Best Cabin Camping near Kensington, CA
Steep Ravine Campground at Mount Tamalpais State Park features rustic cabins perched along the Pacific Ocean coastline about 30 minutes north of San Francisco. These simple wood structures include a wood-burning stove for heat, built-in sleeping platforms, a small table, and wooden benches. Each cabin accommodates up to six people across three semi-private rooms with one double platform and multiple single platforms for sleeping. The cabins lack electricity and running water, though outdoor spigots provide water for washing dishes. Bathroom facilities with flush toilets are located near the parking area. "The cabins are well worth the cost. 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. No electricity but the wood burning stove provides some light."
Reservations for cabin accommodations are notoriously difficult to secure, with booking windows opening six months in advance. The most popular locations like Steep Ravine require visitors to be prepared to reserve immediately when spots become available. "We've been lucky enough to score one of these cabins twice by checking in every so often to see if someone cancelled a reservation," noted one visitor. Skyline Wilderness Park offers cabin accommodations closer to Napa Valley with more developed amenities. San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA provides standard KOA cabin options with electricity and nearby bathrooms. Most cabin facilities allow pets, though Steep Ravine's cabins do not permit dogs.
Most rustic cabins require guests to bring their own bedding, lighting solutions, and cooking equipment. At Steep Ravine, visitors should pack candles or lanterns, bed linens, and privacy curtains for windows. Basic supplies like firewood can typically be purchased on-site for cabins with wood-burning stoves. While KOA cabins and more developed facilities have electricity and sometimes basic kitchenette equipment, all cabin types require guests to bring food and personal items. A visitor to Steep Ravine advised: "Bring something to hang over windows if you need privacy. Wood is for sale to heat up the cabin in the wood burning stove which you need especially during the colder months." Wildlife precautions are necessary at most cabin locations, with Steep Ravine cabins reportedly having mice issues and campgrounds experiencing raccoon activity.
