7 Underrated Coastal & Redwood Campgrounds in Northern California for Families

Apr 23
6 min read

Seven family-tested campgrounds on the coast and in the redwoods, with the stories and memories that made me love each one.

One of my favorite things about camping with my kids isn't the trails or the campfire or the s'mores. It's watching all five of us actually do things together.

At home, someone is always escaping to their room. Someone doesn't feel like being involved. Someone is on their device. At a campsite, none of that is possible. We're all building the tent, all cooking, all cleaning up, all figuring out the morning routine together. All three of my kids have been helping since they were tiny inflating sleeping pads, hauling gear, stirring whatever's in the pot, pulling poles out of bags. When they were younger, they loved being involved. Now that they're older, it's sometimes pulling teeth. Still does it, though. And something I won't stop saying, even though I know it sounds counterintuitive: camping with kids is easier the younger they are. Not physically easier but emotionally easier. Little kids show up to camping with wide open eyes. They find a pinecone and it's the best pinecone that ever existed. If you've been telling yourself you'll start camping when your kids are old enough to handle it, I promise you, they already are.

These are the seven Northern California coastal and redwood campgrounds I actually take my family back to. Some are hidden gems. Some are well-loved locally but still fly under the radar nationally. All seven are doable for families, and I have stayed at every one of them with my three kids.

Booking note: All seven campgrounds below book through ReserveCalifornia.com. Reservations open 6 months in advance on a rolling daily release. Be sure to set a calendar reminder for the date your dates open because summer sites move fast.

1. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Henry Cowell is where I send every family camping for the first time. It is the most forgiving introduction to redwood camping in California. I love that it's close enough to civilization that you are not intimidated, and wild enough that you feel like you really were off on an adventure.

The trains running through the park are half the magic. When they bring out Thomas the Train for special events, my kids lose their minds. Check the park's event calendar before you book because catching one of those weekends turns a good trip into a great one.

Beyond the train there are swings near the visitor center and a little creek where kids can swim, jump in the water, and lose an entire afternoon. Redwoods, train, creek, and playground all in one park. Very few campgrounds give you that combination and the rope swings are always a win.

2. Samuel P. Taylor State Park

Samuel P. Taylor sits in lush redwoods just an hour north of San Francisco, and unlike most coastal campgrounds that book out months in advance, this one is often overlooked and easier to snag. Which is wild, because once you have been, you don't understand how it flies under the radar.

There are swimming holes the kids can wade into and jump off of, and it is the kind of place where you actually sit back. Pack your inflatables, pack your chairs, plant yourself by the water, and let summer-weekend chill mode take over. That is the whole vibe here.

Two things to know before you book: no hammocks allowed (protected trees), and creek access is closed December 1 through June 15 for salmon spawning. The spawning itself is viewable from designated areas and is a genuinely cool thing to witness with kids a nature lesson that shows up on no itinerary.

3. Van Damme State Park

For the full Van Damme experience including trails, beach access, and surrounding stays, see my Mendocino Coast family guide. This section is specifically about the overnight.

Van Damme is my favorite place to actually camp on the Mendocino coast and honestly more so than Russian Gulch because of how the campground sits. Highway 1 cuts right through the park. Campground on one side, Van Damme State Beach directly across. On warm summer nights we walk over for a beach bonfire and watch the sun go down over the Pacific. Perfect doesn't quite cover it.

The campsites are tucked under the canopy with just enough light filtering through, and the smaller trails behind the sites are where our best memories happen hidden swings, old-growth trees, massive fern groves that feel prehistoric. We stumble into them just wandering off the main path after dinner.

4. Russian Gulch State Park

For the waterfall hike, the iconic bridge, and day-use details, see my Mendocino Coast family guide. This is just about the camping.

Russian Gulch campground is tucked deep into a gorge, which is what makes it different from Van Damme. The sites are secluded, heavily shaded, and feel like you are inside the forest instead of beside it. On hot weekends this is the move because the shade is a whole degree of relief the coast doesn't usually give you.

Sites here also skew small so if you have a big tent or you are coming with a second family, check the individual site photos on ReserveCalifornia before booking. Some genuinely cannot fit more than one tent.

5. Manresa Uplands (Manresa State Beach)

We pulled into Manresa at midnight one trip, desperate for a site, with absolutely no idea it was walk-in only. We had just snagged a last-minute opening and drove straight there. When we realized we were going to have to haul every single thing in on foot, my husband pulled the wagon out of the car, my oldest woke up and helped, and the two of them set up the tent in the dark while the little ones slept. We crashed for a few hours and woke up to one of the most quiet, beautiful campsites we had ever stayed at.

Walk-in campgrounds are harder. You can't just pull up and unload. But they teach kids something you cannot get from a drive-up site patience, strength, and the feeling of actually contributing to getting the family set up for the night. That midnight arrival was a test for all of us, and every one of my kids passed it. I wouldn't trade that night for an easier site.

Manresa Uplands sits on bluffs directly above Manresa State Beach. Tent-only, seasonal (mid-May through October), and genuinely one of the most scenic campgrounds in California. The ocean is the soundtrack and you can easily one down and enjoy the quiet beach and trails here.

6. Sunset State Beach

Sunset State Beach lives up to its name. The sunsets here are genuinely the best I have seen on this stretch of coast, and getting to them is easy. From the campground it is a short walk to the beach, or you can drive to the viewpoint if you have little kids who are running out of steam by that hour.

The beach itself is wide, quiet, and perfect for the things we actually do at the beach with kids like flying a kite, setting up a beach blanket for a lazy day, running around in the sand until everyone is worn out. And if the weather is warm enough, a dip in the water. There is also a beautiful path you can take from across the campground down to the water. Be sure to not miss this perfect summer spot.

7. Morro Bay State Park

There are two state camping options in Morro Bay. Morro Strand State Beach sits right on the sand with oceanfront sites, and that direct beach access is hard to beat. But it is also exposed, open, and can get hectic. Morro Bay State Park is inland, tucked around eucalyptus groves and a marina, and it is much more peaceful. For family camping, I go with the State Park every time.

Either way, Morro Rock is the main event. The 581-foot volcanic plug sitting at the edge of the harbor is one of the most iconic landmarks on the Central Coast and absolutely not to be missed. Whether you are camping at the State Park or just driving through, go see Morro Rock up close.

Bonus: the on-site Museum of Natural History is small but great for a Jr. Ranger badge, and the adjacent estuary is excellent for birdwatching with kids.