Favorite Campgrounds??????????

[Russinator]

Hello - I did a search for favorite campgrounds and found no threads on the subject. I was thinking most of you would have a few favorite places you like to camp and [hopefully] you won't mind sharing with the group. Any and all areas would be helpful, but SoCal mostly. Thanks in advance - Russ and Donna

[Dee4j]

boy that's a tough one for me.  It depends on why and who we're camping with I guess. I like the roominess of Yucaipa regional Park, but kinda too roomy for a rally. I like Vail lake, Lake Casitas. Campland, I guess I should say anywhere I have full hook-ups and a Campfire  :p

[OC Campers]

I would have to say when we lived in So Cal, our favorite spot was San Mateo cg @ San Onofre state beach and San Clemente SB.  We also enjoyed Vail Lake and Malibu RV Park.  I am not a KOA fan but the San Diego Metro KOA in Chula Vista was really nice too.  Our church has had 3 campouts here and each one was great.

Our favorite away from So Cal spot is up in Bridgeport (Eastern Sierras).  We have stayed at Robinson Creek North/South and Paha.  Twin Lakees is also a beautiful cg.

Now that we are in Northern California we haven't got a favorite yet.  We have gone camping 3 times up here and out of the 3 I would say Francis Lake is my favorite.  
 
Jacqui

[Azusateach]

Anyone ever stayed at Puddingstone?

Laura

[Russinator]

I haven't made it to Puddingstone. Thanks to those who replied to me question. I forgot to add to my post some of  our favorite places. Anyway, here's some of our favorites. Just north of Santa Barbara is Refugio state park/beach and El Captain. In that same area is Carpinteria. Ever further north is Jalama. In Orange County we like San Mateo in San Clemente. We just recently discovered two San Diego County parks/campgrounds [Dos Picos and Guajome]. Dos Picos is in Ramona and Guajome is in Oceanside. If the rain stays away, we'll be at Guajome this weekend.

[OC Campers]

Anyone ever stayed at Puddingstone?
 
Laura

We have stayed at Puddingstone twice.  Both times were with our church.  It is a nice campground but it isn't my favorite place. If I had to rate it 1-10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best) I would rate it a 5.   At night instead of raccoons they have skunks:yikes: .  When the sun goes down hundreds of the black and white little stinkers come out.  Our friends golden retriever thought one was another dog and went to sniff its butt.  Yes, you got it.  Poor Dodger got sprayed and was foaming at the mouth.  They had to travel back to Fountain Valley with a stinky dog isitting next to the kids in the van.  They soaked the dog in gallons of tomato juice and absolutely nothing worked.  
 
The other thing was the restrooms.  My dh said that the mens room was horrible, someone had smeared feces all over the walls.  I don't understand people.  Don't they have to use the bathroom more than once a day?  
 
The campground is also at the end of an airstrip.  You will have small aircraft taking off all through the day.
 
I guess the only nice thing about the cg is the sites are paved, there is quite a bit of grassy areas and there are cement picnic tables.
 
Jacqui

[fishintony]

Local:mountain oak near wrightwood, point magu
Not local but worth the drive: mono village near bridgeport, the virginia lakes, reds meadow and east fork at rock creek, headquarters on the kern river, anywhere  in sequia np off season, lake lopez, san simion state beach, any place over 7000 ft after july 4 and before oct 1

[griffsdad]

Any campground that has cable tv!!! Yepee I'm up to 4 posts.

[Camping Coxes]

Local:  Woods Valley in Valley Center, William Heise in Julian, McGrath SB in Ventura.

 
Long drive (vacation):  Sugar Pine Point SP in Lake Tahoe and Lodgepole in Sequioa.

[beacher]

Hmm, favorite spots in Southern California, lets see:

Beach Camping:

Refugio State Beach, Carpinteria State Beach, Doheny State Beach, South Carlesbad State Beach, El Capitan State Beach.  In that order.

Inland:

Lake Casitas, Almost anyplace near Julian, Holcomb Valley at Big Bear, Serrano at Big Bear lake, Lake Cachuma (when the lake is at least 80% full), Malibu Canyon.  No particular order.

RVPark(ing) lot type RVing:

Santee Lakes - (it feels like an RVPark), Campland On The Bay, Malibu Beach RV Park.  In that order.

Private Resorts:

None.  They all suck lemons!  Ok, some are barely OK, if your'e into that kinda thing.  But I cannot endorse any, unless they pay ME a fee!

[DK&3kids]

If you ever make it to Oregon, you can't go wrong with their State Parks.  Jessie Honeyman is the BEST!!!  

 
Anyways, this website is a good one that I've referred to when planning trips:
 
www.rvparkreviews.com

[GeorgeHR]

We have had our trailer since 2003 generally we like exploring and trying new camp grounds that are within driving range fro a quick Friday and Saturday night camp trip, we try to get out and camp at least once a month.  We have not camped in the same campground twice except for Dogwood campground, but here are our favorites:

Mountains:  We like the Big Bear area: Serrano - Big Bear, and Dogwood campground near Lake Arrowhead (both have electric hookups.)

Beach:  We love the California State Beach campgrounds (though I think Doheny is overated) - though you have to plan ahead almost half a year ahead to get a beach site - we have been lucky to find cancellations 2-3 days before the weekend we go.

Recently, we have discovered the San Diego Parks campgrounds we have camped at Agua Caliente, and Guajome.  We plan to explore some of the others soon.   For $16 bucks a night for partial hookups you cant go wrong.

[PopUpMomma]

William Heise - Julian

Santee Lakes - Lake front site!!  Noting better than getting up with your cup of coffee and casting into the lake before the park even opens.

Dos Pics - Ramona

Agua Caliente - a bit of a drive for us but we had a great time.  

Want to camp in Idylwil but don't know where to go.  Any suggestions?

We've been to San Elijo state beach but didn't like the parking lot camping but I understand that any state beach campground is pretty close...and, the trains in the middle of the night....But, still had a great time.  

Lake Jennings is nice

Sweetwater is small and in the middle of the town of Bonita but a real nice campground.  We enjoyed that park also.

Potrero is a pretty park also.  Only camped with Girls Scouts and it poured so we didn't get to see much of the park but have been back several times for picnics and it's very clean.  Lots of trees.  Almost on the border of Mexico.  Close enough to drive into Tecate, which we did.  What a neat town!

[g-whiz]

One of my favorite campgrounds is El Chorro in San Luis Obispo.  It's has that campy feel, yet has full hookups.  If you like to golf, then you are in luck as the Dairy Creek Golf Course is right next door.  The SLO Botanical Garden is also a short walk away and is amazingly beautiful.  If you are into sightseeing, the coast is just a hop, skip and a jump away where you can visit Morro Bay, view the Elephant Seals or drive a little further north for some fabulous Cambria shopping.  The wine-tasting opportunities are incredible especially if you like to take very scenic drives.  The only drawback is it is first-come, first-serve unless you make a group reservation of six or more.  We go on a Thursday night and have not had a problem getting a site.  We don't camp much during the summer months though, so I don't know how getting a site would be during those months.  Here's their website:

http://www.slocountyparks.com/activities/el_chorro.htm

[fishinful]

Hi Russ-

     Under Campground Reviews West there are many contributions.
I have made a few posts there on the more memorable spots I have seen with as much general information as I could relating to pu.

Since you like to surf - Within 3 hrs. of HB would put you at places such as Refugio, Gaviota, Carpinteria, Rincon parkway and Leo Carrillo. All Break right.Although zeros just south of Leo has a ripping left sometimes.

These places are our local costal favorites.I saw your pictures of the Ranch, Gaviota pier and whatnot, seems like you've covered so. cal. pretty much from stem to stern.  Hope this helps.

                                                                       Tracy