Mustang Waterpark is accessible directly from the Campgrounds at Lopez Lake. Photo courtesy of the water park

1. The Campgrounds at Lopez Lake

This is a bit of a drive from LA, but worth it. Lopez Lake is in the middle of San Luis Obispo County, just inland from Pismo Beach. With multiple campgrounds right by the lake, there are options for every kind of camping from rustic to RV to cabins. While parents will be in the thrall of the myriad of lake activities (fishing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and boating), hiking, zip line, ropes course, and incredible wildlife, the real draw for kids is Mustang Waterpark.

Accessible from the campgrounds, the waterslides and kiddie pool will keep kids corralled and happy for days. There are lifeguards on duty and a restaurant on the grounds, so it’s as relaxing for parents as it is fun for kids. And did we mention the wildlife? Deer, wild turkey, quail, and even the occasional bear can be spotted on hikes or just wandering through the campsites.

You won’t ever need to leave the campgrounds, but if you do, take a day trip to walk through the Monarch Butterfly Grove, play at Dinosaur Caves Park, or visit the one-of-a-kind Swinging Bridge.

• Lodging types offered: Tent, RV, Cabins
• Fun family activities: Waterpark, zip line, private fishing lagoon, children’s playground area, a basketball court, horseshoe pits, ropes course
• Campground amenities: Flush toilets, hot, coin-operated shower, laundry facility, general store, restaurant

RELATED: Road Trip on the PCH: Where To Stop and What To Do

Marshmallows taste better after a day in the lake. Photo courtesy of Lake Hemet Campground

2. Lake Hemet Campground

A 2.5-hour drive from Los Angeles, the Lake Hemet Campground offers visitors a unique outdoor recreation experience in the heart of the San Jacinto Mountains.

The 470-acre reservoir boasts a Splashing Eagle Swim Zone, which is convenient for campers and features a wide-open beach. Or, rent a pontoon boat and enjoy a floating, splashing picnic or a day spent fishing for several kinds of local and stocked fish. Either way, parents can open the cooler and kick back while kids splash themselves into an early bedtime. 

• Lodging types offered: Tent, RV, Cabin, Glamping Tents
• Fun family activities: Swim beach, fishing, and kayak, motorboat, & pontoon boat rentals
• Campground amenities: On-site cafe, convenience store, flush toilets, hot shower, laundry facility 

3. KOA at Ventura Ranch

At the foot of Topa Topa, Ventura County's highest mountain, lies the Ventura Ranch KOA, a quick 90-minute drive from Los Angeles. One of the most unique Southern Californian camp properties, this KOA’s bucket-list-worthy activities include a rock climbing tower, outdoor movie nights, pedal cars, and a long on-site zip line.

Kids can bounce off their excess energy on the jumping pillow, and on hot days staff spray down the jumpers with a hose. Wild peacocks wander the grounds, and at night, a guided spooky walk in search of Bigfoot keeps the surrounding woods mysterious.

• Lodging types offered: Tent, RV, Cabin, Teepees, Conestoga Wagons, Safari Tents, Cabins
• Fun family activities: Rock climbing tower, zip line, rope course, outdoor movie night, gem mining, jumping pillow, corn hole, adventure course, tie-dye t-shirts
• Campground amenities: Flush toilets, hot shower, laundry facility, convenience store, Wi-Fi.

4. Sun Outdoors Santa Barbara

Just a 20-minute drive north of Santa Barbara, Sun Outdoors Campground (Formerly known as Ocean Mea RV resort) is nestled among the native oaks of the Los Padres National Forest, with stunning views of the roaring Pacific Ocean. When your crew tires of El Capitan Beach or the miles of scenic hiking trails, plunge into the heated pool with an ocean view, head to the playground, or rent a lawn game or five.

• Lodging types offered: Tent, RV
• Fun family activities: Summer movie series, pool, playground, game rentals, horseshoe pits, llama and goat farm
• Campground amenities: On-site cafe, convenience store, flush toilets, hot shower, Wi-Fi, cable TV

RELATED: Ultimate Hiking and Camping Guide for Los Angeles Families

Kids can paddle, skate, and play at Campland. Photo courtesy of Campland

5. Campland

A popular Southern California family vacation spot since 1969, Campland is close to SeaWorld, Legoland, San Diego Zoo, the Gaslamp Quarter, and other area attractions. The list of kid-friendly activities here is long and so varied it’s sure to please even the pickiest patrons. From arcade games to beach volleyball courts and even a skate park, you can kick boredom to the curb.

• Lodging types offered: Tent, RV
• Fun family activities: Live music, water slide, pool, playground, arcade room, skate park, basketball courts, bubble soccer, ping pong, watercraft, bike rentals
• Campground amenities: On-site restaurant, convenience store, Wi-Fi, marina with rental slips, fitness center, dog park, flush toilets, hot showers

6. Lake Casitas Recreation Area and Campground

If you’re a disc golf junkie, Lake Casitas Recreation Area and Campground has everything you’ve ever dreamed a disc golf course should be. The challenging, professionally designed course has its players traversing rugged terrain while overlooking scenic Lake Casitas. Adjacent to the campground, Lake Casitas Water Adventure Park opens its two water playgrounds for kids to enjoy during the hot summer months, though when drought conditions are severe, check for closures and limited hours.

• Lodging types offered: Tent, RV
• Fun family activities: Water park, disc golf course, biking, bird watching, watercraft rental, fishing, playground
• Campground amenities: On-site cafe, convenience store, flush toilets, hot shower, marina with rental slips

7. Observatory Campground

For the astronomy buffs in your family, this more primitive campground offers unique opportunities to enjoy the night sky. Sites have level spots for telescopes and clear views of the sky overhead that are far from city lights. A two-mile hike to the Palomar Observatory starts an exciting evening of stargazing, especially on nights when the Observatory hosts the amateur astronomy project, Explore the Stars.

By day, the campground is a secluded spot offering outdoor learning opportunities like birding and fishing. At an elevation of 4,800 feet, this spot has clean air, inviting pine trees, and a perfect base camp for hiking and stargazing. This is true wilderness: Mountain lions, feral pigs, and black bears have been sighted on Palomar Mountain near Observatory Campground!

• Lodging types offered: Tent
• Fun family activities: Hiking, birding, fishing, access to the Palomar Observatory, star parties, movies & events at the amphitheater
• Campground amenities: Vault toilets, shower (seasonal)

RELATED: Best Campgrounds for Tent Camping near Los Angeles

Hiking with the ghosts at Calico Ghost Town. Photo by Mommy Poppins

8. Calico Ghost Town

When you reserve a spot at the Calico Ghost Town campground, the whole family is transported back to the heyday of an Old West mining town (and maybe even an old Brady Bunch family vacation). Part of the San Bernardino County Regional Parks system, this historic town, surrounded by the natural beauty of the desert, invites guests from all over the world to experience the fascinating chronicles of life in the late 1800s. Kids love the ghost tour and will talk about that mystery shack for a while.

• Lodging types offered: Tent, RV, Cabin, Bunkhouse
• Fun family activities: Silver mine tour, historic train ride, gold panning, off-road adventure tour, ghost tours, and an optical illusion mystery shack
• Campground amenities: On-site restaurant, convenience store, sweet shop, flush toilets, hot showers

9. Action Camp 

Bordering the Angeles Crest National Forest, Action Camp (which used to be the LA RV Resort) is a one-hour drive from Los Angeles and delivers dramatic views of the San Gabriel Mountains with every family-friendly convenience you could want. Campers can choose from activities like hay rides and a bubble water slide, enjoy organized arts and crafts, and then cannonball into the swimming pool.

• Lodging types offered: Tent, RV, Cabin, Teepee
• Fun family activities: Tetherball, horseshoes, lawn game rentals, volleyball, race track, movie nights, shuffleboard, basketball courts, swimming pool, playground, hiking trails
• Campground amenities: Flush toilets, hot shower, laundry facility, convenience store

The beach is a great spot for s'mores. Photo courtesy of Newport Dunes Beach Resort

10. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort

This waterfront camping resort in Orange County is so close and so easy, that you may feel guilty calling it camping. Located on a small protected cove set back from the oceanfront in the heart of Newport Beach, this hidden-in-plain-sight gem has a clean beach with surf-free water perfect for paddle boarding and pedal boating.

Over the summer, there's an inflatable water park with enough structures to exhaust a kid of any size. The resort has lovely cabins on the water (that book well in advance), set-back sections for RV camping, and tent camping is allowed on the small RV sites. In season, the resort hosts events like nighttime movies, campfires, and kids' activities.

11. Carpinteria State Beach Campground

Personally, this is my favorite place to camp with my family. Carpinteria is a "small town" style beach with tent, trailer, and RV campsites next to the water. Fall asleep to the sound of the waves, and wake up to a day of exploring Linden Avenue, dining at some of Carpinteria's fantastic restaurants, exploring tide pools, riding bike trails, playing at the interactive playground, or splashing in the waves.

Make sure to bring some cash for a burger at The Spot. some shave ice from the small, yellow shave ice truck parked on Linden, some candy at Robitallle's, and an acai bowl from Lucky Llama. 

• Lodging types offered: tents, trailers, and motorhomes 
• Fun family activities: playground, tide pools, shave ice, restaurants, bike trails
• Campground amenities: Showers, flush toilets, convenience stores nearby, fire rings 

This post was originally published on May 25, 2017, and is updated annually.