Best Campgrounds near Greenbrae, CA

Camping options around Greenbrae, California range from established campgrounds to cabin accommodations across Marin County. Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground, located west of Greenbrae, provides tent, RV, and cabin camping in a wooded setting along Lagunitas Creek. Mount Tamalpais State Park offers both Steep Ravine Campground with cabins and glamping options, and Pantoll Campground with walk-in tent sites. Marin RV Park in Greenbrae itself provides 87 sites with full hookups for RVs and limited tent camping, serving as a convenient base for exploring the San Francisco Bay Area.

Reservations are essential for most campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer and weekends. Many sites can be booked up to six months in advance through state park or county reservation systems. "The campground is next to a very popular lake. Lots of trails. A great place to bring a bike too," noted one visitor about Spring Lake Regional Park. Weather conditions vary significantly between coastal and inland areas, with coastal sites often experiencing morning fog and cooler temperatures even in summer months. Cell service is generally reliable near Greenbrae but becomes spotty in more remote areas of Mount Tamalpais and Point Reyes. Fire restrictions are common during dry summer and fall months, with complete bans possible during high fire danger periods.

Campers consistently highlight the region's natural beauty and proximity to both urban amenities and wilderness experiences. The coastal campgrounds receive particularly high ratings, with Steep Ravine earning a 4.7/5 rating for its unique cabin options and ocean views. Several visitors mentioned the convenience of Marin RV Park for accessing San Francisco via nearby ferry service, though some noted the sites are narrow and close together. Point Reyes National Seashore campgrounds, while requiring more travel time from Greenbrae, were frequently praised in reviews for their solitude and scenic coastal settings. Wildlife sightings, including deer, turkeys, and raccoons, are commonly reported throughout the area's campgrounds, with proper food storage strongly recommended at all sites.

Best Camping Sites Near Greenbrae, California (134)

    1. Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Lagunitas, CA
    12 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"

    2. Steep Ravine Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park

    15 Reviews
    Stinson Beach, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 388-2070

    $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."

    3. Kirby Cove Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area

    15 Reviews
    Sausalito, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 331-1540

    $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"

    4. Pantoll Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park

    14 Reviews
    Stinson Beach, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 388-2070

    $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."

    5. Marin RV Park

    10 Reviews
    Larkspur, CA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (415) 461-5199

    $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."

    6. Olema Campground

    24 Reviews
    Olema, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 663-8106

    "Nice place to eat within walking distance but make reservations on a weekend. WiFi. Showers. Spots are close together but the drive here is amazing. Openings on a Saturday night."

    "Near Pt. Reyes National Seashore.  One complaint was they weed whipped the sites next to us rather then mow.  Very loud."

    7. H. Dana Bower Rest Area Northbound

    11 Reviews
    Sausalito, CA
    8 miles
    Website

    "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."

    8. Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park

    9 Reviews
    Tiburon, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 435-5390

    $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. "

    9. Wildcat Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore

    14 Reviews
    Olema, CA
    15 miles
    Website

    "Really great site right next to the water and beach. The hike in is pretty easy and beautiful. We had fun making a fire on the beach at night. It's pretty windy, so be prepared."

    "I used to live in the area and wish I had spent more time camping in and around the Point Reyes National Seashore."

    10. Bicentennial Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area

    7 Reviews
    Sausalito, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 331-1540

    $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"

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Recent Reviews near Greenbrae, CA

835 Reviews of 134 Greenbrae Campgrounds


  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Lake Solano County Park

    Great campsite, loud road

    I loved staying here for one night and wish I could’ve been there for longer. The bathrooms are accessible, I had a beautiful spot by the water, my neighbors were friendly, the staff were welcoming. The only catch was that the road parallel to the lake is super loud and for me bothersome at night. I did not get good sleep because of this, i recommend bringing ear plugs if you are sensitive to noise and sleeping outside (i was in a tent). I don’t know how noisy it is for other spots farther away, but I would guess the sound still travels but is not as bad as having a spot along the water. Normal site are $30 per night, sites along the water are $40.

  • 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 Greenbrae

Camping near Greenbrae, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the stunning trails at Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "The local trails and creeks were breathtaking," making it a great spot for both novice and experienced hikers.
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. Campers at Anthony Chabot Regional Park enjoyed seeing wild turkeys and other animals during their stay. One camper noted, "We were able to take a closeup look at them."
  • Beach Activities: Visit Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground for beachcombing, swimming, and sunbathing. A reviewer shared, "Campsites are right by the beach," making it easy to enjoy the ocean.

What campers like

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the views at Steep Ravine Campground. One camper said, "The campgrounds are amazing and a world unto themselves," highlighting the natural beauty of the area.
  • Clean Facilities: Many appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A visitor at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground mentioned, "Restrooms are clean and tidy and warm," which is always a plus when camping.
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA are great for families. One reviewer noted, "Great playground, jumping pillow, petting farm and mining fun," making it a hit with kids.

What you should know

  • Crowded on Holidays: Many campgrounds can get busy during holidays. A camper at Lawson's Landing mentioned, "Most people have RVs so the generators start early," which might not be ideal for those seeking peace and quiet.
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Olema Campground, have limited facilities. A visitor pointed out, "There are only portapotties," so be prepared for that.
  • Wildlife Precautions: Raccoons and other critters can be a nuisance. A camper at Mount Diablo State Park Campground advised, "Make sure you clean your site after every meal and store your items well."

Tips for camping with families

  • Plan for Activities: Choose campgrounds with plenty of activities for kids. At San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA, one parent said, "This place is busy and expensive," but the activities kept their kids entertained.
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Be ready for anything. A family camping at Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground noted, "You might think, 'oh just one bad time,'" but it’s good to be prepared for unexpected situations.
  • Choose the Right Campsite: Look for sites that offer some privacy. A camper at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground mentioned, "The campsite is clean and well maintained," which can help ensure a pleasant stay.

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Not all sites are the same size. A reviewer at Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground mentioned, "Not much space to pitch a larger size tent," so be sure to check before booking.
  • Bring a Lock for Food Storage: At Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground, a camper advised, "Make sure you bring a pad lock as there is no locking mechanism on the door," to keep your food safe from wildlife.
  • Know Your Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have full hookups. A visitor at Anthony Chabot Regional Park noted, "No full hookup at stations," so plan accordingly.

Camping near Greenbrae, California, offers a variety of experiences, from scenic hikes to family-friendly activities. Just be prepared for the unique quirks of each campground, and you’ll have a great time!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Greenbrae, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Greenbrae, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 134 campgrounds and RV parks near Greenbrae, CA and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near Greenbrae, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Greenbrae, CA is Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 52 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Greenbrae, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Greenbrae, CA.

What parks are near Greenbrae, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Greenbrae, CA that allow camping, notably Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore.