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Wangtao L.
Traveler
TravelerAnthony Chabot Regional Park
Great site! We have camped here more than any other sites in the Bay Area. Clean bathroom
Tent Camping near Glen Ellen, CA
7 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Tent campsites near Glen Ellen, California range from secluded walk-in sites to drive-up campgrounds, offering options suited to both casual campers and those seeking backcountry solitude. Point Reyes National Seashore offers several tent-only options including Sky Campground and Wildcat Campground, both accessible via hiking trails. Mount Tamalpais State Park's Pantoll and Bootjack campgrounds provide tent camping with varying levels of amenities, while Steep Ravine offers tent sites with ocean views just a short drive from Glen Ellen.
Most tent campgrounds require advance reservations through recreation.gov or the California State Parks website, particularly during peak summer and fall seasons. Sites typically include picnic tables, food storage lockers to protect supplies from wildlife, and access to vault toilets or flush restrooms. A visitor commented, "The tent pads were fairly small - maybe 10' x 10'. Each site had a picnic table and a large metal food locker." Water availability varies significantly between locations—Wildcat Camp and Coast Camp provide potable water, while others require campers to pack in their own supply. Campfire regulations differ by location, with many sites allowing fires only in designated fire rings or prohibiting them entirely during dry seasons.
Tent camping near Glen Ellen offers distinct advantages over other accommodation types. Walk-in sites at Mount Tamalpais provide greater privacy and shelter from coastal winds, while the hike-in locations at Point Reyes reward tent campers with secluded beach access and coastal views. A camper noted that Wildcat Camp features "tall grass [that] gave some privacy between neighboring campsites." Many tent sites sit within close proximity to extensive trail networks, allowing for day hikes or longer backpacking routes. Seasonal considerations affect the camping experience, with spring offering wildflowers but potentially muddy conditions, while summer and fall provide more reliable weather. Wildlife encounters are common, with raccoons frequently mentioned in reviews, making proper food storage essential for tent campers.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Glen Ellen (42)
1. Sky Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
"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."
2. Steele Canyon (formerly Lupine Shores)
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $5 - $55 / night
3. Schoolhouse Canyon Campground
"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!!!)"
Check Availabilityfrom $48 / night
4. Wildcat Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
"A very cool spot for backpacking in with 6-8 miles to hike in, depending on the trails you take. The tall grass gave some privacy between neighboring campsites. Nice to have a water spigot on-site."
"in an open meadow on a bluff overlooking the ocean with a short walk to the beach and a 3.2 kilometer (2.0 miles) round-trip walk to [Alamere Falls](https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/alamere_falls.htm"
5. Tomales Bay Boat-In Camping — Point Reyes National Seashore
"You can buy or rent a portable toilet if you want to camp at a more secluded beach or just camp at Marshalls beach and you can walk to the pit toilets there."
"The beach camping is primative but there is a restroom. Crossing the bay can be treacherous so study the weather - especially winds before you set out. "
6. Glen Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
"A nice place to stay for backpacking. Site 8 was a little bit secluded and away from other sites. The site was smallish and had a fox box and picnic table."
"Beautiful weather, not too hot. It was a hike-in camp site called sky camp. It was a 1.3 mile hike uphill so that was pretty rough. It was our first time going to a hike-in camp site."
Check Availabilityfrom $30 / night
7. Coast Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
"Fun baby backpacking trip with my husband . The hike to the campsite went by fast. Only 1.8 miles, not too bad on the elevation gain either."
"Inside the Point Reyes National seashore, this is a hike in only campground. But has pit toilets, potable water. Groups sites also available."
Check Availabilityfrom $30 - $90 / night
8. Pantoll Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park
"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. "
"All sites are a small walk up on a hill kind of steep. Ranger station at parking lot that sells firewood. Water faucets, bathrooms. No showers. Bear lockers."
Check Availabilityfrom $7 - $25 / night
9. Putah Canyon - Lake Berryessa USBR
"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."
"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 ."
10. Steep Ravine Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park
"There is a separate bedroom, you could sleep 2 couples on beds easily with extra floor space and a small individual bunk for larger families."
"And charcoal grills outside each cabin. A couple general use picnic tables scattered about. So those are the basics you can read anywhere."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $100 / night
Drive Time
- 19 min from Santa Rosa, CA
- 27 min from Napa, CA
- 32 min from Vallejo, CA
- 58 min from San Francisco, CA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Glen Ellen, CA
60 Photos of 42 Glen Ellen Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Miss Daisy’s Magical WonderlandC
Steele Canyon (formerly Lupine Shores)J
La Bohemia
Tomales Bay Boat-In Camping — Point Reyes National Seashore
Schoolhouse Canyon Campground
Highlands Resort
Sky Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
Coast Campground — Point Reyes National SeashoreC
Glen Campground — Point Reyes National SeashoreL
Bullfrog Pond Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSEDC
Wildcat Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
Tent Camping Reviews near Glen Ellen, CA
941 Reviews of 42 Glen Ellen Campgrounds
- kkelly E.
GuideNapa County Fairgrounds
Great location, clean bathrooms, great water pressure and temperature in the showers. Very nice sunrise and sunsets here thru the trees.
- DDavid R.Traveler
Yolo County Fair RV Park
Nothing fancy. Looks like they are building a fence and trying to improve the place. A lot of street noise and free roamers walking through the camp sites.
- ttom S.Guide
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground
Excellent campground
We arrived and looked at our site and needed sun to recharge our batteries so the attendant let us pick one from the available list. A bit dusty but well worth it for the amenities.
S.AllanTravelerCowboy Camp
This is rough country
Great camp with amazing views. But, you should not camp alone. I've been here often this month and have seen a herd sheep eating the grass on the hillside, heard a pack of coyotes several nights in a row, until I heard a Mt Lion doing it's bird like sounds at night, as it circled my rv. This is last night, 10/07/2026 - mt lion presence detected, not seen. Be careful.
Kylee R.
RangerSalt Point State Park Campground
Right off US101
Clean bathrooms. First come first serve. Fire pits. Water available. Was full when we woke up in the morning. Ranger going around fixing the reserved signs. Loved this place.
Dawn S.GuideMarin RV Park
Great to see the City
We came in around 9pm. There's a board with names and site numbers on the office building. These are snug spots but we have enough room to put the slide out. It is a level gravel parking lot. There's not alot of places in San Fran to even day park. This is just fine. They do fill up fast. Called the next day to extend through Sat, they are booked solid.
Dog walk is through the gate at the back of the lot where abandoned railroad tracks are. There's a pond with some ducks and a walking path.
- CColeen B.Guide
Doran Regional Park
Beach and Water Sports!
Lots of beautiful campsites by the beach. It’s in Bodega Bay so all of the beach is pretty protected. Many are in the harbor and there’s a place to launch your watercraft. Dogs are allowed yon the beach on leash. The campground was full but the beach wasn’t crowded at all.
The shower was coin operated. The dial didn’t change the temperature or volume of water at all. ☹️
- SScott S.Traveler
Cowboy Camp
Great Getaway & Location.
Cowboy Camp had everything I had heard it offered & more! There was plenty of space when I visited and I got to pick a spot down by the water. Easy access & semi-secluded. The spot was half shaded and half sunny by 3 PM. Perfect for our truck to park in & stay cool. Vaulted toilets were in decent shape & even had TP. Lots of awesome spots to pull off at on the way there from Winters area. Beautiful views of flowing green water & colorful trees.
Guide to Glen Ellen
Tent camping near Glen Ellen, California presents unique opportunities across two distinct ecological zones. The area sits at the convergence of coastal redwood forests and oak-studded grasslands, creating diverse microclimates for campers. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-85°F with significant cooling at night, requiring adequate sleeping gear regardless of season.
What to do
Beach exploration: 2-mile hike from Wildcat Campground: The beach near Wildcat offers access to Alamere Falls with fewer crowds in the early morning. "We had fun making a fire on the beach at night. It's pretty windy, so be prepared. Enough room for a big group of us and the remote location was perfect," notes one camper.
Tidepooling: Best at low tide: The beaches along the coast provide excellent tidepooling opportunities. A visitor to Coast Campground shared, "The beach was sandy and beautiful, not that many people around. The beach offers tidepools close by as well as a great place for beach fire (permit needed)."
Night sky viewing: Check moon phase calendar: For optimal stargazing, plan around the new moon cycle. "If you hope for no full moon because running your hands through that water at night with no light is a trip!!!" reports a camper about bioluminescent plankton at Tomales Bay.
Paddleboarding: $50 for two hours/$100 per day: Rent equipment near the Russian River. "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," mentions a Steele Canyon visitor.
What campers like
Natural privacy barriers: Tall grass and vegetation: Many campsites offer natural screening between sites. At Wildcat Campground, "The tall grass gave some privacy between neighboring campsites," according to a recent camper.
Secluded beaches: Private access points: Several campgrounds maintain their own beach areas with restricted public access. A Schoolhouse Canyon camper explains, "They own a large beach across the road and is only open to schoolhouse guests so it's not too crowded and all familiar faces."
Varied terrain for different camping preferences: From ocean bluffs to redwood groves, the area accommodates diverse camping styles. At Glen Campground, "Site 8 was a little bit secluded and away from other sites. The site was smallish and had a fox box and picnic table. Water and vault toilet provided in the campground. Quaint and cozy overall."
Family-friendly waters: Swimming options: The Russian River provides calm waters suitable for younger swimmers. A visitor noted, "Our favorite spot to take the kids to the lake. If your looking for something calm this is the spot at Lake Berryessa."
What you should know
Reservations timing: 6 months in advance for popular sites: The most sought-after campgrounds book completely within minutes of availability opening. A Steep Ravine camper warns, "You need to be ready to click 'reserve' on the website at no less than 5 minutes before the window opens for your dates of interest."
Wildlife considerations: Food storage essential: Small mammals are particularly persistent in this region. "Bring some steel wool or a critter-proof container to keep food safe, even inside the locker," advises a Sky Campground visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Glen Ellen, CA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Glen Ellen, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Glen Ellen, CA is Sky Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore with a 4.7-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Glen Ellen, CA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Glen Ellen, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 42 tent camping locations near Glen Ellen, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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