Daly City, CA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Daly City is surrounded by family-friendly activities. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Daly City, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
$35 - $165 / night
"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."
"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!"
"Very nice park for an on the water location, I've been to some where you can't even turn without hitting someone."
$40 - $75 / night
"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"
"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."
$25 - $200 / night
"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."
$30 / night
"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. "
$25 - $100 / night
"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."
$25 / night
"All three sites here are next to each other and have no seperation, but if you’re okay with that it’s a wonderful place to camp Site 3 is closest to the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the trails connected"
"It has great hiking nearby and an incredible view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city, and is a short drive into the city. you definitely want to reserve a space well in advance, especially during peak"
$7 - $25 / night
"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. "
"Don't let the fact that it's behind a ranger station fool you-- they clock out by 10pm, and if you have an issue after that, good luck."
$35 - $225 / night
"This campground is less than an hours drive from San Francisco. It is along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard which takes you through a bunch of very cute tiny towns."
"Beautiful trees and wonderful California charm. The campsites were decently located. Above the Mendocino coast the mornings are wet and Cold. Loved this place"
ScoutI planned to stay here just one night and stayed like 4. Great spot, I loved downtown Petaluma and enjoyed the safe feeling and convenience of this location. Great amenities for children too.
GuideOn visiting San Francisco we were looking for a site that wasn’t a car park. This really met the mark! Beautiful place with great sites. Nice picnic tables & fire pits! Was very quiet
GuideReally lovely RV site. Nice toilets & showers. Lovely shady spots and really close to Santa Cruz
GuideI just needed/wanted a short getaway without driving hours from home. Since I'm used to this place for mountain biking, I figured I'd try camping here for a couple nights.
I did a recon ride previously on my mountain bike, so knew which spots I'd prefer and booked site 35 for a Thursday and Friday night.
Arrived at about 5PM and found my spot. The ranger booth was closed, but I didn't feel the need to chat with them anyway. The place was largely unoccupied at this point. Maybe a dozen or so spots appeared taken.
The weather, though hot in the Bay Area at this point, was quite nice. The breeze and shade of the park made for a very comfortable setting. I believe it was 88 in Castro Valley, but felt about 78 at the campground. I don't have AC for the van, but didn't feel I needed any.
I got setup and then headed out for a short ride, followed by a warm shower, cold beer and dinner. It was quiet that evening and I slept well.
I worked through the morning Friday, though the Starlink suffered some interruptions due to the tree cover. Early afternoon more people started to show up, as I expected. I went for a long ride and when I returned the place was much more occupied and people were setting up tents, starting their bbq's, etc. Though a bit close to the neighbors, none of them were obnoxious.
My advice would be to know the spot you're selecting and know that in the summer months the grass isn't green :)
I'd score the individual aspects as follows (1-5):
Bathrooms: 4
Location: 5
Activities: 5
Privacy: 3
Cleanliness: 4
TravelerLovely large meadow with scattered trees. RC/van spots are arranged in cul de sacs, tent spots on the edges of fields.
Somewhat noisy - kids, dogs, radios - but settled down by 9. Friendly vibe. Expensive at $83/nt but good showers. Wifi was slow when I stayed.
Decent backup option for the area if Samuel Taylor is booked.
ScoutVery quiet and comfortable campground
GuideThe camp host went above and beyond! Happily told us things to do with our kids and how close places were. Santa Cruz is only 10 miles away. The campground is all natural! Trees and nature all around. Viewing areas that allow all to enjoy the stream, at the back of the resort, and paths to take a closer look. A safe and quiet location. I felt safe, with my young kids, that everyone was driving slowly and respecting the rules.
TravelerLovely site in redwoods. Sites are close, but have some privacy. Stream is accessible shallow. Beautiful trees.
TravelerRead up on the Ca State park website. Campground was scheduled to reopen 8/1/25 not yet. -
Camping near Daly City, California, offers a great escape into nature without straying too far from the city. With beautiful parks and campgrounds nearby, you can enjoy the outdoors while still being close to urban conveniences.
Daly City camping offers a mix of beautiful nature and family-friendly activities, making it a great choice for your next outdoor adventure!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds near Daly City?
The best campgrounds near Daly City include Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground, which offers oceanfront camping just 20 miles south along the coast. For a forest experience, San Mateo Memorial Park provides excellent redwood camping with clean facilities and serves as a great basecamp for exploring hiking trails. Both locations require reservations, especially during peak seasons. Other good options within an hour's drive include Anthony Chabot Regional Park to the east and Point Reyes National Seashore to the north, offering diverse coastal and woodland camping experiences.
How far is Daly City from Napa Valley camping areas?
Daly City is approximately 60-65 miles from Napa Valley camping areas, with the drive typically taking 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic conditions. Skyline Wilderness Park is one of the closest camping options just outside downtown Napa, offering separate areas for tents and RVs. The park provides basic amenities and serves as a good base for wine country exploration. For those willing to travel slightly farther, San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA offers a more developed camping experience on the way to Napa. Consider booking well in advance during peak wine country season (May-October).
What tent camping options are available near Daly City?
Tent campers near Daly City have several excellent options. Sanborn County Park offers a walk-in tent camping experience with convenient carts for hauling gear, storage boxes at each site, and nice bathroom facilities. Castle Rock Trail Camp provides a more secluded backcountry experience along the scenic Skyline area. For families, Anthony Chabot Regional Park has designated tent areas with sites close to restrooms and water. Most tent campgrounds in the region require reservations, especially during summer and weekends, and typically provide picnic tables, fire rings, and access to hiking trails.
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