Use this California state parks list to plan your next outdoor adventure in the Golden State.
California is known for its outdoorsy culture and natural beauty, so it’s no surprise that there are a ton of state parks and beaches to visit throughout the state.
This is the full list of every single California state park and beach so you can work your way through one beautiful park at a time.
Note: this post contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you so I can keep providing free travel advice and tips.
Alameda County
- Albany State Marine Reserve
- Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area
- Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
- Emeryville Crescent State Marine Reserve
- Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area
- McLaughlin Eastshore State Seashore
- Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
Alpine County
- Grover Hot Springs State Park
Amador County
- Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park
Butte County
- Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
- Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park
- Butte City Project Park
- Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
- Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
Get your FREE California Travel Planner – including printable checklists and my favorite two-week itinerary for the state.
Calaveras County
- Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Colusa County
- Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area
Contra Costa County
- Franks Tract State Recreation Area
- Marsh Creek State Historic Park
- Mount Diablo State Park
Del Norte County
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Pelican State Beach
- Tolowa Dunes State Park
El Dorado County
- Auburn State Recreation Area
- D. L. Bliss State Park
- Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
- Emerald Bay State Park
- Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
- Lake Valley State Recreation Area
- Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
- Washoe Meadows State Park
Fresno County
- Millerton Lake State Recreation Area
Read our guide to the best things to do in Fresno.
Humbolt County
- Azalea State Natural Reserve
- Benbow Lake State Recreation Area
- Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
- Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park
- Harry A. Merlo State Recreation Area
- Humboldt Lagoons State Park
- Humboldt Redwoods State Park
- John B. Dewitt Redwoods State Natural Reserve
- Little River State Beach
- Patrick’s Point State Park
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
- Richardson Grove State Park
- Trinidad State Beach
Imperial County
- Heber Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area
- Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area
- Picacho State Recreation Area
- Salton Sea State Recreation Area
Kern County
- Fort Tejon State Historic Park
- Red Rock Canyon State Park
- Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park
- Tule Elk State Natural Reserve
Lake County
- Anderson Marsh State Historic Park
- Clear Lake State Park
Los Angeles County
- Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
- Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park
- Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park
- Castaic Lake State Recreation Area
- Dockweiler State Beach
- Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area
- Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
- Leo Carrillo State Park
- Los Angeles State Historic Park
- Los Encinos State Historic Park
- Malibu Creek State Park
- Malibu Lagoon State Beach
- Pio Pico State Historic Park
- Placerita Canyon State Park
- Rio de Los Angeles State Park
- Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach
- Saddleback Butte State Park
- Santa Monica State Beach
- Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
- Simon Rodia State Historic Park
- Topanga State Park
- Verdugo Mountains Park
- Will Rogers State Beach
- Will Rogers State Historic Park
Madera County
- Wassama Round House State Historic Park
Marin County
- Angel Island State Park (one of my favorite islands in California)
- China Camp State Park
- Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park
- Mount Tamalpais State Park
- Olompali State Historic Park
- Samuel P. Taylor State Park
- Tomales Bay State Park
Mariposa County
- California State Mining and Mineral Museum Park
Mendocino County
- Admiral William Standley State Recreation Area
- Caspar Headlands State Beach
- Caspar Headlands State Natural Reserve
- Greenwood State Beach
- Hendy Woods State Park
- Jug Handle State Natural Reserve
- MacKerricher State Park
- Mailliard Redwoods State Natural Reserve
- Manchester State Park
- Mendocino Headlands State Park
- Mendocino Woodlands State Park
- Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve
- Navarro River Redwoods State Park
- Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park
- Reynolds Wayside Park
- Russian Gulch State Park
- Schooner Gulch State Beach
- Sinkyone Wilderness State Park
- Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve
- Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area
- Van Damme State Park
- Westport-Union Landing State Beach
Read my full guide to the best things to do in Mendocino.
Merced County
- George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area
- Great Valley Grasslands State Park
- McConnell State Recreation Area
- Pacheco State Park
- San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area
Mono County
- Bodie State Historic Park
- Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve
Monterey County
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Asilomar State Beach
- Carmel River State Beach
- Fort Ord Dunes State Park
- Fremont Peak State Park
- Garrapata State Park
- Hatton Canyon Park
- John Little State Natural Reserve
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- Limekiln State Park
- Marina State Beach
- Monterey State Beach
- Monterey State Historic Park
- Moss Landing State Beach
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (Read our guide to Big Sur camping)
- Point Lobos Ranch
- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
- Point Sur State Historic Park
- Salinas River State Beach
- Zmudowski State Beach
Read our guide to the best things to do in Monterey.
Napa County
- Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park
- Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
- Robert Louis Stevenson State Park
Nevada County
- Donner Memorial State Park
- Empire Mine State Historic Park
- Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
- South Yuba River State Park
Orange County
- Bolsa Chica State Beach
- Chino Hills State Park
- Corona del Mar State Beach
- Crystal Cove State Park
- Doheny State Beach
- Huntington State Beach
- San Clemente State Beach
Placer County
- Burton Creek State Park
- Kings Beach State Recreation Area
- Tahoe State Recreation Area
- Ward Creek Park
Plumas County
- Plumas-Eureka State Park
Riverside County
- California Citrus State Historic Park
- Indio Hills Palms Park
- Lake Perris State Recreation Area
- Mount San Jacinto State Park
- San Timoteo Canyon
Sacramento County
- Brannan Island State Recreation Area
- California State Capitol Museum
- California State Railroad Museum
- Delta Meadows Park
- Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park
- Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park (currently not open to the public)
- Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park
- Locke Boarding House Museum State Park
- Old Sacramento State Historic Park
- Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area
- State Indian Museum State Historic Park
- Stone Lake Park
- Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
San Benito County
- Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area
- San Juan Bautista State Historic Park
San Bernardino County
- Providence Mountains State Recreation Area
- Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
- Wildwood Canyon State Park
San Diego County
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Border Field State Park
- Cardiff State Beach
- Carlsbad State Beach
- Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
- Leucadia State Beach
- Moonlight State Beach
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
- Palomar Mountain State Park
- San Elijo State Beach
- San Onofre State Beach
- San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park
- Silver Strand State Beach
- South Carlsbad State Beach
- Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
- Torrey Pines State Beach
- Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
San Francisco County
- Candlestick Point State Recreation Area
San Joaquin County
- Caswell Memorial State Park
San Luis Obispo County
- Cayucos State Beach
- Estero Bluffs State Park
- Harmony Headlands State Park
- Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument
- Hearst San Simeon State Park
- Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve
- Montana de Oro State Park
- Morro Bay State Park (read our guide to Morro Bay camping)
- Morro Strand State Beach
- Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area
- Pismo State Beach
Looking for more things to do in SLO? Read our full guide to the best things to do in San Luis Obispo.
San Mateo County
- Ano Nuevo State Park
- Bean Hollow State Beach
- Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Park
- Butano State Park
- Gray Whale Cove State Beach
- Half Moon Bay State Beach
- Montara State Beach
- Pacifica State Beach
- Pescadero State Beach
- Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
- Pomponio State Beach
- Portola Redwoods State Park
- San Bruno Mountain State Park
- San Gregorio State Beach
- Thornton State Beach
Santa Barbara County
- Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park
- El Capitan State Beach
- El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
- Gaviota State Park
- La Purísima Mission State Historic Park
- Point Sal State Beach
- Refugio State Beach
- Carpinteria State Beach
Santa Clara County
- Castle Rock State Park
- Henry W. Coe State Park
- Martial Cottle Park State Recreation Area
Santa Cruz County
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park (currently closed due to wildfire damage)
- Castro Adobe State Historic Park
- The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Lighthouse Field State Beach
- Manresa State Beach
- Natural Bridges State Beach
- New Brighton State Beach
- Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
- Seacliff State Beach
- Sunset State Beach
- Twin Lakes State Beach
- Wilder Ranch State Park
Shasta County
- Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park
- Castle Crags State Park
- McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
- Shasta State Historic Park
Solano County
- Benicia Capitol State Historic Park
- Benicia State Recreation Area
Sonoma County
- Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
- Austin Creek State Recreation Area
- Fort Ross State Historic Park
- Jack London State Historic Park
- Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve
- Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park
- Salt Point State Park
- Sonoma Coast State Park
- Sonoma State Historic Park
- Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
- Trione-Annadel State Park
Stanislaus County
- Turlock Lake State Recreation Area
Sutter County
- Sutter Buttes State Park
Tehama County
- William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park
- Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area
Trinity County
- Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park
Tulare County
- Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
Tuolumne County
- Columbia State Historic Park
- Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
Ventura County
- Emma Wood State Beach
- Mandalay State Beach
- McGrath State Beach
- Point Dume State Beach
- Point Mugu State Park
- San Buenaventura State Beach
Yolo County
- California Indian Heritage Center Park
- Woodland Opera House State Historic Park
California State Parks FAQs
How Many California State Parks are There?
There are currently 280 state parks in California. We have one of the largest state park systems in the US and around 65 to 80 million people visit California state parks each year.
How Much is the Day Use Fee for California State Parks? How About Camping Fees?
Most California state parks have a day-use fee of $10 per vehicle. If there’s a ranger at the entrance kiosk, you can usually pay with cash or card.
However, it’s usually a good idea to bring a pen and exact cash in case a ranger isn’t working the booth when you arrive so you can fill out a self permit.
Camping fees depend on the popularity of the park but usually run around $30 or so per night. You can find exact fees for specific parks and current availability at the Reserve California website.
Campsites book up quickly at state parks in California, so it’s recommended that you book at least 3-6 months in advance.
Is There an Annual California State Park Pass You Can Purchase?
Yes, there are a few different types of California State Park Passes you can buy. These are the most common annual passes:
- California Annual Explorer Day Use Pass ($195) – This is the most popular state park pass that gets you into most Southern California state beaches and most state parks throughout the state. You can see the full list of which parks accept this pass here.
- Golden Poppy Annual Day Use Pass ($125) – This is the second-most popular pass that you can use for parks in the redwood region around Northern California and most state reservoirs. You can see the full list of parks and reservoirs that you can use this pass at here.
- Historian Passport Day Use Admission Annual Pass ($50) – This pass is for getting into state historic parks in California. You can see a full list of parks that you can use this pass at here.
- Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Day Use Pass ($50) – You can use this pass at all State Vehicle Recreation Areas in California, view the full list of SVRAs here.
Is There a Senior Pass for California State Parks?
Yes, if you’re 62 years or older you can apply for the Golden Bear Pass, although there are some income restrictions as well. You can apply for a pass for $5 here.
And even without a pass, seniors are eligible for a $1.00 discount off day-use vehicle fees at California State Parks and $2.00 off camping reservations.
How Long Can You Camp in a California State Park?
You can camp for up to 30 nights in a state park in California.
Can I Use America the Beautiful Pass at State Parks?
No, the America the Beautiful Pass (and the national park passport) can only be used for federally-owned lands that are run by the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation.
This includes national parks, national monuments, national forests, and national historic sites, but not state parks.
Want to check out the places where you CAN use these passes? Check out our guide to California’s national parks!
Are California State Parks Dog-Friendly?
It’s a mixed bag. Only about 60 out of the 280 parks allow dogs to have full access to trails. Another 140 or so parks allow dogs to be on limited trails, campsites, and parking lots. The other 80 parks aren’t dog-friendly.
Of course, these are all just broad estimates. Every park has different restrictions when it comes to bringing your pet. Your best bet is to check the specific park brochure to see what they allow.
What is the Smallest State Park in California?
The smallest state park in California is Simon Rodia State Historic Park at only 0.11 acres.
What is the Largest State Park in California?
The largest state park in California is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park at 600,000 acres.
What is the Oldest State Park in California?
Big Basin Redwoods State Park was established in 1902 and is the oldest state park in California. Sadly, a lot of the park was destroyed (around 86,000 acres) during the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Wildfires.
Get your FREE California Travel Planner – including printable checklists and my favorite two-week itinerary for the state.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mimi McFadden
Founder & Editor-In-Chief
Mimi McFadden initially started The Atlas Heart in 2013 to write about her adventures abroad. But since 2019, The Atlas Heart has become a love letter to the Golden State. Mimi enjoys sharing her first-hand knowledge and expertise with the places she knows so well and making the most comprehensive travel guides possible. When she’s not hiking and exploring new places in California, she loves to travel abroad, read in her cozy chaise lounge, play basketball, and connect with friends and family over board games. Over her 28 years in California, she has lived in Santa Cruz (18 years), San Diego (5 years), and the San Francisco Bay Area (5 years), where she currently resides.
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