With the Independence Day holiday fast approaching, California Central Coast residents looking for a last-minute outdoor getaway are in luck. Hipcamp, a leading app for finding and booking campsites, has released a curated list of spots near popular California destinations.
People are camping more than ever before. A 2024 report by KOA found that the number of active U.S. campers—those who have camped in the last year- has grown by 68% or 21.6 million additional households. Moreover, the number of households that camp three or more times annually has increased by 98% since 2014.
While camping has gained in popularity, the supply of camping sites has stagnated, with 56% of campers in 2024 reporting difficulty in booking a site, according to Dyrt.
Additionally, recent news of staffing cuts in national parks and budget cuts are driving the potential summer closure of over 4,000 campsites in California alone, per the NY Times.
Campsites near Yosemite, Joshua Tree
In response to increasing demand, Hipcamp recently announced they have doubled its U.S. inventory to 500,000 campsites.
Whether travelers are looking for a rustic tent site in a national forest, a family-friendly RV park near the beach, or a luxury treehouse perched in the mountains, Hipcamp’s expanded catalog offers a wide assortment, with each listing including photos and user reviews.
Hipcamp’s curated list of campsites near popular national parks in California:
Near Yosemite National Park:
Near Joshua Tree National Park:
Stay camp-safe with these tips from CalFire
Nearly all wildfires are caused by human activities, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). A recent 100′ by 50′ vegetation fire in grass and eucalyptus fields at Natural Bridges State Park was sparked by cooking, according to reporting by CBS.
To stay safe, CAL FIRE offers the following tips:
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Can’t find a campsite for July Fourth? These hidden gems near California parks may be open
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
