The city of Los Angeles, California, measures 498.3-square miles and covers a sprawling area of urban neighborhoods. You may think tents are the last kind of lodging you’d find in this metropolis, but Los Angeles County also encompasses a vast desert expanse which includes the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys, the wilderness of Angeles National Forest, as well as the more accessible Santa Monica Mountains. All these areas have campgrounds ideal for a weekend with the tent.
Climate
Your camping trip in Los Angeles needn't be affected by the weather. Los Angeles enjoys a subtropical climate with a July high of 84 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 65 degrees. April through October receives a minimal amount of rain; the average throughout the year is 35 days of precipitation. The percentage of average days of sunshine is 77 in summer. In general, the daytime temperature at the beaches will be around two degrees lower than downtown Los Angeles.
Angeles National Forest
Spanning the northern part of Los Angeles county, the Angeles National Forest boasts 1,000-square miles of open space and over 110 rustic tent camping and picnic sites. Facilities vary at these campgrounds; some are hike-in only, some sites have water while others provide spring water only, most have toilets which are usually vault-style. The National Forest offers recreational activities such as fishing, hunting and target shooting, water sports, hiking trails and off-highway vehicle tracks.
Leo Carrillo State Park
Leo Carrillo State Park hugs the Pacific Coast with 1.5 miles of beach ideal for surfing, swimming and windsurfing as well as leisurely beach walks or strenuous runs. You can also go for a backcountry hike further into this park, which is located 28 miles northwest of Santa Monica. Children’s programs are available in the summer. The Leo Carrillo State Park campgrounds have flush toilets, showers, drinking water and fire rings.
Port Mugu State Park
Port Mugu State Park is set within the Santa Monica Mountains, an area of rugged uplands, river canyons, grassed valleys and forest, as well as wide sandy beaches and sand dunes. The Park boasts more than 70 miles of hiking trails and also features the rocky outcrop of the Boney Mountains State Wilderness Area. There are a number of camping sites within this state park including the Thornhill Broom Family Camp with 68 spaces and chemical toilets, and the hike-in La Jolla Valley site with just three tent spaces.
Malibu Creek State Park
Set up your tent at Malibu Creek State Park, 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles. The park offers a variety of outdoor activities including fishing, bird watching and horse riding along with a network of 15 miles of trails through oak woodlands. This park is a film star in its own right, used to film movies and TV shows including M*A*S*H and Planet of the Apes. The family campground accepts RVs as well as tents and has showers, flush toilets and dump stations.
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