Tag Archives: thanksgiving

Camping for Thanksgiving

Turkey Casserole
Turkey Leftovers?

California Camping on Thanksgiving

If you’ve had it with the traditions, the big meal prep, or just sick of the family. Maybe you are a solo traveler, or a new transplant to California and need to explore more. Take a holiday away – for once this time.

Camping for turkey day? What a concept.

VWBus Death Valley
California is the perfect place for camping, all year long!

 

Stick to the lower elevations, look for canyons, and seek seclusion

California mountains often have snow during November. Avoid camping in snow @ 4000-5000′ elevation and above; Freezing temps above 3000-4000′ elevation.

Deserts, coastal regions and foothills are top choices for late Autumn car camping. Always check the weather ahead of departure, and have a plan B as an alternative. NorCal will be much wetter than the rest of the state.

MEALS: Prepare dinner meals ahead of trip departure. Bake turkey days before your trip and create meals based around that. Make mash potatoes at home and don’t forget to bring the butter. Pack pre-baked turkey for sandwiches, plus other quick snacks & meals for on-the-go travel.

seafood
Non Traditional: Seafood Feast

Desert Camping is premium at this time of year. Luckily the eastern half of Southern Cal is desert. The lower the elevation, the better the temps will be overnight. Be prepared for wind when the ‘storm fronts’ approach, the winds do get a cranking! Dirt roads can become flowing washes during a good rainstorm, so know the weather forecast.

Coastal campgrounds may need advanced reservations. Be prepared for wet weather, especially up north. The redwoods groves are gorgeous anytime of year.

Gold County Reservoirs are prime areas for relaxing in nature, while everyone else is out shopping. Oak hills, rivers and canyons. RV campers love these large lakes; boating, fishing, mountain biking trails, kayak rentals, hiking near historic Gold Rush towns.

River Canyons of California are always beautiful destinations in the autumn months with fall leaves changing color. Many campgrounds can be found at lower elevation, river access areas.

California’s abundant Hot Springs are also top picks for holiday weekends.

Joshua Tree Campout

Joshua Tree National Park may be busy during this weekend. Instead try nearby Mecca: Box Canyon and Mecca Hills Wilderness, BLM desert lands near Interstate 10.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is always a nice, easy and relatively close get-away for any holiday. Open camping on the backroads (for free) makes it one of the most attractive camping options in all of SoCal. Many dirt roads are accessible for passenger cars, if extreme caution is used. Don’t plan on driving more than a few miles on dirt.

froaders

Masses of off roaders love to camp out, especially on Thanksgiving weekend. Wheel all day, eat, drink, bon fires every night and rumor has it ‘they roast their big bird outdoors – deep in a dirt pit’. Really?

El Centro, Glamis, Imperial Dunes, Ocotillo Wells, Truckhaven Hills, Johnson Valley. All popular off roading areas in Southern California, so consider yourself warned.

Imperial Dunes

Mojave Desert, near US Hwy 395
Jawbone Canyon expect to see RVs, toy-boxes and families outside enjoying the weekend. OHV style. Often the group tries to create a round corral with their huge convoy of vehicles, to keep thru traffic to a minimum around “their camp”. Just stay well away from those gear-heads. In general, it is a very busy area around Mojave up to Hwy 178 during the holidays. Try high desert Horse Canyon instead.

Bodie State Park
Bodie State Park

Tent Camping

Death Valley National Park is one of the best destinations for Thanksgiving, cuz Panamint Springs serves their free turkey dinner.

Did someone say FREE?

Leon at Mahogany

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

Turkey Trot

Many California cities and towns host holiday runs or races called the Turkey Trot, or the Gobble Wobble (or any other equally silly name).

Traditionally held on Thanksgiving Day (in the morning hours), this event can be family friendly, with costumes or to some folks, a more serious race with thousands of runners. Each city has it’s own unique history of this annual favorite.

also known as –

Turkey Run, Thanksgiving Race, Thanksgiving Day 5K Run

driftwood

Anaheim Turkey Trot

Apple Valley Turkey Run

Arroyo Grande Turkey Trot

Belmont Shore Turkey Trot

Big Bear Turkey Trot

Burbank Turkey Trot

Concord Turkey Trot

Coronado 5K Turkey Trot

driftwood

Dana Point Turkey Trot

Orange County is the place & Dana Point holds the annual Turkey Trot every Thanksgiving Day. Over 10,000 runners participate in the coastal marathon event.

harbor dana point

driftwood

Davis Turkey Trot

Elk Grove Gobble Wobble

Encinitas Turkey Trot 5k & 10K

Fallbrook Turkey Trot

Folsom Turkey Trot

FTR047 Folsom Turkey Trot

Huntington Beach Turkey Wobble

La Cañada Thanksgiving Day 5K Run

Lake Almanor  5K Turkey Trot

Lompoc Turkey Trot @ River Park

Los Angeles Turkey Trot 5K & 10K

Marin Turkey Trot in Novato

Napa Valley Turkey Chase

Oakland Turkey Trot

Oceanside O’Side Turkey Trot

Orange County Turkey Trot 5K

Pacific Palisades Turkey Trot

Palm Desert Thanksgiving Day 5K Run

Pasadena Rose Bowl 5K Turkey Trot

Petaluma Turkey Trot

Piedmont Turkey Trot

Roseville Turkey Trot

San Bernardino Turkey Trot

San Francisco Turkey Trot

San Jose Silicon Valley Turkey Trot

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San Luis Obispo Gobble Wobble 5K

San Mateo Gobble Wobble

Santa Barbara UCSB Turkey Trot

Santa Cruz Turkey Trot

Santa Maria Turkey Trot

Santa Monica Turkey Trot

Solano Turkey Trot

Solvang Turkey Trot

Turlock Turkey Trot