A resort getaway in California can be an expensive vacation choice, but outdoor enthusiasts who choose a camping trip over a hotel stay can save money by choosing free or low-cost camping destinations. From Northern California's Marble Mountains to the Imperial Dunes in Southern California, campers have endless options for camping in scenic and adventurous locations. Many campgrounds will be rustic and undeveloped, but they are usually lower-priced than their developed counterparts.

Northern California

Northern California's most inexpensive campgrounds are located in scenic areas that require fortitude to access. The Lost Coast region near Garberville (located about five hours north of San Francisco) is ideal for rugged outdoor lovers with a preference for solitude. Hikers can walk along 80 miles of trails that traverse the isolated mountains and coastal forests in the King Range Wilderness.

In the Siskyou Mountains near Yreka, campers will find inexpensive Forest Service campgrounds along Highway 96, a twisting mountain road that meanders along the Klamath River. Campgrounds include Skeahan Bar, Beaver Creek, Brown Bear and Fort Goff campgrounds. There is no charge to camp, but campfire permits must be obtained from the Klamath National Forest office in Yreka. These campgrounds lack services such as running water and trash removal. Generally, their high-altitude locations necessitate that they can only remain open between May and October.

Central California

When summer temperatures climb in the Central Valley, low-cost campgrounds in the nearby Sierra Mountains offer respite from the heat. Near the mountain community of Arnold, the Stanislaus National Forest has nine rustic campgrounds at altitudes beginning at 3,800 feet above sea level and going up to 8,000 feet. Some camping areas, such as the Bloomfield Campground offer fishing and wading in the Mokelumne River, while others offer insight into local histories, such as Wakaluu Hep Yo, which features interpretive displays about the area's oldest inhabitants, the Mi-Wuk Native American Indian tribe.

Because most of these low-cost campgrounds are located in densely forested areas, tent campers will find the largest selection of campsites, while those traveling by RV will encounter fewer spots that can accommodate their vehicles. To find the ideal campground and inquire about the local road, weather and camping conditions, talk to rangers at the Stanislaus National Forest district office closest to your chosen destination.

Eastern California

When the snowpack melts in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, millions of acres of public lands become available for summer recreation. The Bureau of Land Management oversees numerous campgrounds in scenic areas between Mono Lake and Death Valley.

If the ideal recreation area includes four-wheel drive trails, head to the Bishop Resource Area, which features semi-primitive riding roads on volcanic lands. Nearby inexpensive camping is available at Pleasant Valley Lake, a primitive campground on the Owens River. Campers who seek long-term seasonal accommodations at low prices can choose from Tuttle Creek, Goodale Creek, Horton Creek and Crowley Lake campgrounds along the Sierra Nevada Foothills.

Southern California

When northern latitude states are experiencing freezing winter temperatures, Southern California's inland desert areas offer respite from the cold in free or low-cost campgrounds. Many of these recreation areas are located near the California and Arizona border and welcome everyone from snowbird RVers to off-road enthusiasts. The BLM oversees camping areas in popular recreation areas such as the Imperial Sand Dunes, which feature California's tallest sand dunes.

Campers have more than a dozen campgrounds to choose from with amenities ranging from nothing other than a parking pad to campgrounds with vault toilets. Near the community of Borrego Springs and adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the Ocotillo Wells Recreation Area has more than 80,000 acres of off-highway riding areas and free camping for up to 30 days in the Quarry, Main Street and Holmes campgrounds. There is no water, but each campground has vault toilets with shade structures, tables and fire pits.

Disclosure Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

About the Author Rene Agredano is a traveling journalist and entrepreneur based in Fort Collins, Colo. Since 1998, she has covered travel, home-and-garden, fitness, animal care and other lifestyle topics for publications such as "The Times-Standard" newspaper of northern California. Agredano holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Chapman University.