Good Campground within 30 miles of Los Angeles, CA?

[crabbey1]

Hello all!

Haley and I are looking for a place near Los Angeles to spend the holiday. She still has to work on Friday so we need to be near to her workplace so she can still go in. We are looking for a place with a nice view, maybe a lake or river... electric hookups would be great. Ocean, mountains or desert, they are all ok. Anyone have any experience in this neck of the woods?

Thanks!

Chris

[Zeppelinium]

Many will gag at this, but Dockweiler RV Park (I think it's a county park) is the only RV park on the beach between Point Mugu and San Clemente. It's great if you want to be in the city, on the beach, on the bike path, and can stand a little noise (on the weekends) from party nuts. Reservations are sometimes hard to get on the weekends, but my experience doesn't cover the winter (is there winter in L.A.?).

Dockweiler is just a few inches south of the LAX extended runway centerline, but the airplane noise is really not noticeable and they quit flying around 10 PM, anyway (no lifties in late night air, I guess).

Z

[crabbey1]

I did look into that one. Seems to have mixed reviews.

I did some research last night and came up with a few options.

Leo Carrillo State Park - Seems like a nice park and next to the ocean.

Point Mugu State Park - Looks awesome but a bit far possibly.

Monte Cristo Campground - Up in the mountains and very close to our home in Pasadena. Lots of wild life to, but boondocking only.

Thousand Trails - Idyllwild - Looks cool but again might be too far?

Camp Williams - Closer to my girlfriend's work place but seems to be more commercial than wild.

East Shore Campground on Puddington Lake - Again, much closer to work but a bit too boring and commercial.

Anyone been to any of these? Any help would be super appreciated...

Thanks!

Chris

[ASwifey]

East Shore at Puddington lake was really nice. It's a huge campground, but very nicely ran, and maintained. It's right next to the Pomona Fairplex if there's anything going on there the weekend your visiting. There was also some hot tubs on top of the hill overlooking the lake, but we didn't check that out.
The dogs may run into trouble with the skunks though. They come out at dusk and skamper all around. I chased them with my camera for a bit, and they didnt seem to mind.
There's Malibu RV Park too. When we stayed there a few years back is was $106 a night! Very tight spaces too. But it was a nice view of the ocean over the PCH.

[Kamiak]

Riverside County has a number of parks, with hookups. Rancho Jurupa Park, very close to old downtown Riverside is a nice park, with hookups, convenient to Pasadena.

Rancho Jurupa Park – Home « Riverside County Regional Park & Open-Space District

[crabbey1]

We decided to go to East Shore at Puddington Lake. I was shocked at how close it was to the Fairplex. I know where I am staying next year for the fair! It is a nice place but there are definitely two separate sections: and upper and lower. The upper is more spacious with a view. The people seem to keep to themselves as well. The lower is a bit more cramped but people are out and about. You get to meet your neighbors.

Thanks for the advice. If anyone has any other offerings, please keep this thread going. I am sure we will need new ideas in the future....

[ddruker]

The Malibu beach rv park is very nice. Superior views of the pacific. Very expensive in-season but this time of year it is more reasonable. Matthew mcconaughey the actor keeps his airstream there, or at least it was there the last time we stayed.