Need Campground recommendations - California

[TxPet]

We are planning a trip West for a month and would like recommendations for campgrounds while visiting the following: Los Angles, San Francisco, San Diego and Las Vegas. We have never "camped" by a large city before. Would like to be relatively close so that we can make a daily trip to explore the urban delights. We're pulling a Forest River VIBE. It's about 34' long. So, I'll either need pull throughs or long/deep back ins. Thank you for any recommendations and advice.

[ependydad]

I’m sad to say but for San Fransisco, to minimize drive time into the city the San Francisco RV Resort is a good place to stay. But it’s a parking lot- barely glorified. But it had full hookups and I was able to get my 42’ bunkhouse parked and even helped another camper move his 43’ toy hauler from one spot to another.

But, literally- it’s cozy. You have to make sure your slides are within the lines or you might block someone from opening their door!

But, it’s convenient to the city and it can be very cheap ($20/nt) with a Thousand Trails and Trails Collection add-on Membership.

Photos from our San Francisco stay:
https://flickr.com/photos/7200488@N0...57686465041003

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by TxPet

We are planning a trip West for a month and would like recommendations for campgrounds while visiting the following: Los Angles, San Francisco, San Diego and Las Vegas. We have never "camped" by a large city before. Would like to be relatively close so that we can make a daily trip to explore the urban delights. We're pulling a Forest River VIBE. It's about 34' long. So, I'll either need pull throughs or long/deep back ins. Thank you for any recommendations and advice.

First, what time of the year? If it's the summer, better start making reservations now, except Vegas.
Second, other than Las Vegas, expect driving in heavy traffic to visit the cities. Most campgrounds for the 3 California cities are at least 30 miles away from the city.
And they won't be cheap.

[TheMusikShoppe]

As far as San Francisco is concerned, I would use the campground at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton CA and just take BART in to the city. The grounds are quite nice and you don't have to worry about driving in all the terrible traffic.

[TheMusikShoppe]

Also don't plan on driving through the LA basin during the day. The traffic is mind blowing. We go to Anaheim every January for a convention and drive through the night because taking a 44' Toyhauler through there during the day is not fun!

There are also toll roads down there, so make sure and go the more easterly route. Do not take the 405! It's the worst of the worst down there.

[TheMusikShoppe]

Sorry for all the posts, but this is the nicest RV park in Anaheim. It's in a strange place, but it truly is the nicest.

http://www.anaheimrvpark.com/

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by TheMusikShoppe

Sorry for all the posts, but this is the nicest RV park in Anaheim. It's in a strange place, but it truly is the nicest.

Anaheim RV Park, Disneyland Camping, Orange County

It's my only experience in the city and we stayed there for Disneyland, but we do like this park.

I'm hoping to spend a month there next year.

[CurtPutnam]

We have visited the San Diego Metro KOA quite a few times. Depending, it's about 20 or minutes from downtown and ~2 miles from the Mexican border. For LA, if Disneyland is the objective then Anaheim is a good place. At the eastern edge of LA County and a KOA right there. There are some nice campgrounds around Santa Barbara. There are state parks scattered around Big Bear but they are not big rig friendly.

[TxPet]

Great feedback. Thanks. We are planning to be there the month of February. And, we are going to pass on Disneyland. Been to Disney World too many times with the kids.

[TheMusikShoppe]

Where in the LA area are you thinking about going to? Unfortunately, the 405 is the way to get near the coast and that's the worst traffic wise and that way heading south towards San Diego is where the toll roads are. Not trying to be a bummer, just wanted to let you know.

[HONDAMAN174]

Try Canyon RV park in Los Angeles. It’s more like Camping in a National Park rather than a big city.

As for Las Vegas, there is a large rv park as you come into town- oasis rv Park. It’s a bit outside of town but clean and no worries of who’s watching you. There is a koa on the east side at Sam’s town campground is nice but surrounding area is not.

There are a few when you leave town depending on which way you go.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by HONDAMAN174

Try Canyon RV park in Los Angeles. It’s more like Camping in a National Park rather than a big city.

Canyon RV park is in Yorba Linda, Orange County, not LA.
Its 40 miles from downtown Los Angeles and right next to the VERY busy 91 freeway.
I'd pick Chino Hills State Park over Canyon. Way more of a natural setting, than Canyon RV.

[CHICKDOE]

prado dam regional park has some very large rv sites. it's not too far from canyon rv park. the state has rv sites at both dockweiler state beach (santa monica bay) or huntington state beach.

[HONDAMAN174]

I'd pick Chino Hills State Park over Canyon. Way more of a natural setting, than Canyon RV.[/QUOTE]


I’ll update my list to check it out.

[cpttimerstraint]

Valencia travel village is pretty nice. It is about an hour from LA.

[moff34]

Hope you have a great trip visiting CA. Here are my recommendations:

San Diego - https://www.campland.com/
On Mission Bay not far from Sea World. Short drive into town and the zoo.

Las Vegas - Home - Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort
Huge RV park south of town. Very nicely run and a Cracker Barrel about a mile away.

San Francisco - Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort in Felton, CA 95018
It's about 75 miles from Santa Cruz to San Francisco, but this beautiful little park is in the middle of a giant redwood forest.

I've got nothing for Los Angeles. Sorry. Live there so never camp around there. Hopefully others will have some ideas.

If, while heading up to San Francisco, you want to check out the Central Coast and Hearst Castle, stay at Pismo Coast Village. We love it there. It's right on the beach and a short walk into a town with a lot of great places to eat. Pismo Beach RV Park | Pismo Coast Village RV Resort

[bubbles]

ORANGELAND RV Park, Orange/Anaheim, CA. There are a number of RV campgrounds in Las Vegas. Some are associated with a casino property (on site) and some are not. The more expensive ones are not on casino grounds. You shouldn't have issues with reservations at any. There's the FAIRPLEX KOA Campground in Pomona, CA., a nice campground and not to far from LA.

[robo44]

California State Parks are very nice
https://www.reservecalifornia.com/CaliforniaWebHome/

SF (where I live) not a lot of close places but one that may work is Half Moon Bay SB, still a 30-40 min drive to SF
Half Moon Bay SB

LA
https://koa.com/campgrounds/los-angeles/
Park and Resort Map - East Shore Rv Park

If you are Military or Veteran
https://www.militarycampgrounds.us/c...-at-seal-beach


San Diego has quite a few nice places at Mission Bay & the State Parks/Beaches

[Jakieboy]

We've been RVing for more than 40 years and live in Long Beach, CA. We camp somewhere in the western states with our close friends nearly every month of the year, and have distilled our favorite campgrounds for the places you want to visit to the following: LA area - East Shore RV Park in Pomona, east of town, close to the LA County Fairgrounds, full hookups, big sites, recommend the sites on the hill overlooking Puddingstone Lake; San Francisco - KOA in Petaluma is one of the best, but often very busy, heart of wine country, lots of things to see and do in Marin County, too; San Diego - Santee Lakes RV Park is one of our all-time favorites, lots of big sites with full hookups, easy drive into San Diego and Zoo and Mission Bay attractions, lakes stocked with fish; Las Vegas - Sam's Town has lots of big sites and really good pricing, not far from The Strip, don't mioss seeing Red Rock Canyon.

[aircommuter]

Have you tried boondockers welcome?