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Best Campgrounds near Glen Ellen, CA

928 Reviews

The Sonoma Valley surrounding Glen Ellen, California features diverse camping opportunities within a landscape of rolling hills, vineyards, and oak woodlands. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground, located just 5 miles northeast of Glen Ellen, offers 48 year-round sites for tent camping, RVs, and glamping accommodations with hiking trails that provide panoramic valley views. Within a 30-minute drive, campers can access Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa with family-friendly amenities, while those seeking coastal experiences can venture west to Bodega Dunes Campground in Sonoma Coast State Park. The region balances wine country proximity with natural settings, allowing visitors to experience both forested campgrounds and open valley sites.

Reservations are essential at most established campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends and fall harvest season when wine tourism peaks. Many campgrounds in the area maintain year-round operations, though Spring Lake Regional Park operates seasonally from May through September. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F in inland areas like Glen Ellen, while coastal campgrounds experience cooler conditions with morning fog. As one camper noted, "Sugarloaf is a great campground for families. It is small but has all you need for a nice weekend. Many of the campsites offer lots of shade. Great hiking trails surrounding the campground. Also, close to many wineries in the Sonoma/Glen Ellen region." Cell service is generally reliable at developed campgrounds but can be spotty in more remote areas of Sugarloaf Ridge.

Family-friendly amenities receive consistent praise from visitors to campgrounds near Glen Ellen. Sites with shade are particularly valued during hot summer months, with several reviewers highlighting the importance of tree cover at Sugarloaf Ridge. Hiking trail access directly from campgrounds ranks as a top feature, allowing campers to explore without driving to trailheads. Proximity to wineries creates a unique camping experience where outdoor recreation and wine tasting can be combined. A visitor to Spring Lake Regional Park observed, "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. 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."

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Best Camping Sites Near Glen Ellen, California (156)

    1. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground

    31 Reviews
    Kenwood, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 833-5712

    $35 - $45 / night

    "Great hiking trails surrounding the campground.  Also, close to many wineries in the Sonoma/Glen Ellen region."

    "Easy access to a lot of trails. The view from the campground is nice and relaxing. Some sites are very tight and close to each other. Some are spacious enough."

    2. San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA

    31 Reviews
    Penngrove, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 763-1492

    "showers were always clean. there was some construction going on, since it was the off season. it looked like they were renovating some of the bathrooms and aisle end sites to add grass and decks. the location"

    "For us, this is a great spot to shoot down the highway and pull in for a few days to get away from the hustle and bustle of normal life!"

    3. Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

    26 Reviews
    Deer Park, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 942-4575

    $43 / night

    "We just stayed here for 2 nights, great location very close to Calistoga and not to far from Saint Helena! Next time i would love to try out a cabin or yurt."

    "Good access to wineries close by.  Only real downside was that because of the dry conditions we could not have a campfire."

    4. Skyline Wilderness Park

    29 Reviews
    Napa, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 252-0481

    "A ton of great hiking and horseback riding trails. Literally 5 mins outside of the town of Napa. Ate at an amazing Brazilian Steakhouse and came to camp in just a short drive."

    "Nice, clean place with beautiful hiking trails. The garden is very cute, perfect for a quiet walk or meditation. Sites are close to each other. This place is a good getaway into nature."

    5. Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Lagunitas, CA
    25 miles

    $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"

    6. Spring Lake Regional Park

    8 Reviews
    Santa Rosa, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 539-8092

    $35 / night

    "It’s close to the entrance but the driveway only had a slight grade. Mostly folks with trailers. The sites are not too close together but it is easy to see into the surrounding neighbors."

    "Spring Lake has been that for us. We have been here for 2 weekends in the last few months."

    7. Sonoma County Fairgrounds RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Santa Rosa, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 293-8410

    $33 - $70 / night

    "A little close to others for my liking, but everyone was friendly and helpful."

    "Full hookup sites, reasonably close to shopping & restaurants, and good value with Passport America savings."

    8. Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park

    38 Reviews
    Bodega Bay, CA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 875-3483

    $45 / night

    "This campsite is centrally located on the peninsula. Access to several roadside dog friendly beaches within minutes. The bay and the beach are within walking distance to campground."

    "The California coast is hard to beat. This campground is in the sand dunes, with a short walk to the beach. This is absolutely one of the best places to see the sunset."

    9. Lawson's Landing

    25 Reviews
    Dillon Beach, CA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 878-2443

    "Walking distance to the beach. Quiet place on non holiday weekends. Fun place to fish and the Beach is also pretty clean."

    "There are a variety of campsites, and they are many - we camp as close to the ocean as possible in the meadow area."

    10. Napa Valley Expo RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Napa, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 333-6014

    $60 - $80 / night

    "Rv park at the fairgrounds, walk to downtown Napa. Concrete pads, full hook ups. Basic but great!"

    "The site is very clean but noise from the traffic outside of it. It’s difficult to sleep."

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Recent Camping Photos near Glen Ellen, CA

270 Photos of 156 Glen Ellen Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Glen Ellen, CA

928 Reviews of 156 Glen Ellen Campgrounds

  • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Thousand Trails Russian River

    Tough sites

    I am reasonably ok at backing in my travel trailer but this place is a mess. I parked in wrong spot, moved to the right one, the power pedestal did not work. Had to walk to office because phone number on check-in sheet did not work. Camp worker in golf cart picked me up and checked pedestal. No good. Drove me around looking for another site but the camp side on most is terrible. My wife has mobility issues so I would not stay here again. Staff was great, area looks nice, but the sites I saw leave something to be desired.

  • Leafe Z.
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Johnson's Beach

    Perfext location for river

    Russian River is right out front of the campground. They offer kayaks canoes, and whatever else you want to rent however, if you have a dog, they don’t allow the dog on the beach or in the boat with you and they’re not allowed to stay behind in the tent, so you’re kind of stuck if you have a dog

  • yThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA

    Great area, safe, kid friendly

    I 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.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground

    Feels much more remote than it is

    Great campsite, awesome staff. Tucked away off highway 12 in wine country it feels much more remote than it actually is. It's a great fast getaway from the northbay, but it can be hard to reserve a site ahead of time but they do have first-come first serve sites too. Excellent hiking with both fairly flat trails, to challenging trails with lots of elevation change. It's often very hot in the summer, and there can be lots of rattle snakes sunning themselves on the rocks. This is one of my favorite camping spots.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Anthony Chabot Regional Park

    Lovely site, really close to San Francisco!

    On 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

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Westside Regional Park

    Decent landing spot

    If you are here for fishing or boating it’s perfect

  • S
    Aug. 28, 2025

    smittle creek

    Hidden Gem

    This sweet little spot is a paddle boarding and fishing dream. Primitive site where Smittle Creek flows into Lake Berryessa.

  • T
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Anthony Chabot Regional Park

    Nice location and activities, but a bit cramped

    I 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

  • Michi P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 21, 2025

    Casini Ranch Family Campground

    Nice Clean Quiet Campground

    We had a big site, it was quiet. The bathrooms are clean, showers are $1.00, they have something for every type of camper here, from tents, covered wagons to rv sites. This is a large campground located on the Russian River. They have a well stocked store, laundry facilities.

    Edit: Tuesday and Wednesday were as described above. Thursday a very loud rambunctious crowd showed up. Casini Campground has a ton of rules, one of which is you shouldn’t play your music loud enough for your neighbors to hear, we were able to hear the music and the people who were trying to talk over their music. If you going to have rules, please enforce them. Edited to change from 5 stars to 4.

Guide to Glen Ellen

Camping near Glen Ellen, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers appreciate the beautiful surroundings. One reviewer at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground said, "It’s a lovely campsite with most sites being under tree canopies."
  • Clean Facilities: Many campgrounds pride themselves on cleanliness. A visitor at San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA mentioned, "The bathrooms were really clean compared to other places."
  • Wildlife: Campers enjoy spotting local wildlife. One reviewer at Anthony Chabot Regional Park shared, "We were able to take a closeup look at wild turkeys."

What you should know:

Tips for camping with families:

Tips from RVers:

Camping near Glen Ellen, California, has something for everyone, from families to RVers. Just be prepared for the unique quirks of each campground, and you’ll have a great time!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find camping in Glen Ellen, CA?

The Glen Ellen area offers several excellent camping options. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground is the closest campground to Glen Ellen, offering a small but well-equipped facility with shaded campsites and access to hiking trails, all within close proximity to the Sonoma/Glen Ellen wineries. For a nearby alternative, consider Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, which provides walk-in sites and water access. Additional options within a short drive include Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa and Skyline Wilderness Park near Napa.

What amenities are available at Glen Ellen campgrounds?

Glen Ellen area campgrounds offer varied amenities to suit different camping preferences. Spring Lake Regional Park features newer bathroom and shower facilities, with excellent access to water-based activities, hiking trails, and connections to Trione-Annadel State Park for mountain biking enthusiasts. Meanwhile, Skyline Wilderness Park provides separate tent and RV camping areas, picnic tables, and proximity to downtown Napa. Most campgrounds in the region typically offer fire rings, restrooms, and drinking water, though specific amenities vary by location.

What are the best seasons for camping in Glen Ellen?

Late spring through early fall (May-October) offers the best camping weather in Glen Ellen, with warm days, cool evenings, and minimal rainfall. Summer (June-August) provides ideal conditions for enjoying Woodside Campground — Salt Point State Park, where you can experience both forest camping and coastal views along the Sonoma Coast. For those who prefer water activities, Johnson's Beach is excellent in summer months when river access is most enjoyable. Fall brings beautiful wine country colors and fewer crowds, while winter camping (November-March) can be rainy and chilly but offers tranquility for experienced campers.

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