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Want to Camp Over Labor Day Weekend? Check Out These Convenient SoCal Spots

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Summer is coming to its unofficial close this weekend, but that doesn't mean your outdoor plans should halt! Especially in southern California, the options are nearly endless -- from desert camping in the arid inlands to the many crisp coastal counties along the Pacific, there is something for every taste.

Click on the images below to check out the best of SoCal camping by location:

1) 7 of the Best California Desert Campgrounds

Death Valley

"Yes, you can go camping in the desert in the summer. No, you don't have to have a death wish to do so. Even though summer is usually the time of year when the desert is the least hospitable, you can still enjoy staying outdoors in California's arid lands if you do one or more of the following: 1) go north, 2) go uphill, 3) go prepared for heat."

2) 5 of Ventura County's Best Coastal Campgrounds

Ventura County

"Though small, Ventura County boasts quite a bit of undeveloped coastline with camping opportunities dotted alongside. Many of these places are state-owned because the parks system boasts so much of California's best seaside real estate."

3) Orange County's Best Coastal Campgrounds

Orange County

"Orange County has plenty of the golden sand beaches it's famous for. But the county's coves, rocky headlands, and mountains comprise a different experience entirely. Both can be yours, for a night or more."

4) 5 of Santa Barbara's Best Coastal Campgrounds

Santa Barbara County

"Santa Barbara's stunning coast was made for recreation. It has rocky coves, bluffs, coastal meadows, sandy beaches close to urban centers and far from anything, and mountains that sometimes reach nearly into the water."

5) 4 of San Diego County's Best Coastal Campgrounds

San Diego County

"San Diego's beaches are an embarrassment of riches: wide stretches of golden sand, endless sunshine, rugged bluffs, and cool green seas. Even with a big city nearby, there are numerous options for finding a small slice of this lovely coast to call your own -- if only for a night or two."

Top Image: San Onofre State Beach | Photo: Justin Meissen/Flickr/Creative Commons

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