CampCalNOW + Visit California

CampCalNOW CEO/President Dyana Kelley recently spoke with Visit California regarding the high influx of campers and travelers the camping industry has been experiencing lately. In a blog post on the Visit California website, Kelley directed readers back to the Camp-California website and shared different locations consumers can visit, including national and state parks -- and some CampCalNOW member parks!

"'When you’re in your RV, or camping, you’re in control of your environment,” Dyana shared. “You can spend as much or as little time as you want in any one place. You can go off on a hike all day and come back, and never see a soul.” Such trips, she adds, literally and figuratively “put you in the driver’s seat.”

California is home to nine national parks and 280 state parks—as well as thousands of park campsites...The state’s deep inventory of private campgrounds and RV parks further increase your options, many having pools, cafés, and even tennis courts.

Likewise there are vehicles for every style of trip too, from the converted minivan–style Jucy vans that sleep four and have a kitchen, to full-size RVs with a bathroom, says Kelley. “These days, you can even stay at campgrounds that will bring the RV or trailer to your site for you,” so all you need to do is show up. Other grounds have stationary lodgings—such as cabins, yurts, and even covered wagons—that offer plenty of away-from-it-all ambiance. 

CampCalNOW can direct you to rentals at your starting point...You’ll love having the extra space of a motorized RV if you’re exploring the desert or mostly traveling along big freeways. 

Do you want to do a coastal drive or go off the grid a bit? CampCalNOW lays out 12 suggested trip themes on its website, including nature-based itineraries that feature beaches, hiking trails, waterfalls, and caverns.

Kelley says a lot of folks who RV their way through California take the “I-5 Challenge,” going north or south on Interstate 5, to or from Oregon. Along the way, you can stop to see the alpine scenery of Mt. Shasta, the olive-oil hub of Corning, the state capitol in Sacramento, and the beaches of San Diego.

Want to create a hike-filled trip? Check out CampCalNow’s 52 Hike Challenge. “The adventure travelers and backpackers go more along the 395 corridor,” Kelley says. “Or maybe you just want to be on the coast all the time—you could create an entire trip out of beaches.”

National and state park campgrounds typically take bookings on a rolling basis, up to six months ahead of time...But California also has a bounty of private campgrounds and RV parks, which can potentially have sites available on short notice. Their offerings can accommodate a wide variety of priorities, too, whether that’s showers, a pool, and free WiFi, or sweeping views of wide-open spaces.

Here are a few super-scenic, newbie-friendly private campgrounds to consider, listed north to south, and most with RV hookups:

Caspar Beach RV Park and Campground, Mendocino County: This North Coast spot, which also features log cabins, is surrounded by state parks and faces its own protected cove. The resort has bike trails, a store, and even cable in the RV sites.

Dillon Beach Resort, near Tomales Bay: This resort of charming, tiny house–style cabins sits on 55 acres along the Marin-Sonoma County Line and has big views of the Point Reyes Peninsula. You can rent a surfboard, chill on the private beach, and eat at the on-site locavore cafe.

Carmel River RV Park, Monterey County: Just 4.5 miles from Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey, this park is also close to glorious coastal spots such as Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

Casa de Fruta RV Orchard Resort, Hollister: Located about 15 miles from the garlic-loving town of Gilroy, this 300-space RV park sits on the grounds of the fabulous fruit stand, sweets shop, and 24-hour restaurant Casa de Fruta. Kids will love the on-site playground, miniature train, and carousel.

Ocean Mesa RV and Campground, Santa Barbara County: Park an RV or pitch a tent at this gorgeously scenic spot right next to El Capitan State Beach, just north of Santa Barbara.

Mono Campground at Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach: This Orange County park is coastal bliss, with wooded canyons and an underwater park just offshore for diving, snorkeling, and kayaking.

Vail Lake KOA, Temecula Valley: This 385-acre park in the Inland Empire has nice access to the area’s rolling-hills hikes—not to mention wine country. The park offers RV and tent sites and also has three pools, mini golf, and pickle ball courts.

The Springs at Borrego RV Resort: Set within massive Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, a few hours east of downtown San Diego, this resort offers plenty of options for hiking and stargazing. The resort also features a nine-hole golf course, three dog parks, catch-and-release fishing, and mineral pools.

Paradise by the Sea, Oceanside: This resort just north of San Diego boasts of being the only RV resort situated on a Southern California beach—in this case, Buccaneer Beach, which has surfing, picnic areas, and harbor fishing."

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CampCalNOW will continue to partner with big names in California's outdoor hospitality industry like Visit California to increase our member's exposure!