Camping Tours & Trips in California
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10 best camping California tours
Compiled by
MelissaCalifornia travel expert at TourRadar
- California Dreaming: Yosemite, Death Valley & Coastal Camping
- Death Valley & Yosemite (Camping) - 4 days
- USA Road Trip- Highway 1 and San Fran Sun
- USA Road Trip- The Best of Cali
- High Sierra Loop
- Yosemite Classic Summits Half Dome and Clouds Rest
- Ansel Adams Wilderness High Sierra Camp
- Alpine Lakes of the Ansel Adams Wilderness
- John Muir Trail Expedition Backpack
- Wonders of Yosemite
California Dreaming: Yosemite, Death Valley & Coastal Camping
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“Such an amazing tour! The itinerary was perfect. I would recommend this to everyone I come across.”
Molly, traveled in July
Nights under sequoias at Tuolumne Grove and beside Merced River near El Portal await. Starlit camping from Santa Margarita to Bishop comes with all gear provided except sleeping bags. A perfect introduction to California's diverse landscapes.
Duration 7 days Destinations Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Simeon, Yosemite National Park, Bishop, Tuolumne, Death Valley National Park, Las Vegas Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator G Adventures From
- NZ$1,779
Three nights in California's wilderness span from Death Valley's Mesquite Dunes to Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows. Full-service campsites near Bridalveil Falls offer hot showers. All camping gear, meals, and guided hikes to Half Dome and El Capitan included.
Duration 4 days Destinations Las Vegas, Death Valley National Park, Bishop, Yosemite National Park, San Francisco Age Range 7 to 99 year olds Operator On The Go Tours From
- NZ$2,005+$109 local payments
USA Road Trip- Highway 1 and San Fran Sun
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was super nice, great people, good organization and nice views!”
Magdalena, traveled in July
Pitch tents at Santa Margarita and Santa Cruz along California's coastal treasures. The participatory camping near Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park includes stops at Monterey and Half Moon Bay.
Duration 4 days Destinations Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Santa Margarita, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco Age Range 18 to 39 year olds Operator G Adventures From $1,319
20% Off- NZ$1,055You save $263
USA Road Trip- The Best of Cali
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“This trip to California has, once again, provided an amazing experience to visit new, beautiful places.”
Marta, traveled in June
The 5-night adventure camps under California stars, from sites near Yosemite's El Capitan to coastal spots near Santa Cruz. Group meals come with valley views, while morning hikes lead to Vernal Falls and evening campfires glow under sequoia trees.
Duration 9 days Destinations Los Angeles, Santa Margarita, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Hermosa Beach Age Range 18 to 39 year olds Operator G Adventures From $3,719
25% Off- NZ$2,789You save $929
High-altitude camps await at Vogelsang Lake (10,300 feet) and along Ireland Creek in California's Sierra Nevada. Professional camping gear provided for mountainside sites. The pristine alpine setting offers swimming and peak climbing opportunities.
Duration 5 days Destinations Yosemite National Park Age Range up to 80 year olds Operator Wildland Trekking From
25% Off- NZ$3,287
Mountain camps sit near pristine lakes and along Sunrise Creek. Professional guides craft gourmet meals at backcountry sites, ideally located for summit attempts of Half Dome and Clouds Rest in Yosemite's high country.
Duration 5 days Destinations Yosemite National Park Age Range up to 80 year olds Operator Wildland Trekking From
25% Off- NZ$3,446
Alpine lakes serve as scenic campsites after 6-mile daily treks in California. Premium tents and pro-grade gear provided, with mule support for comfort. Guide-prepared meals under Sierra stars complement the remote wilderness setting.
Duration 5 days Destinations Fresno, Bass Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness Age Range up to 80 year olds Operator Wildland Trekking From
25% Off- NZ$4,360
Stars shine bright at Bass Lake and high-alpine camps in Ansel Adams Wilderness. California's backcountry opens up with provided tents and sleeping gear, while guides prepare meals between evening swims in crystal-clear mountain lakes.
Duration 5 days Destinations Fresno, Bass Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness Age Range up to 80 year olds Operator Wildland Trekking From
25% Off- NZ$2,809
Sierra peaks tower above Clark Lakes and Evolution Lake during this 23-day expedition. Premium backcountry tents await near Reds Meadow and Edison Lake resupply points, concluding with a final night's lodging in Lone Pine.
Duration 23 days Destinations Fresno, Yosemite National Park Age Range 12 to 80 year olds Operator Wildland Trekking From
25% Off- NZ$12,921
Your home becomes 6 pristine California backcountry sites, from Illilouette Creek to Bunnell Dome. Sunset alpenglow bathes Lower Ottaway Lake while mountain views greet you at Washburn Lake, with all camping gear provided.
Duration 7 days Destinations Yosemite National Park Age Range up to 80 year olds Operator Wildland Trekking From
25% Off- NZ$4,846
What people love about Camping Tours in California
- USA Road Trip- Highway 1 and San Fran Sun
It was super nice, great people, good organization and nice views! Absolutely recommend it!
- 4 Day Death Valley Yosemite San Francisco Camping
Yosemite was a dream! Yosemite was amazing! 3rd tour with Bindlestiff. Haley was a fun guide and got us from place to place safely. The campgrounds were great and close to the parks. Having a tour guide makes traveling so much more relaxing. You don't have to stress about planning anything or do the driving. Definitely recommend these tours.
This was a great trip. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenic views. Our tour guide Rourke, was very knowledgeable and accommodating. This was a hiking trip and in my opinion if you didn’t want to hike, you could do a nature walk. That was the best option for me because the hikes were a little too strenuous for me but I purchased a tripod just for this trip. All the beautiful photos I have of the walks through Yosemite are my memories for a lifetime. The camping grounds were stellar. Waking up to a delicious breakfast and beautiful scenery, I was blessed to have done this tour.
Yosemite Escape Camping - 3 Days
What our customers ask about Camping Tours & Trips in California
What are the must-see highlights on a California camping tour?
A California camping tour takes visitors through some of the state's most notable natural landmarks. In Yosemite visitors experience the towering faces of Half Dome and El Capitan. The route continues to Sequoia National Park where ancient Giant Sequoias stand guard and through the high elevations of Sierra Nevada. Popular hiking routes lead to Sentinel Dome at 8,127 feet Cathedral Lakes and the spray-filled Mist Trail with its views of Vernal and Nevada Falls. As one TourRadar traveler described: "Hiking in Yosemite was absolutely incredible - from the thundering waterfalls on the Mist Trail to the jaw-dropping views from North Dome every day brought new amazing sights."
When is the best time to go camping in California?
Peak camping season runs from May through October across most of California's regions. Yosemite Valley sees ideal conditions during summer with temperatures ranging from 70-90°F. For Death Valley spring months of March and April offer milder temperatures for comfortable camping. As one TourRadar traveler noted about their September Yosemite trip: "The weather was perfect for camping and hiking and our guide helped us choose the best activities for the conditions." The coastal regions near Santa Barbara welcome campers year-round though June often brings morning fog.
What camping gear is provided on California camping tours?
Tour operators supply essential camping equipment on most California expeditions. At locations like Yosemite's Manzanita Lake Campground tours provide two-person tents with insect nets and self-inflating mattresses along with cooking equipment. As a TourRadar traveler mentioned: "The camping equipment was top quality and our guide showed us how to set everything up properly on the first day." Travelers need to bring sleeping bags or rent them for about USD 40 plus personal items such as headlamps and water bottles.
What food arrangements are available during camping tours?
Food service varies by tour with many including guide-prepared meals at camp. Yosemite tours often feature hot breakfasts and dinners at camp while providing packed lunches for trail exploration. Some groups use a shared food kitty system costing around USD 20 daily. As one TourRadar traveler noted: "Our guide's cooking was fantastic - we had everything from breakfast burritos to grilled salmon all prepared right at our campsite at Furnace Creek."
How do bathroom and shower facilities work at California campgrounds?
Established sites like Yosemite's North Pines and Death Valley's Furnace Creek provide modern amenities. Visitors find flush toilets hot showers (USD 1-3 per use) drinking water stations and secure bear-proof storage units. A TourRadar reviewer mentioned: "The facilities at the campgrounds were well-maintained with clean showers and restrooms available at Manzanita Lake Campground - much better than we expected for camping."
What wildlife might I encounter while camping in California?
California's varied landscapes support diverse wildlife populations. Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows area offers sightings of black bears mule deer and numerous bird species. Death Valley visitors might spot bighorn sheep or coyotes in the desert terrain. As one TourRadar traveler shared: "We saw a black bear from a safe distance near our campsite at Yosemite's North Pines and our guide gave us excellent safety instructions for wildlife encounters."