Are you in need of a campground near Golden Gate National Recreation Area, CA? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that California camping has to offer. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$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"
$40 - $75 / night
"The walk to the beach was 60 seconds and the ocean can be seen from the site. Cool ww2 structures. You get a code to open the gate uptop and drive down to park for your stay."
"If you plan to leave your cooler outside of the bear box make sure it has a lock or secure latch. 3- you get a gate code and parking pass to drive down, but have to walk your gear the last 500-1,000 ft"
$25 - $100 / night
"1 to get to the entrance, and then another steep, curvy ride down to the campground."
"The entire Mount Tamalpais watershed is within 30 minutes drive from this location."
$7 - $25 / night
"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. "
"This is an ada compliant walkup campground situated near the top of Mount Tamalpais. Featuring 13 sites ranging from standard campground style to a few more secluded areas."
"I decided to stay here, because it was the right location for my road trip, it was free, and I thought the view of the city would be excellent."
"Reasonably quiet on the side away from the road. Very safe, police patrols throughout the day/night. Good hiking areas nearby. Bathrooms and trash cans. Highly recommend as it is also completely free."
$30 / night
"Angel Island is a California State Park, but it's surprising how many visitors do not know of the 10 campsites scattered around the island!"
"Campsites are walk in throughout the island. Remember there will be fog and there will be wind.
We try to get what they call the "group" kayak site. "
$99 - $115 / night
"30 mins away from the City. A bit pricy but that is to be expected in SF."
"Great location to the city and Muir woods. Good stores near by. Narrow sites. No room for awning. Close to gather. Sites are gravel and level. Nice area for pets with view."
$35 - $175 / night
"You won't be able to drive up to your campsite. You have to carry your gear in a short distance from the parking lot."
"Located on the west side of the San Rafael/Richmond Bridge, on San Francisco Bay, this park is extremely popular with mountain bikers. "
$25 / night
"All three sites here are next to each other and have no seperation, but if you’re okay with that it’s a wonderful place to camp Site 3 is closest to the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the trails connected"
"It has great hiking nearby and an incredible view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city, and is a short drive into the city. you definitely want to reserve a space well in advance, especially during peak"
$25 - $75 / night
"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. "
"This campground is about a 0.75 mile hike from the Tennessee Valley trail head. Very limited number of sites, so you’ll definitely need a reservation. No fires."
GuideWe escaped without a scratch but had some, ahem, 'fascinating' moments with our feathered friends. The birds were so fun to watch, especially if you're a fan of the movie! This was the start of a beach vacation, which was the perfect getaway! The campground was very clean. Restrooms and showers were decent. No power and water spigots are there to gather water. Spots are fairly close to the bay. It's not a bad place to pitch camp in the entire area. Change up in the campers a different night was irritating, but the campground ranger got it under control quickly. Highly suggest taking scooters or your bicycle as there are many places to explore within the park. We had fun being part of our own version of "The Birds." You must go into the town to get the experience of seeing where the movie " The Birds" was filmed🐦⬛🦅🐦🦆🦜
LegendThis is our 3rd or 4th stay here. We visit people in the Bay Area and this place is convenient to Palo Alto and the Peninsula. It is usually not crowded, but this trip has more rigs the bathrooms are modern and clean, if spartan. The showers are roomy with ok water pressure (for California) and warm water. The laundry is super convenient. They even have summer ranger programs but we didn’t see many kids here. We are in a Class B van, but many sites are large enough for Class A rigs. Every time we have stayed here it has been windy. Sites, though asphalt, require some leveling.
TravelerWe arrived around 5:30pm, and were able to park for the night. There are several parking spots Several other campers soon pulled in around us. It’s a very busy overlook for the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay, so don’t expect to be here alone. But it’s a great place to stop for a night if you’re in the SF area.
GuideHad a great 1 night stay at Juniper! We didn’t have a reservation, but got 1 upon arrival around 2pm. We asked for the site with the best view and were given site 23 at Juniper. It did not disappoint!! Our site was pretty private & we had our own sunset viewpoint. It’s next to a trail, & nearby bathrooms with showers & trash dumps. Site included picnic table, fire pit, 2 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!
*Site 13 & 15 also seemed like they had nice views! (:
GuideArrived after hours end of May on Thursday night. Selected non-reserved level paved site in 54-89 loop (close to bay). Paid using supplied envelope and check drawn on US bank. Two clean restroom/shower buildings in this loop. Each had token machine ($1 for 5 minutes). Good hot water pressure. Saw some porti-potties in other loop so don't know what's working over there. Quiet at night except for non-annoying fog horn and soothing ocean waves over hill. Would stay again. NOTE: Wright's Beach State Park campground 5-miles north has Overflow camping next to entrance station (no hook-ups).
GuideStaff 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!
TravelerGreat experience! Park staff was friendly and very helpful. There’s a good amount of space between campgrounds to allow for privacy. Lots of shaded spots. Multiple clean and flushable toilets and showers. Drinking water was murky, so bring water if you’re picky. Lots of foxtails in the grass, so be careful if bringing pets.
TravelerI was here in the month of May very quiet squirrels running around lots of birds I think there was only three or four people that it was during the week so there's that good cell service I have a 25 ft RV fit in the space fine.
GuideWe spent a long weekend here at the end of February. Weather was as to be expected for near the coast, but sheltered enough from the wind. Sites were large, water fill stations and bathrooms (with showers) were easily accessible, though one was out of order for construction. This is a great place for family, kids rode bikes all weekend. Nobody was too loud or partying late. Short drives to the beach and town for candy and ice cream. Will definitely be back.
Camping near Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California, offers a unique blend of stunning views, diverse wildlife, and a variety of campgrounds to suit different preferences. Whether you're a family looking for fun or an RV enthusiast seeking adventure, there's something for everyone.
Camping near Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California, is a fantastic way to enjoy nature while being close to the city. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, you can find the perfect spot for your next adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Golden Gate National Recreation Area is Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 51 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Golden Gate National Recreation Area that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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