Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Berkeley, CA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Berkeley is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Berkeley. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$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"
"Always went here when we don't wanna drive too far. Staff is great and place is clean. Campsite #69 has the best view but is next to trail. Very nice trails and not super far from town to get food."
$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."
$35 - $225 / night
"This campground is less than an hours drive from San Francisco. It is along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard which takes you through a bunch of very cute tiny towns."
"Beautiful trees and wonderful California charm. The campsites were decently located. Above the Mendocino coast the mornings are wet and Cold. Loved this place"
$99 - $115 / night
"30 mins away from the City. A bit pricy but that is to be expected in SF."
"Great location to the city and Muir woods. Good stores near by. Narrow sites. No room for awning. Close to gather. Sites are gravel and level. Nice area for pets with view."
$7 - $25 / night
"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. "
"Don't let the fact that it's behind a ranger station fool you-- they clock out by 10pm, and if you have an issue after that, good luck."
$25 - $100 / night
"1 to get to the entrance, and then another steep, curvy ride down to the campground."
"The entire Mount Tamalpais watershed is within 30 minutes drive from this location."
$75 - $120 / night
"Tilden is great for anyone looking for a close park right outside of the Berkeley/San Fran area. It is a rather large park area that overlooks Berkeley."
"Tilden offers a lake in the middle to swim in and fish. The campsites have lots of fire pits. The weather is always great too!"
$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"
GuidePantoll would be one of my favorite campgrounds of all time if not for the noise levels. One would think that quiet time would be respected in a backpackers campground, but not here. This is a major party campground, especially in summer. Don't let the fact that it's behind a ranger station fool you-- they clock out by 10pm, and if you have an issue after that, good luck. Last time I camped here the dude on the site next to me would not stop pointing his light into my tent. I was in my 1 person backpacking tent with the rainfly off. So irritating. But the campground itself is so beautiful. It's just a few miles uphill from Muir Woods, and you don't need additional reservations to hike in from the campground. Like Bootjack this is a first come first serve tent only campground. Pantoll is closer to Cardiac Point and more trails. You could hike pretty much anywhere in Mt. Tam from here. No camp hosts but the Rangers are available from about 9-5, some of my favorite rangers outside Yosemite. Wifi is available at the ranger station.
GuideThis is one of my favorite campgrounds I've ever camped at. Bootjack is a tent only, walk in campground. You park your car in the parking lot, and then carry your stuff uphill to your site. The site closest to the bottom is reserved for disabled. Many of the sites feature beautiful historic stone grills. Some of the sites are two levels. Many are next to the creek. It's usually quiet and peaceful. Pantoll Ranger Station is only .4 miles away and there are endless hiking opportunities from there. This campground is first come first serve only. Maximum stay 14 nights per year. The only major downside is there is no camp host. Rangers come through once per morning to power wash the restrooms.
GuideNice clean decent cell service. Lots of birds singing. The views of the lake are very nice. Would stay again
GuideThis place is nice. RV location is basically a gravel parking area pretty close to one another. Sites are level with minimal need for blocks. Staff are friendly. Native garden is very nice. Hiking is nice too especially in winter when everything is green. It’s like a fairy wonderland on the Manzanita trail. Cell phone coverage is good. Have both Verizon and Att with at least 2-3 bars. 10-12 Mbps down 4-5 Mbps up. Wild turkey, deer, wood peckers regularly seen!
GuideThis is an interesting rv park on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It has a ca beach town feel, but is just 20 minutes from San Francisco. Walgreens, Safeway, and a couple coffee shops, local bakery and restaurants all walking distance. Spectacular sunsets over the pacific if the fog permits. Saw a couple whales too. When it’s clear you can see the farralon islands 30 miles offshore. On the downside the “campsites” are close together… it’s more like a parking lot than a campground, but everyone is friendly and the overall vibe is good.
RangerStayed here for a long weekend with friends in Napa Valley.
Location itself is GREAT. 5 mins from everything in town. Had good cell service and park was clean. Was quiet busy during the day as it is also a day use park with lots of activities.
Sites were cramped in tight. $65/night for water and electricity. They have a dog run area that is nice and large! Bath houses were also nice. Good hot showers.
Knocking it down a star for the tight sites and the check in staff were rude almost every time I talked to her. Also lots of little bitty rules of being picky. Overall would stay here again.
LegendI camped here prior to Covid and there was already a lot of peeps camping up and down the streets outside the campground and I know that it has increased in numbers since. Inside the campground it was fine and didn't get hassled at all. Used this spot to attend an event at the Marconi Center and commuted on my bike without issue. Don't know that I would vacation here necessarily but the campground overall had nice showers and worked for what I needed overall a nice place just in a tough neighborhood.
LegendVery nice park for an on the water location, I've been to some where you can't even turn without hitting someone. The area is a bit industrial but quick access to San Fran and the other sites around town. Nice bike trail right on the water
TravelerWe enjoyed our first time camping out here made me fall in love into camping. Felt very safe and secured with rangers on patrol. The public bathroom has roaches that can improve but they have soap and tissue roll inside. Id camp out again in here. No mice in our experience. Peaceful and quiet we went on a Sunday.
Camping near Berkeley, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping around Berkeley, California, has something for everyone, from families to seasoned RVers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Berkeley, CA is Anthony Chabot Regional Park with a 4.6-star rating from 26 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Berkeley, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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