Question about camping in some of California's National Parks

[Quint-THOR]

I'm planning a trip to California in 2026 coming from the east coast. I'm interested in staying in a couple of the national parks specifically Joshua Tree, Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Redwood forest. It seems that most if not all of the campgrounds in these national park are boondocking only ( no hookups), I'm traveling in a 32' class C motorhome with a toad so I can do 3 days 4 days max with no hookups. I'm looking for info from anyone with experience in these national parks for help in best campgrounds to camp to explore the parks ect. I also have read some of the in-the-park campgrounds can be challenging to navigate to.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Jackiemac]

Go to recreation.gov and look at each campground.

Some are older and will have length restrictions so look at the driveway details. Some can be tight to manoeuvre into.

Make a list of the sites you will fit into.

You probably need to book those as soon as they open, usually 6 months in advance, to be sure of getting a spot.

Most have dump stations and water so you'd really only need electricity if you aren't happy to rely on a generator/solar.

Some don't allow generator use at all or only during certain times so be aware of that.

If you can't find a campground with electricity or the hookups you require then you should be able to get an RV Park relatively close and then drive to the park.

If you get a Good Sam camping discount membership you can usually save at many RV Parks.

Passport America is similar but their discounts work a bit differently, eg maybe only 1 night or only midweek.

Both are reasonably good though for what the membership costs.

We stayed in an RV Park at Lemon Cove to go to Sequoia for example and Bass Lake for Yosemite.

Remember also Yosemite needs a permit at certain times to get into the valley.

 

[DonTom]

Redwood forest. It seems that most if not all of the campgrounds in these national park are boondocking only ( no hookups),

For the Giant Redwoods, and full hookups, see here. I stayed there for two weeks last summer.

Also, see my thread here.


-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Arch Hoagland]

What time of the year?

 

[JudyJB]

I can tell you that your rig cannot fit into the southern Joshua Tree campground (Cottonwood). I know this because I have tried it, and I have no towed vehicle! However, Indio and Palm Springs are very close and have lots of full and partial hookup campsites. There is one campground (Black Rock) in the northwest part of the park, you possibly could fit into, but the sites are dirt and I can't remember if they have electricity. ON the north edge of the park, there are also several commercial campgrounds very close to the northern entrance, so very easy to stay at and drive in for the day.

As far as Yosemite, there are several huge campgrounds there, but none of them have electric hookups, though it is really worth staynig there for at least a few days. You will just have to dump your tanks and refill with water. I have stayed there in my 32 foot C, but just make sure you pick your site carefully, and it is large enough length-wise and width-wise.

You can stay outside of Yosemite, but it is a very long drive into the park each day. And during summer, there could be a lot of traffic in and out.

It is good you are starting early to make reservations because national parks fill up quickly. Read a lot of campground reviews and use Google maps to view the places, if you can. This site also shows photos of many campground sites: CampsitePhotos.com - Campsite Photos and Camping Information

Also, a warning--state parks in California are very expensive and very basic, so what I have been doing is looking at county campgrounds, which tend to be much nicer and with at least electricity, for a lot less money.

 

[dave541]

Redwood NP is commingled with several California State Parks and managed together under a joint powers agreement. IIRC, some of the State Park campgrounds have electric, but reservations for those sites fill fast. Federal campsites normally have no electric. Centrally located water faucets, and some have a drive up dump site somewhere in the vicinty.
Redwood has morning fog during the summer, and burns off late morning to early afternoon. Spring and Fall have the nicest weather.
Joshua Tree is extremely hot in summer. Dangerously hot. There are warning signs everywhere about the heat, advising you to hike early morning (be at the trailhead first light) and plan on being back at vehicle by noon. Take more water than you think you could possibly drink, then take more. Take the heat seriously. Visitors die every year from the heat.
Yosemite and Sequoia are nice in summer. Normally not hot. The higher elevations are quite pleasant on a summer day, with afternoon thunderstorms possible.
You didn't mention Lassen Volcanic. It is nice, and lesser visited than the other Parks. I live near there.

 

[UTTransplant]

Joshua Tree will be HOT in May. I would look for a commercial campground just outside the park with electricity for AC. At another time of year I would encourage you to look at Belle Campground which has a number of sites that would fit your rig. The rest of the parks you list should have moderate weather. But if you are going to Joshua Tree, you really should go to Death Valley too. Again, stay outside the park (Longstreet Casino and Campground would be my recommendation) and drive in. Gorgeous area, but you don’t want to be camping or hiking there in May.

 

[jymbee]

Go to recreation.gov and look at each campground.

Some are older and will have length restrictions so look at the driveway details. Some can be tight to manoeuvre into.

Make a list of the sites you will fit into.

You probably need to book those as soon as they open, usually 6 months in advance, to be sure of getting a spot.

Most have dump stations and water so you'd really only need electricity if you aren't happy to rely on a generator/solar.

Some don't allow generator use at all or only during certain times so be aware of that.

If you can't find a campground with electricity or the hookups you require then you should be able to get an RV Park relatively close and then drive to the park.

If you get a Good Sam camping discount membership you can usually save at many RV Parks.

Passport America is similar but their discounts work a bit differently, eg maybe only 1 night or only midweek.

Both are reasonably good though for what the membership costs.

We stayed in an RV Park at Lemon Cove to go to Sequoia for example and Bass Lake for Yosemite.

Remember also Yosemite needs a permit at certain times to get into the valley.

Spoken like someone who has "been there done that".

 

[JudyJB]

Actually, there are a couple of exceptions to federal campgrounds with no hookups in California. They are not in national parks, but pleasant places nonetheless.

• One, and a place that would be relatively cool, is Merrill Campground at Eagle Lake which is northeast of Susanville in the far northeast corner of California. It has no hookups, partial hookups, and full hookup sites, as well as a very long paved bike trail on either side of it. It is not too far from Lassen, but there are closer commercial campgrounds if you just want to see Lassen.
• Hidden View Campground on Hensley lake near Fresno. About half the sites have electric hookups and a couple have water as well.
• Death Valley does have some campsites at Furnace Creek, but frankly it is going to be horribly hot there and anywhere nearby. Much nicer in November through February!!

 

[Seilerbird]

Yes Joshua Tree will be hot in May. The average high temp in May is 85 degrees, the average low is 53 degrees.

https://www.google.com/search?q=jos...IARABGAmSBwUxLjQtMaAHkQY&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

 

[Jackiemac]

I can highly recommend Lassen and Lava Beds (although further North).

 

[Arch Hoagland]

Where did you guys see he was going in May?

 

[dave541]

I can highly recommend Lassen and Lava Beds (although further North).

If going to Lava Beds, visit nearby Medicine Lake -- it is the newest National Monument, named Sattitla. Geologically interesting, mountains of obsidian, pumice, scoria, and other forms of extrusive volcanism.
Lava Beds is not much of a hiking spot. The lava tubes are the draw, with a side note of history of the Modoc Indian wars. Bring flashlights and explore the caves -- one flashlight per person plus a spare or two. Wear a hat inside the caves, some of the ceilings are low and have a rough surface (a bike helmet is good).
One campground inside Lava Beds with no hookups. A private full hookup park is south of the Monument. Fuel fillups are hard to find in the area. A few stations that may be open, maybe not, cash only...

 

[Jackiemac]

@dave54

We've been To Medicine Lake twice.

First time we watched a guy hook fish after fish from the lake.

Second time we only got so far and were stopped by snow. Think that was in June.

 

[dave541]

@dave54

We've been To Medicine Lake twice.

First time we watched a guy hook fish after fish from the lake.

Second time we only got so far and were stopped by snow. Think that was in June.

Yeah, it is in a snow belt, influenced by Mt Shasta. Gets a lot more snow than areas of similar elevation north and south of it. The campground doesn't open until July 1, and closes mid-Sept to protect the water system from freezing. Really short season. However, if you can make it there, you can dry camp outside those dates with no services.

 

[Jackiemac]

Yeah, it is in a snow belt, influenced by Mt Shasta. Gets a lot more snow than areas of similar elevation north and south of it. The campground doesn't open until July 1, and closes mid-Sept to protect the water system from freezing. Really short season. However, if you can make it there, you can dry camp outside those dates with no services.

We did a fly drive 1st visit back in 2011 and camping at Manzanita Lake.

 

[dave541]

We did a fly drive 1st visit back in 2011 and camping at Manzanita Lake.

Manzanita is nice, but I prefer Butte Lake. More remote, lesser used, fewer people. No cell signal, though. That is a plus for me, but not for wife. Then hike into Snag Lake for some backcountry fishing. Snag is the largest lake in California with no road access.
Drifting off topic.
From Lassen to Redwoods the fastest route is up I-5 into Oregon, to Grants Pass, then highway 199 to Crescent City. 299 looks shorter on the map, but that is not a fun road with an RV. 199 is a faster and easier drive.

 

[Cmprman]

Good luck camping at a National park now with virtually no staff at any of them.

 

[Quint-THOR]

Thanks all for your input lots of good info to check out. I'm presently designing the trip but have not pick a launch date as of yet for 2026. Weather will be the deciding factor as to when we head out that way.

 

[TonyL]

Spoken like someone who has "been there done that".

And bought the tee shirt