HowTo: Plan a Camping Trip for a Large Group near Los Angeles

How to Article: Plan a Camping Trip for a large group

It may be more work that you thought, but following these steps is sure to prove you know what you're doing!

Step 1 Invites

Formulate a List of People to Invite

This number should be between 10-50 

Note that group sites always have a minimum and maximum amount of people allowed

Step 2 Send Out an Email to See Who is Actually interested

Once you have a range of people that are interested you can start looking at group sites based on numbers

Step 3 Search for Places with Group Sites

Group sites are made to accommodate a large group with more space around the fire pit and a common eating area, these sites are usually detached from the main portion of the campground to control noise

http://www.reserveamerica.com/ has a search engine with a specific setting to search for a group site

It is important to note that most group sites are *tent only* meaning you cant have RVs

Another important note

If the Park has an SB or SP, know that SB = State Beach and SP=State Park

A few places with group sites in California are 

-Point Mugu State Park (9-50  people) 

-Malibu Creek State Park (60 people max)

-Leo Carillo State Beach (50 people max)

-Carpinteria State Beach (65 people max)

It is important to reserve your group site in as much advance as possible. To be safe, reserve your site a few months prior.

Step 4 Send out a quick survey email to check on dates

This is also a good time to give everyone a price estimate, you should be able to find the 'per night' price on the website of the campground or if you're using reserveamerica it should be there as well

Be specific - don't just ask "when is everyone available" 

Give 3-4 date ranges and allow your friends to respond with what works best and - dates won't work at all

Step 5 Check-in Time

Well deserving of a whole step...

Be sure to tell everyone in your group the appropriate check in time because if you arrive prior to checkin time, you'll have to wait outside the campground.

Step 6 Meal Planning

 Depending how many people are coming, make some sort of meal plan

When I go, all the families do their own breakfasts and lunches and then every night their is a potluck style dinner

It is important to bring as much of your own food as possible because local and camp store food is usually way overpriced

Step 7 Plan a few activities

Plan a few activities that everyone can do during the day as a group

It prevents boredom and engages people 

River rafting, hiking, campfire games, bike rides