Specal Family Vacations : Destination: Southern California : Campgrounds Close to Home

Hundreds of campgrounds surround Los Angeles. First-time campers hesitant about straying too far from civilization might want to consider these kid-friendly sites that are some of my family’s favorites.

Each campground is easily accessible from paved roads and has decent plumbing, a store nearby and something to interest children and their parents. Most campgrounds offer disabled access and fresh drinking water. Elevations are included to indicate temperature; the higher the elevation, the colder the night. Each campsite has a fire ring and a picnic table; many camps have a camp host who sells firewood and collects camping fees.

Unless noted otherwise, each campsite in the park is limited to eight people. Some sites can accommodate several tents; others are quite small. The more spacious sites are claimed by midday Friday, and the campgrounds usually fill by Friday evening during the summer months. Some folks stake out a campsite early Friday morning, go to work, then return late in the day. Reservations are taken at some places and are recommended for holiday and summer weekends. Weekdays are less congested.

Barton Flats Campground. 26 1/2 miles northeast of Redlands off California 38 in the San Bernardino National Forest. Elevation 6,300 feet. 52 campsites. $7 a night per campsite with limit of two cars (family sites $14 with 16 people maximum). The camp has been closed while sorely needed new bathrooms and showers were installed. It is scheduled to reopen Memorial Day weekend. Even with its antiquated facilities, Barton Flats was a popular destination for its huge campsites, pine trees and view of San Gorgonio Peak rising to the east of the campground. The easy, 2 1/2-mile Rio Monte Trail runs through the campground to the Barton Flats Visitor Center Rangers give campfire talks at an amphitheater within walking distance of the campground. Jenks Lake, about a mile to the east, has a new fishing pier (bring your own gear) and a large parking lot. Reservations: tional Forest Reservation Center, (800) 280-CAMP. Information: (909) 383-5588.

Leo Carrillo State Beach. 25 miles northwest of Santa Monica off California 1. Open all year. Sea level. 140 campsites. $16 a night per campsite with one car; each additional car is $6 per night. This campground is so close to Point Dume that Pizza Hut delivers to the campsites. A general store in the campground sells some groceries and camping and beach supplies. A path goes under the Pacific Coast Highway to reach the beach, tide pools and sea cave. From mid-June through Labor Day, park rangers conduct nature walks and give tide-pool talks beginning at 9 a.m. Sundays; campfire programs are scheduled Saturdays about 8 p.m. There are hot showers for 25 cents (bring plenty of quarters) and flush toilets. A very popular campground that fills up almost every weekend. Reservations are strongly encouraged; telephone Mistix at (800) 444-7275. Campground information: (805) 488-5223.

Los Alamos Campground, Pyramid Lake. 10 miles south of Gorman off Interstate 5. Elevation 3,000 feet. Open all year. 96 campsites, $7 a night per campsite with one car; each additional car $5. Limit of 25 people per campsite. Flush toilets , no showers. Pyramid Lake is about two miles from the campground and has a swimming beach, boat rentals, marina, boat launch, store and many sites for picnics and fishing along the bank. Fishing licenses, poles, bait and assorted gear are available at the marina store. Additional fees ($6 for a single vehicle to $13 for a recreational vehicle with trailer) are charged for parking at the lake. Campground reservations can only be made for groups of 25 or more. Information: (805) 248-6575 or (805) 257-2892. Lake information: (805) 295-1245. Boat rentals: (805) 257-2892.

Paradise Campground. 18 1/2 miles northwest of Santa Barbara off California 154 in Los Padres National Forest. Elevation 1,000 feet. Open all year. 14 campsites. $8 a night per campsite, with limit of two cars. Flush toilets, no showers. A footpath from the campground leads to the Santa Ynez River, which has many Huck Finn-type swimming holes. Campsites fill up by 5 p.m. Friday in season. Reservations are strongly recommended, a minimum of 10 days in advance. Reservations: National Forest Reservation Center, (800) 280-2267. Campground information: (805) 967-3481.

Saddleback Butte State Park. 17 miles east of Lancaster on East Avenue J, on the edge of the Mojave Desert. Open all year. Elevation 2,700 feet. 50 campsites. $10 a night per campsite with one car. An additional car is $5. Each campground has a ramada (a one-sided structure with a roof) to protect visitors from the wind and western sun. Flush toilets, no showers. Eerily desolate, the desert is an acquired taste. Nice in the winter, beastly hot in the summer. The Antelope Valley Indian Museum is nearby, with hands-on demonstrations geared for kids. (15701 East Ave. M between 150th and 170th streets; tel. 805-946-3055. Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October through May.) The campground does not accept reservations , and they are generally unnecessary. Information: (805) 942-0662.

Serrano Campground: 1 1/2 miles south of Fawnskin on California 38 in the San Bernardino National Forest. Elevation 6,800 feet. Open May through October. 128 campsites. $12 a night per campsite with one car; an additional car is $5. Flush toilets, showers. The paved, 2 1/2 mile-long, Alpine Peddle Path goes through this family-friendly campground and is often crowded with bicycles and baby strollers. Bicycles can be rented across the road from the campground.On weekends from July 4th through Labor Day, there are limited tours of the Cal Tech solar observatory located on a long causeway on Big Bear Lake. About 1 1/2 miles to the east of the campground is the Woodland Interpretive Nature Trail, with views of Big Bear Lake. Reservations: National Forest Reservation Center: (800) 280-CAMP. Information: (909) 383-5588. Table Mountain. Four miles west of Wrightwood off California 2, in the Angeles National Forest. Open May through October. Elevation 7,200 feet. 115 campsites. $12 a night per campsite with limit of two cars. (Expect open-pit toilets, which are common at most campgrounds in the Angeles National Forest.) Wrightwood ski area is within walking distance of the campground. Big Pine Visitors Center is one mile south of the campground, open Thursday through Monday year-round, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Table Mountain is known for its beautiful black oaks that turn gold in the fall and for its spectacular views of Mt. Baden-Powell to the south and the Mojave Desert to the north. Does not accept reservations. Campsite information: (619) 249-3483.

William Heise County Park. From Julian, one mile west on California 78/79 and south two miles on Pine Hills Road, then east on Frisius Road to park entrance. Cuyamaca Mountains of northern San Diego County. Elevation 4,200 feet. Park open all year, campsites closed from the week after Thanksgiving to the weekend of Palm Sunday. 103 campsites. $11 a night per campsite with one car. $2 each additional car. Flush toilets, showers. A beautiful campground with huge oaks and pines. Campsites are comfortably spacious and private thanks to the large trees. Reservations can be made by phone through San Diego County Parks Department three to 12 weeks in advance ($3 reservation fee per site). Reservations and information: (619) 565-3600.