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Best Tent Camping near Diablo, CA

612 Reviews

The area surrounding Mount Diablo in California's East Bay offers several tent camping options within regional parks and preserves. Juniper Campground in Mount Diablo State Park provides tent campsites with basic amenities, while Morgan Territory Regional Preserve offers a more primitive backcountry experience for tent campers. Additional tent-only camping can be found at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve and Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, both managed by East Bay Regional Park District.

Tent sites at Juniper Campground include picnic tables, fire pits, and food storage boxes to protect supplies from wildlife. Most tent campgrounds in the region require reservations, with many sites available through the Reserve America system or by calling the East Bay Regional Park District directly. Water availability varies significantly between locations - Juniper Campground has drinking water access, while the backcountry sites at Morgan Territory and Las Trampas may require campers to bring their own supply. Temperatures can be extreme in summer months, particularly at Mount Diablo's exposed campsites where limited shade exists.

The tent camping experience near Diablo offers diverse terrain and views. Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve provides tent campers with panoramic vistas of Mount Diablo, Vollmer Peak and Tilden Park from its primitive hike-in campsite. Many tent-only areas require a short walk from parking areas, creating a more secluded experience than vehicle-accessible campgrounds. At Morgan Territory, tent campers enjoy a true backcountry feel despite being relatively close to urban areas. As one visitor noted, "Feels very off grid. Camp experience was smooth and the sun was shining." At Mount Diablo, campers should prepare for temperature extremes, as a camper described the summer conditions as "insanely hot" with temperatures reaching 104°F.

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Best Tent Sites Near Diablo, California (38)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Diablo, CA

65 Photos of 38 Diablo Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Diablo, CA

612 Reviews of 38 Diablo Campgrounds

  • Erin S.
    Mar. 16, 2022

    Pantoll Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park

    Tent campground with plenty of hiking trails

    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.  If you choose to drive, just know that it can be impossible to find a place to park on busy weekends (you'll need to drop your stuff off, find a place to park along the road, then come back to park in the evening when the parking lot clears).  We hiked in.  On a weekend night in March, only four of the 16 sites were taken so we had no problem nabbing a spot.  The campground is situated across a steep-ish hillside.  Water spigots are spread out among the sites, but all the bathrooms are located down the hill near the parking lot.  Each site has a fire pit, picnic table, and a flat spot to pitch a tent.  Sites are fairly close together in bunches (for example, 2, 3, and 5 were close, 6 and 7 were close, but there was a bit of space between the groups). Firewood is sold at the ranger kiosk but they have limited hours. Some spots are larger than others, and very few can accommodate a house-size tent (you know what I mean - and no judging, I have a house-size tent for car camping).  We had our 3 person backpacking tent with us and it would have fit in all the sites.  Sites up the hill require a bit of a hike-in but are farther from the road noise and busy parking lot.  There is one dishwashing station near the bottom.  

    Pros: 

    - Location.  You can hike anywhere from this campground.  Down to Muir Woods in less than 3 miles.  Up to Rock Springs, Bolinas Ridge, and Mount Tam.  Down to Stinson Beach.  I could spend a week here exploring all the trails.

    - Amenties.  Dishwashing sink, many water spigots, food storage lockers, fire pits, toilets that flush.  And Wifi from the ranger kiosk (squee!!!) which we appreciated to check the weather and bus schedule (very poor Verizon signal).

    Cons: 

    - Noise from Panoramic Highway.

    - Busy parking lot with lots of people potentially moving around the campground (especially the lower sites). 

    - No reservations: FCFS only.

    Overall I'm really happy I finally got to chance to camp here and would recommend.

  • Rommel C.
    Oct. 31, 2022

    Live Oak Campground — Mount Diablo State Park Campground

    juniper campground - site 15 - end of october

    great campsite! be careful driving up the windy road and watch for the many cyclists. going up/down with you. 

    driving in was very easy; parking is right next to the site. the campsite itself was beautiful - panoramic views of the east bay area. i could recognize walnut creek, lafayette, danville and san ramon through the binoculars. site was clean, but the ground itself was very rocky. irritating that there wasn't really any level spots to set up the tent, so sleeping on a slant was a real treat (sarcasm). weather was very mild during the day; not too hot, nor too cold. nights were bearable in the high 50s, and by late night (cuz i kept waking up because of slanted sleeping), but felt like low 40s and slightly windy. make sure you bring thermals and a warm sleeping bag. sleeping pad is a definite must on the sharp rocks; be careful when stepping around in the tent with just socks on. 

    drought meant that flushing toilets were all locked.. as were the showers.. but from what i heard the "chemical toilets" (aka porta-potties) were an adequate substitute. water access had been shut off as well, so make sure you bring plenty of your own for washing and drinking. 

    critters - we didn't encounter any during our stay. no racoons, bears, mice, rats.. nada. just a ton of pincher bugs everywhere. not even many flies! we had those spinning fly deterrent things, though. maybe those really DO work? 

    ALSO because of the drought - NO WOOD FIRES ALLOWED. total/complete bummer to camp without a campfire. gas stoves and lanterns were permitted, though.

  • MarinMaverick
    Sep. 1, 2020

    Haypress Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area

    Hidden Gem

    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. You get a picnic table and a food storage locker, nothing else.

    Meadow sites against a row of trees. There is very little privacy between sites but the couple times I have been here it was not full.  It can get windy - there is some shelter under the tress. 

    Here you can strike out hiking through Tennessee Valley to the beach and beyond!

    Great for a close get-a-way and seclusion.

  • S
    Nov. 12, 2020

    Live Oak Campground — Mount Diablo State Park Campground

    Juniper Campground: hiked in

    We hiked up to Juniper campground from the Clayton side. The sites in the teens have less overhead shade but more privacy than those of higher numbers. The sites closest to the driving road/entrance/overlook will have the potential to be downwind of the bathroom, unfortunately.

    The campground is a dry campground - as in no alcohol.

    That said, we loved our site #15, and enjoyed the privacy it provided, plus the views (if you stand on the table or are tall). We didn't encounter critters. We had some trouble staking down on the rocky dirt. 

    This is a good campground to explore the rest of the summit areas, plus Rock City.

  • Rhiannon S.
    Jul. 23, 2017

    Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED

    Beautiful Trails Through Towering Redwoods

    This was a long family camp trip in an amazing location. Our campsite was a walk-in, fairly secluded spot partially up a steep hill. There were only a handful of spots on that pathway, so there weren't many neighbors. Camp had a picnic table, fire ring, bear box, & lots of nearby trails & paths for exploring. Toilets with showers, and dishwashing stations were nearby as well.

    The highlight of this campground is the ample opportunity for wandering. There are many trails, easy walks through ancient redwoods, moderate trails to beautiful waterfalls, and tougher trails for dedicated hikers.

    At the lodge area, there's a store, restaurant, and gift shop, plus educational programs, family events, and community campfires. The kids went on a guided hike to become junior rangers, which gave the parents some free time in the afternoon.

    It's an amazing place to be, and we definitely need to spend more time there.

  • Juliana S.
    Sep. 20, 2021

    Castle Rock Trail Camp — Castle Rock State Park

    Pleasant setting with some noise from the shooting range

    I liked the trees, picnic tables, and fire rings at the sites. The sites were spaced nicely to allow for privacy. Frog Flat seemed a bit more secluded than the main camp. There was no water running at the site when I stayed there, but vault toilets were available. There is a nearby shooting range and you can hear the gunshots during the daylight hours.

  • Larry W.
    Aug. 28, 2020

    Sugar Barge RV Resort & Marina

    Quiet, NO other tenters!

    We (party of 4) were there primarily because we rented a boat from their Marina. That went well! This is an RV campground & full-complement resort on Bethel Island, San Joaquin River Delta. Many RVers appear to be long-term or full-time residents.

    The tent-area was a clearing, fully backed up to the levee, with some shade and a water spigot. Appears to be only 4 “sites,” which are defined by picnic tables, GENEROUSLY spaced, no fire rings AND the Delta is h.o.t.! It’s also on the far edge of the property, so car traffic was MINIMUM — and NO generators were heard, even though the RV section is huge!!!

    The rest rooms were in the Marina building, a short walk. We would DEFINITELY return for boating and tenting!!!

  • Cococounty L.
    Apr. 25, 2020

    Briones Regional Park

    A nice spot!

    A few low spots. Cleared 12' barely with minor scrapes. Good parking and turn around. Lots of opportunities for horse riders in area. Pets on leash.

  • Lori A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 5, 2022

    Glen Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore

    Simple and Basic

    A 5 mile hike from the Bear Valley Trailhead leading to a small campground with 12 sites.  We stayed at #9.  Potable water and vault toilets are available, with each site also having a picnic table, charcoal barbecues and bear boxes.  Wood fires are not permitted.  A stream runs beside the campground and there are hiking trails leading to the sea.

Guide to Diablo

Tent camping near Diablo, California offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a variety of outdoor activities. With several well-reviewed campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to set up your tent and explore the beautiful surroundings.

Tips for tent camping near Diablo

  • Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve features a primitive hike-in site with stunning 360-degree views, perfect for those looking to escape the city while enjoying a unique volcanic landscape.
  • Tilden Regional Park provides ample hiking trails and family-friendly activities, making it a great choice for campers who want to combine relaxation with adventure.
  • Morgan Territory Regional Preserve offers a backcountry experience that feels off-grid, ideal for those seeking solitude and a true connection with nature.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • At Coyote Hills Regional Park, you can enjoy scenic walking paths and wildlife viewing, making it a popular spot for nature enthusiasts.
  • Briones Regional Park is perfect for hiking and horseback riding, providing diverse trails that cater to various skill levels.
  • Las Trampas Regional Wilderness offers challenging hikes with breathtaking views, ideal for those looking to push their limits while enjoying the great outdoors.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Garin Regional Park allows pets and features picnic areas, making it a family-friendly option for those traveling with furry companions.
  • Redwood Regional Park is known for its beautiful redwood trees and well-maintained facilities, providing a serene environment for campers.
  • Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve welcomes pets and offers a unique historical experience, perfect for those interested in exploring the area's mining history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Diablo, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Diablo, CA is Juniper Campground — Mount Diablo State Park with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Diablo, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 38 tent camping locations near Diablo, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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