Camping Northern California means choosing between ancient redwood forests, volcanic landscapes, wild Pacific coastline, alpine lake shores, and high desert — all within a few hours of each other. No other region in the country packs this much camping variety into a single geographic area. Whether you’re planning a weekend escape from the Bay Area or a two-week road trip up the coast, camping Northern California delivers world-class outdoor experiences at every turn. Here are 12 of the best spots organized by region.
Camping Northern California — Redwood Coast
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
The finest redwood camping in California. Jedediah Smith sits along the crystal-clear Smith River surrounded by towering old-growth coast redwoods — the tallest trees on Earth. The 86-site campground has excellent facilities and direct access to the famous Howland Hill Road drive through the ancient grove. Swimming in the emerald river is extraordinary in summer. Camping Northern California doesn’t get more iconic than waking up surrounded by 2,000-year-old trees. Book through ReserveCalifornia 6 months in advance.
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Two distinct experiences in one park — the main forest campground under old-growth redwoods and Gold Bluffs Beach campground on a dramatic black sand beach backed by bluffs. Roosevelt elk roam freely through both areas and regularly wander through campsites. Fern Canyon — the fern-covered prehistoric gorge that appeared in Jurassic Park 2 — is accessible from the beach campground. High clearance vehicles are recommended for the Gold Bluffs Beach road.
Patrick’s Point State Park
One of the most beautiful coastal campgrounds in Northern California. Patrick’s Point sits on a rocky headland above the Pacific near Trinidad with stunning ocean views, dramatic tide pools at Agate Beach, and 2 miles of coastal trails. Agates and jade stones wash up on the beach after storms. Less crowded than the major redwood parks and equally spectacular.
Camping Northern California — Lost Coast and Humboldt
A.W. Way County Park
The best car camping base for the Lost Coast — arguably the wildest and most dramatic stretch of California coastline. This 37-site county park sits along the Mattole River with hot showers and flush toilets, rare luxuries in this remote region. First-come, $25 per night, almost never full. Camping Northern California on the Lost Coast puts you in one of the least-visited and most extraordinary places in the state.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Multiple campgrounds line the South Fork Eel River through a corridor of the world’s finest old-growth redwoods. The Avenue of the Giants runs 31 miles through the park. Albee Creek campground is the most scenic — shaded sites on a historic homestead with direct river access. The Rockefeller Forest nearby is the largest contiguous old-growth redwood forest in the world.
Camping Northern California — Lassen and Shasta
Manzanita Lake Campground — Lassen Volcanic National Park
The crown jewel of camping Northern California’s volcanic region. This 179-site campground sits on the shore of Manzanita Lake with perfect reflections of Lassen Peak at sunrise. Hiking access to volcanic features — boiling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, and lava flows — is unparalleled. Book at recreation.gov 6 months out for summer weekends.
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
Theodore Roosevelt reportedly called Burney Falls the eighth wonder of the world — a 129-foot curtain of water that flows at 100 million gallons per day even in drought conditions. The campground sits steps from the falls with Lake Britton nearby for swimming and boating. One of the most family-friendly campgrounds in all of Northern California.
Castle Crags State Park
Dramatic granite spire scenery below Mount Shasta, with a fraction of Yosemite’s crowds. The campground sits along the Sacramento River with excellent trail access to the Castle Crags Wilderness. The combination of the crags, the river, and views of Mount Shasta makes this one of the most underrated camping Northern California destinations.
Camping Northern California — Lake Tahoe and Sierra
D.L. Bliss State Park
The premier campground on western Lake Tahoe’s shore — many sites have direct lake views, and the sandy beaches are steps from camp. This is peak-demand camping that books instantly when the 6-month window opens. The lake clarity and color here — a deep blue-green that looks almost tropical — makes camping Northern California at Tahoe a genuinely extraordinary experience.
June Lake Campground
The most intimate and beautiful lakeside camping on the June Lake Loop in the Eastern Sierra. 28 aspen-shaded sites along the shore of June Lake at 7,600 feet with marina access, fishing, and the small mountain town within walking distance. Camping Northern California’s Eastern Sierra region from June Lake delivers stunning mountain scenery, fall color, and far fewer crowds than Mammoth Lakes.
Camping Northern California — Wine Country and Coast
Salt Point State Park
Two campgrounds on the rugged Sonoma coast — Woodside inland in mixed forest and Gerstle Cove on the coast above extraordinary tide pools and kelp forests. The abalone diving here was legendary before the closure, and the coastal scenery remains world-class. Two hours north of San Francisco and consistently undervisited. One of the best coastal camping Northern California options in the entire region.
Austin Creek State Recreation Area
Remote backcountry camping in the hills above Guerneville in western Sonoma County just 90 minutes from San Francisco. The 4WD-only primitive sites are among the most secluded in the Bay Area region. The main campground at Bullfrog Pond is accessible to all vehicles. Camping Northern California wine country puts you within easy reach of Russian River wineries, redwood groves, and the Sonoma coast.
Camping Northern California — Practical Planning Guide
Reservations for state park campgrounds open 6 months in advance through ReserveCalifornia. National forest and BLM sites book through recreation.gov. The most competitive campgrounds — D.L. Bliss, Jedediah Smith, Manzanita Lake — require booking the moment your window opens. Set calendar alerts for exactly 6 months before your target dates.
Best overall season for camping in Northern California is late May through early October. The redwood coast is excellent year-round, but can be rainy from November through March. Higher elevation Sierra and Cascade campgrounds are typically only accessible from May through October.
Bears are active throughout the Northern California camping regions — use bear boxes at every campground and never leave food in your vehicle at any campground from the Lost Coast to the Eastern Sierra.
Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most camping Northern California destinations outside the main highway corridors. Download offline maps and your reservation confirmation before leaving cell coverage.
You Might Also Like:
For more Northern California camping guides see our posts on Alabama Hills Lone Pine California — The Complete Visitor’s Guide, and Best Campgrounds in Northern California — 15 Sites Worth the Drive, Car Camping Point Reyes California — The Complete Guide.
0 Comments