Best Tent Camping near Dixon, CA

Tent campsites surrounding Dixon, California offer a mix of lakeside and foothill camping experiences, with several options within an hour's drive. Lake Berryessa, located approximately 30 miles west of Dixon, provides multiple tent camping opportunities at established campgrounds including Steele Canyon (formerly Lupine Shores) and Putah Canyon. These sites offer tent-specific camping areas with varying levels of amenities and scenic views of the water.

Most primitive tent setups in the region require campers to bring their own water, as drinking water is limited at many locations. Toilet facilities vary considerably, with Steele Canyon offering clean portable toilets while other areas like Putah Canyon provide more permanent facilities. The terrain typically features a mix of dirt and gravel pads with moderate leveling. According to one visitor at Steele Canyon, "Got a beautiful spot secluded from everyone. I loved it! Just me and nature." Fire restrictions are common, particularly during summer months when fire danger is high, and several campgrounds near Dixon enforce seasonal fire bans.

Backcountry tent camping experiences in the region offer varying levels of solitude depending on the season and location. Sites at Lake Berryessa can become crowded during summer weekends when boaters and day visitors are numerous. A recent review noted that "it's dry camping at this time (no fires, no water, no hookups) and fire scars all around the lake." Walk-in tent sites are available at Rancho Seco Recreation Area, approximately 40 miles east of Dixon, where campers can find tent-specific sites near the water. Juniper Campground at Mount Diablo State Park, while farther away, offers a more traditional tent camping experience with picnic tables and fire pits. Weather conditions vary dramatically by season, with summer temperatures frequently exceeding 100 degrees at lower elevations, making spring and fall ideal for tent camping excursions.

Best Tent Sites Near Dixon, California (14)

    1. Steele Canyon (formerly Lupine Shores)

    6 Reviews
    Yountville, CA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 966-9192

    $5 - $55 / night

    "It got really cold at night (32 degrees), but my fault for not checking the weather. Beautiful views. Nice landscape. Spacious sites. There was no one else in the cluster of 6 spots that I stayed at."

    "Our favorite spot to take the kids to the lake. If your looking for something calm this is the spot at Lake Berryessa."

    2. Delta Bay RV Resort

    2 Reviews
    Rio Vista, CA
    25 miles
    +1 (916) 777-5588

    3. Manzanita Canyon - Lake Berryessa - USBR

    2 Reviews
    Witter Springs, CA
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 966-9088

    $5 - $37 / night

    "There’s a pretty awesome cliff jump nearby as well. Dogs are allowed. The lake is a very popular day use area as well. Does get very hot make sure you bring your bathing suit."

    4. Rancho Seco Recreation Area

    15 Reviews
    Herald, CA
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 748-2318

    "About 50 tent only sites, some just feet from the lake. RV sites are farther from the lake on mostly level gravel pads with picnic table, fire rings, and a trash can at each site."

    "I pitched a tent in site 43 right next to the lake. Excellent place."

    5. Putah Canyon - Lake Berryessa USBR

    2 Reviews
    Witter Springs, CA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 966-9051

    "Loads of space, security driving around, noise limit is 10pm. Toilets are clean and trash cans are provided. They sell ice and propane on-site ."

    "Lake Berryessa is a large lake that has many turnouts to fish or even stop for a quick stretching of the legs , even saw a few turnouts with picnic tables and clean bathrooms."

    6. Briones Regional Park

    1 Review
    Pleasant Hill, CA
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 327-2757

    $75 - $200 / night

    "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."

    7. Juniper Campground — Mount Diablo State Park

    2 Reviews
    Diablo, CA
    39 miles

    $30 / night

    "We didn’t have a reservation, but got 1 upon arrival around 2pm. Our site had nearby bathrooms, showers & trash. It included picnic table, fire pit, food storage boxes, & is very spacious."

    8. Tilden Regional Park

    4 Reviews
    Kensington, CA
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 327-2757

    $75 - $120 / night

    "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."

    9. Lower Hunting Creek Campground

    1 Review
    Rumsey, CA
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 468-4000

    10. Morgan Territory Regional Preserve

    1 Review
    Brentwood, CA
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 327-2757
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Tent Camping Reviews near Dixon, CA

406 Reviews of 14 Dixon Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Rosina A.
    Jun. 1, 2022

    Beals Point Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

    Folsom Lake Penninsula

    Beautiful sunsets. No showers. Bathrooms are clean. Some sites are rather small and have little flat ground. Pics on website are tough to see when booking. Lake to most sites is a drive, but there are a few campsites on the lake. Many sites are on hill, you walk up the hill or down a hill with stairs. Lake has day use area, but also a dock area for camping folks. Lots of mosquitoes. They have a fire are to cook, no fire ring, have a bear box and picnic table. Some sites have plenty of shade while others are just plain sun so be prepared.

    Water is nice temperature and super clean! Nice to kayak, paddle, boat (they have boat ramps), fish, swim. Beach areas are rocks with weeds, but pretty.

  • 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.

  • Scott R.
    Dec. 23, 2020

    Spring Lake Regional Park

    Nice local spot

    In the Bay Area there aren’t too many place that you be in a city and feel like you are away. Spring Lake has been that for us. We have been here for 2 weekends in the last few months. It is kid friendly, fun easy hike around the lake (no swimming but you can rent or bring your own kayaks or stand-up paddle boards), great location to way more technical hikes into and around Trione-Annabel State Park. We did a very tough hike in almost 100 degree weather up to Lake Ilsanjo and the cold plunge into that lake was exactly what was needed. On another trip we brought a new family with us, rented one of the bigger spots and helped them get their bearings on camping.

    It is very forgiving here and close to everything in case you didn’t pack enough food or propane or fire starter. The camp host is amazing. The bathrooms are clean with free cold showers or quarters for hot showers. They have fire pits at every location, firewood to buy on site, it is very kid friendly with a fun loop for the kids to bike or scooter around plus easy access to the lake. Highly recommend this and I can’t wait to try a few other sites in the Sonoma Regional area.

    Not a place if you want dispersed camping or a lot of privacy.

    Neighbors were all polite and good about quiet times.

  • B
    Jun. 3, 2025

    Juniper Campground — Mount Diablo State Park

    Beautiful sunset!

    Had a great 1 night stay at Juniper! We didn’t have a reservation, but got 1 upon arrival around 2pm. Our site had nearby bathrooms, showers & trash. It included picnic table, fire pit, food storage boxes, & is very spacious.

    The weather in May was really nice imo. Not too cold at night with layers, & starts warming up quick in the morning. Bugs weren’t too bad. Heard coyotes howling night and day which was neat. No raccoons. Saw some lizards.

    Just a heads up the drive is windy, I got carsick on the way down. Will be returning & hopefully trying some hikes next time!

  • DEREK B.
    Jul. 31, 2015

    Live Oak Campground — Mount Diablo State Park Campground

    Mt. Diablo State Park

    Getting there: Super easy, look for the tallest mountain in the area, drive towards it, boom you're there. It was expensive to enter the park... I think around $10 per vehicle, someone correct me if i'm wrong.

    Campsites: The campsites are a decent size and fairly spaced out. All the campsites provide a old broken down picnic table, a bear box, a grill, and a fire pit. There are shared restrooms with plumbing to use.

    The Park: Awesome. Big. Crowded. No dogs allowed.

    What to do: Hike Diablo there are TONS of trails. Go rock climbing or bouldering in Rock City. Drive, hike to the top and check out the observation deck.

    *will add my pics later.

  • B
    May. 23, 2025

    Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground

    Sweet camping trip!

    Staff at the visitor center/store were friendly. Sugarloaf had lots of sites to choose from. We had many neighbors (mostly RVs) but enough space between sites. Can’t blame the campsite for the guy who brought a tv & played it out loud lol. It was quiet by 10pm.

    The weather was nice mid-April. Good amount of shade. Flat ground for tent. Picnic table, fire pit, bear box, nearby bathrooms & dumpsters.

    The flying bugs / mosquitoes were out so come prepared. Only left with 1-2 bites = victory! We walked the “Nature Trail” through the campground & when we tried to sit they would swarm. But it was a nice short easy walk, where we saw a rabbit, turkeys, lizards, deer, & quails! Seems they have lots of hikes available. Had a great time!


Guide to Dixon

Tent campsites near Dixon, California typically experience summer temperatures that frequently exceed 100°F, making spring and fall the most comfortable seasons for camping. The region sits at relatively low elevations between 100-500 feet above sea level, with the exception of the Mount Diablo area which reaches heights of nearly 3,900 feet. Water availability varies dramatically by campground, with many sites requiring campers to bring their own supplies.

What to do

Paddleboarding and kayaking: At Steele Canyon (formerly Lupine Shores), the lake offers calm waters perfect for paddlesports. A camper notes, "I came to check out the more calm waters in the canyon for my paddleboard. The site was great layout and I had a really enjoyable time out on the water. Other boaters where very respectful of the no wake zones."

Fishing opportunities: Delta Bay RV Resort provides access to excellent fishing spots. According to a visitor, "Spent the night at my usual fishing spot and had a great time. Staff is friendly and food is good." The Delta waterways contain multiple fish species and provide year-round fishing opportunities.

Hiking trails: Morgan Territory Regional Preserve offers secluded hiking with minimal crowds. A camper describes it as feeling "very off grid. Camp experience was smooth and the sun was shining." The preserve contains over 30 miles of trails through oak woodlands and grasslands.

What campers like

Lake access: Rancho Seco Recreation Area offers tent sites directly adjacent to water. According to a reviewer, "I pitched a tent in site 43 right next to the lake. Excellent place." The campground provides direct lake access from many of its sites.

Privacy between sites: Many visitors value the seclusion available at certain campgrounds. As one camper at Putah Canyon noted, "Loads of space, security driving around, noise limit is 10pm. Toilets are clean and trash cans are provided. They sell ice and propane on-site."

Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms and facilities matter to campers in this region. A visitor to Rancho Seco Recreation Area shared, "This is a wonderful spot to stay for a few days in the off season. We stayed in February. Summers would be very hot and I imagine the area would be packed with day use folks. 12 miles from I-5 out in the country. Very quiet."

What you should know

Extreme heat concerns: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, especially at lower elevations. One camper at Juniper Campground warned, "Insanely hot in the summer, I would recommend not going in July like we did. It was 104° or something and I was just drenching my clothes in water to stay cool."

Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are common at many campgrounds around Dixon. A Juniper Campground visitor advised, "They have food lockers, not bear lockers, and ours was broken one time so have a solid backup plan, the raccoons are very intelligent and they come out at night so be prepared for that."

Wind exposure: Some tent campsites experience significant wind, particularly those on elevated terrain. At Steele Canyon, a camper observed, "The campsites on the bluff of the hill can get windy so be prepared for that."

Tips for camping with families

Family-friendly water activities: Manzanita Canyon offers swimming and water recreation options. A camper shares, "Nice crystal clear water. There's a pretty awesome cliff jump nearby as well. Dogs are allowed. The lake is a very popular day use area as well."

Kid-friendly facilities: Several campgrounds have features specifically designed for families with children. At Rancho Seco Recreation Area, a visitor noted, "Enjoyed camping here several times as a family and with a group. Beautiful lake to canoe/kayak about. Sites along lake are best."

Quiet locations for families: Some locations specifically appeal to families seeking calm environments. A camper at Steele Canyon mentioned, "Our favorite spot to take the kids to the lake. If your looking for something calm this is the spot at Lake Berryessa."

Tips from RVers

Site selection for tent campers: At Lake Berryessa, certain tent sites offer more privacy than others. A camper at Steele Canyon advised, "Look in the 50's & 80's for the more secluded campsites." Site selection can significantly impact camping experience.

Water management: Most tent sites near Dixon require campers to bring additional water supplies. A visitor to Steele Canyon noted, "it's dry camping at this time (no fires, no water, no hookups) and fire scars all around the lake...looks like this entire area got hit a few years ago. Bring extra H2O."

Bathroom facilities: Tent campers should note the varying quality of bathroom facilities. A Steele Canyon visitor mentioned, "My spot did not have running water, but it did have Porta potties that were extremely clean."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dixon, CA is Steele Canyon (formerly Lupine Shores) with a 4.3-star rating from 6 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Dixon, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.