Free Camping in Southern California

Looking for a place to camp in southern California this winter that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Here are a few completely free camping spots that will keep you warm as well as keeping your wallet in your pocket.

Amboy Crater
Located along historic route 66, in the Mojave Desert, stands an extinct volcano, the Amboy Crater. The crater was once a popular tourist attraction along route 66, but with the decline of route 66 brought on by the Interstate system, the area has seen much less use. From interstate 40, head towards Amboy. Its roughly halfway between Barstow and Needles.

The land around Amboy crater is owned by the Bureau of Land Management. You may camp in the area for up to 14 days free of charge. Don't expect much in the way of facilities, though. There is a large gravel parking lot and some picnic tables with shade. There are also a couple of vault toilets.

But, you came to hike inside an actual volcano, right? Go for it!

Box Canyon West
Located south of Joshua Tree National Park, near the small town of Mecca, is a beautiful canyon. Box Canyon has some gorgeous geology. The canyon walls are primarily sandstone and have been carved by wind and water into amazing shapes. On a full moon, you can let your imagination run wild and pick out many shapes within the canyon walls.

To get there, take Box Canyon road either South from I-10 or North from CA 111. There are plenty of places to pull off the road and camp inside the canyon, but access to the side canyons is blocked to vehicle access. Depending on the time of year, you may also see some gorgeous desert plants in bloom.

Traffic on Box Canyon road is light. Some areas have litter and very soft sand, so try to stay on a packed trail unless you're prepared for beach driving and recovery. You could easily spend several days just hiking in the canyon! As with many BLM lands, you may camp for free up to 14 days.

Jawbone Canyon
Jawbone Canyon is an off roader's paradise. With over 300 square miles to explore, you won't get bored. Set in the Mojave desert, two hours east of Bakersfield, Jawbone canyon is pristine high desert with just enough access trails to get out and see it.

To get there, take CA-14 northeast from CA-58. Take a left on Jawbone Canyon road. From that point, you are on BLM land and can camp anywhere you like, but for more privacy, you might want to head in a bit deeper and find a side road.

If you're looking for peace and quiet, Jawbone Canyon may not be the best choice on the weekends, but during the week, most of the ATV's pack up and go home, leaving the area quite peaceful. As with other BLM land, you may camp for free up to 14 days.

Motor Home Adventures in California with Volcano Camping

Don't worry - Lassen Volcanic National Park's volcanoes aren't going to explode and spill fiery doom all over you and your motor home. Although once a roaring caldron of magma, the volcanoes are now quiet and still. But, if you wander the park, you can still find among the pristine wilderness and pine forests some boiling pits of mud and steam hissing out of the cracks in the earth. These are just some of the attractions that make Lessen Volcanic National Park one of Northern California's greatest RV destinations.

The park is located about 50 miles west of Redding, California in the northeastern corner of the state. It is about 180 miles from Reno, Nevada. Its location puts it right in the middle of some of America's prettiest country, not far from the parks and wilderness areas of California, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

What is there to do at the park?

There are more than 150 miles of hiking trails, which means that you will never walk it all, and the wide range of different scenery makes each hiking trail a real journey. The park is close enough to the Cascades and Sierras that you can see great views of the mountain ranges from some areas of the park. There are beautiful mountain lakes, as well as hydrothermal attractions you won't find anywhere else. These include huge vents leading to the depths of the earth that discharge steam and volcanic gas; steam coming straight out of fissures in the ground; and boiling mud and water pools (they're a little too hot for a dip!). At Lassen, you can really get close to what's going on underneath the earth's surface.

And what about the eruptions?

Of course there is always a possibility of a volcanic "event", but there are a few things that should set your mind at ease. First off, although there was an eruption as recently as 1915, eruptions are few and far between at Lassen, occurring usually once every 10,000 years. Lassen is part of a volcanic corridor stretching from northern California up to Mount St. Helens, and there are occasionally small eruptions here and there. The other thing that should set your mind at ease is that there are a large number of scientists constantly keeping an eye on the park. They will definitely let you know well in advance if you shouldn't park your motor home nearby.

There are lots of places to stay around Lassen Volcanic National Park. One of the best motor home sites in the area is Lassen Pines RV Park, located in McArthur, California. Lassen Pines is located in the Fall River Valley among the tall pines and juniper trees. It is a friendly, family-oriented campground with lots of RV sites. They also offer fishing, golfing, hiking, biking and other activities. You can find them online.

If you want to add some great fishing and hunting to your volcanic hikes, try Rancheria RV Park located on Lunker Lake, 36 miles from the park. Rancheria puts you close to other northern California attractions such as Hat Creek, the Pit River Casino and Subway Cave, as well as the fishing and hunting activities around the lake. The park has tent camping, cabins and motor home sites, from very rustic to fully equipped. Check them out online.

Lassen Volcanic National Park makes a great RV destination, or a wonderful stop along the way to any of northern California's parks. It offers sightseeing and scenery that you won't find anywhere else.

Camping Mattress - What You Should Know Before Buying

If you're new to camping, you might wonder what the best kind of Camping mattress there is to use. There are many different kinds of mattresses to choose from. And they also come in varying sizes. There are kiddy sizes for the kiddy camper, single size for the lonesome backpacker or even a double size that for the outdoor couple or a group of friends.

Before, camping trips used to paint the picture of a sore back the morning after - as most camping beds were usually just rolled up thin foam mats. But now, there are many new innovations in the Camping mattress business. Many brands have developed their own kinds of mattresses and there are now different kinds to suit every camper's taste and level of comfort.

The most common type of Camping mattress is the roll up mattress. Most roll up mattresses are made of foam. Although a bit large when rolled up, it is light carry. The roll up mattress' weight depends on the thickness of the foam. The good thing about roll up mattresses is that you can use them as mats to sit on outside the tent. Another type of roll up mattress is made from rubber. Absorbent, airtight and tough - they are suitable for any terrain and provide great comfort even when the ground is uneven.

Air mattresses are popular nowadays, as they are more compact and can fit right into a backpack. They come with manual or electric air pumps. When inflated, they are thicker than roll up foam mattresses and provide better back support. However regular air mattresses may not provide enough warmth. To remedy that, mattress manufacturers have developed air mattresses with comfortable foam tops. The material used on top of the mattress provides more insulation and keeps you warm at night. There are even air mattresses with memory foam tops, which are ideal for those who suffer from chronic back pain.

If you want more luxury on the camp site, there are some fully raised inflatable air mattresses, that look and feel like real beds. They even have bed rests and even have king size mattresses. However, these Camping mattresses take up as much space as regular mattresses and may be a little bulky. Always remember that take extra care when inflating air mattresses are they are susceptible to punctures.

A lot of Camping mattresses come with many special add-ons, like built in pillows or air pumps. Some mattresses even have built in stereo systems. Although these additional benefits add more to the price of your Camping mattress, it's okay if you're willing to pay the price for a little more luxury.

No matter what kind of Camping mattress you choose, it is important to choose one that not only fits your budget, but also fits your lifestyle. And take the size of your tent into consideration too so that your mattress wouldn't end up larger than your tent!

Before anything else, it is best to have the size of your tent in mind to make sure that your mattress will fit the tent.

5 Tips for Choosing Your New Swag Bed Roll Tent for Your Next Camping and Fishing Trip

Swag bed rolls and what people want them for have really changed a lot in the past 5 years so we recently took a big trip and looked at all the best swags and asked just about everyone we met what they really, really wanted and liked in a swag.

Here are the results.

1. Make sure that the canvas used is strong, tough and at least 15oz weight. Anyone can call any fabric canvas just by dipping it in some waterproofing chemical and there are a lot of cheap swags in the marketplace which have canvas that just doesn't last.

2. Avoid swags where the foot end is sewn shut as swags can get very hot inside without ventilation and on a wet night you want to be able to get the foot of the swag up off your feet and gear because no matter what some people might tell you, canvas isn't waterproof - it gets wet and swells in the rain. This is why swags are different to nylon tents which are completely waterproof but don't breathe and so can be sweatboxes on hot nights.

3. Avoid swags that have a canvas base as water will come up through the base from wet ground. Usually you will find this type of swag has a plastic sheet built in to the bottom of the mattress. Again, canvas is not waterproof and there is nothing worse than sleeping on a wet mattress.

4. Avoid swags that have a complicated set up or can't be set up without poles. Many times on your journeys poles will be lost or broken and if the swag depends on them then it is useless.

5. Avoid swags that are big and bulky, often you will need to share luggage space with other people so you don't want to not be able to fit your swag in because it is too big.

Ask yourself is the swag you are looking at light, tough, compact, and can it be put up and down easily even if you forget or run over the poles. Imagine it is pouring rain and you are tired and want to set up quickly, or it is a cold wet morning and you want to break camp and be on your way.

These are the things you should consider BEFORE you buy, it's too late when you are out there.

Tips For RV Camping - Setting Up & Breaking Down Your Campsite

Are you a seasoned rv camping expert, or just starting out? No matter what your level of experience with RV camping, setting up your RV campsite is easy if you adhere to a few simple guidelines! The #1 rule in a smooth setup is keeping it the same every time you go! Refer to the following checklist or create one that fits your needs...after all, the idea is get your RV campsite up and running and the lawn chairs out next to the grill as quickly as possible!

Check in: Whether or not you have a campsite already reserved, let the campground hosts know your site preferences. They can provide you with a site map to help you find where everything is located.

Initial site check: Once you arrive at your site, be sure to check for overhead obstructions and any other objects that may interfere with parking or placing your recreational vehicle. Make sure the electrical connections are working before you start set-up.

Parking: Plan ahead for how you intend to position your RV on the site and the best way to make that happen. Once you're satisfied with where you're located, level the rig, unhitch it and chock the trailer wheels and place blocks under the landing gear. If you have a Fifth wheel, pull the hitch lever. (This may sound ridiculous, but be sure to disconnect the connections from the truck to the RV before you drive away! The embarassed voice of experience speaking!)Once your RV is in place, make sure it's as level as possible.

Site Set-up: Once you're sure the RV is stable, hook up your electrical connection, water, sewer, etc. and turn your LP gas on.

Relax: Begin to unload the 'basics': lawn chairs, grills, any awnings, tables, or extras.

Have fun!

At the end of your rv camping vacation, the following tips and guidelines can be helpful in preparing for your departure:

Inside: Wipe off all your gear, stow all loose items such as pictures, knick-knacks, dishes, etc. Close the windows and vents, secure cabinets and drawers. Make sure all of your appliances are turned off, unplugged and secured.

Gear:Roll up and stow all awnings, rugs, chairs, grill, etc. Dump holding tanks, disconnect and stow hoses. Unplug electrical connections, fill fresh water tank, drain and stow the water hose and filters. Be sure to turn off your propane!

Rig removal: Remove and stow all stabilizers, wheel chocks and any other parking gear. Hitch up and check your hitch by pulling forward just enough to make sure it's tight.Hook up the break-away switch cable, umbilical connection, and check to make sure all trailer and brake lights are working and raise the landing gear

Double Check: Make a throough check of your campsite to make sure you have everything taken care of before locking up your rv

RV Camping is fun, and offers an opportunity to experience scenic vistas and unforgettable attractions no matter where you go!