Oakland, Anthony Chabot Regional Park is a local gem for outdoor recreation.  There is year-round camping near Lake Chabot and over 70 miles of hiking and equestrian trails.  The campground has easy access to all the recreational activities the park has to offer.

RV/trailer campsites:

Hike-in campsites:

Tent Camping/No-hook up camping:

If you’ve got a trip to Yosemite National Park planned, Upper Pines Campground is a great home base for exploring.  You can hike to Half Dome and Glacier Point is also easily accessible.  There is so much to do in Yosemite National Park that a family can stay busy and entertained for an entire week without a problem.  There are trails, rivers, cliffs, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, cross-country skiing, and more.  The possibilities are endless.

We must offer a small word of warning about Upper Pines Campground: Yosemite is a very, very busy park – every year from April to October MILLIONS of people visit the park.  Know ahead of time, there won’t be peace, quiet, and solitude.  Campsites are close together, there are crowds (get up early to beat the rush on the most popular hiking trails), and it can have the general feel of a big festival.

Tent/RV/trailer campsites:

Big Basin Redwoods was established in 1902 and is California’s oldest state park.  The main attraction here are the hundreds of gigantic Redwoods – some trees are more than 50 feet around and as tall as the Statue of Liberty.  The trees are ancient, some estimated at 1,000 to 1,800 years old.

Big Basin has four campgrounds all nestled in the ancient redwoods. There is also a horse camp, a group campground, and backcountry trail camps (reservations required).  There are no longer tent cabins due to the complete loss during recent forest fires.

Standard campsites:

Group Campground:

Horse Camping:

The entire family can fit inside the famous Freemont Tree at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.  The 40-acre grove of old growth redwoods is a majestic backdrop to an easy Redwood Grove Loop trail.  You can also fish catch and release for steelhead in the San Lorenzo River.

Take a ride on the heritage railway with an authentic 1880’s steam locomotives with Roaring Camp Railroad.  Take the 75 minute ride through the ancient redwood forest in the open-air cabins – sure to please any train lovers in your group!

Standard campsites: