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Awesome Last Minute Bay Area Campgrounds

The Bay Area is really fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful state and national forest & parks, along with some really awesome campgrounds. No matter which direction you turn, drive…

The Bay Area is really fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful state and national forest & parks, along with some really awesome campgrounds.

No matter which direction you turn, drive a few hours (or less) and you’re bound to hit a park that boasts beautiful landscapes, great hiking trails and scenic camping spots.

Of course, most places require a 6 month advance reservations. You will need to visit Reserve America for those campsites. 

And you’ll need to spam your refresh button like it’s Comic-con for popular sites.

I’m looking at you, Yosemite.

But don’t let that get you down! There are several first come, first serve campgrounds that cater to those who wish to just get away from the city for a weekend.

So take a look at my list for Bay Area Campgrounds that don’t require a reservation!

Awesome Last Minute Bay Area Campgrounds:

No Reservation Required

 


Attention: My post may contain affiliate links!


campsites california sunshine

Los Padres National Forest

Los Padres NF is extremely large, spreading from just north of Los Angeles all the way to Big Sur and encompassing almost 2 million acres.

Though it’s a 3-4 hour drive south of San Francisco, with rolling hills dipping into valleys and beautiful views at every turn, it’s well worth the drive. Take the 1 down the coast for a more scenic drive!

And since this area is right on the coast you can head down to the vista turn-outs and beaches to enjoy a sunset or beach picnic.

This northern area of Los Padres also has miles of hiking trails and streams which offers some secluded swimming and wading areas. Always use caution and only use spots which are marker for swimming.

No reservation campgrounds include:

Nacimiento Campground

$20/night + 1st vehicle, $10/night 2nd vehicle with an RV max length (no hook-ups).

There are 9 campsites and a few vaulted toilets, as well as, fire ring and tables. Bear boxes are not necessary in this area but food should be stored inside a locked vehicle.

There is no water so bring water with you. For those who have backcountry water filters, you can use the stream behind the campground to fill water. Otherwise, bring it with you.

This campground is pet friendly but may have leash laws. Check with the ranger station ahead of time.

Related: 6 Awesome Last Minute L.A. Campsites: No Reservation Required

 

Photo by Jon Flobrant on Unsplash_Small

Sonoma Coast State Park

This place is a beach-lovers dream destination! Located about an hour north of San Francisco and just east of Santa Rosa, you’ll find miles of public beaches with gorgeous coastal views.

While there isn’t much in the way of hiking, there is tons of swimming, fishing and looking for seashells.

Did I mention wine tasting, as well?!

Sonoma County is known worldwide for it’s beautiful vineyards and delicious wines – take a short drive into Alexander Valley for some amazing vintages.

If you don’t want to cook over a campfire, a short drive into Duncans Mills offers quaint shops and restaurants.

I highly recommend stopping at Mr. Trombly’s Tea shop for loose leaf teas before heading home.

No reservation campgrounds include:

Willow Creek Environmental Campground

$25/night – 2 night max. This is a tent-only site.

Located just off the Russian River, this shady campground comes with 11 walk-in campsites, each with its own fire ring, food locker and picnic table.

Remember that walk-in campsites mean you’ll park in a communal parking lot and walk your items into the camping area. No vehicles are allowed within the campground.

This site isn’t pet-friendly so best to leave Fiddo at home and enjoy a beautiful setting of tall evergreens and eucalyptus trees.

This site has vaulted toilets but no running water so make sure to bring water with you.

While there isn’t much in the way of hiking, you are allowed to swim in the river which is cool and refreshing.

Pro-Tip: For a awesome, secluded site, grab sites 8, 9, or 11 which have a lot of privacy and pathways leading down to the water.

 

Mount Tamalpais State Park

Mount Tam, as it’s affectionately known as, rises above Marin county and is easy to see, on a clear day, from a high rise in San Francisco. Barely a 45 minute drive north of the city, this gem of a state park is bursting with fun things to do.

Grab your bike and ride through the tall redwoods or down the winding roads throughout the park.

Check out Stinson Beach or Muir Woods using one of the many hiking trails. Take your swimsuit with you and make a day at the beach! Just know that fog is common so you may wish to pack a sweater as well.

On a clear, moonless night, you can catch an astronomy lecture at the Mountain Theatre (amphitheater) – don’t forget to peek through the visiting astronomer’s telescopes!

No reservation campgrounds include:

Pantoll Walk-In Campground

$25/night, $8 per vehicle, per night. Max of 2 night stay. Tent-only campground with ample shade. No RVs.

Since this site is a walk-in campground, you won’t be able to sleep next to you vehicle. Thankfully, the parking lot is only 300ft away so towing your things back and forth is pretty darn easy.

There are 16 pet-friendly campsites, each with it’s own ring and picnic table. I believe food lockers are available but you might want to call ahead.

There is also flushing toilets (no showers) and drinking water available.

Pantoll is a beautiful area so it fills very quickly so make sure to arrive early in the morning and stalk out a spot. The campsites closer to the parking lot are larger but the ones further back offer more privacy.

If you head out there on a moonless night you’ll get beautiful stars.

Pro-Tip: Bring a hammock with you as there’s tons of trees for relaxing.

Bootjack Walk-In Campground

$25/night, $8 per vehicle, per night. Max of 2 night stay. Tent-only campground with ample shade. No RVs.

If you can’t get into Pantoll, Bootjack is a nice alternative. It’s a 15 site, walk-in campground with the parking lot being really close so you won’t have to lug your items too far.

While this campground is pet-friendly, with running/drinkable water and flushing toilets, there are no fire rings.

Instead you get vintage grills to cook over! Fun and still useful for s’more making, but if you’re looking for that nostalgic campfire experience, this isn’t the campground for you.

The campsites and grounds recently went through a renovation so everything is super nice and has several trailheads which is really convenient! There’s also a trail leading down to Stinsons Beach.

In recent summers, wasps have become an issue but they go away at night and only show up in the summer.

Related: 6 Awesome Last Minute L.A. Campsites: No Reservation Required

 

mount shasta trinity campgrounds

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

If you’re looking to really get away from the Bay Area, a 4 hour drive up to Shasta-Trinity National Forest is definitely the way to go.

Breathtaking scenery, majestic mountains and the clearest mountain lakes make for the perfect camp setting.

Besides nature viewing, there are several places to go rock climbing (call ahead for climbing conditions) and miles of interconnected hiking trials.

Most notably is the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) which runs through Shasta-Trinity, connecting the Canadian and Mexican borders. Hike one of the off-branch trails to get to the PCT and log those miles!

If you’re looking for a refreshing swim (I mean icy cold), Shasta-Trinity offers several designated swimming spots including Beehive Point Shoreline, Stoney Creek Swim Area and Clark Spring Beach.

Looking for some thrilling, bike paths? Shasta-Trinity is a mountain rider’ dream with several long trails leading out from Shasta Lake. Be sure to check out Clikapudi Trail which is popular among riders.

No reservation campgrounds include:

Mary Smith Campground

Something interesting I learned about this campground is that 80% of the sites require a reservation, which can be made 4-60 days in advance. This is why I included this campground in my list.

Plus Mary Smith Campground was rated one of the most beautiful lake campground in the California, how could it not make the list?

Mary Smith has two different types of sites: Traditional and Glamping. I’ll break them both down for you.

Traditional Camping:

$11/night + 1st vehicle, $5/night for 2nd vehicle. 11 Tent-only sites, no RVs. Walk-in campground which means you will not be camped next to your vehicle.

Each site comes with a fire ring, grill and food storage container, as well as lots of privacy.

There are several flushing toilets and drinkable, cold water. The campground is pet friendly but check for leash laws before heading over.

This campground fills quickly so make sure to get there early.

Pro-Tip: Get one of the further campsites, they offer more trees for privacy.

Glamping All-Out:

Glamping is basically the mash-up of traditional camping and glamorous amenities.

$85/night + 1st vehicle, $5/night for 2nd vehicle. These sites do need to be reserved in advance but double check in case you can get a last-minute reservation in the off season.

There are 6, large, canvas glamping tents (several are ADA compliant) each with its own queen size bed, linen & comforter, nightstand, lamps and rugs.

Out on the deck you’ll find adirondack chairs and a coffee table set up and ready for that perfect, brisk morning cup o’ Joe!

Each glamping site comes with a fire ring and picnic table for cooking.


And there you have it folks! 5 awesome campgrounds that are perfect for a last-minute get-away from the Bay Area.

Remember that many of these local spots are very popular in the summer so make sure to arrive at the campgrounds early to stake out a spot.

Some have more privacy than others, others come with more amenities, but all are beautiful and worth checking out.

 

 

Know of a no reservation, Bay Area campsite that’s not listed? Share it in the comments below!

4 Comments on Awesome Last Minute Bay Area Campgrounds

6 Awesome Last Minute L.A. Campsites: No Reservation Required

We’re now in full swing of summer and that means cookouts, pool parties, beach trips and more. To me nothing says summer more than going camping! But what campground is…

We’re now in full swing of summer and that means cookouts, pool parties, beach trips and more. To me nothing says summer more than going camping!

But what campground is open? How far to we have to travel? Don’t you need reservations?

Unfortunately most national and state parks DO require  reservations which tend to book up 6 months in advance. But don’t let that get you down!

Alex and I adore camping and know of several great spots when you want to take a last-minute trip.

Even better? These spots are within a few hours drive of Los Angeles, meaning you don’t have to go far to be in the great outdoors.

So back up the car and get rolling!

6 Awesome Last Minute L.A. Campsites:

No Reservation Required

angeles national park camping

 


Attention: My post may contain Amazon affiliate links!


 

campsites angeles national forest

Angeles National Forest

Just north of Los Angeles is Angeles National Forest, 1,000+ square miles of diverse nature ranging from desert-like to pines and fir trees.

With multiple campgrounds, streams and trails it’s a great spot for weekend warriors or those looking to get out of Los Angeles for a few days.

Summer activities in the national park include multiple fishing spots, a shooting range, dog-friendly campsites and swimming at Pyramid Lake and the east fork of the San Gabriel River.

No reservation campgrounds include:

Chilao Campground

$12/night, tent and RV camping (size limit) available although there are no hook-ups or dump stations for RVs.

Bring water as there is no water at this site. There are picnic tables, fire rings, vaulted toilets, parking for up to 2 vehicles and it’s pet friendly (leash restrictions).

Crystal Lake Campground

$12/day for 1st vehicle, $5/day for 2nd vehicle. I believe this is a tent-only site so no RVs.

While you can swim & fish in the lake, it’s not recommended due to high levels of algae.

This campground offers 36 campsites with fire rings, picnic spots, shade and trails.

This is a pretty popular campground and fills very quickly on weekends – might be best to go on weekdays if possible.

The Crystal Lake Cafe,a local eatery, is located nearby as well with delicious meals if you need a break from campfire cooking.

Horse Flats Campground

$12/night, tent and RV camping (size limit restriction) available in 26 sites.

There is no water on-site so bring water with you. There are tables and fire rings in each site and 2-3 vaulted toilets. Also know there is a 2 vehicle max per site and the campground is pet friendly (leash restrictions).

 

 

campsites california

San Bernardino National Forest

This beautiful national forest is located east of Los Angeles and within a 3 hour car ride.

Nearby Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake offer boating, SUP, fishing ( CA fishing license required), swimming and lovely scenery.

If you have an Off Highway Vehicle (O.H.V) there are a few dirt & paved trails for you ramble over.

There are miles of trails throughout the forest with backpackers being a common site.

Though there are only a few dog-friendly trails, Castle Rock Trail just outside of Big Bear is a great, 3 mile out-and-back hike which offers a stunning view of Big Bear Lake.

No reservation campgrounds include:

Big Pine Flat Family Campground

$25/night & 1 vehicle, $7/night for 2nd vehicle. There are 19 tent-only campsites with fire rings, tables and drinkable water.

There are several vaulted bathrooms with showers stalls available at nearby Serrano Campground.

Large pine trees offer great shade and spots to set up a hammock. The campground is dog-friendly (least restrictions).

Holcomb Valley Campground

$23/night & 1 vehicle, $7/night for 2nd vehicle. 19 tent-only campsites with fire rings, tables and bear boxes (must-use). Vaulted bathrooms only.

There is no on-site water so bring plenty of water with you. The campground is dog-friendly but dogs must be kept on leash.

Related: Awesome Last Minute Bay Area Campgrounds

 

 

campsites national park california

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park

With high peaks, pristine lakes and miles & miles of wilderness trails, it’s not hard to see why Sequoia & Kings Canyon are such a popular spot for camping!

You can go hiking trails for all levels, horseback riding, fishing (CA fishing license required) and swimming!

Keep in mind that pets are not allowed on trails but are fine in the campgrounds.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon also boasts the Crystal Cave which is a natural marble cavern located near the Sequoia Giant Forest.

Plan a full day there as the windy roads can take while to navigate through.

Unfortunately the only way to go in and explore is by going on the tour, which is not free. You’ll also have to purchase tickets ahead of time and make sure to wear something warm as it’s pretty cold in the cavern, even if it’s hot outside.

It’s definitely worth it so you may wish schedule the Crystal cave into your camping get-away!

No reservation campgrounds include:

Azalea Campground

$18/night with 2 vehicle max. 110 available tent and RV campsites (no dump stations or hookups).

Since most of the campsites are under evergreen trees, shade is in abundance and you’ll be within walking distance of the General Grant sequoia grove which offers plenty of short hikes.

There are flushing toilets (so snazzy!) and potable water within each camp loop and each site comes with a picnic table and fire ring.

Bear resistant food lockers are located in each campsite – you are required to use them for food storage at all times.

Related: Awesome Last Minute Bay Area Campgrounds

 

 

campsites california sunshine

Los Padres National Forest

Just north of Santa Barbara lies Los Padres National Forest. With it’s beautiful, rolling mountains and 8000’ elevation differences, this diverse landscape as so much to offer.

Los Padres enjoys a less-populated area so you’re almost always guaranteed to find one or two open sites at their Mt. Pinos campgrounds which usually requires a reservation. Book by Wednesday to reserve for the weekend, even at the last minute.

Los Padres also has elevations reaching as low as sea level, up to 9,000 feet which means you can enjoy a day at the beach or hop on a mountain bike and ride down the steep trails.

There’s also hiking, backpacking, climbing and O.H.V riding trails

No reservation campgrounds include:

Chula Vista Campground (WALK-IN)

If you want a campsite is remote, allowing you to feel like you’re in the backcountry but without the huge trek, check out this FREE campsite.

Chula Vista is a walk-in campsite, this means you’ll park your vehicle in the parking lot and walk about 500 yards to the camps. Not a big deal for those who wish to have a smaller, private campground.

There are 12 individual sites with fire rings available but the current fire safety level before planning on having a fire as this is a high risk area. You will also need to purchase a fire permit.

There are vaulted toilets but no water so bring in plenty of water.

There are no bear box/food storage so you will have to either bring your own bear box (like this one) or do the hanging method – just make sure you leave food at least 200 ft away from your tents.

A BIG plus about this site?

On weekends when there’s no moon, ameteur astronomers will come out with their telescopes and set up in the Chula Vista campground parking lot. What a wonderful way to spend an evening outside!

Just be careful when entering or exiting the parking lot in the dark so as to avoid disturbing the astronomers.


And there you have it! 6 spectacular last-minute campsites that don’t require a reservation, plus one is free!

Remember that most campgrounds require a reservation 6 months in advanced unless their walk-in or first come, first served.

And while some campgrounds will be more developed than others, these 6 are great for when you want to get out of town this summer.

Just make sure to arrive early to claim a spot and have backups in the event the campground is completely booked.

 

Know of a no reservation, L.A. campsite that’s not listed? Share it in the comments below!

5 Comments on 6 Awesome Last Minute L.A. Campsites: No Reservation Required

Easy, Zesty Salmon & Asparagus Foil Packet

I’m known for going all out when it comes to campfire cooking; pulling out all the stops! I made fancy breakfast hashes with fresh eggs popped in the middle. I’d…

I’m known for going all out when it comes to campfire cooking; pulling out all the stops!

I made fancy breakfast hashes with fresh eggs popped in the middle. I’d cook thick steaks, swimming in butter, with baked potatoes & seasonal veggies. I’d create stews that take several hours to cook while I enjoyed a glass of wine or cider.

Yes, I was that kind of a cook. Still am to a certain extent.

I used to have no problem with spending a $100 dollars or more on groceries just for a weekend trip. And my husband was always delighted to bring half our at-home-bar to create interesting and delicious cocktails for our friends.

We were an impressive duo. So much so that friends would always jokingly ask what multi-star dining experience should they expect at camp.

Then my husband and I bought a house…

Suddenly we were on a MAJOR budget and, let me tell you, that hit us pretty hard. I had to come up with a weekend meal plan that fit into our $75 a week grocery budget.

Actually, let me rephrase that: I had to come up with a WEEKLY meal plan for only $75 bucks.

It was certainly hard at first. I had to find non-brand name replacements for the brands we were loyal to and come up with recipes that used cheaper, but still fresh, ingredients. No more organic (unless REALLY on sale), no more splurges, definitely less alcohol.

 

big bear lake castle rock

View of Big Bear Lake from Castle Rock

 

Thankfully, an Aldi grocery store moved into our area so these last few months have definitely been better but our new home is 20 minutes away….without an Aldi nearby.

I could sing praises for Aldi but I’ll save that for another post.

So, when a friend invited us to Big Bear for a weekend camping trip, we jumped at the chance to go but knew we’d have to budget wisely.

Thankfully, our local Aldi was hosting a sale on salmon at $7.99/lbs which was a really good deal.

Mind you, it wasn’t the best salmon on the market, it was farm raised and previously frozen, but it was within our budget and the results were still delicious.

I checked our fridge and pantry, noticing that we had butter, basic seasonings and a million lemons. Perfect! Easy, zesty, lemony salmon!

I also wanted to add a veggie to the meal and, since asparagus was in season, a bundle from Aldi was on sale for 0.89¢. This totally rounded everything out for a cheap, easy meal. Total cost for this meal: $12.87. Couldn’t beat that!

 

 

What was even better was I could do this all in a foil packet, thus, an easy clean up. If you’ve not tried foil packet meals, you’re really missing out. I adore my Lodge cast iron skillet but the easy clean up of foil packets sometimes has got that pan beat.

So here’s my recipe for:

Easy, Zesty Salmon & Asparagus Foil Packet


Attention: My post may contain Amazon affiliate links! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


What You Need:

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 lbs Salmon*
  • 1 lb Asparagus*
  • 1 Lemon
  • Unsalted Butter*
  • Salt & Pepper

*See below for food tips & alternatives.

Serving size:  2 people

 

easy lemon butter salmon asparagus foil packet

Cooking Instructions:

Start the campfire and let it get hot. Make sure the grilling rack in down.

While the fire is going, begin working on the foil packets. Now you can do individual packets or one for the fish, another for the asparagus. For this recipe, I did the latter.

 

camp cooking foil packet lemon butter salmon

Take the salmon and sit it skin down on a sheet of foil. Salt and pepper the top.

Add several slices of butter to the top, as well. You determine the amount you prefer to use, I used several ¼” slices but I LOVE butter.

Cut the lemon into ¼ inch slices. Add several to the top of the butter. The flavors will blend together when the lemon heats up and the butter melts.

 

camp foil packet

Place a second sheet of fold on top, pinch the edges close so the steam cooks the fish.

 

fire campfire salmon lemon

Put the salmon packet on the grill rack near the fire but not directly into flames. Rotate the packet every few minutes so the salmon cooks thoroughly and evenly.

Salmon should be fully cooked after 8-10 minutes, depending on heat and thickness of the fish. Check it periodically while cooking – salmon is flaky when fully cooked.

 

lemon butter asparagus

While the salmon is cooking, take the asparagus out and cut off about 1”-1.5” off the bottom, discard.

Take a third sheet of foil and place the asparagus in the middle.

 

Add several slices of butter, salt and pepper. Pinch the packet closed and add to the grill.

 

lemon asparagus foil packet

Cook for approximately 6-7 minutes, depending on thickness and desire of crunch.

I like my asparagus slightly crunchy so mine only took 6 minutes.

 

cooking campfire foil packets

Remove both salmon and asparagus from grill.

 

easy salmon asparagus lemon

Divide into individual portions and serve immediately.

 


Foodie Tips:

Salmon – While I used cheap, farm raised, previously frozen salmon and it turned out great, you can certainly splurge here and get the really good stuff from Whole Foods, Gelson’s, or your local farmer’s market. You could even try this recipe using different fish like cod or tilapia.

Butter – I was raised by strong, VERY southern women so in my house we use real butter. While you might still get a similar taste with butter substitutes, I still recommend using real butter, unless you have an allergy. Also, go with unsalted as it’s easier to control the saltiness that way.

Asparagus – I used asparagus as it was in season and on sale but you could sub in another vegetable like green beans, carrots or squash. Just adjust the cooking time.


If you’ve tried this recipe out, leave a photo or comment down below! 🙂

 

 

3 Comments on Easy, Zesty Salmon & Asparagus Foil Packet

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