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- The Best California State Parks for RV Camping
- The Best National Parks for RV Camping in California
- The Best Cities to Visit in California Using an RV
Planning the best road trip route is essential to planning the perfect road trip. With sprawling white beaches, gorgeous ocean views, giant redwood forests and 280 state parks to choose from, California is one of the best states for a road trip. Seeing the state in a recreational vehicle (RV) gives you the freedom to stay in diverse locations and access the truly unique sights and wonders of California.
From beaches to deserts to mountain views, California can suit any visitor. Here are some unforgettable places to visit in your RV in California.
The Best California State Parks for RV Camping
California state parks encourage RV camping and often provide full hookup sites, electricity and running water. With a host of outdoor activities for all kinds of visitors, California state parks won't steer you wrong. Here are a few of the best California state parks for RV camping:
1. Redwoods State Park
The California Redwoods are one of California's greatest wonders. In the Redwoods State and National Parks, campers can walk among the tallest trees on earth and enjoy miles of natural beauty. The parks boast activities for the whole family, like hiking the 170-mile trail system, biking and enjoying a ranger-led kayaking tour during the summer months.
Campers will find several parking options, including Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Redwoods RV Resort and Sempervirens Campground, where they can enjoy electric, water and laundry services. The California Coastal Trail also winds through the park, leading hikers to unparalleled ocean views. Camping is the only way to stay overnight in the park.
2. Red Rock Canyon State Park
California is home to breathtaking deserts and rock formations, which RV campers can fully enjoy at Red Rock Canyon State Park. The site exhibits spectacular buttes and red rock formations with dramatic shapes and colors. This park is an excellent place to see geological features and seasonal waterfalls, hike miles of trails, go mountain biking and observe wildlife like roadrunners, lizards and hawks.
Red Rock Canyon's RV sites are tucked against the base of the desert cliffs. The state park includes running water, public bathrooms, picnic tables and barbeques. Due to the size of the campsites, RVs need to be under 30 feet, making truck campers and teardrop campers great choices for this location.
3. McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
If waterfalls are your thing, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park will not disappoint. The park is located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and includes forest trails and lake shoreline paths. The Burney Falls are the star of the park and are among the most beautiful in the state, cascading into a misty pool that feeds into Lake Britton.
RV campers can stay at the McArthur Campground as long as their RV is shorter than 32 feet. Many RVs can range in size, though most Class C campers are the size of a moving van. Visitors will enjoy hiking and watersports like fishing, boating and windsurfing on Lake Britton.
The Best National Parks for RV Camping in California
Campgrounds located in national parks are some of the best places to RV camp in California. These California national parks stretch from the middle of the state to the southern tip and are sure to delight the whole family.
1. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is one of the country's most popular parks, bringing in an average of 4 million annual visitors over the last decade. The park offers nearly endless activities for hikers and backpackers, from trekking the 16 miles to the top of Half Dome to exploring Bridal Veil Falls. Visitors can also go fishing, horseback riding, skiing in the winter and enjoy the park's giant sequoia trees.
Wherever else your RV camping trip takes you, Yosemite is a must-see. Inside the park's 1,200 square miles are 13 campgrounds offering a range of amenities and breathtaking views of the park, making them some of the best RV campgrounds in California. Of the 13 campgrounds, 10 of them accommodate RVs of varying lengths and trailers like fifth-wheels. If you're planning on horseback riding, a horse trailer with living quarters would also be a great option.
2. Sequoia National Park
When it comes to the best places to visit in California in an RV, Sequoia National Park is high on the list. The park is home to massive sequoia trees, cross-country ski trails and plenty of wildlife, and offers activities year-round. Visitors can climb Mount Whitney, go rock climbing and drive scenic roads through the trees to take in all the beauty.
With 14 RV campgrounds in the park — three of which are open year-round — RV campers have plenty of options, which means there is space for various types of RVs including travel trailers and Class A motorhomes. RV camping is extremely popular, so it's best to make a reservation. Any one of the campgrounds is an excellent base for exploring every corner of the park.
3. Joshua Tree National Park
If you enjoy hiking and mountain biking, Joshua Tree National Park is for you. Visitors will love the park's strangely wonderful flora, like the yucca tree, and the delights of the desert landscape. With thousands of rock climbing routes and natural springs, Joshua Tree can enchant backpackers for hours.
Joshua Tree National Park is home to some of the best RV parks in California, although many can get busy during the summer months so it is wise to book ahead. Jumbo Rocks Campground is the largest campground in the park, while sites like Belle Campground and Hidden Valley Campground might give campers more privacy. Many campgrounds in the park allow you to select sites that will fit your RV, so you may see everything from towable tents to Class B motorhomes here.
The Best Cities to Visit in California Using an RV
When you think of RV parks in California, mountains and forests are probably the first places that come to mind. Yet the state has many cities that can make your RV camping trip an urban adventure.
1. Los Angeles
One of the most famous cities on the west coast, Los Angeles has it all. From gorgeous beaches to boardwalks to city nightlife, visitors can stay busy from dawn to dusk. RV sites are located at a few campgrounds just outside the city. Nearby Ocean Mesa at El Capitan is widely viewed as one of the best RV parks in California. The resort offers upscale camping for visitors with its cable TV, Wi-Fi access, a massage parlor, heated pool and outdoor concerts during the summer.
If you want to explore Los Angeles another way, Anaheim RV Park provides easy access. The campground has a heated pool, daily continental breakfast and a shuttle to Disneyland every 30 minutes. Campers here are only a short drive from other popular destinations in Los Angeles, like Universal Studios and the Los Angeles Zoo. Anaheim RV Park accommodates RVs up to 40 feet in length, which means even large Class A motorhomes can be parked here.
2. San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful city famous for the Golden Gate Bridge and cable car rides. The San Francisco RV Resort is the first urban RV park, located on a bluff beside the Pacific Ocean just a few miles from the Golden Gate Bridge. The resort can spaciously accommodate various types of RVs and motorhomes ranging from tiny trailers to 45-foot Class A motorhomes.
Visitors can access the city's incredible shopping, museums and restaurants by day, then watch the sunset over the ocean in the evening. Surfers can also head down to the ocean to catch a wave, and RV campers can walk down to the beach to enjoy San Francisco Bay. Nearby public transportation gives visitors easy access to the city, where landmarks like Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf provide plenty to see and do.
3. Malibu
If the hustle and bustle isn't quite your style, Malibu could be just the place to visit in your RV. Malibu is famous for its romantic beaches, palm trees and inspiring sunsets. The Malibu Beach RV Park is a great place to park your RV, and the walk to the beach takes less than a minute. The RV park offers fishing, swimming and fire pits. Keep in mind that this park restricts RVs to Department of Transportation-approved recreational vehicles. This includes any standard motorhome or travel trailer.
From the park, you can easily visit the famous Griffith Observatory, walk the piers, explore the art in the Getty Villa and stroll through Solstice Canyon. In Malibu, visitors can enjoy great shopping and dining and get a taste of city life after beating on the beach.
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RV camping opens a treasure trove of sights and adventures throughout California. Whether you want to soak up some sun on the beach, spend your day hiking through a national park or take in the sights of the city, an RV can get you there.
Financing an RV is an excellent way to get out on the road in less time. At My Financing USA, we offer RV financing and loans across the United States. When you apply for a loan with us online, you'll hear back within 48 to 72 hours and get a consultation to establish your goals and find the best loan for you.
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