Explore the San Gabriel Mountains, Pacific beaches, and Mojave Desert from these Pomona campsites.
For nature excursions in the Los Angeles area, Pomona is an ideal basecamp. The city sits at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, just a 30-minute drive from the range and the surrounding Angeles National Forest’s crisp air, alpine hiking, waterfalls, and summit bagging. West of town are classic SoCal beaches with surf, sunsets, and soft brown sand, while those who head east will reach the Mojave Desert wonderland of Joshua Tree National Park. Come winter, you can even ski and cabin camp outside of Pomona at Big Bear Lake.
Camping destinations around Pomona include the Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas, home to trails and lakes, and Chino Hills State Park, which features over 90 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails through Southern California chaparral and sage scrub. RV campers can book spots at RV parks and RV resorts in Pomona and nearby San Bernardino, many with full hookups, free wifi, and other amenities.
The San Gabriel Mountains are practically Pomona’s backyard with numerous hiking trailheads, including one to the summit of the 10,064-foot Mount Baldy. The surrounding Angeles National Forest also has many scenic driving routes.
Further east of Pomona in the San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear Lake is an awesome year-round escape from the city. At 6,752 feet of elevation, the lake is a prime spot to beat the summer heat or hit the ski resorts for a snowy winter getaway.
West of Pomona, the Pacific coast beaches of Orange County, Los Angeles, and Malibu are world famous. For beach camping, check out Crystal Cove State Park and Leo Carrillo State Park, both home to beach campsites with picnic tables, showers, restrooms, and dump stations.
Joshua Tree National Park is about two hours east of Pomona. With incredible rock formations, otherworldly flora, and high definition stargazing, this desert playground is an incredibly popular destination from Pomona.
The Pomona area is good for camping year-round. Winter has the highest likelihood of cold weather and rain, but is an excellent time for desert camping. Spring visitors may find running waterfalls and blooming flowers. Summers can get hot with poor air quality in the valleys, but the beaches and mountains usually offer a cooler, cleaner reprieve.