Hello, Happy Camper: Best Places to Pitch a Tent Near LA
Ah, the great outdoors! Camping is the ideal unplugged getaway that will entice the kiddos away from Cartoon Network faster than you can say Adventure Time. You don’t even have to strike out very far from LA to pitch your tent and snack on s’mores. These are our favorite spots for everyone from newbie to veteran campers.
Chilao Campground, Manzanita Loop We love this spot in the Angeles Crest National Forest because of its beautiful views of the mountains and wilderness feel, yet it’s only 26 miles from Glendale, up Highway 2. Your mini-mountaineers will love scampering around on the huge rocks while you relax with a cool one – after setting up the tent of course. Keep in mind that this campground does not take reservations – it’s first come, first served. But come for a quick mid-week overnight and you might have the place virtually to yourselves.
Details:Open Season: Year-round Fee: $12 per nightAmenities: Vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tablesReservations: Not acceptedWebsite and Directions: fs.usda.gov/recarea/angeles/recreation/recarea/?recid=41780&actid=29
Table Mountain Take those freeways and urban sprawl, trade ‘em up for a hilly oak and Ponderosa pine forest 7000 feet up, and you’ve got Table Mountain campground in the Angeles Crest National Forest, in Wrightwood. The sites are spacious with a paved road that meanders around the grounds, giving the kiddos plenty of room to explore – either by foot or on wheels.
Or if they’re feeling more restful, they can catch up on their reading, all while while you gaze across the fabulous views of the mountains and Mojave Desert from your hammock.
Since this campground rarely fills up, it’s an easy last-minute alternative to X-Box marathons, just 90 minutes from the hustle n’ bustle of the city. Forget the marshmallows? Table Mountain is super-close to amenities in Wrightwood, and there’s even firewood available at the Ranger’s Site.
DetailsOpen Season: Late April/early May to first week in NovemberFee: $20 per nightAmenities: Pit toilets, fire rings, picnic tablesWebsite, Directions & Reservations*: recreation.gov/camping/table-mountain-angeles/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73585 (*Note: if you choose to make reservations, they must be made at least 4 days in advance)
Sycamore Canyon Nothing ruins a great day at the beach faster than the 2-hour stop-n-go drive home – especially with tired, sandy squabblers in the back seat. So why not skip the drive and stay overnight? Sycamore Canyon campground in Point Magu State Park in Malibu is shady and comfortable with walking access to the beach via a tunnel under the PCH. After a day of boogie-boarding and body surfing, you can cross back to the camping side for a hike.
It’s an easy hike from the campground up to the ridge for a stunning view of the sunset above the crashing waves and barking sea lions. Top off the day by kicking it around the campfire with the kiddos. And the best part comes the next morning with your breakfast bowl of Cheerios on the beach, because you realize you get to do it all over again.
Note: This is an extremely popular spot in from late spring through early fall, and you will absolutely need reservations, which can be made up to 7 months in advance.) Also, be sure to reserve Sycamore Canyon loop sites, not Thornhill, which is directly on the beach, and subject to extreme wind conditions.
DetailsOpen Season: Year-roundFee: $45 per night for 1 vehicle; $10 per additional vehicles.Amenities: Flush toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, token-operated showers (accepts dollar bills only!) Website, Directions & Reservations: parks.ca.gov/?page_id=630
Gould Mesa Trail Camp This one’s not for the glamper or the first time camper, but if you’ve already been on a few overnighters in the great outdoors and are looking for a new challenge, Gould Mesa is a tiny spot, and oh-so-pretty and private. The only challenge is that it’s a hike-in campground. So make like Lewis n’ Clark, pack your tent, your food and some firewood on your backs and enjoy the two-mile wooded sojourn along the Arroyo Seco in Altadena. You and your budding backpackers will make a few easy water crossings before ending up at your destination where you’ll find 5 campsites, fire rings, picnic tables, bathrooms, and a stream to wade in on warm days. Who needs wheels?
Details: Open Season: Year-round Fee: Free Amenities: Vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables Reservations: Not accepted Website and Directions: fs.usda.gov/recarea/angeles/recreation/recarea/?recid=41708&actid=30
Mojave National Preserve If you have a little more time, there are several magnificent camping options out here in the desert. Hole-In-The-Wall campground is a first-come-first-served, developed campground. It’s also the jumping-off point for the Rings Loop Trail through a stunning canyon flanked by pocketed rock walls. And for the more adventurous families, several “roadside campsites”, equipped with fire rings only, can also be found around the preserve, and most are accessible by standard vehicles. Click here or check with a ranger for more information. (Note: “Roadside campgrounds have no toilets – bring a shovel – and you must load out your own trash since their are no dumpsters.) But what these spots lack in amenities, they more than make up for in natural beauty.
No matter where you set up camp, the Mojave is a climber’s paradise – sans the crowds of Joshua Tree – but is also home to jaw-dropping vistas and natural wonders like the Lava Tube, which is an actual tube-shaped air pocket formed by lava that you can climb down and explore; and the Kelso Dunes, where kiddos can cartwheel and tumble down pillow-soft sand dunes.
Details:Open Season: Year-round but best in late spring or early fall. Always check temperatures and wind conditions before arriving. Fee: $12 for developed campgrounds; free for roadside campingAmenities: Picnic tables and pit toilets at developed campgrounds only. Fire rings at all sites.Reservations: Not acceptedWebsite and Directions: nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/camping.htm
