Christine L.
Scout
ScoutAustin Creek State Rec Area
Summer 2026 - Closed
Currently the Bull Frog Campground is closed Until Further Notice and there is no Back Country Camping available either. Day Use only.
Camping near Guerneville, CA
136 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Guerneville, California range from tent and RV sites with direct Russian River access to cabin accommodations, giving campers a variety of options along the scenic Russian River corridor. Schoolhouse Canyon Campground and Parker's Resort offer both tent and RV sites with river access, while Porto Bodega Marina & RV Park provides cabin accommodations for those seeking more comfort. Many campgrounds in this region feature access to the Russian River for swimming and paddling, with some properties maintaining private beaches exclusively for campers. Casini Ranch Family Campground, located in nearby Duncans Mills, accommodates tents, RVs, and cabins with full hookups, making it suitable for various camping preferences.
The Russian River area experiences mild temperatures year-round, though most visitors come during summer months when water activities are most enjoyable. Several campgrounds operate seasonally, with Ocean Cove Store and Campground typically open from April through November. "This is a great place right near the Russian river. The sites closer to river road do have quite a bit of road noise but the ones further in are great," notes one visitor about Schoolhouse Canyon. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for summer weekends when riverside camping areas fill quickly. Many campgrounds maintain quiet hours and specific rules to preserve the peaceful atmosphere beneath the redwood canopy. River levels can vary significantly throughout the season, with late summer bringing lower water levels in some areas.
Camping near downtown Guerneville allows convenient access to local amenities. "Location location location. If you enjoy Guerneville and want a simple campsite where you can easily walk to every bar, restaurant, and the redwoods, this is the spot," mentioned one camper about Johnson's Beach. Several campgrounds feature shaded sites beneath towering redwoods, providing natural cooling during warmer months. The region's campgrounds generally receive high ratings for cleanliness and family-friendly environments, though sites closer to roads may experience traffic noise. Private beaches along the Russian River are highly valued amenities at several campgrounds, offering swimming and paddling opportunities without public crowds. Most mixed-use campgrounds provide picnic tables, fire rings, and access to restrooms and showers, with varying levels of hookups for RVs.
Best Campgrounds near Guerneville (136)
1. Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
"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."
from $45 / night
Check Availability2. Casini Ranch Family Campground
"A few friends and I recently spent 4 days camping at this beautiful ranch right outside of Duncan Mills and absolutely loved our stay."
"Fire puts when allowed by California. Russian River gets surprisingly warm during the summer."
3. Doran Regional Park
"We stayed here for a night at the tail end of a December California adventure before flying out of SFO the next day."
"General: Located between Bodega Bay and Bodega Harbor, this county park has over 140 sites in four campgrounds: Shell, Gull, Cove, and Jetty."
4. Wright's Beach Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
"This campground is in the perfect location. The beach is amazing and you feel like you have it all to yourself and your fellow campers."
"This campground is located on mile-long stretch of beach within the Sonoma Coast State Park. I lived in Sonoma County for 15 years and this is my favorite beach."
from $45 / night
Check Availability5. Schoolhouse Canyon Campground
"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!!!)"
"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."
from $48 / night
Check Availability6. Bodega Bay RV Park
"With a good location you can take some walks to the Salmon River. The pull thru was long but is very narrow. Time you are setup, the camp side of the site is very small."
"On the outskirts of Bodega Bay."
7. Porto Bodega Marina & RV Park
"If you wanna rv and craving crab,chowder, and oysters this is the spot for you, full hook up,fire pit , and picnic table walking distance to a restaurant and shops great views very relaxing...the down"
"There is a coffee/breakfast place, and a wine/beer/restaurant at the edge of the property. Very good and convenient! Lots of nice walking opportunities!"
8. Ocean Cove Store and Campground
"Great scenery, and many of the tent sites are tucked away in little nooks and crannies for privacy if you don’t want the more open outer ring sites."
"Ocean Cove is a private campground right off Highway one. The owners are very friendly and helpful and they also own the grocery store across from the campsites."
from $28 - $280 / night
Check Availability9. Johnson's Beach
"If you enjoy Guerneville and want a simple campsite where you can easily walk to every bar, restaurant, and the redwoods, this is the spot."
"There is an access to the river and few steps away from an old small town feel. Lots of local shops and bars right outside the campsite."
from $50 - $100 / night
Check Availability10. Bullfrog Pond Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
"Not far from Guerneville. Incredible view from the top of the campsites area. The walk-in camp sites actually have better setups albeit a little less private."
"Bullfrog campground is located in Armstrong woods (Guerneville, CA). It's on top of a rugged drive up the woods and they are first come first serve basis."
Drive Time
- 21 min from Santa Rosa, CA
- 1 hr 1 min from Vallejo, CA
- 1 hr 6 min from Napa, CA
- 1 hr 15 min from San Francisco, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Guerneville, CA
286 Photos of 136 Guerneville Campgrounds
Christina F.
Schoolhouse Canyon Campground
Michelle B.
River Bend Resort
Christopher B.
La Bohemia
Chelsea N.
Bullfrog Pond Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Dustin C.
Casini Ranch Family Campground
Robert C.
Glamping in the Redwoods 🐶🐕💃🕺🏼
Travis C.
Wright's Beach Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
C
Miss Daisy’s Magical Wonderland
cami R.
Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park
Patrick J.
Bodega Bay RV Park
Ken B.
Wildhaven Sonoma
lance L.
Westside Regional Park
Recent Reviews near Guerneville, CA
976 Reviews of 136 Guerneville Campgrounds
- L
Libby
TravelerManchester Beach / Mendocino Coast KOA
Best time at a KOA!!
This has been an honestly fun time. Many unexpected things, like movies now night, community campfire, and great of leash dog park area. The staff are so helpful. Delivered fire wood and propane to the site. If you’re not able to score a site with sewer hook-up, don’t worry. They offer a honey bucket service that comes to your RV for $15. All the usual amenities at a KOA, plus a pool, game room, and small general store. We will definitely be back. Oh and, look for a place to enjoy Thanksgiving, this place have a community pot luck, bring a side dish to share. They provide the turkey.
- Patrick W.Scout
Glen Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
In the middle of nowhere
It’s kinda more like a last choice in the area. I’m happy I had the opportunity to stay there (to compare the other campsites) and it is nicely set up with running water, picnic table, and pit toilets. Campsite 10 though is the worst of ‘em. Set directly in the middle with no privacy and no shade.
Whenever someone opened the pit toilet doors, the smell wafted gracefully like a hammer out of nowhere to abuse my olfactory senses! Just trying to be real and give the scoops.
The NPS does a great job with maintaining the campsite BUT I would definitely pick any of the other locations first. Eg Sky, Coast, or Wildcat. That being said, if there was nothing else available, I’d stay there again. Get in late and leave early.
- LLandon R.Traveler
Blue Oak Campground
Very cool views, but a lot of trash
Found a spot on the hill that had a sweet view, but was covered in trash and shotgun shells. A lot of dirt bikers so you hear that most of the day.
Madeleine B.ScoutKoa Cloverdale Camping Resort
Glad I Ignored the Bad Reviews
Abundant bad reviews were available for this campground but we had no major issues. Bathrooms and pool were in good condition.
- HHeather D.Traveler
Thousand Trails Russian River
They're trying
So the staff here are really nice and helpful and trying to keep the place up. There is definitely not enough staff for the size of of the grounds here. The river is super low right now but it's mid July inland in California so that's expected. Getting down to the river access is either by being dropped off by a car and then picked back up when you are done OR walking down the windy steep road and then back UP when you are tired and hungry and hot etc. If you have a mobility issue be prepared to get help. My husband has prosthetics and we couldn't be down at the same time without a lot of back and forth with the vehicle. The bathroom/bathhouse in A section of the park is trashed. I don't have a nicer way to put that. We lost water the second night we were there and that lasted most of the next day and then power went out at 11pm three nights later and was off for almost 24 hours. We more than likely won't be staying there again anytime soon. It looks like it used to be a really nice spot but it has just been neglected and abused.
Alan L.
GuideUpper Bayview Campground — Clear Lake State Park
Spacious camp site!
Very spacious camp site. We got invited here by a relative. Stayed in the upper area, so you had to drive down to the lake. Park rangers were present. Can’t remember the camp site we stayed in but if you don’t mind taking a 5 minute drive,book the upper campground. Lake water was 7/10. Great temperature, but I’m more of a Christal clear water person. There was some algae/ weeds. I heard a lot of negative comments about the water. Overall we had a good time Bathrooms and showers were next to our site.
- CCarley C.Traveler
smittle creek
Definitely not a spot
Tons of signs that say no camping no parking no trespassing. There was a fence and it was locked. Definitely don’t come here
- TTwindaddyGuide
Calso - Boggs Mountain Demo Forest - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Open to camping again!
Finally open again after a couple years of clearing storm damage.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/demonstration-state-forests/boggs-demonstration-state-forest
I was there the week prior to July 4 and expected a crowd. Instead I was one of only two campers until I left on the 3rd.
As in years past, the "no-see-ems" and bees get a bit thick. The bees absolutely LOVE water, so have a van with a shower on the rear door complicates things. Nonetheless, the stay was nice. The mountain biking, though tough, was super fun. I got lucky with the weather too - only hit about 82 at the warmest.
Vault toilets are reasonably well maintained. Don't be afraid to use them if you need to.
There continues to be a lot of forest recovery after the fire over a decade (wow!) ago.
The trees that were planted are now reaching an impressive height and providing shade on many of the trails. See the pic with the bike against the tree for a sense of scale.
Nice to have the option available again - I'll be back in the fall.
Oh... the pizza parlor in Cobb is also excellent. They have great pizza a great sleection of good beers on tap!
Guide to Guerneville
The Russian River camping area near Guerneville, California sits at elevations between 50-500 feet with most campsites nestled in redwood groves or along riverbanks. Summer daytime temperatures typically range from 75-90°F, dropping to 50-60°F overnight. Winter camping options remain open though rainfall averages 38 inches annually, with most precipitation occurring November through March.
What to do
Tide pool exploration: 30-minute drive from Guerneville. Campers staying at Bodega Dunes Campground can access exceptional marine environments. "There are lots of RV campers here but some with tents. They just started allowing reservations recently. If you want a sunny site, go for the center of the loop in the 60s/70s," notes Emily W. about campsite options.
Fishing and crabbing: Available year-round. Porto Bodega Marina & RV Park offers direct access to Bodega Bay fishing opportunities. "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," reports Dustin C. about the coastal camping experience.
Wine tasting: 10+ vineyards within 15 miles. Campsites near Guerneville serve as excellent base camps for wine country exploration. One visitor to Bullfrog Pond Campground recommends: "The park is squarely in wine country so go wine tasting for lunch and get a shuttle back to camp."
What campers like
Private beach access: Exclusive river spots. Schoolhouse Canyon Campground offers dedicated beach areas. "The beach along the river is for the camps private use and there is a company that will rent you stand up paddle boards ($50 for two hours or $100 per day)," explains Christopher M.
Spacious campsites: Room for multiple tents. Casini Ranch Family Campground receives high marks for site size. "Sites are HUGE! We had plenty of room for our trailer, tent, corn hole, and more. Staff is friendly and helpful, the store is great - they have most of whatever you may need," shares Dustin C.
Protected camping environments: Natural wind barriers. Ocean camping spots offer varying degrees of wind protection. "Given that the campground is on the water, it can get very chilly at night and the wind tends to pick up," notes Haley C. at Doran Beach Campground.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Plan 3-5 months ahead for summer weekends. Demand for campsites near Guerneville varies by season. A visitor to Wright's Beach Campground advises: "We made the reservation in March and the earliest we could get was the end of July by that point."
Shower availability: Limited at some locations. Several campgrounds offer coin-operated facilities. "Bathrooms were clean but the water pressure and the temperature fluctuations in the shower were just bad," reports one camper at Porto Bodega Marina.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for nocturnal visitors. Raccoons and other animals frequently visit campsites. "We didn't leave anything out but had muddy footprints all over our table in the morning! Their garbage cans are not raccoon proof so every morning there's garbage scattered around," shares Jennifer J.
Tips for camping with families
Activity options: Daily schedules for kids. Doran Regional Park offers family-friendly coastal access. "Doran Beach is great, especially during the summer for kids because it's a well-protected cove and the waves don't usually get very high," explains Justin W.
Site selection: Choose locations based on noise tolerance. Family sections at some campgrounds can be livelier. "Lower half is family section and the upper section is adults only. This is a family run campground. This is such a beautiful area. Quick walk to the river to swim or sunbathe," notes Kenneth S. at Schoolhouse Canyon Campground.
Beach safety: Check conditions before swimming. Coastal campgrounds have varying water safety conditions. "The beach is wide, flat and great for families. The first Saturday of the month the rangers do a tide pool talk. They bring sea creatures (like sea stars, sea slugs etc) to share and let the kids hold them," reports Teresa B.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Bring stabilizing equipment. Ocean Cove Store and Campground requires preparation. "Take extra blocks if you go because our site was uneven tip to tail," advises one camper about Bodega Dunes.
Hookup variability: Research options in advance. Full-service sites are limited at coastal campgrounds. "No showers but the restrooms are clean, have warm/hot running water and plugs. Good spot to blow dry your hair if you can shower in the trailer!" shares Kerri C.
Dump station locations: Plan for services. Several campgrounds offer limited onsite services. "No water fill up (there are a couple of spigots) but fill and dumping are available at Bodega Dunes," notes Debbie M. about Wright's Beach Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best season for camping in Guerneville?
When is the best season for camping in Guerneville?
Late spring through early fall (May through September) offers the best camping conditions in Guerneville, with warm days perfect for enjoying the Russian River. Willow Creek - Sonoma Coast State Beach is ideal during summer months when the river levels are perfect for swimming and paddling. Bodega Dunes Campground makes a great base camp during summer and early fall when coastal weather is most stable. Some campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, primarily opening from late spring through early fall. Winter camping is possible at year-round sites, but prepare for cooler temperatures and potential rain. Fall offers beautiful colors and fewer crowds, while spring brings wildflowers but can still have occasional rainfall.
What amenities are available at Guerneville campsites?
What amenities are available at Guerneville campsites?
Guerneville campgrounds offer varying amenities depending on location and type. Highlands Resort provides upscale amenities including a clothing-optional pool area, outdoor kitchen with grill and gas stove, ice machine, fenced campsites with tables, and a free continental breakfast. Parker's Resort offers convenient river access with nearby kayak and canoe rentals at Johnson's Beach. Some campgrounds like Willow Creek have minimal facilities (composting toilets and water faucets), while others like Schoolhouse Canyon offer standard amenities including water and toilets. For RV campers, several sites offer hookups, though these vary by location. Most Guerneville-area campgrounds provide access to the Russian River, picnic areas, and are within walking or short driving distance to town facilities.
Where are the best campgrounds near Guerneville, CA?
Where are the best campgrounds near Guerneville, CA?
Guerneville offers a variety of excellent campgrounds in the Russian River area. Johnson's Beach provides a central location where you can easily walk to town amenities, bars, restaurants, and access the river. For those seeking a more secluded experience, Austin Creek State Rec Area offers more privacy with great views, a small pond, and nearby hiking trails. Other notable options include Schoolhouse Canyon Campground situated along the Russian River and Casini Ranch Family Campground near Duncans Mills. For beach lovers, Sonoma Coast State Park's campgrounds are just a short drive away, providing coastal camping experiences with easy access to Guerneville's redwood forests and river activities.
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