Best Tent Camping near Gualala, CA

Tent campgrounds in the Mendocino Coast region surrounding Gualala, California offer diverse options under redwood canopies and near coastal access points. Paul M. Demmick Campground in Navarro River Redwoods State Park provides first-come, first-served tent sites with creek access, while Bullfrog Pond Campground in Armstrong Woods features walk-in tent sites around a small pond. Several environmental campgrounds in Sonoma Coast State Park, including Willow Creek and Pomo Canyon, cater specifically to tent campers seeking more secluded experiences.

Most tent sites in the region feature picnic tables and fire rings on natural surfaces with varying levels of shade. Campgrounds like Paul M. Demmick offer basic amenities with vault toilets but no potable water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies. Many tent campgrounds in the area operate on a self-pay system with fees ranging from $15-35 per night. Walk-in tent sites at environmental campgrounds typically require carrying gear a short distance from parking areas but reward campers with greater privacy. Road access varies significantly, with some locations requiring navigation along steep, winding single-lane roads that can be challenging after dark.

Tent camping near Gualala provides exceptional access to both redwood forests and coastal areas within short driving distances. The area's unique geography allows campers to choose between forest immersion or proximity to beaches. Sites within Jackson Demonstration Forest offer riverside camping with hiking trails, while coastal tent sites provide dramatic ocean views. Smaller campgrounds tend to fill quickly on summer weekends but remain relatively uncrowded during weekdays. A camper described Bullfrog Pond as "a beautiful little spot in the redwoods - shaded, peaceful and lovely," noting they "arrived early afternoon in August on a Saturday and found a nice empty spot no problem." Campers seeking primitive tent setups should consider the environmental campgrounds, which offer more seclusion but fewer amenities than established tent campgrounds.

Best Tent Sites Near Gualala, California (24)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Gualala, CA

636 Reviews of 24 Gualala Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • Michi P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 24, 2025

    Middle Creek Campground

    Great place for dry camping

    Beautiful location, campground was easily accessible going up Elk Mountain Road. Camped in Site 11, pull through, no hook ups, nice picnic table, grill and fire pit. Vault toilets, no showers. There is potable water close to the campsites. Very quiet during the week, it did get noisier on the weekends, but everyone settled down for the evening.

  • MarinMaverick
    Aug. 14, 2020

    Russian Gulch State Park Campground

    Great Spot

    I like this a little better than Van Damm down the road because of the small private beach which never appears crowded. You do have road noise but it really is not bad.

    Great little tent camping spots and a fabulous group tent camping spot.  From the small beach you can play in the waves and launch protected kayaks into the small bay.  On the right day there are some tidepools (not a lot).  A stream runs through camp and empties on to the beach.

    Great Fern Canyon trail and waterfall trail back in the gorge.

    You can explore all the Mendoconio Coast from here.

    Sites are well spaced and protected. Tables, fire rings and food storage.  Nice rest rooms with showers.  I like the lower loop along the creek and thes sites at the end, near the beginning of the fern canyon trail are choice.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 2, 2023

    Van Damme State Park Campground

    Close to the ocean but dark and damp

    General& Site Quality: 74 campsites; 1-13 in the lower loop and the remainder in the upper loop. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and bear box. No hookups. Camper pads are dirt. 

    Bath/Shower house: Self-contained units, some with toilet and sink, and some with just a toilet. NO soap but paper towels and a hook for toiletries. Showers take tokens; each $1.00 token gives you a five-minute shower. Didn’t use the shower. 

    Activities & Amenities: The day-use area and the Fern Canyon Trail accessed from the campground are currently closed due to storm damage. You can drive a short distance south to walk on the Pygmy Forest boardwalk (about a quarter of a mile) but there is very limited parking (about 8-9 spaces). You can extend the hike on the Fern Canyon trail but cannot hike to/from the campground. There is a dump station, but it costs $10 to use. There is a Visitor Center but it had limited hours during our stay. There is easy access to the ocean just across Highway One (you can even camp in the parking lot for the same rate as long as you are out by 9 a.m.)  The park is close to the town of Mendocino with great restaurants and shopping if that appeals to you.

    We arrived around dusk and left fairly early the next morning to walk on the Pygmy Forest boardwalk. I didn’t explore too much (including the upper loop) as there was a black bear sighting the day we were there. Even though it was a sunny day, the campground felt dark and damp.

  • A
    Aug. 1, 2016

    Manchester State Park Campground

    Stars!

    Second time I've been here. Five years ago, I thought it was pretty bare-bones but just what I wanted: first-come, first-serve tent spot within 3 hours of San Francisco and within a walk of the ocean. No city lights to speak of = incredible stargazing. Oceanside = fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves. Did I mention first-come, first-serve? Nearly all the other campgrounds on the CA coast require a reservation 6 months in advance for weekends, with weekday availability not much better. This small campground had a number of empty spots available at 8pm on a Saturday.

    This year, it was nearly the same story. Park funding cut back, so no host = no firewood (KOA up the road sells bundles for $8). And it's only open on weekends until further notice. The vault toilets had plenty of TP, and the sites were well maintained so clearly someone is looking after the place. In fact, the overgrown grass and coastal scrub that previously lent some extra privacy to sites was cut down, a bit of a bummer. Go for the spots on the northern loop. The trees there offer some wind protection and the views over the valley toward Alder Creek are worthwhile. I wanted to set up my hammock, but tree-less sites closer to the road render that a non-option. For site variety, spaciousness, privacy, and amenities, I'd say Manchester is more like 2-2.5 stars. But last-minute availability bumps it up to 3.

    There is still a pasture full of cows across the street and the Pt. Arena lighthouse just beyond to greet you in the morning, and the ocean still crashes within earshot. Salt Point and Gualala campgrounds are warmer and woodsier. Mackerricher and Russian Gulch offer much more to do. But in a pinch, Manchester will continue to be my impromptu coastal road trip stopover.

  • Lindsay The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2020

    Hendy Woods State Park Campground

    Convenient, clean, chill

    Location • state park located north of Sonoma and an hour south of Mendocino • in the Virgina redwood forest • closest town: about 6 miles away

    Facilities • Bathrooms & showers easily accesible for all sites - cleaned regularly • some bathrooms updated very recently • Spigots every few sites with good draining • campfire theatre • firewood sold on premises • about 70 campsites • some cabins • day use picnic area • wheelchair accesible trails

    Ambiance • quiet hours 10pm - 8am • mostly families • dogs allowed on leash

    Sites • Small to medium, close together • More open than private; good for groups who need multiple sites • Most hace at least part shade throughout the day • ring fire pits with grill • wooden food locker at each site • wooden picnic table at each site • enough space for 3-4 cars

    Things to do • Variety of easy hikes/walks • drive to Mendocino • wine tasting in town

    Beware • Poison oak

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • MarinMaverick
    Aug. 12, 2020

    Navarro Beach - Navarro River Redwoods State Park

    Closed For A While - Sweet Spot

    So this has been closed for a while, but hope with funding it will re open.

    It is sweet spot just before you reach the coastline.

    A little stretch of redwoods on the Navaro River.  Sites are along the river. Defnse redwoods and ferns.  SHaded. Good swimming holes and good fishing.  Great access for kayaks and canoes.

    Sites have tables, fire rings and some have food storage. Primitve rest rooms.


Guide to Gualala

Tent camping near Gualala, California offers a unique combination of coastal and redwood forest experiences within the coastal fog belt. Summer fog often blankets the coast during morning hours, burning off by mid-day with temperatures ranging from 55-75°F. Road access to many campgrounds requires navigating steep, single-lane routes that can be challenging in larger vehicles or after dark.

What to do

River activities: At Paul M. Demmick Campground, campers can enjoy creek access from a small day use area. "There's a river nearby and a small trail (less than a mile?)" notes Bobby J., who appreciates that the site is "only a 20 ish minute drive to the coast."

Beach access: Willow Creek Environmental Campground provides access to the Russian River and nearby ocean beaches. Jason C. describes it as "a cool little campground right on the Russian. It's kinda tucked away and not too busy, which made it perfect by my book."

Floating and paddleboarding: Many campgrounds offer river recreation opportunities. Christopher M. describes that at Schoolhouse Canyon Campground, "The beach along the river is for the camps private use and their is a company the will rent you stand up paddle boards ($50 for two hours or $100 per day)."

Wine tasting: The Gualala region sits near Sonoma wine country. Rosina A. mentions that Bullfrog Pond campground is "a close drive to the Russian river" and notes "You can do some tough hill hikes through the Oaks or easier hikes through the Redwoods."

What campers like

Peaceful settings: Many campers value the quiet atmosphere at Schoolhouse Canyon Campground. Christina F. notes it's "Quiet (due to the rules), clean and both Chris and his wife work hard every day to create an excellent experience for their guests."

Private beaches: Several campgrounds offer exclusive river access. Nathan H. mentions Schoolhouse Canyon has "a private beach just for guests of the campsite right across river road. Wood for sale and tubes available for rent."

Redwood shade: Bullfrog Pond Campground offers sites under redwood canopy. Cyrel T. notes "There is a camp host at site 4 and the grounds are maintained quite well. Even the bathroom is a normal bathroom and kept clean."

Star viewing: The distance from city lights makes for excellent night skies. Jason C. says of Willow Creek Environmental Campground, "The stars at night are fantastic, and Jenner and Guerneville are close enough so you can run out and pick up anything you might have forgotten to pack in."

What you should know

Seasonal closures: Some campgrounds in the Gualala area close during winter months. At Paul M. Demmick, Avery R. reported, "They were closed!" adding that the site closes "sept 2 until May."

Limited facilities: Many environmental campgrounds have minimal amenities. Jason C. notes Willow Creek has "no real amenities to speak of except for a composting toilet and a faucet for water located by the path in."

Advance planning required: Campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. MarinMaverick advises that at Bullfrog Pond "you will need a permit for the backpacking sites but they are first come first served sites."

Challenging access: Pomo Canyon Environmental Camp and other environmental sites require hiking in. Elliot M. describes it as a "Beautiful redwood forest. Very quiet. Trails to the coast."

Tips for camping with families

Shallow river spots: Several campgrounds offer kid-friendly water access. Amber D. says of Schoolhouse Canyon, "The beach is across the street and through a little trail but we'll worth it. Very nice water for floating and swimming, with a cute little beach area to keep your stuff."

Playground availability: Bu-Shay Campground offers unexpected amenities for children. Joshua H. notes, "Our young kids had a great time playing on the playground which was an unexpected bonus."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Some sites offer wildlife encounters, though Paul M. Demmick was noted by L as being "mostly devoid of wildlife. We saw one Scrub jay and one ground squirrel while we were there and no bees, butterflies, or insects. And there was absolutely no birdsong. Very odd."

Food storage requirements: Animals may take unattended food. L cautions at Paul M. Demmick, "Don't leave your food out overnight on the picnic table or that ground squirrel will spirit it away."

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup availability: Some campgrounds near Gualala offer partial hookups. Scotty B. notes of Duncans Mills Campground, "full hookups and well maintained campground along with a decent rec center."

Site leveling challenges: Many tent campgrounds accommodate small RVs but may have uneven terrain. Cyrel T. says of Bullfrog Pond, "The site vary in size and many are on a hill so they are not exactly flat."

Dump station locations: Some sites offer sanitary dumps. Cathy explains at Duncans Mills, "You can pay to have your Honeywell dumped if not at a full hook up."

Access road restrictions: Many campgrounds have narrow, winding access roads. Corey O. warns about Bullfrog Pond having a "One lane road access that would be intimidating at night."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Gualala, CA is Paul M. Demmick Campground — Navarro River Redwoods State Park with a 3.6-star rating from 7 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Gualala, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.