Our Favorite Family-Friendly Campsites

You and your family may want to get away from the bustling city noise. SoCal happens to have excellent camping getaways that are family-friendly. Bordered by mountains, national parks, and a lake, South California boasts of its access to scenic nature, attracting flocks of visitors each year. Even so, choosing the perfect campsite for your family may be a tedious task. Below is a narrowed-down list of some of the best family-friendly campsites that you may take your family for a summer getaway.

1. Serrano Campground

With a total of 109 family-friendly campsites, Serrano is located on the northern shore of Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino National Forest. In addition, this spacious facility is stacked with modern amenities such as picnic tables, fire pits, drinking water, dump station, firewood sales, flush toilets, and trash collection. Just a short drive away, you'll find access to restaurants and convenience shops if you need additional supplies. The site can also accommodate both tents and RV hookups. Serrano campground is filled with fun recreational activities such as mountain biking, hiking, fishing on the lake, watching wildlife, and boating. After a long day of activities, you can enjoy the convenience of the hot showers and finally wind down for the night. You can also decide to take a shade under the pine trees. Likewise, for a spot in this scenic campground, book in advance anytime from late spring into the summer.

2. Palomar Observatory Campground

This scenic campground located near Palomar Mountain is popular for its stargazing. Some of the amenities offered include picnic tables, fire rings with grills, flush toilets, and showers. Daytime activities you can enjoy here include biking, picnics, scenic drives, and hiking. In addition, these campsites can accommodate RVs and tents to cater to your entire family.

3. Shady Cove Group Campground

Located in the San Bernardino National Forest, Shady Cove Group is open from mid-May to October. The basic facilities include fire rings, picnic tables, pit toilets, and drinking water. Likewise, this campsite is suitable for a short getaway where you and your family will get to enjoy the Trail of Phoenix, hiking, biking, or fishing from the nearby Arrow Bear Lake.

4. Mesa Campground

The Mesa campsite is conveniently located at the Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area and is a perfect weekend getaway destination for your family. The recreation area can accommodate both tents and RVs. With facilities such as picnic tables, fire pits, hot showers, and water amenities, your family can comfortably enjoy activities such as swimming, fishing, and biking. In addition, other popular activities include watching wildlife which is available all year round.

5. South Folk Family Campground

Located in the beautiful San Bernardino Forest, this campground is a suitable spot for your family to interact with nature. The campground has 24 sites, making it less crowded. Each site has picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water, and clean toilets. South Folk is suitable for tents only, and access to the campground is on a first-come, first-served basis. Recreational activities include fishing, swimming, boat riding, and horse riding. After the day's activities, you can settle around the campfire to enjoy stargazing or storytelling. Likewise, before booking your summer getaway, it is wise to check the available amenities and confirm if certain locations require reservations or are temporarily closed.