First-come, first-served camping in California

These campgrounds take no reservations — arrive early, claim a site. Every listing links to the full park page with trails, weather, and conditions.

Updated 2026-08-03.

Death Valley Inyo County, California

• Eureka Dunes Campground (Primitive) — first come, first served · year-round · $0 · 2,880 ft
• Homestake Campground (Primitive) — first come, first served · Year-round · $0 · 3,785 ft
• Mahogany Flat Campground (Primitive) — first come, first served · Summer through fall; often closed in winter due to snow and ice · $0 · 8,133 ft
• Emigrant Campground — Closed (checked 2026-08-01) · first come, first served · Closed indefinitely due to storm damage to the water system · 10 sites · $0 · 2,100 ft
• Saline Valley Campground (Primitive) — first come, first served · Year-round · $0 · 1,375 ft
• Sunset Campground — first come, first served · Late fall through mid-to-late April · $9–$18 · -142 ft
• Texas Springs Campground — first come, first served · Late fall through mid-April · $10–$20 · -84 ft
• Mesquite Spring Campground — first come, first served · Year-round · $10–$20 · 1,800 ft
• Thorndike Campground (Primitive) — first come, first served · Mid-April through December, pending snowfall · $0 · 7,400 ft
• Wildrose Campground — first come, first served · Year round · $0 · 4,100 ft
• Stovepipe Wells Campground — first come, first served · Late fall through mid-to-late April · 190 sites · $9–$18 · -1 ft

Lassen Volcanic California

• Juniper Lake Campground — Closed (checked 2026-06-18) · first come, first served · 6,800 ft
• Southwest Campground - Summer/Fall — first come, first served · late May to November (tent sites close when snow covers the ground; self-contained vehicle camping available in the parking area) · $10–$16 · 6,700 ft

Joshua Tree California

• Belle Campground — first come, first served · Year-round; closed in summer (typically June through late August) · $25 · 3,860 ft
• Hidden Valley Campground — first come, first served · Year-round · $13–$25 · 4,210 ft
• White Tank Campground — first come, first served · Year-round · $25 · 3,822 ft

Anza-Borrego Desert California

• Arroyo Salado — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served
• Blair Valley — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served
• Bow Willow — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served · $20
• Culp Valley — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served
• Fish Creek — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served · $20
• Mountain Palm Springs — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served · $20
• Yaqui Pass — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served
• Yaqui Well — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served
• Sheep Canyon — Open (checked 2026-08-01) · first come, first served · Closed to the public June 1 – September 30 (Coyote Canyon summer closure) · $20

Humboldt Redwoods California

• Bull Creek Trail Camp — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served. Register at any open campground entrance station before departing; $5 per person per night, 6 people per site. · $5/person
• Burlington Campground Hike/Bike Camp — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served
• Grasshopper Trail Camp — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served. Register at any open campground entrance station before departing; $5 per person per night, 6 people per site. · $5/person
• Hansen Ridge Trail Camp — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served. Register at any open campground entrance station before departing; $5 per person per night, 6 people per site. · $5/person
• Johnson Trail Camp — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served. Register at any open campground entrance station before departing; $5 per person per night, 6 people per site. · $5/person
• Whiskey Flat Trail Camp — first come, first served · Open year-round, first-come first-served. Register at any open campground entrance station before departing; $5 per person per night, 6 people per site. · $5/person

Sequoia Tulare County, California

• South Fork Campground — Closed (checked 2026-08-01) · first come, first served · Closed indefinitely; the campground and its access road were heavily damaged by floods and landslides · $6 · 3,600 ft

Sinkyone Wilderness Whitethorn, California

• Usal Beach Campground — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; backcountry camps $5/night
• Bear Harbor Camp — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; backcountry camps $5/night
• Wheeler Camp — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; backcountry camps $5/night
• Anderson Gulch Camp — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; backcountry camps $5/night
• Little Jackass Creek Camp — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; backcountry camps $5/night
• Orchard Camp — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; backcountry camps $5/night
• Railroad Camp — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; backcountry camps $5/night
• Needle Rock Camp — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; backcountry camps $5/night
• Streamside Camp — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; backcountry camps $5/night
• Jones Beach Camp — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; backcountry camps $5/night

Shasta-Trinity National Forest Big Bar, California

• Slide Creek Campground — first come, first served · 1,209 ft · reserve
• Camp 4 Group Campsite and Day Use Area — first come, first served · 3,557 ft · reserve
• Beegum Gorge Campground — first come, first served · 2,202 ft · reserve
• Denny Campground — first come, first served · 1,402 ft · reserve
• Castle Lake Campground — first come, first served · 5,256 ft · reserve
• Big Slide Campground — first come, first served · 1,233 ft · reserve

Salton Sea California

• Corvina Beach Campground — first come, first served · Open for day use and undeveloped shoreline camping.
• Salt Creek Beach Campground — first come, first served

Lava Beds Indian Well, California

• Indian Well Campground — first come, first served · Year-round (Loop A open year-round; Loop B closes after Thanksgiving weekend and reopens in spring) · $20 · 4,650 ft

Mount Diablo California

• Junction Campground — first come, first served · Open year-round; 6 tent sites, first-come first-served

Mount Tamalpais California

• Pantoll Campground — Open (checked 2026-08-03) · first come, first served · 16 sites
• Bootjack Campground — Open (checked 2026-08-03) · first come, first served · 15 sites

Big Bear Lake Big Bear Lake, California

• Holcomb Valley Campground — first come, first served · 7,355 ft · reserve

San Gabriel Mountains California

• Coldbrook Campground — first come, first served · April to October · $20 · 3,345 ft · reserve

Topanga California

• Musch Trail Camp — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; about a mile hike in from Trippet Ranch

Berryessa Snow Mountain California

• Dixie Glade Campground — first come, first served · Unknown · $0 · 3,011 ft · reserve

Humboldt Lagoons California

• Stone Lagoon Boat-In Campground — first come, first served · May 1 through September 30; register at the Stone Lagoon Visitor Center self-pay station · $20

Wilder Ranch California

• Wilder Ranch Horse Camp — Open (checked 2026-08-01) · first come, first served · Open year round; call the park for access to the Dimeo Lane staging area · 6 sites

Caples Lake Kirkwood, California

• Caples Lake Campground — first come, first served · 7,826 ft · reserve

Navarro River Redwoods State Park Mendocino County, California

• Paul M. Dimmick Campground — first come, first served · Open June through October; closed November–May due to river flooding
• Navarro Beach Campground — first come, first served · Open year-round, subject to storm/flood closures

King Range National Conservation Area Lost Coast, California

• Mattole Campground — first come, first served · reserve
• Tolkan Campground — first come, first served · reserve
• Honeydew Campground — first come, first served · reserve

Picacho State Recreation Area Imperial County, near Winterhaven, California

• Picacho Main Campground — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; no online reservations
• 4-S Beach Campground — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; no online reservations
• Outpost Campground — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; no online reservations
• Taylor Lake Boat-In Campground — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; no online reservations
• Carrizo Boat-In Camp — first come, first served · Year-round, first-come first-served; no online reservations

Ice House Reservoir Pollock Pines, California

• Northwind Campground — first come, first served · 5,443 ft · reserve
• Strawberry Point Campground — first come, first served · 5,483 ft · reserve

Pine Flat Lake Sanger, California

• Pine Flat Campground — first come, first served · 580 ft · reserve

Portola Redwoods State Park Santa Cruz Mountains, San Mateo County, California

• Huckleberry Hike and Bike Campsites — first come, first served · 4 sites

Silverwood Lake San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino County, Southern California

• Mesa Hike and Bike Campsites — first come, first served

Fort Ross Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California

• Reef Campground — Open (checked 2026-08-01) · first come, first served · Tent camping only and no water while Reef restoration work continues; check in at the Fort Ross Visitor Center · 20 sites · $40

Saddleback Butte State Park Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County, California

• Joshua Tree Campground — Open (checked 2026-08-03) · first come, first served · 40 sites

Manchester State Park Mendocino County, California

• Manchester State Park Campground — first come, first served · Seasonal, typically open late May through early September (e.g., May 22–Sept 2, 2026); closed rest of year

Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park Shasta County, California (near Fall River Mills, Northern California)

• Horr Pond Campground — first come, first served · Year-round; boat-in access only
• Crystal Springs Campground — first come, first served · Year-round; boat-in access only
• Ja She Creek Campground — first come, first served · Year-round; boat-in access only

Rainbow Basin Barstow, California

• Rainbow Basin/Owl Canyon Campground — first come, first served · reserve

San Joaquin River Gorge Auberry, California

• Equestrian Campground — first come, first served · reserve
• Ya-Gub-Weh-tuh Campground — first come, first served · reserve

Campground status on Explore is checked against official booking calendars, not reviews — 78 campgrounds carry a checked date. Sources.

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