Camping options near Belmont, California sit at the junction of coastal fog and inland microclimates, creating temperature variations of 10-15°F between ocean-facing and valley campsites. Most campgrounds in this area maintain moderate humidity levels of 60-80% year-round due to the marine influence. Fog typically rolls in during evening hours, especially from June through August when temperature differences between inland and coastal areas are most pronounced.
What to do
Horseback riding near beaches: Five Brooks Ranch in Olema offers guided trail rides with ocean views. "I would highly recommend Five Brooks Ranch in Olema for horseback riding," notes one visitor to Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground, adding that nearby Marshall was great for "shuck your own oysters - definitely a highlight."
Kayak in protected waters: Rentals available at several coastal access points within 20 minutes of glamping locations. A camper at Francis Beach Campground mentions: "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."
Morning tidepooling: Low tides reveal marine ecosystems at several beaches within 15 minutes of camping areas. "The campsite is a nice quiet stretch of grass, live oak trees, and beach shrubs about 30 vertical feet above the Pacific beach shoreline," notes one Francis Beach camper.
What campers like
Coastal microclimate cooling: Ocean breezes provide natural temperature regulation during summer heat waves. At Steep Ravine Campground, campers should "bring layers of functional clothes since the weather on the coast of the SF bay can be anything from roasting to foggy frigid cold during the day and night year round. Don't just look at weather online and go."
Redwood shade protection: Several campgrounds offer mature tree coverage that blocks both sun and wind. A visitor to Lower Blooms Creek noted: "We stayed here for a few nights and thought it was clean and spacious. Close to the visitor center. We did some hiking as well, a popular and short hike is to Sempervirens Falls."
Accessible night sky viewing: The coastal fog pattern creates predictable clear viewing windows for astronomy. As one camper at Lower Blooms Creek mentioned: "Great setting, awesome trails to trek, can get busy during the weekend. Redwoods galore and look out for the slugs please don't step on them. If you need a place to chill this is the spot."
What you should know
Gate code requirements: Many properties use security gates with changing codes. A reviewer at Sanborn County Park warns: "Ranger was useless. You need codes for the gate after 7pm, the showers, and the RV dump and they don't volunteer that info, you have to ask."
Limited cell connectivity: Signal strength varies dramatically even within the same campground. "Barely any cell reception, but wifi worked pretty well (we could have a video conference)," reports a Sanborn County Park camper.
Seasonal bathroom closures: Water systems often undergo maintenance during off-peak months. One visitor noted: "On our first visit, there was no running water or showers, but they did have portapotties. On our second visit, water was available, but it was not potable, and the showers and toilets were still not working."
Tips for camping with families
Wagon accessibility: Some sites require uphill transport of gear. "Great walk-in campground so close to home in the South Bay Area (albeit walk is slightly uphill). Some campgrounds have tables and others don't - some are too close to others but the higher up hill, you're closer to the trail heads," notes a Sanborn County Park visitor.
Weekend noise levels: Family groups often cluster on weekends, creating busy conditions. A Rob Hill Campground visitor explains: "There are 4, 30 person, group sites. Pitch tent on wood chips. Level. Fire pits, water. Nice and close, yet feels a ways away. Accessible to many trails."
Kid-friendly water features: Several sites offer shallow water access. At Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground, one camper shared: "This campground has a beach that dogs are allowed to walk on and beautiful places to hike. There is horse back riding available and coin operated hot showers. Great campgrounds."
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Power and water connections are often positioned far from pad edges. A visitor to Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA explains: "We had a very nice stay for a long weekend. The pull through spaces are extremely tight to the point that our slide out was hitting vegetation and our neighbors awning was about two feet from our Rv. But, if you expect that, it's a great place to stay."
Parking pad size limits: Many spots require precise positioning for slides. "Spaces for RVs are unpaved and additional cars are on cement. Hookups are pretty fast away and needed my sewer extension," notes a camper at Treasure Island MH and RV Park.
Limited RV maneuvering space: Tight corners challenge larger rigs. A camper mentioned: "It's a bit too tight for large trailer or RV camping (unless you are an expert at maneuvering through tight spaces)," when describing glamping close to Belmont, California at Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground.
