6 Perfect Southern California RV Camping Destinations

California is one of the most diverse places in the US. In this one state, you can find so many different areas and landscapes. These include towering forests, snow-capped mountains, rocky beaches, roaring rivers, endless deserts, icy lakes, and so much more. The variety of landscapes and endless beautiful places to visit make California an excellent vacation destination. For this reason, many RVers love road tripping and camping in California. With a large assortment of state parks, Harvest Hosts locations, national parks, campgrounds, and RV parks, there is no shortage of amazing locations to stay and play all over this wonderful state. 

To begin, we’ll share the best places to RV camp in Southern California, near the coast. With two big cities, several national forests, the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, several mountain ranges, and endless coastline, there is so much to do and see in Southern California. So buckle up and let’s head on down to our first destination in sunny San Diego.

1. Mission Bay RV Resort – San Diego, CA

San Diego is the heart of all things fun in the sun. In this one small area, you can find countless gorgeous beaches, an award-winning zoo, the famous Legoland, hundreds of incredible places to eat, historic Coronado Island, and so much more. Within the city of San Diego, you can find multiple historic districts, each chock full of arts, food, drinks, culture, and more. This is the perfect city to visit year round for warm, tropical adventures that the whole family can enjoy.

Mission Bay RV Resort is one of the best places for RV camping in San Diego and is located just minutes from many of San Diego’s most popular attractions. This beautiful and spacious RV park offers a variety of full hookups campsites, some with bay views, and others of various sizes, all just steps from the ocean. This resort accommodates big rigs and pets, so it’s an excellent stop at any time of year. 

2. Vineyard Grant James – Ramona, CA

On the outskirts of San Diego county, you can find Ramona, California. We hope you like wine because this region is home to over 30 wineries! The sunshine, altitude, and soil composition make this the ideal climate for the variety of vineyards- and also make it perfect for vacations. The town of Ramona doesn’t just pair cheese with their variety of wines, but their perfect pairing also includes art. On weekends, they have a small art gallery open to the public in historic downtown Ramona. While you’re downtown, be sure to view the large murals that colorfully illustrate the town’s history.

We will be taking you to one of our favorite wineries that also happens to be a Harvest Host location. Nestled in the hills of San Diego county, Vineyard Grant James is truly a perfect blend of luxury and country. They offer quite the variety of whites, reds, and rosé wines. This location is actually ranked #2 in the United States by Travel + Leisure, so it’s not to be missed when visiting the San Diego area. 

3. Paradise by the Sea Beach RV Resort – Oceanside, CA

If your dream vacation destination includes almost endless activities, then search no further than Oceanside, CA. From beaches, to a New England-style harbor, surfing, skateboarding, skydiving, art culture, craft beer, and even farm-to-table food offerings, Oceanside truly has it all. Learn about surf culture from the California Surf Museum, or hit the waves on one of the many white, sandy beaches. Oceanside is known for being one of Southern California’s most consistent surf spots, so you can find surfers catching a wave at almost any time of day. 

Paradise by the Sea Beach RV Resort stays true to the Oceanside spirit of all-inclusiveness with their long list of amenities. They offer over 90 full hookup sites with picnic tables, all located just a short walk from the beach. Each site provides WiFi and cable TV, and the park features a firepit next to a heated pool, upgraded restroom facilities, and a small grocery store. This is Oceanside’s only beach RV resort, so plan ahead if you’d like to stay at this location because it fills up quickly.

4. Newport Beach Golf Course – Newport Beach, CA

Newport Beach is one of the most picturesque SoCal coastal towns. With plenty of places for swimming, boating, surfing, and fishing, Newport Beach has something for everyone. There are ten unique district neighborhoods, each with plenty of restaurants and wine sampling opportunities. No matter what you prefer while on vacation, Newport Beach has you covered with fun and activities the entire family can enjoy.

When visiting Newport Beach, we have the perfect Harvest Host location for you to enjoy. Newport Beach Golf Course is available to those with our upgraded golf membership and allows visitors to stay the night in this quiet location just minutes from the beach. Here, members can enjoy discounted rounds of golf before heading out to catch some waves and soak up the sunshine. When visiting Newport, this course is not to be missed.

5. Hollywood RV Park – Van Nuys, CA

When traveling in Southern California, a visit to downtown Los Angeles is an absolute must. Whether you plan to hike to the famous Hollywood sign, stroll down the Walk of Fame, drive down Sunset Boulevard, cruise to the Channel Islands, or shop on Rodeo Drive, there is just so much to do and see here in this quintessential American vacation destination. Since Los Angeles boasts 284 days of sunshine per year, you can almost always expect warm sunny days, no matter what time of year you plan to visit.

Just a short drive from all the fun of downtown Los Angeles lies Hollywood RV Park. This excellent park boasts availability year round and dozens of spacious sites with full hookups. With wifi, a gym, and scenic murals throughout, this campground is not to be missed when visiting the area. We also 

6. Agua Dulce Winery – Agua Dulce, CA

Just northeast of Los Angeles, you will find the beautiful Agua Dulce Winery. At this gorgeous vineyard, an ideal climate, natural soils, and geographic advantages combine to create an ideal setting for winemaking. This 90-acre facility has won dozens of awards for their delicious whites and reds. Harvest Hosts members are invited to park here overnight in exchange for enjoying some wine in the tasting room. The serene setting makes this the perfect place to spend the night, and if you’re lucky enough, you should be able to catch a lovely sunset over the hills in the distance.

No matter what it is that you most enjoy, there are so many ideal locations for Southern California RV camping. Whether you want to lay on the beach, sip wine, catch waves, or explore towns, any of these six locations has you covered. Be sure to consider these beautiful places when planning your next trip to sunny Southern California.

Have you visited Southern California in your RV? Where did you camp? Feel free to share in the comments below!

 

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  1. Marcy Acevedo
    11th September, 2022

    Hi,
    We have a 2022 Runaway Rouser travel trailer. Is this an acceptable rv for Harvest Hosts locations?

    Thank you,
    Marcy Acevedo


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  2. Sam Leash
    18th October, 2021

    Hey Mark! We have accommodations all around Portland, and also in Washington, California, and all the surrounding states. I would suggest reaching out to Harvest Hosts customer service directly with any further questions you may have. Happy trails!


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  3. Mark Poor
    5th September, 2021

    Looking forward to a late Fall trip with our Airstream currently in Portland
    Came across your site and was intrigued and like to know more about
    Accommodations
    Cheers
    Mark


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  4. Sam Leash
    6th March, 2020

    Crystal Cove is definitely one of the most gorgeous places in SoCal, and there’s nothing like having a great view and beachfront access! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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  5. Buzz
    13th February, 2020

    Crystal Cove Campgroud, near LaGuna Beach, one of the best-expensive but what a view and a nice beach to walk
    Also close by is the Crystal Cove Historical State Park where, back in the day, they used to make movies here. Restored beachfront 1930’s Cottages
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