Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Alameda, CA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Alameda is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Discover great camping spots near Alameda, reviewed by campers like you.
$25 - $200 / night
"as usual some spots are better than others but most close to restrooms and/or water. lots of poison oak and star thistle right off trail. great deterrent for kids to stay out of tick areas but id worry"
"Midweek in June the park, which is fairly large, is still nearly empty."
$40 - $75 / night
"The walk to the beach was 60 seconds and the ocean can be seen from the site. Cool ww2 structures. You get a code to open the gate uptop and drive down to park for your stay."
"If you plan to leave your cooler outside of the bear box make sure it has a lock or secure latch. 3- you get a gate code and parking pass to drive down, but have to walk your gear the last 500-1,000 ft"
$30 / night
"Angel Island is a California State Park, but it's surprising how many visitors do not know of the 10 campsites scattered around the island!"
"Campsites are walk in throughout the island. Remember there will be fog and there will be wind.
We try to get what they call the "group" kayak site. "
"I decided to stay here, because it was the right location for my road trip, it was free, and I thought the view of the city would be excellent."
"Reasonably quiet on the side away from the road. Very safe, police patrols throughout the day/night. Good hiking areas nearby. Bathrooms and trash cans. Highly recommend as it is also completely free."
"If you want a great little place with quick easy access to San Francisco that has a great view of the ocean this place is great! And affordable!"
"Very nice park for an on the water location, I've been to some where you can't even turn without hitting someone."
$35 - $165 / night
"We rarely make reservations to camp in California Beach Parks, as they are usually filled up weeks or even months in advance."
"Beautiful beach walking distance from campground. Bike or walking trails to wonderful beaches and places to eat. Short drive to many other areas. small but good size sites for where it is."
$30 / night
"This mountain has many of hiking trails for various levels of hikers."
"Live Oak is the closest to the entrance (and town), and features some cool rock formations to explore, but it's colder, has terrible cellular data service, and doesn't quite have the sunset / sunrise views"
"Or Muni which takes about double the time including walk to the station. Great WiFi. It's a parking lot with close neighbors. Nice and clean facilities."
$92 - $140 / night
"Stumbled across this campground by accident a few weeks ago as we were hiking around The Presidio. It was quite the hidden gem set amidst a stunning cypress and eucalyptus grove."
"Accessible to many trails."
$25 / night
"All three sites here are next to each other and have no seperation, but if you’re okay with that it’s a wonderful place to camp Site 3 is closest to the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the trails connected"
"It has great hiking nearby and an incredible view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city, and is a short drive into the city. you definitely want to reserve a space well in advance, especially during peak"
ScoutI planned to stay here just one night and stayed like 4. Great spot, I loved downtown Petaluma and enjoyed the safe feeling and convenience of this location. Great amenities for children too.
TravelerGreat campsite, awesome staff. Tucked away off highway 12 in wine country it feels much more remote than it actually is. It's a great fast getaway from the northbay, but it can be hard to reserve a site ahead of time but they do have first-come first serve sites too. Excellent hiking with both fairly flat trails, to challenging trails with lots of elevation change. It's often very hot in the summer, and there can be lots of rattle snakes sunning themselves on the rocks. This is one of my favorite camping spots.
GuideOn visiting San Francisco we were looking for a site that wasn’t a car park. This really met the mark! Beautiful place with great sites. Nice picnic tables & fire pits! Was very quiet
GuideI just needed/wanted a short getaway without driving hours from home. Since I'm used to this place for mountain biking, I figured I'd try camping here for a couple nights.
I did a recon ride previously on my mountain bike, so knew which spots I'd prefer and booked site 35 for a Thursday and Friday night.
Arrived at about 5PM and found my spot. The ranger booth was closed, but I didn't feel the need to chat with them anyway. The place was largely unoccupied at this point. Maybe a dozen or so spots appeared taken.
The weather, though hot in the Bay Area at this point, was quite nice. The breeze and shade of the park made for a very comfortable setting. I believe it was 88 in Castro Valley, but felt about 78 at the campground. I don't have AC for the van, but didn't feel I needed any.
I got setup and then headed out for a short ride, followed by a warm shower, cold beer and dinner. It was quiet that evening and I slept well.
I worked through the morning Friday, though the Starlink suffered some interruptions due to the tree cover. Early afternoon more people started to show up, as I expected. I went for a long ride and when I returned the place was much more occupied and people were setting up tents, starting their bbq's, etc. Though a bit close to the neighbors, none of them were obnoxious.
My advice would be to know the spot you're selecting and know that in the summer months the grass isn't green :)
I'd score the individual aspects as follows (1-5):
Bathrooms: 4
Location: 5
Activities: 5
Privacy: 3
Cleanliness: 4
TravelerLovely large meadow with scattered trees. RC/van spots are arranged in cul de sacs, tent spots on the edges of fields.
Somewhat noisy - kids, dogs, radios - but settled down by 9. Friendly vibe. Expensive at $83/nt but good showers. Wifi was slow when I stayed.
Decent backup option for the area if Samuel Taylor is booked.
TravelerLovely site in redwoods. Sites are close, but have some privacy. Stream is accessible shallow. Beautiful trees.
TravelerPaid a premium price for a Saturday one nighter, but it certainly is a great VIP campsite. The host says they will come around in the morning and empty our tanks! No need to hook up our sewer hose!
LegendCheck in was fine. Got wrong direction how to get to the site. After looping around to approach the site, I found the streets all very tight for RV maneuvering. The place was packed. Had a pull through FHU site. Pretty narrow. Seems like a common theme. Great things for kids to be entertained by and enjoy for sure. We were passing through and I think we would have been better served elsewhere. Our site was patches of grass and looked like it needed some TLC. Tested the water-Water tested as acceptable tap water after running it through an external filter. 21 elements checked, all within range. Dissolved solids were 251...pretty high. The worst water in our 6 week trip. Must be a California thing.
ScoutPositiv: 50 $, full hooked, warm showers Negativ: Our slot 170 was very narrow, other spots had more space. You could not see that on the onlinemap. No bench or table belonged to the spot. My neighbour had a slide-out. There was only one meter to my van. I found two showers, the free one had a damaged, sliced curtain, so everybody could have seen my body while taking a shower. There was no separation and all my clothes on the bench got wet. The shower for handicapped persons didn't have any curtain at all.
Camping near Alameda, CA, offers a great mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor fun. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.
Camping near Alameda, CA, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. With beautiful campgrounds and plenty of activities, you're sure to have a memorable experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there free camping options near Alameda?
Free camping near Alameda is limited, but there are some options within driving distance. H. Dana Bower Rest Area Northbound offers free overnight parking with basic amenities like water and toilets, though it's intended for brief stays rather than extended camping. For more established camping at reasonable rates, consider Sanborn County Park, which offers a wallet-friendly camping experience with storage boxes, cart assistance for gear transport from parking areas, and well-maintained bathrooms. While not free, it provides good value in a beautiful setting relatively close to Alameda.
What amenities are available at Alameda campgrounds?
Campgrounds near Alameda offer a range of amenities to enhance your stay. Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground provides beach access with clean facilities in a scenic coastal setting. For a different experience, Skyline Wilderness Park just outside Napa offers separate tent and RV camping areas, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails. Most campgrounds in the region typically provide restrooms, potable water, and picnic tables. Some locations offer fire rings, dump stations for RVs, and shower facilities. Reservation systems are common at most established campgrounds in the area.
Where can I find camping in Alameda?
The main camping option in Alameda is the Alameda County Fairgrounds RV Park, which offers convenient RV camping right off Highway 680. This fairgrounds location provides grassy sites, some with trees, and serves as one of the closest RV parks to San Francisco. For those seeking camping experiences beyond Alameda proper, Anthony Chabot Regional Park is nearby and offers family-friendly sites with access to trails, though watch for poison oak and star thistle just off the paths. Both locations provide good bases for exploring the greater Bay Area.
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