Northern California is one of those ideal locations for camping and hiking trips. With all those towering redwoods, beautiful mountains, and excellent beaches, there is wide variety of campgrounds in Northern California where you can enjoy some quality time alone or with family and friends in the outdoors.
One of the most important things to do while planning a camping trip is to pick the ideal spot for you, and that’s where this guide comes in handy.
» You might be interested in these 10 Great Hot Springs in Northern California.
We’ve chosen 10 of the best campgrounds in Northern California that have all the views, privacy, and activities you might want in a camping spot. Whether you want to be near a lake or nestled deep into the redwoods, there’s a perfect site for you here.
» Looking for more inspiration along the route? Check out all our guides to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Diego. Find the best beaches in Monterey, waterfalls in Southern California, and national parks.
How to Choose a Camping Spot
There are dozens of options available for camping in California, including the relative comfort of RV parks, National Park campgrounds, and even open forest land that’s dedicated to walk-in camping.
Consider whether you would want to hike in to a spot or whether you’d like to have your car nearby with some creature comforts. Do you want to tent camp or RV camp?
Do some online research to find a spot that you like. There are websites dedicated to providing photos of campsites and the National Park Service website has photos of many campgrounds as well.
What Gear to Pack
I always recommend pulling out all your camping gear and having a look over everything before you pack it, just to be sure everything’s in order.
The last thing you want is to find the poles for the tent didn’t get packed! A few days before leaving, be sure to pull out all the gear and take an inventory. You can do that that with the help of this handy camping checklist.
- For comfort: Tent, sleeping bag, mattress, pillow, tarp for under the tent
- Practicalities: Lantern, first aid kit, bug spray, camp chairs
- For cooking: Camp stove, pot/pan, cups, utensils, ice cooler
10 Great Campgrounds in Northern California
1. Manzanita Lake Campground
- Address: 1 mile east of the lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Visit the website
The park already has 7 different campgrounds, including Warner Valley Campground, Lost Creek Campground, Butte Lake Campground, and more. However, the Manzanita Lake Campground is the largest one in the area.
Manzanita Lake offers around 179 campsites, which generally cost around $26 a night but drops to $15 a night in October when the water is off.
It also has 20 camping cabins and 5 group campsites, which cost up to $72 a night, but they require reservations.
The rich and dynamic area has a lot to offer, and it’s one of the best areas for adventurous adults and kids who enjoy exploring, as the campground features a 1.6 mile hiking trail around the lake.
You can also enjoy swimming and fishing in the lake or rent kayaks from nearby camp stores. Pets are allowed in the campground but you need to keep them on a short leash.
2. Russian Gulch State Park Campground
- Address: Highway 1, 2 miles north of Mendocino
- Visit the website
The Russian Gulch State Park is one of the most peaceful and picturesque locations on the list, as it features an amazing leafy canyon and pristine beach all along the coastline.
The campground has 26 campsites near the tranquil Russian Gulch Creek that is open from May to September.
Each campsite will cost around $45 a night or $40 off-season. There’s also a hike and bike option for $5 per person, with reservations between 2 days to 6 months before arrival (first served).
The spot is RV-friendly and also features picnic tables, campfire rings, shower cabins, restrooms, and clean drinking water.
In addition to camping and capturing some of the most beautiful pictures, there are many activities available, such as hiking, swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, fishing, and more!
3. Antlers Campground
- Address: Antlers Rd, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- Visit the website
This campground is located 22 miles north of Redding. It has 49 campsites and usually opens from March to November. However, depending on the weather, the season may extend or shrink.
The Antlers campground offers a great view of the lake but without direct access. A standard single campsite costs around $25 a night.
This one holds up to 1 vehicle and 8 people like other campgrounds. If the space allows, you can include additional vehicles for $10 a night.
The campground has a food locker, amphitheater, and picnic tables along with a nice campfire ring with a grill. Additionally, it has plenty of restrooms and clean drinking water. However, there are no RV hookups.
4. Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Campground
- Address: Highway 199, 4 miles north of Crescent City
- Visit the website
The Jedediah Smith Redwoods Campground is one of the best options when it comes to availability.
For starters, the campground is open all year round. Additionally, it features 86 campsites with a capacity for one vehicle and a legally towed vehicle.
The price for a standard campsite is $35 a night while the cabins cost between $80 to $100, depending on the season. Group campsites are rather expensive at $300 a night (holds 50 people).
The camp has picnic tables, fire rings, food lockers, restrooms, and access to drinking water. It also has showers but they cost $0.25 per 2 minutes.
5. D.L. Bliss State Park Campground
- Address: Highway 89, 2 miles north of Emerald Bay
- Visit the website
The campground is a 2 hour drive from Sacramento. It has 140 campsites and opens from May to early October, but the season varies depending on the weather.
The price of the campsite varies depending on its location. A standard campsite will cost around $35 a night while a beachfront campsite will cost $45 a night. Group campsites are relatively affordable at $165 a night.
The campground has all the standard amenities mentioned above. However, dogs are not allowed on the beach or the hiking trail all year round, so you have to keep that in mind.
6. Minaret Falls Campground
- Address: 351 Pacu Ln 200, Bishop, Inyo National Forest
- Visit the website
This one is a relatively small and underrated campground that is a great choice if you’re into fishing, swimming, or hiking while enjoying the mesmerizing scenery of the falls and Devils Postpile National Monument as well as the Sierra Nevada Mountains!
The campground has 27 camping sites but unlike other options on the list, it doesn’t offer reservations.
Instead, it’s a first-come, first-serve type of campground. Luckily, it’s quite affordable, costing only $25 per night.
Minaret Falls Campground offers picnic tables, potable water, food lockers, and a campfire ring with a grill. However, it doesn’t have shower units or dump stations.
7. Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground
- Address: Highway 1, 26 miles south of Carmel
- Visit the website
The Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground is another option to consider if you’re looking for one that’s open all year round. Try a road trip or two along Highway 1 and discover it’s beauty.
It features 170 campsites with various prices depending on the quality of the site. Standard sites cost $35 per night while premium ones cost up to $50 a night.
Overnight parking is quite pricey, costing you $45, but luckily, hike and bike, and group campsites are affordable, costing $5 per person and $150 per night respectively.
The campground has picnic tables, grills, food lockers, flush toilets, and coin laundry. There are also showers that cost around $1 for 5 minutes, making it relatively pricey.
8. Castle Crags State Park Campground
- Address: Off Interstate 5, 6 miles south of Dunsmuir
- Visit the website
If you like hiking, the Castle Crags State Park Campground is an excellent choice for you, as it has a total of 28 miles of hiking trails overlooking beautiful forests, Grays Rocks, and Mount Shasta.
This campground houses 88 campsites, including 76 standard ones for trailers and RVs as well as 6 environmental campsites.
The campsites are relatively affordable, costing $25 per night, which are available all year round, although it sometimes closes in severe winter.
It also provides various campground amenities, such as picnic tables, food lockers, showers, fire rings, an amphitheater, and restrooms with flush toilets.
9. Burlington Campground | Humboldt Redwoods State Park
- Address: Off Highway 101, 1 mile south of Weott
- Visit the website
This campground is among the most popular ones in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It has 57 campsites that are split into 35 campsites for RVs and trailers while the rest are designated for camping tents as well as 3 hike and bike campsites.
The campsites are only designed for relatively small vehicles, so it’s not an ideal option if you rock a huge one.
You can take a short trail off the campground to reach the Eel River nearby, where you can enjoy fishing and swimming.
The campground opens all year round and costs $35 per night in addition to an extra $8 for extra vehicles.
Keep in mind that Burlington Campground doesn’t allow reservations on site, so you have to make reservations earlier.
10. Elk Prairie Redwoods State Park Campground
- Address: 127011 Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy, Orick, CA
- Visit the website
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is a state park, located in Humboldt County. The park is a coastal sanctuary for old-growth Coast Redwood trees.
The park is jointly managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the National Park Service as a part of the Redwood National and State Parks.
The campground has 73 campsites – both RV (27′ limit) and tent, plus 4 cabins. Most of them are located under the old growth redwoods that offer great shade and privacy for campers. The standard site costs $35 a night.
While sites at Elk Prairie campground may be available on a first-come, first-served basis, reservations are strongly recommended for camping between May 1 and September 30.
Pets are allowed in camps, but they should always be on a leash. The camp offers various amenities, including bear-proof locker, picnic table and fire pit in each campsite. They also have coin-operated showers.
Conclusion
There you have it! A brief guide that walks you through 10 of the best campgrounds that you can find in Northern California.
As you can see, there’s a wide variety of amazing locations to keep in mind if you’re planning to enjoy a camping trip, and with this handy guide, you should have the necessary information to find out more about your ideal spot.
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Laura is a travel fanatic who loves seeing and doing new things. She lives in Ventura, CA, and spends a lot of time exploring California’s cities, beaches, and national parks.