Best Campgrounds near Occidental, CA
The coastal region surrounding Occidental, California features a diverse range of camping environments within a short drive. State parks and county facilities dominate the landscape, with Sonoma Coast State Park offering multiple campgrounds including Bodega Dunes and Wright's Beach, both providing beach access and coastal views. Inland options include Casini Ranch Family Campground along the Russian River near Duncans Mills, which accommodates tents, RVs, and offers cabin rentals. The area's campgrounds span from basic sites with minimal amenities to fully-developed facilities with hookups, showers, and camp stores. Most locations within 20 miles of Occidental provide fire rings and picnic tables, with varying levels of privacy between sites.
Reservations are essential for most established campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when coastal sites fill months in advance. The region's microclimate creates distinct camping conditions, with coastal areas experiencing cool, foggy mornings even during summer months. As one camper noted of Westside Regional Park, "Just know the weather, even in the summer, is generally cool and foggy mornings are the norm." Highway 1 provides the main access route to coastal campgrounds, with winding roads that can be challenging for larger RVs. Cell service varies significantly throughout the area, with stronger signals near Bodega Bay and more limited coverage in forested areas inland. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours from 10 PM to 6 AM and have specific regulations regarding pets.
Campers frequently highlight the dramatic landscape transitions as a defining feature of the region. At Salt Point State Park, visitors appreciate how quickly the environment changes: "Not too many other areas that you can be deep into a wooded forest type area, then pop out on the cliffs overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean." Beach access ranks highly in visitor reviews, with Bodega Dunes receiving praise for its proximity to "several roadside dog-friendly beaches within minutes." Site privacy varies considerably between campgrounds and even within the same facility. Coastal campgrounds tend to have more exposed sites with limited shade, while inland options like Schoolhouse Canyon Campground offer more tree cover. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the area, from seabirds and marine mammals along the coast to deer and small mammals in wooded campgrounds.
