Enjoy Castaic Lake Camping pictures, and make your plans for a fun lakeside camping vacation! Updated July 27, 2008. Related info-- HOME :: Latest News :: Overview: Southern California camping overview ::  Beach Camping: Carpinteria Beach Camping ::  Dockweiler Beach Camping ::  Doheny Beach ::  Huntington Beach camping ::  Newport Beach Camping, ::  San Diego Beach Camping ::  Santa Barbara beach camping ::  Ventura Beach Camping ::  Big Sur Camping ::  Desert Camping: Joshua Tree NP Camping ::  Lake & Mountain: Big Bear Camping ::  Castaic Lake Camping ::  Lake Arrowhead Camping ::  Lake Elsinore Camping ::  Lake Jennings Camping ::  Paso Picacho Campground ::

Castaic Lake Camping





In the slide show above, you're viewing pictures of the Castaic Lake SRA camping grounds, as well as photos of upper Castaic Lake, lower Castaic Lake and the dam between them. On this page, you can get details about planning a family campout at Castaic Lake State Recreation Area in Southern California.







Castaic Lake SRA overview

Picture: Upper Castaic Lake From the pictures of Castaic Lake on this page, you'd think this tranquil setting was "miles from nowhere." In reality, Castaic Lake is situated in northern Los Angeles County, the most populous county in California!

Castaic Lake SRA lies only a short distance from Six Flags Magic Mountain, a renowned theme park which draws thousands of visitors to Southern California (in addition to a tidal wave of local guests, as well.) Barely out of earshot are several freeways carrying commuters to their workplaces, kids to their schools, and families to some of the best shopping centers in the region.

If you head to Castaic Lake for some summer fun 'n sun, you may think that the lake is a madhouse of boaters, fishermen, picnickers and campers all trying to get back to nature at the same time...even getting in each other's way during the process. If you experience Castaic Lake at one of its busiest moments, be sure to return after the kids are back in school, and the grownups have returned to work. Because, most of the year, Castaic Lake is a peaceful and lovely jewel, serenely basking in its beauty as if awaiting a passing artist to enshrine its treasures on canvas.




Castaic Lake Camping Information

Picture: Castaic Lake Campground There are 60 camping spaces at Castaic Lake, making it a mid-sized campground still small enough to give you a "back to nature" feel.

Both RV's and tents are accepted at the Castaic Lake SRA Camping grounds. This can be confusing, because some books & websites call this the "Castaic Lake RV Campground." Yes, it's mainly set up for RV's. But, there are good camping spaces here for tents, as well, as you'll notice in the pictures on this page. Also, there is a private campground nearby called the "Castaic Lake RV Park," which is under completely different ownership and operation. Since this page is about camping at Castaic Lake SRA (in its public campground,) if you're looking for info about the private RV camping ground, you may use the following link to view the www.CastaicLakeRVPark.com website, where you'll get the information you need.

The Castaic Lake SRA Campground hugs the eastern shore of the Castaic Lagoon (lower lake.) There are 3 camping grounds...A, B, and C. They're parking lot-shaped, with one row of campsites getting a direct waterfront view. The other row still gets a good view of the water, nevertheless. Trees have been planted in the campground; they provide shade in some spots, and beauty for everyone in the camping area.




Castaic Lake campsites

Picture: Castaic Lake SRA tent campsite As you can see from this picture of a Castaic Lake campsite to your left, some camping spots have a level area covered with fine gravel to use as a tent pad. The camping site in this photo is in Loop C.

Other spots, meant for RV's, pop-up campers, camping vans, and travel trailers, simply have a curb...and resemble a plain parking lot more closely. You can see an example of this in the picture of a Castaic Lake RV camping site below.

Every campsite at Castaic Lake SRA has a picnic table and a grill, whether the campsite is meant for RV's or for tents.

Restrooms are available at the Castaic Lake campground. Trash cans are placed around the camping area at convenient intervals.



Picture: Castaic Lake SRA RV campsites What are the Castaic Lake camping sites missing?

1.) There are no hookups for RV's. There are no water hookups, no electrical hookups, no blackwater hookup, and certainly no cable TV hookup. Nevertheless, the campground does have an RV dump station; an extra fee is required to use it.

2.) There are no showers in the bathrooms.

3.) There is no camp store, coin laundry, restaurant nor game room. However, it's not far from town, where all of these things are available.






Castaic Lake Camping Fees and Reservations

Picture: Castaic Lake campground restroom RV camping fees at the Castaic Lake SRA campground are $18 per night. This price is in effect as of June, 2008; fees may have raised if you're reading this at a later time. You'll want to check out the latest camping fees on the Castaic Lake website (link at bottom of page.)

Tent camping fees are $15 per night. The fees at Castaic Lake SRA are lower than similar state park campgrounds in other locations (particularly the beach camping areas.) The nightly fees at this public campground are also much lower than nearby private campgrounds; however, private camping grounds do have more amenities.

There is a 14-day stay-limit at the Castaic Lake camping ground.


CASTAIC LAKE CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS: To make camping reservations at Castaic Lake, call the Castaic Lake phone number at 661/257-4050 (or come in person to the campground.) Phone reservations are taken Monday through Wednesday from 8 am to 4 pm. Yes, this is a strange rule. Yes, it's annoying if you don't remember to place your reservations during that time period. BUT...this rule also works in your favor. It's also easier to get a camping space at Castaic Lake than many other state campgrounds that let you place your reservations 24 hours a day through the Reserve America system.

Castaic Lake does not use Reserve America for its reservations. Though most state parks use Reserve America, the Castaic Lake SRA is in a unique position. It IS a California State Park...BUT, it's not actually run by the state park system. (It's run by LA County, instead.) So, many of its rules are different.

Castaic Lake's Campground doesn't accept reservations very far in advance. Unlike Reserve America, which lets campers place reservations 7 months ahead of time (so that virtually all of the prime summer camping spots are gone before summer ever arrives,) Castaic Lake's in-park reservations system only accepts reservations a very few months in advance. (For example, I'm writing this at the end of June, and I was not allowed to make reservations for Labor Day in September yet.) For those who don't firm up their plans very far in advance, this policy ensures that you'll have a better chance at getting a campsite during the busy season.




Castaic Lake address, directions, contact info

Picture: firepit and grill at Castaic Lake campground The Castaic Lake campground phone number is 661/257-4050. This is the telephone number where you can make reservations or ask questions from one of the park rangers. This is also a phone number where you can ask other questions you may have about Castaic Lake, as well.

The Castaic Lake SRA address is 32132 Ridge Route Road, Castaic, CA 91310. (This is the address from the California State Parks website.) But here's some confusion: the Castaic Lake recreation area's address is ALSO 32132 Castaic Lake Dr, Castaic, CA 91384. (This is the address listed on the park's own website.) These are actually both the SAME address; Ridge Route Road turns into Castaic Lake Drive near the park entrance. You may use either address to write the park, and your letter will arrive. However, don't drive to this address, because this is not the location of the campgrounds. The park's address leads you to the park's main entrance on the western shore of the Castaic Lagoon. This is where the day-use facilities are, like picnic areas, seasonal swimming beaches, and hiking trails.



View Larger Map
Directions to the Castaic Lake campground: Take the Lake Hughes Rd exit from I-5, then head west to the campground entrance. You'll pass Ridge Route Rd; don't turn, or you'll reach the main entrance to the park. Keep going west on Lake Hughes Road...past the boat launch parking lot, around a bend, then you'll finally reach the entrance drive to the campground. If you start to climb up a steep hill, then you've gone too far. To your left, you see a Custom Google map to Castaic Lake SRA campground. The map points to the entrance drive of the park's camping area. If you use the satellite view of this Google map, you'll see a good aerial photo of the park, and you'll even be able to identify the individual camping areas withing the park, all stretched out along the eastern side of the lagoon.

Castaic Lake website: The Castaic Lake recreation area has its own website. You'll need to read it whether you plan to camp, or whether you just want to fish, swim, picnic or go boating. (There are rules to follow for every activity!) Here's a link to the www.CastaicLake.com official website.







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