# Help us find a good California camping spot!  (need answer fast)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-find-a-good-california-camping-spot-need-answer-fast/721417>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 2, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-find-a-good-california-camping-spot-need-answer-fast/721417 "2015-06-02T03:35:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-find-a-good-california-camping-spot-need-answer-fast/721417/1 "2015-06-02T03:35:41Z")

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My brother and I have a new annual tradition of a camping trip. This year we are taking my grown son too, which will be awesome!

We have been planning to leave on this coming friday.

However, we just found out that the place he wanted to go is closed until June 12th.

I know you generally have to make reservations at campgrounds, but the one last year was so ridiculously crowded that this year I told him I wanted to go someplace where the campsites are MUCH further apart – so apparently the campgrounds like that are more primitive (i.e., portapotties etc.) and don’t take reservations.

Anyway, he says he’s willing to pay for a place with cabins too if that’s all we can find.

The main thing is, I am hoping for someplace no more than 3 or 4 hours from the SF Bay Area.

Am I dreaming?

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**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-find-a-good-california-camping-spot-need-answer-fast/721417/2 "2015-06-02T03:37:26Z")

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It sounds like you’re looking for car camping with bathrooms or even more civilized? I could recommend some good backpacking/camping spots but that doesn’t seem like your cup of tea…

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**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-find-a-good-california-camping-spot-need-answer-fast/721417/3 "2015-06-02T03:47:59Z")

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No, no, actually I am fine with portapotties and no showers; I just don’t want to hear the folks in the next campsite passing wind. The only amenities I really want are drinking water & fire pits.

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**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-find-a-good-california-camping-spot-need-answer-fast/721417/4 "2015-06-02T04:28:16Z")

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Where were y’all planning on going? That might help us see how far y’all are willing to drive.

I can recommend the Yosemite Creek campground at Yosemite, but it may not be open yet; you’d have to call to ask. I can also recommend Big Basin Redwoods State Park as a fun place with lots of beautiful scenery if you want to stay closer to home.

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**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-us-find-a-good-california-camping-spot-need-answer-fast/721417/5 "2015-06-02T04:48:40Z")

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I haven’t camped there, only driven past, but [Gold lake](http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/plumas/recreation/recarea/?recid=11197&actid=79) in the Plumas forest looked nice.