Summer is here, and for many Americans, the great outdoors is calling.
Camping website the Dyrt released its annual ranking of the best campgrounds in America, and five California campgrounds were named among the best in the region.
The annual Best Places to Camp honors, which are broken down into six specific categories, names five California campgrounds among the best in the Pacific region, including one on the Central Coast, two in Southern California and another two in and around the Sierra Nevada.
The rankings are based on reviews and ratings from a “vast” source of community campers, as well as reputation and well-known camping spots.
Campgrounds represented in the awards include a wide range of amenities and services, from the bare-bones to the extravagant, in every corner of the country.
“Some of these locations are up in the mountains, others are on islands in the South. We have campgrounds with zero amenities that certain vehicles can’t reach and we have campgrounds that are in vineyards or on berry farms,” the Dyrt’s founder Sarah Smith said. “That’s why so many people love camping, because you can make it exactly what you want it to be.”
The California campgrounds that were named among the best places to camp are below:
Alabama Hills Recreation Area — Inyo County
Alabama Hills Recreation Area, which is located near Lone Pine, was not only the highest ranked California campground, it was the No. 1 ranked place to camp in all of the Pacific region.
Part of the Eastern Sierra, Alabama Hills is an ideal spot for people who enjoy unique rock formations and stunning vistas, as well as unspoiled camping under the stars.
“Instead of towering redwoods we have scrubby sagebrush, cacti and fossilized forests. Instead of climbers spending days ascending the faces of Yosemite, we have the legendary bouldering grounds of Bishop. Alabama Hills is in the middle of this dry, windswept, and jaw-dropping landscape,” the Dyrt writes.
Camping at Alabama Hills is free, with 50 camspots on site that allow pets and campfires. There are no RV spots on site, but the campground is “big rig friendly,” the website states.
The campground previously offered dispersed camping, allowing for campers to set up outside of designated camping spots, but is now restricted to camping in allocated spots.
Upper Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park
Heading from the Eastern Sierra to the Sierra Nevada, Upper Pines Campground is located in Yosemite National Park. It was ranked the No. 2 campground in the Pacific Region, right behind Alabama Hills.
Upper Pines is one of the most competitive camping spots to book in all of the National Park Systems, as its located right in the heart of Yosemite, just a short walk away from Mirror Lake and Yosemite park shuttles.
“True to its name, the campground here sits under a towering canopy of pine trees. Sites are relatively close quarters, but it’s a small price to pay for close proximity to everything that the Yosemite Valley has to offer,” the Dyrt listing reads.
If you’re lucky enough to snag a camping reservation, you can expect to spend about $36. Pets are allowed, as are pit fires when not locally restricted. There are 235 campsites, including RV spots.
Jumbo Rocks Campground — Joshua Tree National Park
Located near Twentynine Palms, Jumbo Rocks is surrounded by vast rocks formed and smoothed by millions of years by wind and water. It was the No. 4 campground in the Pacific Region.
“At dawn and dusk they’re known to turn bright pastel shades and, come nighttime, offer an otherworldly backdrop for flickering campfire light. The campsites are mostly on flat sandy surfaces between the boulders and reports are that things can be somewhat tight between neighbors.”
The campground is truly remote with “non-existent” cell service. The 124 sites feature campsite grills and fire pits, with numerous toilets nearby.
Pets are allowed; there are no RV sites. You can expect to spend $30 to reserve your spot at this Joshua Tree National Park campground.
Sawtooth Canyon Campground — San Bernardino County
A beloved recreation area for rock climbers, Sawtooth Canyon, also known as “New Jack City,” was ranked the No. 7 best place to camp in the Pacific Region. It’s a popular destination for winter climbing expeditions with peaks that give unencumbered views of the sprawling desert.
With fewer than 15 campsites, there is limited space at the popular campground.
While located in the desert, and maybe not the most temperate of campgrounds in the summer months, each campsite offers a picnic table and shade-canopy. Amenities are limited to pit toilets, but society is only a short drive away.
Camping is free and pets are allowed to accompany their brave owners in the windy desert canyon.
Morro Bay State Park Campground — San Luis Obispo County
Rounding out the top 10 best places to camp in the Pacific region, the campground nearest the iconic volcanic plug on the Central Coast has one of the most impressive views on the list.
With Morro Rock in the background, and a National Estuary just a short walk away, the oceanfront campground is an ideal place for birdwatching, beachgoing or simply enjoying one of California’s most important Native American and geological wonders.
The town of Morro Bay offers restaurants, harbor tours and museums, and close encounters with some of the beloved animals native to the Central Coast.
There are 140 campgrounds on site, with prices ranging from $35 to $165. RVs are allowed, as are pets and campfires.
For more about the Dyrt’s 2025 Best Places to Camp regional awards, including the other Pacific region sites outside of California, click here.