Best Places to Camp on the West Coast, USA

 Reconnecting with nature has many positive benefits, including improving your mood, enhancing your physical health, and encouraging creative thoughts.

Camping is an excellent opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city and take a well-deserved break. Scheduling a camping trip at one of these campgrounds in Washington, Oregon and California is sure to be a positive memory-building experience you and your family won’t forget.

Before you head out to the campground, check that you’ve loaded all the right gear into your vehicle or trailer. While it’s hard to miss the sizeable items like tents, sleeping bags, and coolers, the little things like a survival knife, flashlight, and sunscreen tend to fall between the cracks. Don’t miss our guide on how to pack for hiking.

Once you’ve prepared the necessary tools and equipment, you’ll be ready to embark on your camping adventure, whether California or Oregon-bound. If you’re looking for recommendations on where your family should set up camp, review this list of the best places to camp on the West Coast.

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Where To Camp On The West Coast, USA

1. Saddlebag Lake Campground

You’ll feel like you’re standing on top of the world when you arrive at Saddlebag Lake Campground in the Hoover Wilderness near Bridgeport, California.

Here, the land gradually rises to form the plateau the Yosemite National Park rests upon. Government officials have federally protected this land as wilderness since 1931.

Though federally protected, there are several nearby areas in the Inyo National Forest, which are perfect for bouldering and climbing.

There are over 400 lakes and 1,100 miles of rivers and streams within the national forest, with many offering outstanding fishing, boating, and swimming fun. Miles of hiking trails, including beginner-friendly trails, make this area a popular place to camp in California.

2. Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Big Basin Redwoods State Park is situated near Boulder Creek, California, the oldest state park in California. While established in 1902, this state park is not nearly as old as the giant redwood trees native to the area. At this location, you can hike under trees estimated to be over 1,800 years old. As you stroll along the 80 miles of trails, you’ll spot a series of eye-catching waterfalls and various wildlife.

To fully immerse yourself in the majesty of these redwood trees, Stand under one of the redwood trees and stare up in the sky, or find a quiet corner and reflect as you observe nature close up.

3. Kirk Beach Campground

Located within Los Padres National Forest, near Goleta, California, you won’t experience a minute of boredom near Kirk Beach Campground. While outdoor recreation options are seemingly endless, you may just want to kick back with your favoUrite camping snacks and admire the Pacific Ocean from your campsite, perched high up on bluffs overlooking the water.

For those animal enthusiasts, foxes, bobcats, deer, raccoons, mountain lions, and bears may be some of the animals you see nearby. From November to May, this campground is an excellent place for whale watching.

Along with once-in-a-lifetime whale watching opportunities, the night sky at Kirk Beach Campground will be equally breathtaking when you feel like you can reach out and touch the stars. For the most engaging experience possible, bring along a guide book, and observe the different galaxies.

4. Ryan Campground

You can find Ryan Campground in the Joshua Tree National Forest, near Twentynine Palms, California. This campground is located adjacent to the California Riding and Hiking Trail, allowing you to bring your horses along on your camping trip.

You’ll also want to pack your landscape lenses to capture the beautiful sunsets with the Joshua trees in the foreground. Since this park is at the intersection of the two desert ecosystems, it’s a spectacular place to go birding along the Pacific Flyway. You can learn more about the ecology of this national park by attending the ranger programs.

In addition to birding opportunities, extreme climbers come from around the world to stay at this campground and enjoy nearby traditional-style crack, slab, and steep-face climbing. Even if you are not an expert climber yourself, you’ll love watching these aerial athletes.

5. Cape Disappointment State Park

Despite its name, you and your fellow camp-goers won’t be disappointed when you stay at Cape Disappointment State Park, located near Ilwaco, Washington. Consider starting your visit at the lighthouse to indulge in some deep breaths of the fresh sea air.

After you’ve soaked in Washington coast’s scenic views, put on your hiking boots to explore the old-growth forests, salt marshes, and ocean tidelands native to the area. If you’re looking to enjoy all the Pacific Ocean has to offer, there are many excellent places to dig for clams. Once you’ve searched for clams, you can prepare your findings over a campfire nestled in your campground.

6. White River Campground

If you’re looking to capture beautiful nature images, consider visiting White River Campground, located in the northeast section of Mount Rainier National Park.

Here, you’ll spot a variety of wildlife, including mountain goats. Along with searching for roaming mountain goats, you’ll be able to marvel at the power of the rushing White River, which is just a riverbank down from this campground.

If you’re interested in summiting Mount Rainier from the east side using the Glacier Basin Trail, this is an excellent campground for base camp.

7. Curlew Lake State Park

Bring along your favourite fly-fishing equipment when you camp at Curlew Lake State Park. With the right gear, you and your family can catch trout, salmon, yellow perch, and tiger muskie.

If you choose Curlew Lake State Park for your camping destination, you’ll also want to bring a blanket or an extra tarp to lay in the grassy meadow and watch the osprey and eagles flying overhead.

Even when the snow starts flying, this park near the Republic is a fan-favourite destination because you can go sledding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Unlike some campgrounds, seasonal changes won’t limit your possibilities for family fun. Strap on your snowshoes and enjoy the 360-degree scenic views.

8. Lone Fir Campground

A short distance from North Cascades National Scenic Highway 20, near Winthrop, Washington stands Lone Fir Campground. This park, huddled in the Okanogan National Forest, is a hub for bicyclists who love mountain biking on tranquil forest trails.

In addition to mountain biking opportunities, there are a variety of Northwest salmon and steelhead, several trout species, and a variety of warm-water fish that cruise the nearby mountain streams, providing excellent opportunities for fishing.

There are several miles open for outdoor recreation such as horseback riding, and hiking and 3 trials designed specifically for off-road vehicles.

9. Moran State Park

Time seems to stand still while your worries fade away when you visit Moran State Park on San Juan Island. Swim and fish in this park’s five freshwater lakes. When packing for your trip, bring along your canoe or kayak, as each of these lakes presents the opportunity to launch a non-motorised boat.

Before your family packs-up and heads home, be sure to hike to the top of Mount Constitution. With its 2,409-foot summit, it surrounds its visitors with breathtaking views.

10. Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park

Located near Florence, Oregon, Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park is the second-largest state park in the state.

Play your way across two miles of sand dunes until you finally arrive at the coast of this park’s campground. Then, cool off with a swim in its two freshwater lakes. Rent a canoe or a kayak from the park’s vendors to explore hidden coves and inlets to fish or watch the native wildlife.

11. Bull Prairie Campground

Located near Heppner, Utah, Bull Prairie Campground is in Umatilla National Forest. Hang a hammock from the tall Ponderosa pine trees and throw a line in the 28-acre Bull Prairie Lake, stocked annually with trout. When you’re ready to go exploring, take a hike on the wheelchair-accessible path around the lake. The trail is also a great place to go bike riding.

12. Oxbow Regional Park

You can find Oxbow Regional Park on the Wild and Scenic Sandy River Gorge. Hike on 12 miles of trails running along the river that carries runoff from Mount Hood. Then, continue your hike through the old-growth forest, one of Portland’s nearby wooded areas. The river is an excellent place to go whitewater rafting or go tubing on its calmer waters.

For a camping experience of a lifetime, take classes in the education centre to learn more about animal tracking and effectively hone your skills.

13. Fall Mountain Lookout

Stay in a fire tower at Fall Mountain Lookout located in Malheur National Forest. Enjoy stunning views of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness at this Central Oregon retreat from an elevation of 5,949 feet.

One of the best times to visit this Oregon campground is mid-August to mid-September when you can pick wild huckleberries.

The dark skies at this location make it a great place to go stargazing with your friends or family. As an added adventure, you may also want to go hiking on the nearby trails.

After a long day of exploring, you’ll have worked up an appetite. Luckily, the fire tower comes equipped with a kitchen to prepare your meals while observing nature from a treetop level.

14. Lost Lake Resort and Campground

Get up early at this campground near Hood River, Oregon, as morning sun blankets the entire mountain in beautiful pink light when the first rays bounce off its surface. Canoes, kayaks, wooden boats, metal fishing boats, and stand-up paddleboards are available for rent. Lost Lake is an excellent place to perfect your paddleboard skills and even learn how to fly fish.

As a bonus, this campground hosts one of the most expensive old-growth forests. Enjoy pure family fun by hiking through these wooded areas while dining on fresh berries you pick along the path.

The more adventurous campers may want to attempt the 100-mile hike in Mount Hood National Forest located near this campground.

15. Russian Gulch State Park

On the outskirts of Mendocino, California, Russian Gulch State Park is a marvellous place to go camping due to the wide variety of activities that you and your family can enjoy here.

For example, as you follow Fern Trail, you can witness firsthand the power water absorbs when crashing down from 36 feet high. You can marvel at the ocean water that rockets into the air at the Devil’s Punchbowl or soak in the sun’s rays on the rocky beach.

While anytime is a great time to visit this state park, it’s even more stunning when the wildflowers bloom in the three-mile-long canyon. The canyon, with its narrow walls in locations, is another favourite place to go hiking.

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Camping is more than just roasting marshmallows over a campfire and cuddling up in a sleeping bag. When you visit any of these West Coast campgrounds, you can entertain your stir-crazy camp goers with horseback riding, bouldering, climbing, and stargazing. Make your next camping experience a trip of a lifetime.

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