Van Damme State Park Campground
Reviewed Nov. 2, 2023

Close to the ocean but dark and damp

General& Site Quality: 74 campsites; 1-13 in the lower loop and the remainder in the upper loop. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and bear box. No hookups. Camper pads are dirt. 

Bath/Shower house: Self-contained units, some with toilet and sink, and some with just a toilet. NO soap but paper towels and a hook for toiletries. Showers take tokens; each $1.00 token gives you a five-minute shower. Didn’t use the shower. 

Activities & Amenities: The day-use area and the Fern Canyon Trail accessed from the campground are currently closed due to storm damage. You can drive a short distance south to walk on the Pygmy Forest boardwalk (about a quarter of a mile) but there is very limited parking (about 8-9 spaces). You can extend the hike on the Fern Canyon trail but cannot hike to/from the campground. There is a dump station, but it costs $10 to use. There is a Visitor Center but it had limited hours during our stay. There is easy access to the ocean just across Highway One (you can even camp in the parking lot for the same rate as long as you are out by 9 a.m.)  The park is close to the town of Mendocino with great restaurants and shopping if that appeals to you.

We arrived around dusk and left fairly early the next morning to walk on the Pygmy Forest boardwalk. I didn’t explore too much (including the upper loop) as there was a black bear sighting the day we were there. Even though it was a sunny day, the campground felt dark and damp.

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Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023
  • Review photo of Van Damme State Park Campground by Lee D., November 2, 2023