Camping is a quintessential Northern California experience – but these days, it’s usually anything but spontaneous. With reservations often being accepted nearly a year in advance, sometimes your favorite spots get snatched up before you can even plan your vacation dates. Luckily, there are some no-reservation camping spots in Northern California where reservations are not required. While that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a spot (they are first-come, first-served, after all), if you time your trip right, your odds will be good. Here are some of the best campgrounds in Northern California:

1. Navarro River Redwoods State Park near Elk

Navarro River Redwoods State Park, Elk, CA 95432, USA
Yelp/ Lorrayne L.
Navarro River Redwoods State Park features rolling hills, redwood groves, and a great beach. Choose from 25 developed sites with toilets and fire grills. Trailers up to 24 feet are allowed in some spots. Down at Navarro Beach, there are 10 primitive sites with no water.

2. Mary Smith Campground, Shasta Trinity National Forest

Yelp/ Chuck M.
This campground offers excellent fishing and tent camping. Mary Smith Campground was picked as one of California’s most beautiful lake campgrounds! Except for a large cluster of sites at the campground entrance, all campsites are walk-in and clustered in small groups. The campsites are tucked into a lush riparian environment of conifers and deciduous trees, a thick middlestory, and ample wildflowers. Privacy between campsites ranges from fair to outstanding. Each site has a view of the lake and Trinity Alps. There are 17 walk-in camp sites, with a fireplace and table. No trailers allowed. There are both flush and vault restrooms.

3. Sinkyone Wilderness State Park

Flickr/ Rene Rivers
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park lies on the southern portion of the Lost Coast, a 60-mile stretch of wilderness comprising the park and the King Range National Conservation Area. It's one of the most lovely stretches of Northern California. There are developed as well as primitive hike-in sites and pit toilets. No water is available, so bring your own!

4. Manchester State Park Campground

Flickr/ sk
Manchester State Park features a beach, sand dunes, and flat grasslands, with nearly 18,000 feet of ocean frontage. The beach line curves gently to form a "catch basin" for sea debris, which accounts for the volume of driftwood found here. Five miles of gentle, sandy beach stretches southward towards the Point Arena Lighthouse. One of the main attractions is the excellent steelhead fishing in the park’s two streams, Brush Creek and Alder Creek. The park features 10 environmental sites and 18 primitive sites, chemical toilets, and fire grills. Campers up to 30 feet and trailers up to 22 feet are allowed.

5. Westport - Union Landing State Beach

Westport-Union Landing State Beach, 25000 Hillshore Dr, Westport, CA 95488, USA
Flickr/ Troy Smith
Westport Union-Landing State Beach covers more than three miles of rugged and scenic coastline, with 86 campsites available in three campgrounds on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The magnificent vistas, sunsets and tree-covered mountains in the background provide an inspiring backdrop to the park and challenges to both amateur and professional photographers. Campers will find fire rings, chemical toilets, and tables at their sites.

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6. Auburn State Recreation Area near Auburn

Auburn State Recreation Area, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Flickr/ Robert Cutts
This state park camping destination (which is 20 miles long on two forks of the American River) is situated south of Interstate 80, stretching from Auburn to Colfax. The main access is from Auburn, either on Highway 49 or the Auburn-Foresthill Road. In the heart of the gold country, the Auburn State Recreation Area (Auburn SRA) covers 40-miles of the North and Middle Forks of the American river. Once teeming with thousands of gold miners, the area is now a natural area offering a wide variety of recreation opportunities to over 900,000 visitors a year. There are 100 primitive sites with tables but no drinking water.

7. Humboldt Lagoons State Park In Humboldt County

Humboldt Lagoons State Park, 15336 US-101, Trinidad, CA 95570, USA
Flickr/ phoca2004
Humboldt Lagoons State Park lies on the sandy, windswept edge of ocean and forest. Formed by the clash of two tectonic plates, it’s part of the largest lagoon system in the United States. It's located 40 miles north of Eureka. It features environmental sites with no water, pit toilets, tables and fire rings.

8. Juniper Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park

Juniper Lake Campground, Chester Juniper Lake Rd, Chester, CA 96020, USA
Flickr/ Gino
The Juniper Lake Campground is located on the east shore of Juniper Lake via a 13-mile paved/gravel road. If you want to get way out there away from the crowds, this is the place for you. No drinking water is available in the Juniper Lake area, so be sure to bring your own, but there are pit toilets.

9. Pomo Canyon, Sonoma Coast State Park

Pomo Canyon Trail, California, USA
Flickr/ ((brian))
Sonoma Coast State Park is known for long sandy beaches below rugged headlands, a craggy coastline with natural arches and secluded coves. Pomo Canyon Campground offers 20 walk-in campsites. There is a fire ring and a picnic table in each campsite. Pit toilets are available.

10. Union Reservoir, Stanislaus National Forest

Union Reservoir, California 95223, USA
Flickr/ Dain Sandoval
Union Reservoir is popular for day use, as well as paddle sports such as canoeing and kayaking. A primitive boat launch is available at Union Reservoir. This area features four developed recreation facilities: Utica - Sandy Flat (11 sites), Rocky Point (12 sites), Union West (18 sites), and Union East (11 sites).

11. Florence Keller County Park & Campground

Florence Keller County Park & Campground, 3400 Cunningham Ln, Crescent City, CA 95531, USA
Yelp/ Tina L.
Florence Keller County Park & Campground offers all the best of Del Norte County Camping. It's within a few minutes drive to the ocean, river, lakes, sand dunes, hikes, and the refreshing small town atmosphere of Crescent City. It's a year-round rustic campsite in the Redwoods, with 50 spaces, no full hookups and no pull throughs. It does have potable water, an open field for sports, and a picnic area.

Okay, campers. Did we leave any of your favorite no-reservation camping spots in Northern California off our list? What’s your favorite spot for a good ol’ family Northern California camping trip? Where do YOU think exists the best campgrounds in Northern California? We’re always eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions, so leave them in the comment section!

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More to Explore

Best Campgrounds in Northern California

Emerson | July 16, 2019

What are some of the best campgrounds in Northern California?

Here in Northern California, we're lucky to have access to hundreds of excellent camping destinations that cover a variety of landscapes.

  • For beach campgrounds, you'll want to check out Patricks Point State Park, Clam Beach State Campground, Bodega Dunes Campground, and Russian Gulch State Park.
  • For redwood forest camping, check out Jedediah Smith Campground, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Ramblin' Redwoods Campground.
  • For lake camping, check out Lake Amador Resort, Clear Lake State Park, North Shore Campground, and City of Lake Tahoe Campground. That's just barely scratching the surface!

 

Are you allowed to camp in state parks?

Yes, most of California's state parks feature seasonal or year-round campsites, and there is one suited for every type of camping style possible.

  • Whether you're the type of camper who likes to rough it in primitive tent sites or you consider yourself a 'glamper' who enjoys the cabin, airstream, and RV life, there's a wide variety of state park camping to choose from.
  • Check out all of California's state parks and their camping situations, along with fees and whether or not reservations are required, by visiting the California State Parks website.

What are some of the things I need to take on a camping trip?

No matter what, always be sure to pack the essentials. Items like food, water, a first aid kit, a knife, appropriate camping attire, sunscreen, and bug spray will always come in handy.

  • If you're tent camping, you'll want to be sure to bring anything and everything you'll need during your trip, including cooking utensils, camping chairs, a sleeping bag, a lantern/flashlight, etc.
  • If you're staying in a cabin, many of these items may be provided for you. Be sure to make a list ahead of time and plan accordingly to your camping situation, weather conditions, and campsite conditions.

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