Top Tent Camping near Fairfax, CA
Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Fairfax? Find the best tent camping sites near Fairfax. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Fairfax's most popular destinations.
Best Tent Sites Near Fairfax, CA (37)
1.
Steep Ravine Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park
Stinson Beach, California15 Reviews60 Photos477 SavesS Rav Camp Area (sites E1-E7)
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
$100 / night
2.
Pantoll Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park
Stinson Beach, California13 Reviews62 Photos324 SavesLocated half way up Mount Tamalpais' forested southern slopes, Pantoll Campground is one of two first-come, first-served walk-in campgrounds within Mount Tamalpais State Park (Bootjack being the other). With 16 historic campsites lying beneath a quiet Douglas fir forest, time spent next to the campfire here will quickly expunge thoughts of the big city that lies just a few miles to the south.
The campground has an assortment of sites that are distributed on the hill that extends from the Pantoll Day Use Area; sites located further uphill offer greater privacy and more room. All 16 sites are within a short, 100-yard walk from the car park. Each comes equipped with campfire pits and historic, stone-built campfire grills to accommodate all of your cooking and warming needs. Since advance reservations cannot be made for Pantoll, arriver earlier on weekend days to ensure you’ll have a site. You’ll likely have the campground to yourself if you are there mid-week.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
$7 - $25 / night
3.
Sky Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore, California13 Reviews48 Photos183 Saves- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Trash
- Picnic Table
4.
Glen Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore, California10 Reviews30 Photos69 Saves- Reservable
- Tents
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
$30 / night
5.
Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park
Tiburon, California9 Reviews21 Photos257 SavesIn the middle of San Francisco Bay sits Angel Island State Park, offering spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, the Marin Headlands and Mount Tamalpais. The island is also alive with history. Three thousand years ago the island was a fishing and hunting site for Coastal Miwok Indians. It was later a haven for Spanish explorer Juan de Ayala, a cattle ranch, and a U.S. Army post. From 1910 to 1940, the island processed thousands of immigrants. During World War II, Japanese and German POWs were held on the island, which was also used as a jumping-off point for American soldiers returning from the Pacific. In the '50s and '60s, the island was home to a Nike missile base. Today, there are two active Coast Guard stations - at Point Blunt and Point Stuart - on the island. Angel Island became a State Park in 1958.
CAMPSITES
11 environmental, including an ADA site (each site accommodating up to 8 people) and a kayak-accessible site (holds up to 20 people).
For more information contact the rangers office: 415-435-5390
Please check in with the park staff upon arrival on the island.
Be prepared to carry and/or transport your equipment up to 2.5 miles. Some sections are uphill, total elevation gain may be over 300 feet. Tables, food-lockers, running water, pit-toilets, and a barbecue are located at each site.
Bring charcoal or a stove as no wood fires are allowed. Raccoons are active making food-locker storage very important. Travel on the island after sunset is prohibited in some areas for park security and public safety.
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
- Market
$30 / night
6.
Coast Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore, California9 Reviews25 Photos336 SavesOne- to six-person sites: 12 Seven- to 25-person sites: 2
Coast Campground is nestled within a small coastal valley with easy access to the beach and tidepools. The beach is within 220 yards of the campground and tidepools are located ~720 yards to the southeast. One may access Coast Campground by foot, bicycle, or horse; not by boat, auto, or RV. The shortest approach on solid ground is via the 1.8-mile slightly uphill hike on the Laguna and Fire Lane Trails, starting at the Laguna Trailhead just east of the hostel. There are 12 regular sites and two group sites.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$30 - $90 / night
7.
Bicentennial Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Sausalito, California7 Reviews19 Photos278 SavesOverview
Bicentennial Campground is in an ideal location in the Marin Headlands surrounded by a grove of cypress trees. The campground is a great location for those wanting to camp near the city. There is a moderate short hill to climb to/from the campground from the parking area, which means car or RV camping is not allowed. It is downhill to the site and uphill back to the parking area.__
Recreation
The Marin Headlands is noted for its great hiking, and many trails with scenic views are close by. Rodeo Beach is about 1.5 miles away. Point Bonita Lighthouse and the historic Nike Site are within walking distance.
Facilities
The Marin Headlands is noted for its great hiking, and many trails with scenic views are close by. Rodeo Beach is about 1.5 miles away. Point Bonita Lighthouse and the historic Nike Site are within walking distance.
Natural Features
The campground is secluded amongst a cypress tree grove and offers great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and city of San Francisco.
contact_info
For facility specific information, please call (415) 331-1540.
Nearby Attractions
Bicentennial Campground is a short walk from the Point Bonita Lighthouse and the Nike Missile Site. Also close by are some of the many 20th century coastal defense gun batteries and the city of San Francisco.
Charges & Cancellations
Refer to Recreation.gov policy on changes and cancellations.__To initiate a refund request more than 7 days after your reservation, call the recreation.gov call center at 877-444-6777.
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Cabins
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Tent Cabin
$25 / night
8.
Haypress Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Muir Beach, California5 Reviews16 Photos71 SavesOverview
Haypress Campground is nestled within the coastal scrub of Tennessee Valley, near Mill Valley. The hike to this campground is 0.7 miles from the Tennessee Valley Trail head parking lot, which means car or RV camping is not allowed. Typical Haypress campers enjoy hiking to Tennessee Cove, where they can admire the dramatic geology and colorful sand of this unique beach.__
Recreation
Tennessee Valley and the Marin Headlands are noted for great hiking, and trails are often populated with hikers regardless of the time of the year. Consider hiking to Tennessee Beach (2 miles), Muir Beach (3.5 miles), historic Battery Townsley (3.5 miles), or Rodeo Beach (4 miles). Contact the Marin Headlands Rangers at (415)-331-1540 to inquire about a ranger-led program or guided hike during your stay.
Facilities
Tennessee Valley and the Marin Headlands are noted for great hiking, and trails are often populated with hikers regardless of the time of the year. Consider hiking to Tennessee Beach (2 miles), Muir Beach (3.5 miles), historic Battery Townsley (3.5 miles), or Rodeo Beach (4 miles). Contact the Marin Headlands Rangers at (415)-331-1540 to inquire about a ranger-led program or guided hike during your stay.
Natural Features
Haypress Campground spans over a large grassy swath that is lined by eucalyptus trees. California quails frequent the area, and raptors are often soaring overhead. Deer, coyotes, foxes, and bobcats share this open space. The geology that underlies Tennessee Valley is unique and world-renowned; for example, outcrops of radiolarian ribbon chert that line the trails are frequently admired by visitors from near and far.__ Temperatures are mild year-round. Expect lows from 50-55 degrees and highs from 60-65. Fog is prevalent in the summer months from May-Sept. It is best to bring clothing that can be layered. Lightweight summer clothes are rarely comfortable to wear at Haypress Campground.
Nearby Attractions
The San Francisco Bay Area has no shortage of fun and interesting things to do and see. The 150-year-old Point Bonita Lighthouse (a secret jewel of the Bay Area) and the historic Cold War era Nike Missile Site are just a 20-minute drive away from the Tennessee Valley trailhead parking lot. Awe-inspiring Muir Woods National Monument, with its old-growth coastal redwood forest and numerous hiking trails, is a 25-minute drive. Mount Tamalpais State Park, with hiking and sweeping views of the Bay Area, is another 10 minutes past Muir Woods.__ Within the Marin Headlands, consider visiting the historic Battery Townsley, the Point Bonita Lighthouse, or Nike Missile Site SF-88.
Charges & Cancellations
Group Site Cancellations and Modifications The Haypress Campground Group Site must be cancelled or modified more than 14 days before your check-in date otherwise it will be considered a late cancellation.______ Refer to Recreation.gov's Rules & Reservation Policies. To initiate a refund request more than 7 days after your reservation, call the recreation.gov call center at 877-444-6777.
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Toilets
- Alcohol
$25 / night
9.
Alice Eastwood Group Camp — Mount Tamalpais State Park
Muir Woods, California4 Reviews5 Photos68 SavesAlice Eastwood Group Camps
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
$110 - $225 / night
10.
Tomales Bay Boat-In Camping — Point Reyes National Seashore
Marshall, California6 Reviews13 Photos124 SavesJust 50 miles north of San Francisco, on the Point Reyes National Seashore peninsula, Tomales Bay State Park straddles the notorious San Andreas Fault. Here, the Pacific Ocean has filled the gap to form Tomales Bay, which is surrounded by a landscape of rolling hills, mixed forests, sprawling meadows and lush wetlands. Unique to the area are granitic rock formations that originated 300 miles to the southeast, transported to this location by more than 10 millions years of movement along the fault. In more recent history, the area was home to the Coast Miwok for more than 8,000 years. These native peoples hunted, fished and farmed these coastal areas until Europeans arrived and claimed the land in the late 16th century. In 1952, before the peninsula was completely taken over by agricultural interests, the state established a 2,000-acre park to preserve the area’s diverse flora and fauna, and ensure public access to the bay’s many pristine beaches.
Tomales Bay State Park is a day-use area only, and overnight camping is not permitted. The main recreation area is located at the north end of the park, on the west side of Tomales Bay, at Heart’s Desire. Here you’ll find picnic areas with barbecues, scenic viewpoints, nature trails, and access to several beaches. There aren’t any launch facilities, but kayaks and SUPs can be put into the bay from the beaches. A short hiking trail leads to the Jepson Memorial Grove of rare Bishop pines. Near the south end of the park, Shell Beach features a nice swim area, but is only accessible via a short trail from the small parking area, or by hiking the Johnstone Trail from the Heart’s Desire area. On the east side of the bay, a small public area at Millerton Point features a small beach and a scenic, barrier-free trail. Dogs are not permitted on any of the park’s beaches or trails. Park entrance is $8/vehicle, and the park is closed when the parking lots are full. Camping can be found south of the Point Reyes area, near Olema.
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Drinking Water
Showing results 1-10 of 37 campgrounds
Recent Tent Reviews In Fairfax
624 Reviews of 37 Fairfax Campgrounds
Anthony Chabot Regional Park
Great time inconvenienced by yellow jackets
We love to camp here for barbecuing, mountain biking and hiking. We always do it during 7/4 holidays except for this year when the park canceled our reservation due to high heat. So we booked for the Labor Day weekend. Temperature was perfect and biking and hiking were enjoyable as usual. This year we had two new types of visitors to the the site. A couple of wild turkeys came to pick up the dropped food on the ground. We were able to take a closeup look at them and they were beautiful birds with big eyes spotting tiny bits of crumbs. They come and go from one site to the next quietly and gently. Very cute and we took pictures with their presence. Then came the aggressive yellow jackets. We never had yellow jackets in our previous 7/4 outings here. Oh boy, they fought for the meat relentlessly. At the end of the outing, both my finger and my wife’s were stung. We reported the experience to the attendant at the gate when leaving. She said the park is looking for a solution. In the meantime, she suggested contacting them early on so they might be able to provide another site. Hopefully, next year, we won’t encounter so many nasties.
La Bohemia
Amazing Place
Full Disclosure: I know the owner of the property and stayed at La Bohemia for free.
Nevertheless, this is an amazing spot. The owner and his young daughter have done an amazing job restoring the forest and making a special place over the past few years. It is a great getaway from everything. No sign of any building insight.
I must admit, my favorite part was watching football on the large outdoor screen and eating BBQ by the campfire. It was an amazing experience in an amazing place.
Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Beautiful
This rv site was awesome.It's quiet beautiful, lush green. Be aware tho. It's full of poison oak!!!! But yiu can get around it.
There are no hook ups. But the sights are mostly shaded, so it was a great help and I did not go in a hot time of the year. They have good hours for use of generators as well We Brought our electric bikes and rode to the geyser in Calistoga and to multiple wineries It was a great way to travel
Olema Campground
Great getaway spot
Ok, I was originally hoping for a cabin, which is included in my search, but this CG is either tent or RV only. Luckily, I also brought a tent.
I was there 2 weeks ago. It's a fairly large area and flat. Lots of space for kids to play including a play area.
Sheep roam freely in one area towards the back.
It's a great place for families. Showers are great. Includes a small shop for goodies.
I love it there. Only negative is there are only portapotties. Except for a couple that are constantly in use.
Travis AFB FamCamp
ANDREW
Doggy Gyh
San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA
Busy and expensive but great for kids
Wow! This place is busy and expensive. We stopped at this KOA because it was a good halfway point for us heading to the Redwoods. This KOA offers a variety of activities that cater to children, such as petting zoos, jumping pillows, climbing walls, and pools, which are excellent for keeping the young ones engaged and entertained. To me it was overcrowded and the firepits were so close to the RV’s I was afraid it would set my neighbors RV on fire, or our neighbor was going to set ours on fire. For those without children (like us), the bustling environment might be overwhelming, but it also provides an opportunity to enjoy the lively atmosphere.
Brannan Island State Recreation Area
Great times
Brennan Island State Park is an absolute gem nestled in the heart of the California Delta. From the moment you arrive, you're greeted by friendly staff who make you feel right at home. The park's natural beauty is simply breathtaking, with expansive views of the Delta's sparkling waters and lush landscapes.
The park offers a variety of activities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're into boating, fishing, hiking, or simply relaxing by the water, there's something here for everyone. The well-maintained trails provide the perfect opportunity to explore the local flora and fauna, and the picnic areas are ideal for a leisurely lunch with family and friends.
One of the highlights of Brennan Island State Park is its sense of community. The other visitors are always warm and welcoming, creating a pleasant and enjoyable atmosphere. It's a great place to meet new people who share a love for the great outdoors.
Overall, Brennan Island State Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the natural beauty and friendly vibes of the California Delta. It's a perfect spot for a day trip or a weekend getaway, offering a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Spring Lake Regional Park
Lots of recreation options, but that also means busy.
This campground is nice with newer bathrooms and shower facilities, but it's also very open and exposed. Great access to Spring Lake's water-based activities and hiking trails, plus easy access to Trione-Annadel State Park for hiking and mountain biking. Howarth Park, a city park, also borders Spring Lake Regional Park and provides access to boating and fishing on Lake Ralphine, plus they have a small train, carousel, tennis courts, and a softball field. Overall a good campsite for families in need of lots of recreation options, but not the best for those wishing to "get away from it all."
Lawson's Landing
Escape from the heat
Quite, grassy site on the dunes. Cool and beautiful. By the end of the week the place fills with families and large groups.
San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA
Great pool, nice RV park
The pool was great during the oven like temperatures, the staff was very kind and the amenities were good and clean. Movies night every night, and shop for groceries on site.
Doran Regional Park
Amazing location
I loved my spot right by the ocean. The bathrooms were nice and had hot water.
Stay in the Cove campsites!
Napa County Fairgrounds
Closed
Appears to abandoned.
Glamping in the Redwoods 🐶🐕💃🕺🏼
A Sunny, Inground Solar Heated Pool in the Redwood Forest! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🏕️🚐
Jeanne and Roberts treehouse is a luxurious Wonderland of a campground! We had total privacy, a pool, sauna and hot tub and a cool little treehouse to sleep in (with real stairs, leading up to it), Our dogs had a great time because they were off leash… The place is completely private and fenced! We highly recommend, the treehouse… You won’t be disappointed!
Glamping in the Redwoods 🐶🐕💃🕺🏼
WOW! AWESOME, PRIVATE, BEAUTIFUL WITH EXCLUSIVE USE OF HOT TUB! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jeanne and Robert’s Hipcamp is amazing. We had such fun there. Their treehouse site has a solar, heated pool, a sauna, and a hot tub! The Vancamp site has total privacy, and a hot tub in the redwoods. We could not have found a better place to hang out and chill! Our dogs even got to be off leash because it is all fenced!
Wright's Beach Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
Great with the right site!
Such a gem here! Less than two hours from Oakland. We'll return soon.
Highlights:
1. Sites 13 and 15 of the Bodega Dunes loop are by far the best sites. The others had uneven tent pads or awkward orientations. The pull-throughs are barely off the road and very sandy. Take extra blocks if you go because our site was uneven tip to tail.
2. Easy to maneuver big rigs, we saw some 5th wheels, and 25+ footers in here.
3. This smaller loop of Bodega dunes is so quite, the other loops are sandy and crowded close together. It was a very different vibe. It was Memorial Day weekend but our site was out of chaos down below, kids running all around. Great if you have a gaggle and want to let loose, but if not, stick to the loop with sites 13 and 15.
4. A very short drive to the water.
5. A little trial behind the site connects you to a Sunday farmers market and a Mexican restaurant. That's about a 10 minute scenic walk.
6. The dump station and water fill up spigot were excellent.
7. It's 10 minute drive to Fishermen's cove. A FANTASTIC restaurant. Everything we ate was excellent.
8. Nice people.
9. The fire bundles are small for $10 so maybe (gulp) bring some with you.
Bad: nothing I can think of. We didn't use the facilities.
Bicentennial Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
No parking on the site
Had to walk all the way down to get to the camp site with all the gear, it was to windy to put up our tent
Olema Campground
Great CG close to Pt Reyes!
Just left here with a group of 33 3rd graders. We stayed in the meadow area. It was wet as it had just rained, but overall it was a nice place. Small store, full hookups in places (will bring our trailer back), tables, fire rings. Not much privacy but at least this weekend it was quiet (except for our group 🤣)
Doran Regional Park
Great Place but impossible to get into anymore!
It sucks that so many people go here now. Allowing people to book so far in advance takes away from people trying to camp that have to travel from great distances that cannot risk arriving for the first come first serve spaces!!!
Spanish Flat - Lake Berryessa
Pretty good but pricey for what it is
Overall good experience. A little on the high end for dry camping. The charge for the campsite, every person over 2 campers, and a 25$ surcharge for reserving a specific site. The dump station and boat ramp are also additional but that’s pretty typical. I will say that the staff was very friendly the sites that we stayed in are huge. Double the size of most campgrounds.
Kirby Cove Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Great Location with AMAZING Views
My family and I spent two nights at campsite #5. We had a really great experience here!
We visited Kirby in March 2024 and the weather was not as bad as I thought it would be. The temperature was in the 50's for the most part. There was decent amount of wind but not enough to make a stink about. I was comfortable in pants and a sweatshirt the whole time, never had to break out my jacket. During the day, it was warm enough to wear a t-shirt. It rained a little bit overnight both nights we were there but we were equipped to deal with the conditions.
Each site has three square shaped wood-framed plots to pitch your tent on. Two of them are covered in a bed of rocks and one of them was raised about two feet off the ground. The third plot on our site did not have rocks. I would recommend bringing a tent footprint to prevent the rocks from damaging the bottom of your tent. Our site's fire ring was equipped with a thick steel BBQ grate that swivels laterally over the fire ring. Our fire ring's grate covered a good portion of the fire ring so it was useful for cooking. I'd like to note that not all campsites are equipped with the same style of fire ring as our site had. Campsite #5 also had three picnic tables (two of them were bolted to the ground, one of them was not) and a bearproof storage container.
The campgrounds itself is relatively small (only 5 overnight sites). You will receive a gate code emailed to you upon reservation which you will need to unlock a gate that leads you down a long dirt road to the bottom of a valley where the campgrounds are located. The parking lot is sort of small but finding a spot wasn't an issue. The parking lot is sitting on top of a hill, overlooking the entire campgrounds. The sites themselves aren't too far away from the parking lot, but hauling your gear back uphill to your vehicle after camping a couple nights can be tiresome. There are a few pit toilets scattered throughout the campgrounds that were relatively clean. There is no running water at Kirby, so make sure you bring enough water! The old military ruins (I believe from the late 1800's) were also cool to explore. The views of the Golden Gate and the city are breathtaking. We got to watch between 10-12 large shipping vessels float in and out of the bay, very cool!
All in all, we loved our stay at Kirby and will definitely be camping there again during the warmer months!
Travis AFB FamCamp
Convenient
Commissary and PX within walking distance. Plenty of available sites, both h/u and dry.
Rob Hill Campground
Nice
Amazing
Anthony Chabot Regional Park
Love it
Me and my family went there and had a ball everything was perfect
Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Quiet in Winter
Nice sites in Oak, Madrone and Manzanita forest. As many have mentioned, it’s also a Poison Oak farm, but if you keep to the trails and roads it’s fine. Many sites are not level. Road is narrow. Bathrooms clean, showers although clean were not inviting. ATT was a bar, occasionally two. Was able to make a call if I stood still. Minutes away from Calistoga and St. Helena. We imagine it’s a very busy place in peak season, but a nice quiet getaway in winter.
Wright's Beach Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
Lovely accessible campsites right on the beach
I stayed in campsite 4 for two nights (Dec. 24 & 25) with my two small dogs. The view from my campsite was mostly blocked by trees (one of the only campsites on the beach side with a blocked view), but I do think it shielded my tent from the seabreeze at night, which was nice! The location of this campground can’t be beat. The sites are very close together, but everyone was friendly and the sound of the waves somewhat muffles the sounds of neighboring campers. The walk to the bathrooms is flat and easy from all sites. Highly recommend — will be coming again, probably trying to book one of sites 5-10 for the prime beach views!
Lawson's Landing
Awesome
Super close to the beach, just up and over a hill. Went on Veterans Day weekend so it was pretty busy. Most people have rvs so the generators start early. But I would go back, maybe not on a holiday weekend.
San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA
Great stay
This place was absolutely beautiful. I got a "full hook-up" site which apparently meant they drive around in the morning and clear your tanks. Not ideal but it worked for us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Fairfax, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Fairfax, CA is Steep Ravine Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Fairfax, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 37 tent camping locations near Fairfax, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.