Los Angeles Campgrounds
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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is located between highway 1 and 101 and between Thousand Oaks and Santa Monica. It is an outdoor playground on the edge of a major metropolitan city. The Santa Monica Mountains meet the ocean to the south and rise to over 2,000 feet. Activities include camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, bird & whale watching, swimming, surfing, nature walks and picnicking. Four State Parks are contained within the park including Point Mugu, Malibu Creek, Topanga and Leo Carrillo, which all offer camping. The property has been used by Hollywood over the years to film movies such as M.A.S.H. and Planet of the Apes. You can find peaceful creeks and hidden waterfalls in the many canyons that carve the landscape.
TIP: ParkLink Shuttle offers $1 one way shuttles throughout the Santa Monica Mountains. Hikers and bikers use this service to obtain downhill only excursions.
Santa Monica Mountains NRA
401 West Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91358
(805) 370-2301
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Point Mugu State Park is located off Highway 1 (PCH) 15 miles south of Oxnard. Point Mugu offers beach camping and plenty of hiking and biking trails. Hike up one of two rivers that leads to open meadows and the Boney Mountains State Wilderness. Activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, mountain biking and horseback riding. Point Mugu is comprised of several campgrounds including group, hike or bike and equestrian options. Big Sycamore Canyon and Thornhill Broome offer 127 sites available by reservation. Big Sycamore offers flush toilets, showers and fire rings, but Thornhill Broome is a little more primitive. All sites are RV compatible and a dump station is available at Big Sycamore.
Point Mugu
9000 W. Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, California 90265
Reservations: (800) 444-7275
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Other Ideas Leo Carrillo State Park is located off Highway 1 (PCH) 23 miles south of Oxnard. Point Mugu offers beach camping and 1.5 miles of beachfront. Beach includes a wide sandy beach, tidepools and seacaves. Several nature hikes are available in the adjacent headlands. Park includes a small visitor center offering group activities during the summer months. Other activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, and windsurfing. Canyon campground offers 138 sites for tent or RV. Leo Carrillo also offers hike or bike and group campgrounds. All have flush toilets, showers and fire rings. RV dump station is available and pets are OK.
Leo Carrillo
35000 W. Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, California 90265
Reservations: (800) 444-7275
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Other Ideas Topanga is located off Highway 1 (PCH) north of Santa Monica. Located in the cliffs and canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains, Topanga State Park features 36 miles of trails through canyons and grassland filled with oak trees. Ocean views and breezes can be had throughout the park. The park is popular picnic spot for Los Angeles residents. Acitivities include camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Campground is a primitive, hike-in only camp. No pets or RVs accepted.
Topanga
Topanga, California 90290
No Reservations Required
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Other Ideas Malibu Creek is located off Highway 1 (PCH) in Malibu. The park follows the lush creek bed down from the Santa Monica Mountains into Malibu Lagoon below. Hollywood has taken advantage of its picturesque beauty making it the location of several movies including 'Tarzan' movies, 'Planet of the Apes' and several westerns. Remnants of the set from the television series 'M.A.S.H.' still remain. The beach was used for most of the 60's surf movies like 'Gidget'. Hiking trails lead to small waterfalls and the very popular Tapia Park. Camping, fishing, picnicking and hiking are common activities. Campground includes 62 sites for tent or RV with flush toilets, showers and fire rings.
Malibu Creek State Park
Calabasas, California 91302
Reservations: (800) 444-7275
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Catalina Island offers several campgrounds throughout the island. Many sites are situated within walking distance of the best diving, snorkeling and kayaking in all of California. The trick to camping on Catalina is transporting all your gear from the mainland to your camp. Catalina ferries allow backpacks and necessary gear but any type of fuel is prohibited. The store in Two Harbors sells fuel, firewood and other camping supplies including tents and sleeping bags. Because campers are unable to return with unused fuel canisters, most leave their leftover fuel supplies for the next camper. Transportation to the campsite from Avalon is achieved on the Safari Bus shuttle that runs during the summer, or you can hike or bike in. Permits are necessary for all campgrounds and no pets are allowed. Several of the developed campgrounds have showers and only Hermit Gulch has flush toilets - the rest have chemical toilets. Two Harbors Campground offers tent cabins, which can lesson the load you need to pack in.
TIP: View our Custom Catalina Island Map in pdf for a better understanding of campground locations and other important sites on Catalina Island.
Catalina Island
Avalon, California 90704
Reservations: (310) 510-2800
Equipment & Camp Supply Rental @ Two Harbors: (310) 510-8368
Equipment Rental @ Little Harbor: (310) 510-2229
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Two Harbors is located approximately 15-miles northwest of Avalon at Isthmus Cove. The camp is situated on a bluff overlooking the ocean and just a short distance from Two Harbors Village. The store in Two Harbors rents and sells camping gear including tents, sleeping bags, stoves, fuel, firewood, charcoal, food and more. Equipment rental is also available including kayak, bike, snorkel and more. The camp includes 42 individual sites and 3 group areas. Tent cabins are also available and come with cots for up to 6 people, stove, lantern, sun shade and more. Campground amenities include showers, running water, lockers, picnic table, firepit & barbeque, sun shade and chemical toilets. Check-in at Two Harbors Visitor Services is required. Reservations and permit are required.
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Other Ideas Parsons Landing is the most remote campground on the island and is located approximately 20-miles northwest of Avalon. Parsons Landing is only accessible by hike or kayak. This is also the most primitive camp on the island offering no running water. Campground offers 8 campsites within stones throw of a secluded cove. Water and firewood are provided by Park Ranger upon arrival as part of your fee. Amenities include picnic table, firepit & barbeque and chemical toilet. Check-in at Two Harbors Visitor Services is required. Reservations are required.
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Other Ideas Blackjack is located approximately 9-miles northwest of Avalon. This is Catalina's highest campground at 1600-feet above sea level and tucked among pine and eucalyptus trees. Arriving at the camp requires a 1.5-mile hike from the road. Blackjack offers 11 campsites. Amenities include picnic table, firepit & barbeque, showers, fresh water, lockers and chemical toilets. Check-in at Two Harbors Visitor Services or Island Plaza in Avalon is required. Reservations are required.
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Other Ideas Little Harbor is located approximately 16-miles northwest of Avalon. Little Harbor is the only developed campground on the west side of the island. Campground offers 23 sites including 8 group sites. Amenities include picnic table, firepit & barbeque, showers, fresh water, lockers and chemical toilets. Kayak, snorkel and other rentals are available at Wet Spot Rentals. Check-in at Two Harbors Visitor Services or Island Plaza in Avalon is required. Reservations are required.
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Other Ideas Hermit Gulch is located in Avalon just 1.5-miles up Avalon Canyon Road. Arrival to site requires taxi or hike. Situated in a canyon, Hermit Gulch offers limited ocean views but is close to Avalon, Wrigley Botanical Gardens and several popular hiking trails. Campground offers several campsites and spacious tent cabins. Rangers sell supplies like ice, firewood and fuel. Amenities include picnic tables, firepit & barbeque, showers, fresh water, flush toilets, and vending machines. Reservations required.
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Other Ideas Boat-In Camping is available at nine campgrounds along the northeast shore of the island. Kayak rentals are available at several locations including Avalon, Two Harbors and Little Harbor. A Ranger visits the sites daily to collect fees and enforce regulations. These are all primitive sites with no amenities whatsoever. Everything must be packed in and packed out, including fecal waste. Reservations are required.
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ADDITIONAL primitive camps are located throughout the Angeles National Forest from Santa Clarita in the west, east to Rancho Cucamonga. Most offer a table, fire ring and vault toilets. Many do not have running water. No Reservations.
Angeles National Forest
701 North Santa Anita Avenue
Arcadia, California 91006
(626) 574-1613
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