T T.
Guide
GuideH. Dana Bower Rest Area Northbound
Rest Stop
This is more of a rest, stop in a camp area and there’s signs all over that say do not leave valuables exposed in vehicle. Amazing dude perfect time to be here for a airshow
Camping near Brisbane, CA
144 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Camping options around Brisbane, California concentrate in urban-adjacent locations with ocean proximity. The closest designated sites include San Francisco RV Resort in Pacifica, which sits on a coastal bluff with Pacific views, and Candlestick RV Park in San Francisco. These facilities primarily serve RV campers, though some accept tents. Several developed campgrounds exist within a 30-mile radius, including Mount Tamalpais State Park's Steep Ravine Campground with rustic cabins, and Anthony Chabot Regional Park with both tent and RV sites.
Most campgrounds in this region remain open year-round due to the mild coastal climate, though seasonal factors affect the camping experience. "This 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," noted one visitor about San Francisco RV Resort. Campground density increases during summer months and holiday weekends, particularly at oceanfront locations. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend stays between April and October. Many campgrounds have minimum stay requirements during peak periods. Urban proximity means cell coverage is generally reliable, though amenities and spacing between sites vary considerably between facilities.
The oceanfront setting represents the primary draw for campers in this region. Sites near the water typically command premium rates but offer direct coastal access and views. Several visitors highlighted the tradeoff between scenic locations and site spacing. One camper observed, "Spots are tight. Staff is great! Laundry, hot tub, pool are always clean. Right on the ocean (on a cliff)!" Campground reviews consistently mention urban convenience as a significant factor, with public transportation or rideshare services providing access to San Francisco attractions. For those seeking more natural surroundings, the campgrounds in Mount Tamalpais State Park offer a stronger wilderness experience while remaining within reasonable driving distance of Brisbane. Wildlife viewing opportunities include occasional whale sightings from coastal campgrounds.
Best Campgrounds near Brisbane (144)
1. Anthony Chabot Regional Park
"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"
"Midweek in June the park, which is fairly large, is still nearly empty."
from $25 - $200 / night
Check Availability2. San Francisco RV Resort
"There’s a dog park close by if you want to go get down to the sandy beaches within walking distance great hookups water pressure is a little high."
"If you want a great little place with quick easy access to San Francisco that has a great view of the ocean this place is great! And affordable!"
3. Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground
"We rarely make reservations to camp in California Beach Parks, as they are usually filled up weeks or even months in advance."
"Beautiful beach walking distance from campground. 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."
from $35 - $165 / night
Check Availability4. H. Dana Bower Rest Area Northbound
"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."
5. Kirby Cove Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
"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"
from $40 - $75 / night
Check Availability6. Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park
"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. "
from $30 / night
Check Availability7. Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
"What they do have are scores of hookup sites for $60 / night and three tent / drive-in no hookup water-only sites for $45 / night."
"Since it's a new campground, the trees are young and don't supply much shade, but since it's close to the SF Bay, the bay breeze helps."
from $45 - $65 / night
Check Availability8. Candlestick RV Park
"Or Muni which takes about double the time including walk to the station. Great WiFi. It's a parking lot with close neighbors. Nice and clean facilities."
9. Rob Hill Campground
"Stumbled across this campground by accident a few weeks ago as we were hiking around The Presidio. It was quite the hidden gem set amidst a stunning cypress and eucalyptus grove."
"Accessible to many trails."
from $105 - $170 / night
Check Availability10. Steep Ravine Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park
"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."
from $25 - $100 / night
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Drive Time
- 19 min from San Francisco, CA
- 49 min from Vallejo, CA
- 59 min from San Jose, CA
- 1 hr 4 min from Napa, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Brisbane, CA
205 Photos of 144 Brisbane Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park
Kirby Cove Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Anthony Chabot Regional Park
Bicentennial Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation AreaC
Hawk Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Haypress Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground
Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Alice Eastwood Group Camp — Mount Tamalpais State Park
Steep Ravine Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park
Pantoll Campground — Mount Tamalpais State ParkS
Bootjack Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park
Recent Reviews near Brisbane, CA
815 Reviews of 144 Brisbane Campgrounds
C. K.
TravelerSan Mateo Memorial Park
Redwood canopy
Around this time of year, park is practically empty during weekdays. Nice and quiet and peaceful place where you can slow things down
- T T.Guide
Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Great safe place in sourh east bay
Great location with spaces in safe SE bay area location and reasonable prices New development small young trees limited natural shade
Tom T.
ScoutDumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Open sky great starlink users.
Very quiet campground at night. See stars clearly. Use the fire pit after 730pm when the wind has calmed down.
KrystleScoutMineral Springs Trailhead
Overnight stays not allowed
I was woken up by law enforcement and asked to leave on my second night staying here. They will issue a citation (luckily they took mine away and gave me a warning) this needs to be removed as a dispersed site.
Dawn S.GuideSan Francisco RV Resort
Great for visiting the City
There are many spot. It's a parking lot and the spots are very snug. The edge by the ocean lost a few.
Staff is kind, helpful and responsive. Area is clean and very peaceful. It's a bit pricey. Our standard spot was $150.
- TTwindaddyGuide
Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
East Bay Parks - IYKYK
Like most/all east bay parks, this is well appointed for the masses. It’s also surrounded by rolling hills and close to suburbia. For many, these are positives. As an east bay resident they are for me as well. Del Valle is a bit more removed than many east bay parks. From my location in Fremont, it’s a one hour drive. A pleasant drive for the most part. I camp to get away for a bit and almost always to mountain bike. As such, I seek parks that have trails. Del Valle has a map of many trails. They also appear on many of the mapping services used by mountain bikers. Review those and digest them if this is also your intention - these are east bay parka style trails. In other words, mostly steep and loose fire roads, with many “social trails” sprinkled between. If you are compelled to stay legit/legal trails, bring an ebike. Now on to the camping. I picked a spot as far removed from any booked spot on the map. I triple checked this up until the day before I arrived. I want solitude! When I arrived Thursday afternoon, I was surprised to see the sites just 3 spaces away, on both sides, occupied. This is a fairly compact area. And while I’m sure they’re lovely folks, this isn’t what I expected on a Thursday. Saturday? Sure. Anyway… be aware that these reservation services aren’t completely reliable in that regard. The bathrooms and showers are amazing! Clean, smell good, cared for. Noteworthy is the hot showers in the camp grounds are free and your one push of the button provides water for two minutes I'd guess. Very nice! The space, 135 for me, is okay. A couple trees for shade, a nice table and fire pit. It’s now dark and the noise is minimal - mostly from the group campsite just down the hill. I’ll update this with more details in the coming days since it’s a 4 day visit.
Update 1: it’s my first morning here. Using starlink as there is no cell signal to be found. What I noticed last night was that this park is directly below the flight path to the local airports. Every couple minutes last night, a plane would fly overhead. According to flight aware, they’re at about 10,000 feet. If this will ruin your getaway, you’ve been warned.
Update 2: On Friday night, the majority of the spots were filled. Many large groups of people with varying degrees of consideration, but to their credit almost all (except the barking German Shepard) were quiet by 10PM. It was a bit more crowded come Saturday morning. Some friends came to visit for a mountain bike ride, and we set off at about noon. I had been complimentary of the facilities and bragged that I'd be taking a nice shower after our ride. Unfortunately, upon our return, there was no hot water and no lighting in the showers. And, sadly, someone decided to remove the tags and hangers from their TJ Maxx haul and leave them all over the floor of two of the showers.
Verdict: I'd only come back here in the springtime when it's likely to be green and have some water in the arroyo and only during the week. The density and composition of the people here was akin to being at Costco on a Saturday, and I only did that once.
- C. K.Traveler
San Mateo Memorial Park
Under the Redwoods
Nothing like camping under the redwoods with sounds of streams nearby. Restrooms and facilities are clean and well maintained. Park Rangers are extremely nice and helpful.
- Dawn S.Guide
Marin RV Park
Great to see the City
We came in around 9pm. There's a board with names and site numbers on the office building. These are snug spots but we have enough room to put the slide out. It is a level gravel parking lot. There's not alot of places in San Fran to even day park. This is just fine. They do fill up fast. Called the next day to extend through Sat, they are booked solid.
Dog walk is through the gate at the back of the lot where abandoned railroad tracks are. There's a pond with some ducks and a walking path.
Guide to Brisbane
Brisbane, California provides access to a range of camping experiences within short driving distance of San Francisco Bay. Anthony Chabot Regional Park offers established campgrounds with tent and RV sites approximately 20 miles east, while San Francisco RV Resort in nearby Pacifica provides oceanfront RV camping. The camping landscape also includes several state parks and recreation areas like Mount Tamalpais State Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, providing options ranging from primitive tent sites to fully developed RV hookups and even cabin rentals at some locations.
Campground access throughout the Brisbane area varies significantly based on reservation requirements and proximity to urban areas. Most established campgrounds require advance booking, particularly during summer months when occupancy rates peak. "This RV Park is exactly what one would expect in a city environment. It is essentially a parking lot on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea," noted one camper about San Francisco RV Resort. Urban-adjacent camping often means tighter spacing between sites and higher pricing compared to more remote options. Weather remains moderate year-round with typical coastal fog and mild temperatures, though winter brings increased rainfall. Cell coverage is generally strong throughout the region due to proximity to urban infrastructure, but some state park campgrounds have limited connectivity in canyon areas.
Visitors consistently mention ocean views and city proximity as key benefits when staying at campgrounds near Brisbane. Steep Ravine Campground in Mount Tamalpais State Park receives high ratings for its scenic coastal setting, while campers note that Rob Hill Campground provides rare camping opportunities within San Francisco city limits. Several reviews highlight the trade-offs of urban camping, with many mentioning that sites are typically closer together than in more remote locations. A visitor commented that "if the purpose of your visit is to explore San Francisco this is a great spot from which to base yourself." Campground amenities vary widely, with some offering full hookups, showers, and laundry facilities while others provide only basic toilets and picnic tables. Most campgrounds in the region remain open year-round, reflecting the moderate climate conditions of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Brisbane, CA?
What camping is available near Brisbane, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Brisbane, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 144 campgrounds and RV parks near Brisbane, CA and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Brisbane, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Brisbane, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Brisbane, CA is Anthony Chabot Regional Park with a 4.6-star rating from 29 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Brisbane, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Brisbane, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Brisbane, CA.
What parks are near Brisbane, CA?
What parks are near Brisbane, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Brisbane, CA that allow camping, notably Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore.
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