Best Tent Camping near Belmont, CA

Tent campsites in the Belmont area of California provide a mix of coastal and redwood forest settings. Ben Ries Campground in Butano State Park offers tent sites nestled among redwoods, though it is currently closed indefinitely. Black Mountain Backpacking Camp in Monte Bello Open Space Reserve provides hike-in tent sites with toilets but no drinking water, requiring advanced reservations. Castle Rock State Park's Trail Camp offers walk-in tent sites with drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets in a wooded setting.

The terrain at these tent-only locations varies significantly, with most sites situated on forest floors with minimal site preparation. Potable water is available at several campgrounds, including Castle Rock Trail Camp, though Black Mountain requires campers to carry in their own water or use filtration systems. Fire regulations differ between locations, with fires prohibited at Black Mountain Backpacking Camp but allowed at most other tent campgrounds. According to a visitor at Black Mountain, "The pit toilet and bear boxes on site take a lot of the stress out for beginner backpackers, and the view at sunset was gorgeous."

Walk-in tent sites near Belmont provide more secluded camping experiences compared to drive-in options. The tent-only backcountry campsites typically require a short hike, keeping noise levels lower and creating a more immersive outdoor experience. Areas like Towle Campground in Palo Alto Foothills Park offer tent-specific sites with picnic tables, drinking water and toilets, though reservations are restricted to Palo Alto residents. A camper noted that Ben Ries Campground, when open, provided "ample room to park" with "space between campsites so you're not on top of each other." Most primitive tent areas maintain good separation between sites, with natural features like redwood groves creating privacy barriers that enhance the camping experience.

Best Tent Sites Near Belmont, California (41)

    1. Ben Ries Campground — Butano State Park - CLOSED INDEFINITELY

    18 Reviews
    Pescadero, CA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (650) 879-2040

    $35 / night

    "It is a smaller park than many of the other redwoods parks in Northern California, so it was very nice and peaceful. Butano is a bit off the beaten path to get to, but so worth it."

    "The campsite has car camping and walk-in sites. I had sites 5 and 6. The map for the campground is deceiving as they looked close together and connected but they were separate."

    2. Half Moon Bay RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Half Moon Bay, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (650) 726-7275

    "From booking until leaving, we had a positive experience. Our site was a little tight, that would be the only thing I wish was better."

    "The site was a pull through as well as our friends who were able to face the opposite way to have a common camp side with us. Of course the utility sides were in great position for that."

    3. Coyote Hills Regional Park

    2 Reviews
    Newark, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 327-2757

    $75 / night

    "We walked through and enjoyed the nature areas so much. We continue to go back and spend time at Cayote Hills because it is so beautiful. We can't wait until thwe next time."

    4. Towle Campground

    1 Review
    Los Altos Hills, CA
    13 miles
    Website

    $40 / night

    5. Castle Rock Trail Camp — Castle Rock State Park

    8 Reviews
    Saratoga, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (408) 867-2952

    $8 / night

    "I liked the trees, picnic tables, and fire rings at the sites. The sites were spaced nicely to allow for privacy. Frog Flat seemed a bit more secluded than the main camp."

    "This is sweet hike in trail camp.  We have used it for two purposes. "

    6. Black Mountain Backpacking Camp

    1 Review
    Los Altos Hills, CA
    16 miles
    Website

    $2 / night

    "The hike in is only 1.5 miles, but there's plenty of trail options to tack on more mileage on either the hike in or out."

    7. Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park

    9 Reviews
    Tiburon, CA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 435-5390

    $30 / night

    "Angel Island is a unique backpacking experience, one I'd gladly do again."

    "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!"

    8. Garin Regional Park

    2 Reviews
    Union City, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 327-2757

    $100 / night

    "Dogs are allowed they have picknic area's and a kite area.thete are several different entrances."

    9. SkyWanda Sanctuary

    1 Review
    Woodside, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (408) 859-3889

    $75 - $95 / night

    10. Rob Hill Campground

    4 Reviews
    Sausalito, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 561-5083

    $92 - $140 / night

    "Looked like there was easily room for at least a dozen small tents at each of the sites and nice restrooms accessible via combination punch pad."

    "Pitch tent on wood chips. Level. Fire pits, water. Nice and close, yet feels a ways away. Accessible to many trails."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Belmont, CA

666 Reviews of 41 Belmont Campgrounds


  • Erin S.
    Mar. 16, 2022

    Pantoll Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park

    Tent campground with plenty of hiking trails

    Pantoll is a pretty campground located adjacent to the entrance to Mount Tamalpais.  You can hike to, bike to, take the bus to, or even drive to this campground.  If you choose to drive, just know that it can be impossible to find a place to park on busy weekends (you'll need to drop your stuff off, find a place to park along the road, then come back to park in the evening when the parking lot clears).  We hiked in.  On a weekend night in March, only four of the 16 sites were taken so we had no problem nabbing a spot.  The campground is situated across a steep-ish hillside.  Water spigots are spread out among the sites, but all the bathrooms are located down the hill near the parking lot.  Each site has a fire pit, picnic table, and a flat spot to pitch a tent.  Sites are fairly close together in bunches (for example, 2, 3, and 5 were close, 6 and 7 were close, but there was a bit of space between the groups). Firewood is sold at the ranger kiosk but they have limited hours. Some spots are larger than others, and very few can accommodate a house-size tent (you know what I mean - and no judging, I have a house-size tent for car camping).  We had our 3 person backpacking tent with us and it would have fit in all the sites.  Sites up the hill require a bit of a hike-in but are farther from the road noise and busy parking lot.  There is one dishwashing station near the bottom.  

    Pros: 

    - Location.  You can hike anywhere from this campground.  Down to Muir Woods in less than 3 miles.  Up to Rock Springs, Bolinas Ridge, and Mount Tam.  Down to Stinson Beach.  I could spend a week here exploring all the trails.

    - Amenties.  Dishwashing sink, many water spigots, food storage lockers, fire pits, toilets that flush.  And Wifi from the ranger kiosk (squee!!!) which we appreciated to check the weather and bus schedule (very poor Verizon signal).

    Cons: 

    - Noise from Panoramic Highway.

    - Busy parking lot with lots of people potentially moving around the campground (especially the lower sites). 

    - No reservations: FCFS only.

    Overall I'm really happy I finally got to chance to camp here and would recommend.

  • Rommel C.
    Oct. 31, 2022

    Live Oak Campground — Mount Diablo State Park Campground

    juniper campground - site 15 - end of october

    great campsite! be careful driving up the windy road and watch for the many cyclists. going up/down with you. 

    driving in was very easy; parking is right next to the site. the campsite itself was beautiful - panoramic views of the east bay area. i could recognize walnut creek, lafayette, danville and san ramon through the binoculars. site was clean, but the ground itself was very rocky. irritating that there wasn't really any level spots to set up the tent, so sleeping on a slant was a real treat (sarcasm). weather was very mild during the day; not too hot, nor too cold. nights were bearable in the high 50s, and by late night (cuz i kept waking up because of slanted sleeping), but felt like low 40s and slightly windy. make sure you bring thermals and a warm sleeping bag. sleeping pad is a definite must on the sharp rocks; be careful when stepping around in the tent with just socks on. 

    drought meant that flushing toilets were all locked.. as were the showers.. but from what i heard the "chemical toilets" (aka porta-potties) were an adequate substitute. water access had been shut off as well, so make sure you bring plenty of your own for washing and drinking. 

    critters - we didn't encounter any during our stay. no racoons, bears, mice, rats.. nada. just a ton of pincher bugs everywhere. not even many flies! we had those spinning fly deterrent things, though. maybe those really DO work? 

    ALSO because of the drought - NO WOOD FIRES ALLOWED. total/complete bummer to camp without a campfire. gas stoves and lanterns were permitted, though.

  • MarinMaverick
    Sep. 1, 2020

    Haypress Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area

    Hidden Gem

    Theses are limited  (5) hike in tent sites.  Not far in - less than a mile.  You are on your own here. Bring your own water.  No fires. You get a picnic table and a food storage locker, nothing else.

    Meadow sites against a row of trees. There is very little privacy between sites but the couple times I have been here it was not full.  It can get windy - there is some shelter under the tress. 

    Here you can strike out hiking through Tennessee Valley to the beach and beyond!

    Great for a close get-a-way and seclusion.

  • S
    Nov. 12, 2020

    Live Oak Campground — Mount Diablo State Park Campground

    Juniper Campground: hiked in

    We hiked up to Juniper campground from the Clayton side. The sites in the teens have less overhead shade but more privacy than those of higher numbers. The sites closest to the driving road/entrance/overlook will have the potential to be downwind of the bathroom, unfortunately.

    The campground is a dry campground - as in no alcohol.

    That said, we loved our site #15, and enjoyed the privacy it provided, plus the views (if you stand on the table or are tall). We didn't encounter critters. We had some trouble staking down on the rocky dirt. 

    This is a good campground to explore the rest of the summit areas, plus Rock City.

  • Rhiannon S.
    Jul. 23, 2017

    Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED

    Beautiful Trails Through Towering Redwoods

    This was a long family camp trip in an amazing location. Our campsite was a walk-in, fairly secluded spot partially up a steep hill. There were only a handful of spots on that pathway, so there weren't many neighbors. Camp had a picnic table, fire ring, bear box, & lots of nearby trails & paths for exploring. Toilets with showers, and dishwashing stations were nearby as well.

    The highlight of this campground is the ample opportunity for wandering. There are many trails, easy walks through ancient redwoods, moderate trails to beautiful waterfalls, and tougher trails for dedicated hikers.

    At the lodge area, there's a store, restaurant, and gift shop, plus educational programs, family events, and community campfires. The kids went on a guided hike to become junior rangers, which gave the parents some free time in the afternoon.

    It's an amazing place to be, and we definitely need to spend more time there.

  • Juliana S.
    Sep. 20, 2021

    Castle Rock Trail Camp — Castle Rock State Park

    Pleasant setting with some noise from the shooting range

    I liked the trees, picnic tables, and fire rings at the sites. The sites were spaced nicely to allow for privacy. Frog Flat seemed a bit more secluded than the main camp. There was no water running at the site when I stayed there, but vault toilets were available. There is a nearby shooting range and you can hear the gunshots during the daylight hours.

  • Sara W.
    Aug. 23, 2018

    Coe Ranch Campground — Henry W. Coe State Park

    Easy Scenic Camping close to Bay Area

    Henry Coe State Park is easily accessible from the San Francisco Bay Area for a weekend getaway or short camping trip.

    The Coe Ranch campground has several tent-only campsites that can be reserved online ($8 transaction fee, $20/night), and the campground has parking for vehicles in a small parking area ~20-100 feet from the campsites. Campsites at this campground are aesthetically pleasing, with oak and pine trees around the perimeter of the campground, and there are scenic views of oak woodlands and the valley below. The picnic benches are conveniently located and provide a nice space for eating while camping at the site. Toilets are easily accessed from the campsites. Campfires are allowed in the fire rings only during non-fire season (no campfires during summer months). Dogs are allowed at the Coe Ranch Campground.

    Henry Coe SP has many great hiking opportunities, with beautiful wildflower displays in March and April, and also numerous opportunities for enjoying the beauty of the plants and wildlife seen along the hiking trails which are very accessible from the campground. Near the Coe Ranch campground there is a camp book store, which has some items for sale, including many field guides to wildlife and plants in the park. When the store is open, there is often a ranger available to answer questions about the park.

    My only compliant is that at the site we stayed at (CR005) the ground is quite compacted, so if you do not have an adequately thick sleeping pad, the ground may be uncomfortably hard to sleep on. Normally I have no trouble sleeping on the bare ground at campsites with a thin sleeping pad, so this was surprising. Bringing an extra pad may be a good idea if you are prone to sleep problems when the ground is too hard.

  • Cococounty L.
    Apr. 25, 2020

    Briones Regional Park

    A nice spot!

    A few low spots. Cleared 12' barely with minor scrapes. Good parking and turn around. Lots of opportunities for horse riders in area. Pets on leash.

  • Lori A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 5, 2022

    Glen Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore

    Simple and Basic

    A 5 mile hike from the Bear Valley Trailhead leading to a small campground with 12 sites.  We stayed at #9.  Potable water and vault toilets are available, with each site also having a picnic table, charcoal barbecues and bear boxes.  Wood fires are not permitted.  A stream runs beside the campground and there are hiking trails leading to the sea.


Guide to Belmont

Tent camping near Belmont, California offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the beautiful landscapes of the region. With a variety of campgrounds nearby, you'll find options that cater to different preferences and needs.

Tips for tent camping near Belmont

  • Ben Ries Campground provides a serene setting surrounded by redwoods, making it a perfect spot for those seeking tranquility and natural beauty.
  • Castle Rock Trail Camp requires a hike-in, offering a more adventurous experience while allowing you to enjoy stunning views of the Santa Cruz mountains.
  • Rob Hill Campground is unique as it’s the only overnight campsite in San Francisco, providing a city camping experience with easy access to trails and local attractions.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Coyote Hills Regional Park features clean facilities with drinking water and picnic tables, ensuring a comfortable stay for all campers.
  • Garin Regional Park allows pets and offers various picnic areas, making it a great choice for families looking to enjoy a day outdoors.
  • Towle Campground is well-reviewed for its drinking water access and fire pits, perfect for evening gatherings around the campfire.

Local attractions near Belmont

  • Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve offers a unique opportunity to camp on a volcano, with trails that provide breathtaking views of the surrounding area.
  • Black Mountain Backpacking Camp is ideal for beginner backpackers, with a short hike to the campground and beautiful sunset views.
  • Portola Redwoods State Park Campground allows for a more rustic experience with amenities like picnic tables and fire pits, all while being surrounded by towering redwoods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Belmont, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Belmont, CA is Ben Ries Campground — Butano State Park - CLOSED INDEFINITELY with a 4.8-star rating from 18 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Belmont, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 41 tent camping locations near Belmont, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.