When it comes to unique things to do, L.A. certainly has its fill. Lucky for us, many of these things take place outdoors and are perfect for families.
Take camping for example.
Maybe not the first thing you think of when looking for things to do in downtown Los Angeles. But guess what? You and the family can do just that if you’d like. We did!
Which is really saying something. Since like you, our weekends are pretty full and the idea of prepping and packing for a campout doesn’t top my list of fun things to do.
But trust me. Camping out in Los Angeles just got super easy. Don’t believe me? Here’s how to camp in downtown Los Angeles in just three simple steps.
1. Don’t go it alone.
The bad news is there aren’t any campgrounds in the heart of downtown L.A. The good news? The Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA) hosts special community campouts in the city and under the stars at Vista Hermosa Natural Park.
A hosted campout is just right if you’re new to camping, or are a seasoned pro but don’t have time to get out of town or plan something more elaborate. With events that begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday and finish the next morning at 10 a.m., it’s easy to fit a campout into even busy schedules.
For a $20 fee, MRCA provides the space, the food and the entertainment. You just need to bring:
- Tent (or you can borrow one of theirs)
- Sleeping bags
- Pillow
- Camp chair
- Water bottle & snacks (dinner and breakfast are included)
- Pjs, toiletries & a change of clothes
- Flashlight or headlamps
- Book for bedtime
- There’s a huge grassy area that’s perfect for free play, so you might also want to bring a Frisbee, soccer ball or Velcro ball & catch game
2. Get to know one of downtown’s loveliest urban parks.
Vista Hermosa Natural Park is one of L.A.’s best-kept secrets. This 10.5-acre park located at the western gateway to downtown Los Angeles offers an incredible view of the city. It features walking trails, streams, meadows, oak savannahs, picnic grounds, an outdoor amphitheater and a nature-themed playground.
MRCA campouts at Vista Hermosa include an array of hosted activities that take advantage of the park’s features. There’s a park tour, camping games, a campfire program, an astronomy program and a morning nature walk.
3. Play and sleep out under the downtown skyline!
How often do you get the chance to play in the park after dark? With only glow sticks, headlamps and the glow of the downtown skyline for light, kids will have a blast playing camping games, going for a discovery walk or just hanging out with your family. Everything feels a little extra special because you have the entire park all to yourselves (you and the other campers, that is)!
Camping out in the city is definitely a unique experience. For one thing, the “campsite” is actually a large grassy portion of the park, with flags to mark spaces rather than formal campsites. And there are lots of sights and sounds to take in, most quite different from those you might encounter camping outside the city.
Practical Matters
- Tickets for the campout are $20 for a 4-person tent space, $30 for an 8-person tent space
- Free, limited parking is available in the park’s lot and on adjacent streets
- Bathrooms with flush toilets can be found at the entrance to the park & adjacent to the campsite area (but there are no showers)
- You’ll need to walk a bit from the parking area to the campsite area (so it’s not quite car camping) – a small wagon can come in handy to cart your things
- You’ll be grilling your own dinner over open campfire & washing your own plates – consider it a crash course in campsite mealtime!
- There are no picnic tables at the campsite area
- Vista Hermosa Natural Park map
- Sign up for the MRCA newsletter for details about future campouts at Vista Hermosa
Getting There
Vista Hermosa Natural Park is located at 100 N. Toluca St., Los Angeles, CA, 90026 (map). The park is on First Street west of the 110 (Harbor Freeway) between Beaudry and Glendale Blvd.
If you’d like to camp in downtown Los Angeles, you’re in luck! MRCA plans to offer more hosted campouts in the future. Sign up for the MRCA newsletter for details as the event gets closer.
Note: The MRCA waived our camping fee so we could share our experience with you. All opinions expressed are 100% ours. Read my full disclosure policy for more information.
