Camping spots near Boonville, California cluster along the Navarro River and surrounding redwood forests, with many positioned at elevations between 200-500 feet. The area experiences a coastal-influenced microclimate with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during the day and dropping to 45-55°F at night. Cell service between campgrounds can vary dramatically with Verizon typically offering the most reliable coverage in this remote region.
What to do
River swimming spots: 1 mile hike from campground. Gualala Point Regional Park provides access to the Gualala River with swimming areas that require a bit of walking. A camper shared: "There is a trail from the campground to the park and beach area which is nice for a stroll. The campground is amongst the trees along the river."
Mushroom photography: Best in late winter. Hendy Woods State Park Campground offers exceptional mushroom viewing opportunities during the wetter months. "I always come to Hendy Woods with my camera, especially in the late winter, early spring to do some mushroom photography. So much to see here! Oh and not to mention the beautiful river about a 10 min walk from the campground," explains one visitor.
Whale watching: Visible from coastal sites. At Mackerricher State Park Campground, campers can view whale migration from their sites. "This campground delivers a stay next to the beautiful coastal waters which allows the camper to view whale migration, sea lions swimming and a quick visit to glass beach and the adjacent lighthouse."
Beach exploration: Varied shoreline 30-45 minutes west. Manchester State Park offers beach access with remarkable driftwood collections. "The campground is just above the driftwood beach offering walks in solitude with the breaking waves in the background."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Trees create natural barriers. In Paul M. Demmick Campground, the redwood setting offers seclusion. "We stayed in #21 and had plenty of privacy. There's a path down to the river near the Day Use area; the river was pretty tame, which is surprising for a campground that routinely floods in the wintertime."
River access: Shallow areas good for children. Gualala River Redwood Park offers family-friendly water access. "The river is great for kids it is not fast moving currents. Sites have water and electric and there is a dump station on the way out."
Campground amenities: Shared outdoor kitchens. Manchester Beach / Mendocino Coast KOA provides unexpected cooking facilities. "This KOA has large tent sites and a HUGE kitchen with 3 electric stoves and several sinks and microwaves for camper use. They have movies each night and have lots of trees for shade."
Winter solitude: Off-season camping provides peace. Anchor Bay Campground offers discounted rates in winter months. "Great and friendly host. The campground is packed but we got a nice private area. Nice accessible beach at end of area. Winter discount made it even nicer."
What you should know
Raccoon activity: Food storage required. Gualala Point Regional Park has wildlife issues visitors should prepare for. "This campground lives up to all the other positive comments BUT the raccoons were extremely aggressive and even ate its way into a tent at 2AM. It would have been nice if the host had warned of them when he visited."
Shower costs: Token systems common. At Mackerricher State Park, budget for shower fees. "Showers require tokens. This seems pretty standard in California State Parks but it's successful at deterring us from showering every night. One token gives 4 minutes of showering. Each token is $1."
Site reservations: First-come sites fill by afternoon. Manchester State Park operates without reservations. "Plenty of sites to pick from on a Tuesday in June, about 5% occupancy. I would recommend the sites in the high 30's as they are more secluded."
Seasonal closures: Check before traveling off-season. Paul M. Demmick Campground has specific operating months. "They were closed!" reported one disappointed camper who arrived in September, as the campground "Closes sept 2 until May."
Tips for camping with families
Campground activities: Scheduled programs available. Hendy Woods State Park offers structured activities. "The junior ranger program and nightly events for families helped keep the kids engaged in the camping experience. Park rangers hosted guided hikes, nighttime stargazing (with telescopes), and nightly campfires."
Kid-friendly swimming: Check water levels in late summer. Anchor Bay Campground provides protected beach access. "A small campground with beach access, hot coin operated showers and clean restrooms. A quick trail takes you to the small town drag of a grocery store, coffee shop, laundry mat and two restaurants."
Biking opportunities: Bring bikes for campground exploration. Manchester State Park has open spaces for cycling. "Mostly open sites, all were fairly secluded. Big spaces, clean area and ocean sounds abound. Kids loved it to ride their bikes around and I stressed less knowing there were few, if any, cars passing by."
Poison oak awareness: Teach identification to children. At Hendy Woods, vegetation can cause issues. "There's quite a bit of poison oak, be aware of where you are walking. When we visited in late summer the river near the daily access area was somewhat dried up (flowing like a small creek) and had very little shade."
Tips from RVers
Hookup information: Partial services standard. Thousand Trails Russian River offers limited hookups. "Spaces are all 30 amp with no sewer hookups. Many spaces are very narrow/tight and uphill from your neighbor. The asphalt of many spots is crumbling along the edges and the dirt eroding away."
Site leveling: Uneven terrain common. Gualala River Redwood Park requires preparation for sloped sites. "Numerous dips and slopes made leveling difficult. Electric hookups and water spigots were at odd locations, and if you plan to use these, have long hoses/cables."
Internet connectivity: Hotspot options limited. Manchester Beach KOA has inconsistent WiFi. "The WiFi is super spotty and we honestly couldn't join it. The pool is nice and heated, they do have a spa but it was closed because of Covid. Staff was super nice too."
Road conditions: Challenging access for large vehicles. Gualala River Redwood Park has tight turns. "While not a campground-specific issue, the winding, narrow, bumpy roads were very uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing. We camped in a 30' class-C with a small toad."
