Camping is a quintessential Northern California experience – but these days, it’s usually anything but spontaneous. With reservations often being accepted nearly a year in advance, sometimes your favorite spots get snatched up before you can even plan your vacation dates. Luckily, there are some no-reservation camping spots in Northern California where reservations are not required. While that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a spot (they are first-come, first-served, after all), if you time your trip right, your odds will be good. Here are some of the best campgrounds in Northern California:

Navarro River Redwoods State Park features rolling hills, redwood groves, and a great beach. Choose from 25 developed sites with toilets and fire grills. Trailers up to 24 feet are allowed in some spots. Down at Navarro Beach, there are 10 primitive sites with no water.

This campground offers excellent fishing and tent camping. Mary Smith Campground was picked as one of California’s most beautiful lake campgrounds! Except for a large cluster of sites at the campground entrance, all campsites are walk-in and clustered in small groups. The campsites are tucked into a lush riparian environment of conifers and deciduous trees, a thick middlestory, and ample wildflowers. Privacy between campsites ranges from fair to outstanding. Each site has a view of the lake and Trinity Alps. There are 17 walk-in camp sites, with a fireplace and table. No trailers allowed. There are both flush and vault restrooms.

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park lies on the southern portion of the Lost Coast, a 60-mile stretch of wilderness comprising the park and the King Range National Conservation Area. It's one of the most lovely stretches of Northern California. There are developed as well as primitive hike-in sites and pit toilets. No water is available, so bring your own!

Manchester State Park features a beach, sand dunes, and flat grasslands, with nearly 18,000 feet of ocean frontage. The beach line curves gently to form a "catch basin" for sea debris, which accounts for the volume of driftwood found here. Five miles of gentle, sandy beach stretches southward towards the Point Arena Lighthouse. One of the main attractions is the excellent steelhead fishing in the park’s two streams, Brush Creek and Alder Creek. The park features 10 environmental sites and 18 primitive sites, chemical toilets, and fire grills. Campers up to 30 feet and trailers up to 22 feet are allowed.

Westport Union-Landing State Beach covers more than three miles of rugged and scenic coastline, with 86 campsites available in three campgrounds on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The magnificent vistas, sunsets and tree-covered mountains in the background provide an inspiring backdrop to the park and challenges to both amateur and professional photographers. Campers will find fire rings, chemical toilets, and tables at their sites.

This state park camping destination (which is 20 miles long on two forks of the American River) is situated south of Interstate 80, stretching from Auburn to Colfax. The main access is from Auburn, either on Highway 49 or the Auburn-Foresthill Road. In the heart of the gold country, the Auburn State Recreation Area (Auburn SRA) covers 40-miles of the North and Middle Forks of the American river. Once teeming with thousands of gold miners, the area is now a natural area offering a wide variety of recreation opportunities to over 900,000 visitors a year. There are 100 primitive sites with tables but no drinking water.

Humboldt Lagoons State Park lies on the sandy, windswept edge of ocean and forest. Formed by the clash of two tectonic plates, it’s part of the largest lagoon system in the United States. It's located 40 miles north of Eureka. It features environmental sites with no water, pit toilets, tables and fire rings.

The Juniper Lake Campground is located on the east shore of Juniper Lake via a 13-mile paved/gravel road. If you want to get way out there away from the crowds, this is the place for you. No drinking water is available in the Juniper Lake area, so be sure to bring your own, but there are pit toilets.

Sonoma Coast State Park is known for long sandy beaches below rugged headlands, a craggy coastline with natural arches and secluded coves. Pomo Canyon Campground offers 20 walk-in campsites. There is a fire ring and a picnic table in each campsite. Pit toilets are available.

Union Reservoir is popular for day use, as well as paddle sports such as canoeing and kayaking. A primitive boat launch is available at Union Reservoir. This area features four developed recreation facilities: Utica - Sandy Flat (11 sites), Rocky Point (12 sites), Union West (18 sites), and Union East (11 sites).

Florence Keller County Park & Campground offers all the best of Del Norte County Camping. It's within a few minutes drive to the ocean, river, lakes, sand dunes, hikes, and the refreshing small town atmosphere of Crescent City. It's a year-round rustic campsite in the Redwoods, with 50 spaces, no full hookups and no pull throughs. It does have potable water, an open field for sports, and a picnic area.

Okay, campers. Did we leave any of your favorite no-reservation camping spots in Northern California off our list? What's your favorite spot for a good ol' family Northern California camping trip? Where do YOU think exists the best campgrounds in Northern California? We’re always eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions, so leave them in the comment section!

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