Camping in norcal with 2 year old

[Kgorman]

Pretty much a newb on this forum, I am hoping you guys can help.

I want to camp for fathers day but I want to keep it fairly mellow because it's our 2 year olds first time camping. I can't stand RV type camping. I am ok and perhaps prefer a little harder to get to place to avoid the crowds. I have a diesel full size, so nothing too crazy. We will be using a tent.

I was thinking up north in the redwoods or down towards big sur but things are either booked already or RV style parking lot type sites.

Any recommendations? We would like to keep it within 3 to 4 hours of driving to get there from the bay area.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Kgorman]

Oh I guess that was my first post

 

[Loco-Nomad]

Welcome to the portal, wish I could give you some advice but I'm not from that area. Just wanted to say I think it's great you are taking your two year old camping, the earlier the better. I have a travel trailer and my kids are used to that style of camping, as I am trying to go back to back country type camping with much resistance from the kids! Good luck and have fun!

 

[hoser]

This is a good book for you...

Backcountry Adventures: Northern California
http://www.amazon.com/Backcountry-A...r_1_51?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307340637&sr=1-51

 

[shortbus4x4]

This is a good book for you...

Backcountry Adventures: Northern California
http://www.amazon.com/Backcountry-A...r_1_51?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307340637&sr=1-51

Really good book. I bought mine a few years ago at Costco.

Drive up 101 through Avenue of the Giants. Some nice campgrounds and Eel River access for the kid to play in. Quite a few places on the Eel have broad shallow sandy places which make it a good river for parents with young kids. You could also go up 1 and take Usal Road all the way to Ferndale if you wanted to get away from RV's. If you go to Founders Grove on 101 and take the road towards Honeydew you can find some nice campgrounds a few miles off 101 in the redwoods that are really nice. Also that exit can get you down to the Eel in a pretty nice spot for kids.

 

[Sawyer]

Ive been going camping with my soon to be 3 yr old since she was 9 months old in Norcal. I realize Father's Day has come and gone.... and not sure where you are...Up around Lake Tahoe are a lot good areas. Stanislaus to the east. Pinecrest is great for kids... but it is a campground. So, there will be some RV's.

Good luck! Hope the first trip was a success!

 

[Paijanne]

I know that this is kind of after the fact, but there are some great places up by Avenue of the Giants (like shortbus4x4 said), like Albee Creek Campground (Garberville, CA 95542). Albee is amazing for kids. Or if you go more towards the Sierras there are places like Courtwright Reservoir where I went when I was younger.

 

[Uncle Roger]

Pretty much a newb on this forum, I am hoping you guys can help.

Welcome!

I want to camp for fathers day but I want to keep it fairly mellow because it's our 2 year olds first time camping. I can't stand RV type camping.

Well, this is a little late and perhaps not what you're after but I really like Portola Redwoods State Park. It is RV-ish, but not terrible.

For more remote, perhaps the Mendocino National Forest might be worth exploring. Lots of trails for off-highway driving.

I'm in the City and am always looking for places to go.