Best Tent Camping near Fulton, CA

Tent campgrounds near Fulton, California offer access to the Russian River and redwood forest settings with multiple walk-in options. Notable established sites include Schoolhouse Canyon Campground in Guerneville, which features tent camping under tall trees, and Bullfrog Pond Campground in Armstrong Woods, located at the end of a winding mountain road with primitive tent sites overlooking valley views.

Most tent sites in the area include fire rings and picnic tables, though fire restrictions may apply seasonally. Tent campers should be prepared for mixed terrain, with some sites positioned on uneven ground or hillsides. Schoolhouse Canyon provides water spigots near campsites, clean restrooms, and hot showers available for a fee. Many tent campgrounds require short walks from parking areas, particularly at environmental campgrounds like Pomo Canyon and Willow Creek along the Sonoma Coast. According to one visitor, "You sort of have to hike in about a quarter mile from the parking area" at Willow Creek, where amenities are limited to a composting toilet and water faucet.

Walk-in tent sites throughout the region offer varying levels of privacy and shade. Areas with redwood canopy provide natural cooling during summer months, while sites near the Russian River allow for convenient water access. A review mentioned that Bullfrog Pond Campground features "a steep winding road at the end of which there is literally a pond. The campsites are around the pond - some actually on the pond and some in the woods around." The backcountry tent camping options often feature more seclusion than the established campgrounds, with primitive tent sites available in the Armstrong Woods area requiring permits. These walk-in locations typically have basic amenities like tables, fire rings, and pit toilets while providing a deeper forest experience. Tent campers frequently use these sites as basecamp for exploring nearby hiking trails and swimming areas.

Best Tent Sites Near Fulton, California (38)

    1. Schoolhouse Canyon Campground

    8 Reviews
    Rio Nido, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 869-2311

    $48 / night

    "He put us in a very level spot that was great for my rooftop tent situation. Can’t say enough good things about him and his staff. Everyone was very friendly."

    "Location location location…. The Schoolhouse Canyon Campground is located about 400 yards off the Russian River / 1/2 mile down the road from the Korbel Winery (amazing deli!!!)"

    2. Bullfrog Pond Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    7 Reviews
    Guerneville, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 869-2015

    "Right by Armstrong Redwoods State Park there is a steep winding road at the end of which there is literally a pond. "

    "We had spot number 23 but I think 24 or 21 would have been the best for shade and privacy. THERE ARE NO SHOWERS HERE! we did not know this before hand."

    3. Highlands Resort

    2 Reviews
    Guerneville, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 869-0333

    $30 - $50 / night

    "Outdoor kitchen with grill and gas stove. ice machine, Camp among beautiful redwoods in Guerneville just off the Russian River. Many bars and restaurants in walking distance. Nearby supermarket."

    "Tucked away from the world, cozy little camp under a bridge and looking out of a crack to see huge waves coming in n! Almost like it will swallow us hole. Will be back for sure!"

    4. La Bohemia

    1 Review
    Rio Nido, CA
    10 miles
    +1 (510) 866-7826

    $200 - $800 / night

    5. Duncans Mills Campground (Membership)

    2 Reviews
    Duncans Mills, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 865-2024

    "Beautiful river along with campsites surrounded by tall tress. Nice place to relax,hike, fish and or kayaking. full hookups and well maintained campground along with a decent rec center."

    7. Willow Creek - Sonoma Coast State Beach

    1 Review
    Jenner, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 875-3483

    "It’s kinda tucked away and not too busy, which made it perfect by my book."

    8. Miss Daisy’s Magical Wonderland

    Be the first to review!
    Sebastopol, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 364-1622

    $35 - $80 / night

    9. Sky Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore

    13 Reviews
    Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 663-8054

    "The hike in camp is only a 1.3 ish mile hike and it was awesome."

    "There is short backpack trip to Sky Camp which is litereally on the ridge.  You are in the Point Reyes National Seashore up on a ridge.  Beautiful views when there is no fog - but expect fog."

    10. Pine Grove Cobb Resort

    2 Reviews
    Cobb, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 928-1006

    $25 - $210 / night

    "It was so nice to work with Joe and get his listing up and running on our platform. These serene year round cabins are perfect for everyone. Come check them out and leave them some love!"

    "We also had access to our own private bathroom and shower a short walk away which was great. Would stay here again, highly recommend!"

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Tent Camping Reviews near Fulton, CA

819 Reviews of 38 Fulton 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.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 13, 2023

    Gualala Point Regional Park

    Small but beautiful county campground

    General: 19 general and six walk-in campsites among giant redwood and Bay Laurel trees on the Gualala River. Sites 17 & 18 are a double site. 

    Site Quality: Level sites with bear box, picnic table, and fire ring. Site One’s camper pad fit our 18-foot camper van, but it would not accommodate anything much larger. Several other camper pads looked short as well. No hookups. 

    Bath/Shower house: Three individual units with toilet, sink, soap, and paper towels. One shower that takes quarters – three minutes for $2.00. 

    Activities: There is a trail that leads through the walk-in sites, under Highway One, and to the beach, approximately 1.5 miles. You can also drive to the day-use area for a shorter walk. We were there on a weekday but there were many activities scheduled for the upcoming weekend including kayaking on Bodega Bay, outside yoga, and healthy hustle circuit training – I was sad to miss all of these options. 

    This campground is beautiful and peaceful. But note that although we did not encounter any, several other campers experienced over-eager raccoons while eating dinner. There was also a sign warning of mountain lions but we did not encounter any. Shout-out to the ranger who shared a lot of good information about the area.

  • 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.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2023

    Doran Regional Park

    Large and popular Sonoma County Park

    General: Located between Bodega Bay and Bodega Harbor, this county park has over 140 sites in four campgrounds: Shell, Gull, Cove, and Jetty. There is also tent camping, a group campsite, and a hiker/biker camping area. No hookups in any site. 

    Site Quality: Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Sites all appeared to be level. Depending on your site, you may have more privacy/separation than in others. Site 21 (in Shell) was nicely positioned, however, the sites on either side of us were not occupied during our stay so we had more privacy. 

    Bath/Shower: Self-contained units with a toilet and sink with soap, HOT water, and air dryer. One coin-operated shower house for Shell, Gull, and Cove campgrounds, located between Gull and Cove. Additional showers in the tent-only section and the Jetty campground. Generally clean. 

    Activities: Hiking, fishing, birding, beachcombing, wading, and water sports. There was a very short boardwalk and sandy walking paths, although some of these were very overgrown. 

    One thing I appreciated was propane cylinder recycling. We learned there is a program where select vendors will refill the small cylinders and we hope this becomes more readily available. This is a much larger county park campground than we have been in before and it was very busy when we were there on a weekday in late October. Nice but I prefer the smaller and quieter campgrounds.

  • 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.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 8, 2021

    Westside Regional Park

    Great views, but close to the neighbors

    First, you stay here for the views. Great views from the first two rows closest to the water. There are very few plantings between spaces. No hook ups at all, but water is available if you fill before you park. Seven dollar dump station. Each campsite has a fire ring and a wooden picnic table and grass. Since there’s no hook ups between the hours of 8 AM and 8 PM, you will always be listening to somebody’s generator running. Always. No privacy at this campground. I did not check out the bathrooms for the campground, but I did look at the bathrooms for the large boat launch area next-door. No showers in that bathroom, but it was clean. A bit spendy for no hookups. Safe. Zero long term campers when I was here. There are no first come first served campsites at this location. All camping spaces had a reserve sign on them, even though the place was about 40% full. Completely dark at night, which was great.

  • Erin S.
    Mar. 16, 2022

    Haypress Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area

    A no-frills but pretty campground in Marin Headlands

    A hike-in campground in Tennessee Valley, a short 20 minute drive from the Golden Gate Bridge and the hustle and bustle of the City.  My family of three stayed here for one night in mid March.  It was a Sunday night, and three out of the five sites were occupied.  

    The tent pads (a flat sandy area surrounded by wood beams) were fairly small - maybe 10' x 10'.  Each site had a picnic table and a large metal food locker.   The sites were well spaced and did not feel cramped.  Two vault toilets, fairly clean. The campground was located at the end of a 0.5 mile dirt road, which was about a quarter of mile down an old paved road from the TV parking lot.  A few folks walked into the campground that weren't staying there, but they weren't a bother, just going for a walk. The campers we saw varied from families, a solo bike-packer, and a couple just starting out camping.  I was worried that being so close to the city and the parking lot, it would be party central with groups hauling in a bunch of alcohol, but it wasn't the case at all. Neither the parking lot nor the campground had running water, so come prepared unless you want to drive into town.  

    Pros:

    - Very quiet and peaceful.  The night had beautiful stars with no artificial light.  No road noise.

    - Small number of sites with great spacing.

    - Decent toilet facilities.

    Cons:

    - No water.  We backpacked in from the Golden Gate Bridge.  There was no place nearby to fill up on water, and had to be extremely conservative in our use.  No springs or creeks running nearby this time of year either.

    - Would have been nice to have a fire.  

    Overall, we had a pleasant camping experience and would recommend.

  • Joseph G.
    Apr. 18, 2024

    Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground

    Decent Camping with Great Hiking & Views

    As the title says! Due to a cancellation at another state park, we booked a site at Sammy P. last minute, 2 days prior to our check-in date. It rained during our trip which we knew about beforehand. 

     We stayed at campsite #56, which was a surprisingly small lot. Keep in mind, not all campsites at Sammy P. are the same size, but I noticed the handful that we saw were smaller than what I’ve seen at other state parks. Not much space to pitch a larger size tent - we used our Big Agnes Big House 4 person tent and barely had enough space to set up the tent’s guy lines, however, a 2-3 person tent would fit just fine I think. Don’t plan on pitching more than one tent though, if you book site #56. I’d like to add that the area designed for you to deploy your tent was on a slope; you can tell there was an effort to make the area flatter but there was still a slope. This was a little problematic during the rain because the rain runoff would pool up in that area. We didn’t actually take on water inside our tent, but the footprint and lower outside area of the tent body were extremely muddy. 

    The site’s accompanying picnic table was positioned oddly close to the fire ring and was sitting on top of wooden planks to keep it level. I guess you could move the table away from the fire ring if you wanted but you might end up with a wobbly picnic table (also remember: not much space). The food locker onsite is made of wood. Make sure you bring a pad lock as there is no locking mechanism on the door. Also, most of our goods got wet from the rain so the food locker is definitely not waterproof. Keep your eyes peeled for wild life and your food no matter what time of the day it is. We were harassed by cute little chipmunks and birds that didn’t seem too intimidated by humans. The bathrooms were about what you’d expect to see at a public facility, nothing fancy and clean enough to use. The sinks had hot water and good water pressure. We never ended up using the showers because we were deterred by the rain.

    Enough of the “bad”, the local trails and creeks were breathtaking. We hiked Pioneer Tree Trail which was the perfect length for a novice hiker. Hiking through the forest felt like you were walking through a scene from Fern Gully. The various runoff creeks that you hike alongside were so neat to see. We would like to visit again, it was definitely a great last minute trip.

  • Sabrina V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Lawson's Landing

    So much litter

    • Price too high for dry camping
    • people litter and discard catch on and around sites
    • people don’t keep their pets on leash (nobody responsible seems to be checking in on these things?)
    • Porter potties only/no shower houses
    • potable water available
    • no check in procedure after online booking and later arrival time? (Unsure)
    • check out time also unsure

Guide to Fulton

Tent camping near Fulton, California offers a blend of serene natural beauty and a variety of outdoor activities, making it an ideal getaway for nature enthusiasts.

Tent campers should check out Schoolhouse Canyon Campground

  • This campground features amenities like drinking water, showers, and picnic tables, ensuring a comfortable stay while you enjoy the great outdoors at Schoolhouse Canyon Campground.
  • With the Russian River just a short walk away, you can spend your days floating or relaxing by the water, making it a perfect spot for families and friends.
  • The friendly owners, Chris and Corina, are known for their hospitality, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all campers.

Local activities to enjoy while camping

  • Explore the beautiful trails and scenic views around Bullfrog Pond Campground, which is located near Armstrong Redwoods State Park.
  • Take advantage of the nearby Russian River for kayaking, fishing, and swimming, especially from the well-reviewed Duncans Mills Campground.
  • Enjoy the peaceful surroundings and hiking opportunities at Pomo Canyon Environmental Camp, where you can immerse yourself in nature.

Tips for tent camping near Fulton

  • Arrive early to secure a good spot, as many campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, like Bullfrog Pond Campground.
  • Be prepared for a quiet camping experience; some sites, such as Schoolhouse Canyon Campground, have rules against loud music and parties.
  • Bring river shoes if you plan to wade in the Russian River, especially when visiting Duncans Mills Campground, where the beach area is perfect for kids.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Fulton, CA is Schoolhouse Canyon Campground with a 5-star rating from 8 reviews.

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

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