Looking for an adventure where you can explore Clearlake and then fall asleep in your tent? The Dyrt is an easy way to find tent camping spots near Clearlake. You're sure to find the perfect tent campsite for your California camping adventure.
Pine Grove is a majestic forest retreat of timeless natural beauty, blessed with abundant mountain spring water. In this oasis, bordered by spring fed year-round Kelsey Creek and overlooked by Cobb Mountain, you will discover a vast and personal connection with the natural world in any season. We invite you for a workshop, personal retreat, family reunion or just the day. Serene year-round cabins, all with inviting redwood decks overlooking Kelsey Creek, and camping give many options for your stay.
$40 - $210 / night
Closed for the 2023 season to repair storm damage. State Forest staff will be focused on repairing winter storm damage to roads and facilities throughout the State Forests in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.
Day use will continue to be permitted from sunrise to sunset.
This campground winds along beautiful Cole Creek. Cole Creek campground offers 26 well shaded campsites and 2 Hike and Bike sites. Each site has a fire ring, a table, and a food storage box. Nearby restroom facilities offer pay showers and flushable toilets.
$30 / night
$48 / night
Austin Creek State Recreation Area is currently under a complete closure at this time and will remain so until further notice.
There have been major impacts to the unit due to the 2020 Walbridge Fire. Due to significant hazards there is NO ACCESS ALLOWED by foot, bike, vehicle or any other means in Austin Creek SRA. If unauthorized vehicles and or people are found in Austin Creek SRA they will be subject to contact and citation. We need this time for clearing hazards and debris so that we can get Austin Creek SRA open at some point down the road. Thank you for your patience.
Bullfrog Pond Campground offers Twenty-three campsites. Campsites #1 through #8 (minus #4 our camp host site) are first-come, first-served campsites. Campsites #9 through #24 are on reservations through Hipcamp. Reserve a campsite by visiting www.hipcamp.com Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring. There are two sets of bathrooms each with a flush toilet and sink. Unfortunately there are no shower facilities available.
Bullfrog Pond does not offer any group camping. The nearest State Park that offers group camping can be found at Salt Point State Park. None of the campsites at Bullfrog Pond will accommodate vehicles over 20 feet in length. We do not offer any hike and bike sites (reduced fees). The campground is subject to seasonal closure due to extreme weather or conditions. The pond itself almost always goes dry by mid-summer and when there IS water in the pond there may be mosquitos in the area. Ticks are also prevalent in the area so bring a good bug/tick repellant.
In warmer weather it is advisable to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes as they are in the area. If you would like a first-come first-served campsite you will need to register with staff at the Armstrong kiosk. If staff is not available at the kiosk, you can self-register at the entrance to Bullfrog Pond. Official check-in time is 2 o'clock pm. Pay the $35.00 camping fee and any extra vehicle fees ($8.00/vehicle) prior to occupying a campsite. Max occupancy per campsite is 8 people. You are allowed to bring two vehicles, but we do not guarantee both vehicles will fit on your parking spur. If any of your vehicles don't fit on your designated parking spur, please take it up to overflow parking area at Vista Point parking lot. Please ensure the day use parking areas are free from camper vehicles.
Please note that the campground is likely to go into a fire ban in the summer and autumn season. We will keep you up to date.
When available, a camp host will be occupying the camp host spot at campsite #4. Remember that quiet hours begin at 10 o'clock pm and noise significantly carries to other campsites in the campground. We are always looking for a good camp host. If interested check in with staff at the entrance station.
Camp fires, BBQ's, candles, tiki torches, etc. will be prohibited during periods of extreme fire danger. During fire bans, propane camp stoves may be used for cooking.
Dogs are permitted in your paid for campsite, picnic areas and on paved roads ONLY. Dogs are not allowed on dirt roads or on any trails. Dogs must remain leashed at all times.
Bicycles are allowed on paved roads and fire roads. Bicycles are not allowed on any trails.
Old train Caboose for rent. New queen bamboo bed, hot plate, cold refrigerator. Outdoor hot shower and claw tub. Sweet deck open space. Star studded sky. Artesian well water, drink from the spigot and bring bottles to take some home. Glen Eden hiking trail abuts the land. Camp in a quiet field across the dry creek bed. We have 3 dogs that roam hills, will do our best to keep them away most of the time. Have rooster who does crow up the sun. We are 15 minutes to Safeway in Lakeport, 20 minutes to north side Ukiah and 10 minutes to Upper Lake. We are 2 miles from the pristine Blue Lakes, day pass there for swimming and boating rentals. Also Clear Lake State Park is not far and they also offer swimming and boating. Disney boat rentals will deliver craft to Clearlake for you. My personal favorite is Highland Springs Reservoir about 20 minute drive on country roads, and pass the small aircraft airport and restaurant. Boating, swimming, hiking and BBQ available at Highland Springs.. We are not ADA. Cell phone and wifi won't work in this canyon. Climb the hill maybe. We are not fancy, we are unique. Come for bird watching, the quiet and the stars. We have some coupons for wine tasting from a few of the nearby vineyards We offer a farm stand with fresh eggs and vegetables in season daily. Highland Springs Reservoir offers swimming, BBQ and Disk Golf, all free. Lakeport has a drive in theater, google Lakeport auto movies drive in. New Rule: if you are inviting guests they must be pre approved. PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY AND NOT RAISE DUST IN OUR NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY TO OUR PROPERTY. We also have two big private campsites and one long term area.
Please read reviews here: https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/dashboard/land/34844/listings
$39 - $175 / night
Traveler
One of my favorite places to camp! The tent camp sites are kind of small, but very close to the beach. Beautiful sunsets. Campground is near bodega bay and shops. Fishing is allow but it’s pretty shallow. Rangers frequent the campground. Clean bathrooms and showers.
Legend
This is a haven for RV's and some sites are clearly meant for them. They can be sparse and open and right next to each other. But I am a tent camper so I look for those that have trees and coverage to get a sense of privacy. The virtue of Casini's is that it has some of the best direct access to the Russian River. That can be for fishing. canoeing, kayaking, or swimming - you name it. And if you pick your site right you have a great tent camping site.
ALso they have some great group tent sites if you want to go with friends.
With the store there if you forgot anything you are good.
Traveler
In the coastal town of Bodega Bay California is a state/regional beach called Doran Beach. It is a beautiful place to go for a day trip or for overnight camping trips. Doran's campground is right on the beach with the bay on both sides of the road. There are several areas for RV's and also for tent camping. (This review is for the tent camping.)
As with many sites in California there is a parking lot to park cars in and you walk in to the sites. There are restrooms, water and drinking fountains.
The sites themselves have tables, campfire pits and a lockable wooden storage box. There is a bird sanctuary nearby which is great for birdwatching.
The sunrise and sunsets are the most beautiful times of day and the beaches have emptied out. There is nothing like sleeping to the sound of rolling waves.
The only downside to this as a tent camping spot is the incredible wind that blasts in from the ocean.
I love this campground.
Guide
Wasn't very private, but is good for tent camping in a safe family environment.
Guide
Brought my trailer her for the first time as an adult after many times tent camping at nearby Gerstle Cove as a child. Had a FANTASTIC time. Woodside campground is BY FAR the more beautiful of the two Salt Point campgrounds. Plenty of flat parking pads for rv campers, yet sites are thickly wooded and appropriately spaced to have an awesome tent camping experience as well. Take note that many of the nearby beaches have dangerous rip currents and aren’t exactly great for swimming or water play.
Traveler
Tent camp here every year. It's small but great for families! Has a creek and many hiking trails!
Traveler
Not much privacy for tent camping. Fog horn goes continuously. Good hwy 1 access. Affordable. Walking distance to awesome beach.
Legend
Ashley here with The Dyrt. We're happy to welcome this property to our platform. This property is offering 2 lodging options, a Caboose & Tent camping under the Walnut trees. Check them out and come back here to leave them some love.
Guide
Always windy. Great scenery, and many of the tent sites are tucked away in little nooks and crannies for privacy if you don’t want the more open outer ring sites.
ScoutVery large, clean, well maintained campground. Sites range from tent camping to RV water and electric only to full hookups. It's centrally located halfway between Gurneville and Bodega Bay. Great place as a base for days at the beach, hiking at Armstrong Woods, or fishing.
GuideNice little campground right on the beach. Nice long beach that's great for walking, surfing (if there's swell), and just relaxing in general. Tends to have a bit of a breeze at night with not a whole lot of natural protection for tent camping in my experience.
TravelerI tent camped here on a September weeknight. The campground is very spacious on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Very few other campers so I had plenty of options for sites. It was cool, sunny, and no wind-perfect weather! Stunning views all around, with a trailhead to Stillwater Cove. Very quiet and relaxing stay here!
Scout
Nice state park north of Napa, the few car tent sites are nicely situated near a creek. Good space between sites. Easy and fun camping.
Yurts and cabins available. Close to road so a little noisy. Great for a less expensive stay. Saves money for wine tastings...
GuideClose to the ocean at Jenner. Campground is next to the Russian River. Family activities and games for kids (playground, volleyball). Some shaded site, a mix of sunny locations and partial shade. Full RV hook ups and tent sites. River access for swimming & boating. No sandy beach.
Legend
Small campground in the redwoods along the river. Connects to the estuary and then you are at the ocean. Path to the beach takes yo under the highway. Also hiking across the road is a park with a small visitor center.
County park so it is well maintained and frankly I have never seen it packed. Even when not camping there I always stop at the picnic area for a hike to the ocean and a secluded beach.
There are wlak in tent sites. You park, unlaod and then move your care. The photos are of theses sites. If you go and do not get a tent site, try to get a site along the river.
Sites are both drive in and some are walk in. No RV hook ups but I see them there ( I am always with a tent) Coin showers are a plus.
The downside is you do hear the car noise from the road but there is little traffic at night.
You can launch a kayak or canoe onto the river from the campgrounds.
Guide
We’ve been travel trailer camping twice to this campground and love it! Beautiful, large sites under the redwoods and along the Gualala River. The campground offers partial hook-ups with a dump service for a fee (dump station on site as well). There is a little camp store for basic camping / RV needs as well as bathrooms, showers, and laundry. The camp is great for RV and tent camping. We’ll definitely be returning many more times.
ScoutWhile driving through Sonoma Valley, I found this hidden campground that was one of the most amazing campgrounds that I have stayed at. I was tent camping and easily found the perfect spot. Until this trip, I had never seen a banana slug which was HUGE! I stayed for just one night while continuing on my way up to the Redwoods. The hills were covering in the yellowing grass of the summer and combined with the tranquility of the rolling hills, I experienced one of the most calming sunsets of my life. Not far from this campground is the Jack London Historical State Park, which i highly recommend going to see. Overall, this was a fun little hidden gem in California.
GuideTent camped here several times before I got my trailer. Fantastically close to many great wineries, and minutes from Calistoga. The park has a great swimming pool that my kids enjoyed, and I heard there was a fun hike to the mill located elsewhere in the park. Heads up for RV campers- the park is hilly, and some of the parking spots aren’t flat, so make sure you check sites like campsitephotos first to make sure you get a spot that works for you.
Guide
Fuller grove was a nice little campground on Lake Pillsbury (our rented minivan just weathered the dirt road in from the 101). It’s a small loop with great options for multi-tent camping. Some of the sites far from the entrance and along the water are very nice with multiple pads and tables. The campground beach is beautiful, definitely recommend some late-night stargazing. There’s only outhouses in decent condition. We were there with only a few other campers, so it was a peaceful stay.
Guide
This KOA is pretty big with plenty of options for RV sites. Wide variety of full hook-ups or partial hook-ups. Like most (if not all) KOAs, you can also tent camp or tent cabins. Good size dog park for the pets to run and be free, as well as plenty of fun activities to entertain the kiddos. For us, this is a great spot to shoot down the highway and pull in for a few days to get away from the hustle and bustle of normal life! Close to downtown Petaluma with plenty of premium shops and restaurants.
ScoutThere are only a handful of tent only sites, most of which are secluded by trees. We have gone twice and enjoyed it. The group site is large and open. Beach access is very easy, especially with kids. The beach is wide, flat and great for families. The first Saturday of the month the rangers do a tide pool talk. They bring sea creatures (like sea stars, sea slugs etc) to share and let the kids hold them.
One thing to be prepared for is the wind. The tent sites are VERY windy, especially at night.
GuideBeautiful spot to go camping. First time here, tent camped in a halfdome 2+. Second day was so windy one of the poles bent! Saw several tents mangaled and in the trash.
Know how to anchor your tent! Lots of RV's. Quiet at night.
Trails to the beach, and at low tide there was so much sea life for my son and I to explore.
We saw 1 shower building with 4 showers, $2.50 in quarters.
Boat launch for med to small boats. Fish cleaning station.
We came Fathers day weekend, didn't have problem getting a site late in the day. $35 cash $40 credit card price for tent with 1 vehicle. The store has a good selection. Firewood is light weight, but a big bundle is Cash only $9.
I'd go back.
Guide
We went during a month that only Self contained RVs were allowed. So we had two sites that were normally tent sites for our one camper. It was a lot of space and pretty quiet since the campers were spaced out. Bathrooms were all tied together so they couldn’t be used. Most of the sites are just a couple min walk to the beach front. Lake was warm and clear. Not a lot of upkeep, so there were some real janky stairs and stuff that I wouldn’t walk on. But the proximity to the lake makes up for it
LegendThis regional park campground ensures less competition for a site than state parks and is well worth it. Surrounded by thick redwoods, trails run off every campsite. Close proximity to neighboring sites, but numbers are so limited right now due to covid there were only two other parties staying here the night we stopped. Spacious coin operated showers, dark restrooms with flushing toilets, the highlight for us was definitely the sense of being submerged in nature while really only a short shoot off the main road. Curious raccoons come close at night and there are some very cool tent sites to walk out to.
ScoutWe got a same day reservation, thankfully, because it was impossible to reserve anywhere in the area. We just wanted to car camp overnight to test drive our gear before a longer road trip. We got placed into site 6, which happened to be a handicapped accessible spot. It was level (perfect for our needs) had a fire pit, two picnic tables, and water source, and handicapped accessible (larger) porta-potty right at our site. Very convenient.
Overall the campground was nice, clean, and well maintained. Lots of portapotties available around the campsite. Plus, the site offers a location with flush toilets, and pay-for-showers if wanted. Most of the campsites were pretty close together, with no trees or shrubs to give privacy. Those who tent camped had more options for more private settings.
Good for families.
Legend
This site is all about location. You are right on Bodega Bay. But that also means the wind is fierce. So while I have tent camped here it not something I would do again unless there were no other choices. The sites have tables and fire rings but they are really meant for trailers & RVS. We were there in the fall and when it started raining our tent was soon in a puddle!
But the location is great for fishing or kayaking in the Bay or access to hiking at Bodega Head. Also remember to see if the Bodega Marine Lab is open for a tour. Very few days and times open but if you hit it right it is worth a visit. The other great thing about location is that you can walk down to where the fishing boats come in and get a fresh catch for dinner.
Nothing fancy here but it can work.
Guide
The good: The private beach is great for kids (and adults). Easy swimming without a strong current. Lots of shallows but a deep swimming hole are for adults too. The camp store is cute and there’s a brewery next door if you want a meal out. There are several playgrounds which are fun for kids. And an arcade.
The bad: super expensive and the actual sites aren’t great. We camped in our van in the rv area and it’s really just a big parking lot right by the highway. I think the tent sites are a bit better.
Other info: there are cabins and camper vans to rent so could be a good place to go with friends or family who aren’t campers and want a nice river day but again it’s $$$.
Clearlake, California, offers a variety of tent camping options that allow you to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the beautiful surroundings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Clearlake, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Clearlake, CA is Pine Grove Cobb Resort with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 37 tent camping locations near Clearlake, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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