Malibu Creek State Park
A cool experience with 6 to 10 mile hikes
Driving to and sleeping at a campground
Ideal for first-timers
Trip · 3-day camping trip
For · Friends and new campers
Vibe · Moderate and fun
Reservations · Yes, reserve a site at Creek Campground
Drive · 30 minutes from LA
Ideal dates · March to May
Pets · Welcome at camp, but not on trails
Malibu Creek State Park (MBSP) has been called the "Yosemite of Southern California," and this 8,200+ acre park delivers. It's known for its volcanic rock gorges, Sepúlveda Adobe, a 19th-century ranch house, and Malibu Creek that flows through the park. It also has 35 miles of hiking trails, three natural preserves, and is part of the greater Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, which is the nation's largest urban national park. Quite a few highlights for a park that's only a 30-minute drive from downtown LA.
Main image credit: N/A
Each campsite comes with a:
This is the only campground at Malibu Creek SP and it's packed with plenty of creature comforts while only being a 10-minute drive to a grocery store. Sites are available by reservation, and you'll have access to drinking water, restrooms, and coin-operated hot showers (Bring $1 bills!).
Check-in: After 2 PM · Check-out: Before noon
Nightly Rate: $45
Malibu Creek SP was established in 1974 and the majority of the park's lands were donated by entertainer Bob Hope.
For thousands of years, the Chumash people lived in the Santa Monica Mountains, until missionaries arrived in 1769
The original Planet of the Apes movie, M*A*S*H TV show and many other Hollywood productions have been filmed in the park
A spacious sleeping bag that will help you stay warm for spring, summer, and fall camping.
Essential Items
Whether it's coffee or cocoa, bring a silicone mug like this one into the wild. Your tummy will thank you.
Kitchen
Leave your backpacking pack at camp, and use this sleek, compressible pack for day hikes.
Shared Gear
An affordable day pack for bringing snacks, sunglasses, and water on your next day hike.
Shared Gear
Handmade in Seattle, Washington, this sleeping bag is pricey, but you can count on it lasting for years.
Essential Items
A fun, affordable tent for beginner car campers that can be used in the spring, summer, and fall.
Shared Gear
An absorbent, antimicrobial fabric that will keep you clean and dry down under.
Personal Stuff
This cook station has plenty of storage and counter space, and is easy to set up and carry out.
Kitchen
If you like to toss and turn at night, this sleeping pad is known for being a quiet, quality option for car campers.
Essential Items
A solid, lightweight, and relatively affordable tent for people are new to backpacking.
Shared Gear
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.
