Central California offers options ranging from beach camping in Monterey Bay to rock climbing in Yosemite National Park. Or you can seek seclusion in the sprawling forests of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks in the lower San Joaquin Valley. Though summer tends to be warmer, visitors would be wise to pack layered clothing for evenings and cooler spells. Visitors need to be aware that parks have rules prohibiting firewood collection and require firewood to be purchased within a limited radius of the campsites to limit exposure to invasive species.
Monterey Bay
At Sunset State Beach in lower Santa Cruz County between Santa Cruz and Monterey, beach camping and beachcombing is the draw. Sunset State Beach offers sites for either tents or RVs.
A little south and inland are the Big Sur Valley campgrounds. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is surrounded by large oak and redwood forests and the Big Sur River. The park offers much in the way of hiking trails and wildlife sightings. It offers tent or RV sites. Ten miles south is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which offers certified divers a chance to procure a special permit that allows them to explore an underwater park.
Yosemite Area
Yosemite National Park is one of most visited parks in California and offers the most breathtaking choices for camping in the area. Spanning three counties, Yosemite covers the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and provides an ecosystem with 13 campgrounds. Seven can be booked through the National Park Service. Only four campgrounds, however, are open year-round.
Several campgrounds exist outside Yosemite itself, providing equal access to the area's outdoors options. Wishon Bass Lake is 24 miles from Yosemite Park in Madera County; hiking, fishing and swimming in Bass Lake are available.
Sierra Nevada
Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks appeal to the adventurous. Rock climbing and day hiking can be found throughout the parks. The parks' rivers offer experienced kayakers a chance to test their skill, but those rivers are not for beginners. The parks offer both RV and tent campsites.
In the eastern Sierras, the Oh! Ridge campground is near the town of June Lake. Overlooking the lake itself, the camp offers swimming, fishing and a sense of tranquility. The campground is in the heart of an area riddled with lakes. Skiing is available during winter visits on June Mountain. Reservations should be made in advance; the campgrounds fill quickly.
San Joaquin Valley
Turlock Lake State Recreation Area in Stanislaus County offers hiking, fishing and water sports in the San Joaquin Valley. Open year-round, the campgrounds are located on the south bank of the Tuolumne River just a mile from Turlock Lake itself. Hiking trails snake through the area and offer glimpses of the area's gold mining years.
Merced County's State McConnell State Recreation Area, which is eight miles from the town of Delhi, offers fishing: Bass and catfish are the prize here. The area is suitable for tent and RV camping and offers showers and restrooms.
Coastal Mountains
California's southern coastal mountain campgrounds offer hiking and fishing options similar to those in the Sierra Nevada, but they provide coastal sights that make them unique.
Fremont Peak State Park in Monterey County possesses extensive hiking and nature trails and a vista of the Monterey Bay. It also offers stargazers many astronomy programs with friendly astronomers to guide visitors. Participants arriving by car should plan to arrive before sunset, so they don't disrupt the view with headlights.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains provides numerous biking and hiking trails throughout the park. Coastal redwood and fir forests are nearby and steelhead and salmon can be caught in the San Lorenzo River.
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