A new guide from @wheresjanice
19 California car camping sites worth the drive.
From someone who’s actually camped at every one. With real opinions, specific site picks, and booking intel — for weekenders who want to actually go.
Get your copy — $22Instant PDF download · 48 pages · 19 campgrounds
Is this for me?
Made for car campers who want to know the details that matter for a great weekend.
- You want to go camping but every time you try to plan it, the weekend just… passes
- You’ve looked up “best campsites in California” and ended up more confused than when you started
- You only have weekends, so a bad trip actually costs you something
- You want someone to just say: go here, book this site, here’s what to do
- You’re not a backpacker — you want your car nearby and a reason to actually leave the house
- You want to be the person who knows where to go, not the one waiting to be invited
“You don’t need more campground options. You need better ones.”— Janice, @wheresjanice
What’s inside
Every campsite rec is built the same way — so you always know what you’re getting.
01
Booking difficulty + window
When to set your alarm, how competitive the site is, and exactly where to book.
02
What makes it special
The thing that made me keep going back — the detail no article ever mentions.
03
Honest take
What I actually thought — the good, the frustrating, and what I’d do differently.
04
Site details
Shade, privacy, cell signal, toilets, hookups, dog-friendly — every entry, every time.
05
Best season + nightly cost
No surprises. Know when to go and what you’ll pay before you commit.
06
Janice’s pick
My specific site recommendation within the campground — because not all sites are equal.
Where we’re going
We explore all of California — from the SF Bay Area to the desert.
SF Bay Area
Central Coast
Northern California
Eastern Sierra & Hwy 395
Desert
Ready to plan your next trip?
48 pages. 19 campgrounds. All firsthand.
Unlock the guide — $22A peek inside
Here’s what a typical entry looks like.
Janice’s Pick
What Makes It Special
It’s just 45 minutes away from San Francisco, making it an easy getaway from the city. I love the tent sites here because they’re on the bluff looking out towards the ocean. You’re a short drive from the restaurants and amenities in Half Moon Bay — a great balance between camping and urban life.
Honest Take
Site Details
↑ Some details blurred. Full entry in the guide.
About Janice
Bay Area-based, and I’ve actually camped at all these spots.
My husband and I moved to California a few years ago and decided pretty quickly that we wanted to see as much of it as possible. Camping on weekends became how we did that.
We work full-time, so every trip had to be worth it. Over three years I got obsessive about finding the right sites — not just good campgrounds, but the specific spots within them that make the difference between a forgettable night and a morning you can’t quite believe you’re having.
Every campground in this guide is somewhere I’ve actually slept. The honest takes are real and the site picks are the ones I’d book again.
@wheresjaniceQuestions
A few things people ask.
Is this good for beginners?
Yes — this is the guide I wish I had when I first started camping. Every site works for car campers with no prior experience required. Nothing in here requires hiking miles to your site or bringing specialized gear.
What format is it?
It’s a 48-page PDF, accessible instantly after purchase. You can read it on your phone, tablet, or laptop — or print it out if you’re that kind of person.
Are these all in Northern California?
No — the guide covers all of California. You’ll find sites in the Bay Area, Big Sur, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, the Eastern Sierra, and the desert. A good mix of regions and distances.
How much does it cost?
$22. Instant PDF download, yours to keep.
Are these sites easy to book?
It depends on the site — which is exactly why I included booking difficulty ratings for every entry. Some are competitive and need advance planning. Others are easier to snag last minute. I tell you which is which.
What if I can never seem to get the sites I want?
This is the most common thing I hear — and it’s usually a timing and specificity problem, not a luck problem. When you know the exact site you want and when it drops, you stop browsing and start booking. Every entry in the guide includes the booking window and release timing so you’re not showing up late to a site that was gone months ago.
Stop guessing. Start camping.
19 campsites. 48 pages. Based on real camping experiences.
Plan your next trip — $22
Instant PDF download