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jacqueline P.
Scout
ScoutPelican Point RV Park
Has hot showers & laundry room! A 5 min walk to the ocean as well. Super peaceful
Tent Camping near Brisbane, CA
3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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The San Francisco Bay area surrounding Brisbane, California provides tent campers with unique urban-adjacent backcountry opportunities at several campgrounds. Tent campsites in this area range from ferry-access primitive sites on Angel Island to walk-in spots overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, making the region one of the more distinctive tent camping destinations in California. Angel Island State Park's Sunrise Campground offers primitive tent camping with unobstructed views of the bay, while the nearby Bicentennial Campground in Golden Gate National Recreation Area provides walk-in tent sites with views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Both locations require advance reservations through their respective reservation systems.
Most tent sites in the area require a short hike from parking areas to reach the campgrounds. At Bicentennial, campers must walk approximately 200 feet down a service road to reach the three tent sites, which have no separation between them. Angel Island's tent sites are accessible only by ferry from Tiburon or San Francisco, requiring campers to hike in with all their gear. Facilities at these campgrounds are minimal, typically including vault toilets or porta-potties, picnic tables, and sometimes drinking water spigots. Food lockers are available at Angel Island, important for securing supplies from wildlife.
Tent camping in this region offers remarkable urban wilderness contrasts, with city views juxtaposed against natural settings. At Angel Island, the three "Ridge" sites provide panoramic vistas from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge with San Francisco and Alcatraz between. Weather conditions can be challenging, with fog, wind, and cold temperatures common, particularly at night. According to one visitor at Angel Island, "Remember there will be fog and there will be wind." At Bicentennial Campground, tent campers should be prepared for the sounds of foghorns from the nearby bridge. Reservations for these popular tent campsites near Brisbane should be made well in advance, especially during peak seasons, as the limited number of sites fill quickly.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Brisbane (38)
1. Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park
"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!"
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
2. Rob Hill Campground
"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."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $105 - $170 / night
3. Steep Ravine Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park
"There is a separate bedroom, you could sleep 2 couples on beds easily with extra floor space and a small individual bunk for larger families."
"And charcoal grills outside each cabin. A couple general use picnic tables scattered about. So those are the basics you can read anywhere."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $100 / night
4. Bicentennial Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
"this is an excellent primitive campground with 3 sites."
"3 sites, very close to each other/nothing separating them. Sites were clean."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 / night
5. Pantoll Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park
"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. "
"All sites are a small walk up on a hill kind of steep. Ranger station at parking lot that sells firewood. Water faucets, bathrooms. No showers. Bear lockers."
Check Availabilityfrom $7 - $25 / night
6. Haypress Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
"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."
"A hike-in campground in Tennessee Valley, a short 20 minute drive from the Golden Gate Bridge and the hustle and bustle of the City. My family of three stayed here for one night in mid March. "
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $75 / night
7. Tilden Regional Park
"Tilden Park is perfect for anyone whose interested in wildlife and hiking in perfect climates. Tilden offers a lake in the middle to swim in and fish. The campsites have lots of fire pits."
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $75 - $120 / night
8. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
"Magical :) I feel at Peace at Such a Beautiful Location. Its a Must see."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $75 / night
9. Half Moon Bay RV Park
"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."
10. Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
"The Sibley backpack camp is a small, primitive hike-in site for a maximum of 15 campers (although this would be super cramped in my opinion, unless it a bunch of small kids), a moderate 0.2 mile walk from"
Check Availabilityfrom $15 / night
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 Tent Camping Photos near Brisbane, CA
57 Photos of 38 Brisbane Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State ParkR
Bicentennial Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation AreaC
Hawk Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Haypress Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
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
SkyWanda Sanctuary
Black Mountain Backpacking Camp
Sunol
Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
Tent Camping Reviews near Brisbane, CA
679 Reviews of 38 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.
GuideDumbarton 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.
- 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.GuideMarin 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.
- C. K.Traveler
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
Your average camp site
It’s quite large compared to to other campsites. It was pleasant and have no complaints. Nothing special but hiking trails are fantastic.
Sidney C.TravelerOlema Campground
Loved it!
Had a late check in after scheduling in the same day, but the staff were so welcoming and helpful over the phone! The campsite is so clean you could walk around barefoot. the scenery is so beautiful with sheep, cattle, mountains and a stream surrounding/on the property. Would definitely recommend
Guide to Brisbane
Tent camping options near Brisbane, California are primarily concentrated along the coastal headlands and East Bay hills, with established sites at Angel Island State Park and Rob Hill Campground within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Most sites require reservations well in advance due to limited availability and high demand, particularly at Angel Island where only 10 tent campsites are scattered around the island with varying views of San Francisco Bay.
The majority of tent campsites near Brisbane feature walk-in access ranging from short 200-foot paths to longer hikes requiring backpacking gear. Sites at Bicentennial Campground include three primitive tent pads with no separation between them and require a short 200-foot hike from the parking area. Angel Island campers must take a ferry from Tiburon or San Francisco and backpack to their sites with all necessary gear. Many campsites have picnic tables and pit toilets or vault toilets, but drinking water availability varies significantly between locations. Wind exposure is a common challenge, particularly at Angel Island's Sunrise Campground where one camper noted they "found the water spigot was not working" and needed to ration their supply.
East Bay Regional Parks offer additional tent camping options at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve and Tilden Regional Park with primitive backpack sites. The Sibley backpack camp accommodates up to 15 campers at two tent pads with picnic tables and a nearby pit toilet, though campers must carry water from the trailhead 0.2 miles away. These sites provide excellent views of Mount Diablo and surrounding parklands. Sites within the Marin Headlands area like Hawk Campground offer coastal tent camping with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Ocean. According to one visitor, the sites are "spread enough apart that no one was too close" with fire pits and picnic tables available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Brisbane, CA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Brisbane, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Brisbane, CA is Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 10 reviews.
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Brisbane, CA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Brisbane, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 38 tent camping locations near Brisbane, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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