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jacqueline P.
Scout
ScoutPelican Point RV Park
Has hot showers & laundry room! A 5 min walk to the ocean as well. Super peaceful
Tent Camping near Dublin, CA
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Regional parks surrounding Dublin, California offer diverse tent camping options within a short drive of the city. Morgan Territory Regional Preserve provides walk-in tent sites with views of Mount Diablo, while Juniper Campground in Mount Diablo State Park offers tent-only camping at higher elevations. Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, located in Oakland, features primitive tent camping with unique geological features. Las Trampas Regional Wilderness in San Ramon provides both drive-in and walk-in tent sites with trail access throughout the preserve.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal grading. Facilities vary significantly between locations, with some sites offering only vault toilets while others provide flush toilets and potable water. Juniper Campground includes picnic tables, fire rings, and food storage boxes. A camper at Juniper noted the "weather in May was really nice, not too cold at night with layers, and starts warming up quick in the morning." Fire restrictions are common during dry summer months, particularly at higher elevations. Many backcountry tent camping areas require reservations, while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis with 14-day stay limits.
Walk-in tent sites often provide greater privacy and natural settings than drive-in locations. At Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, the primitive hike-in site accommodates up to 15 campers with two designated tent pads approximately 0.2 miles from the parking area. The site offers 360-degree views of Mount Diablo and surrounding peaks. According to reviews, weekday camping typically means fewer crowds and more solitude. Tent campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters, including coyotes at Mount Diablo State Park, where one visitor reported "hearing coyotes howling night and day." Most tent-only campgrounds provide food storage options to protect supplies from wildlife, though water availability varies significantly between locations.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Dublin (33)
1. Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 / night
2. Juniper Campground — Mount Diablo State Park
"We didn’t have a reservation, but got 1 upon arrival around 2pm. Our site had nearby bathrooms, showers & trash. It included picnic table, fire pit, food storage boxes, & is very spacious."
Check Availabilityfrom $30 / night
3. Sunol
"Great backpacking getway. Many day hikers here but you can backpack as well. I camped on a beautiful ridge."
"I have never camped here but hiked many trails."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when available4. Coyote Hills Regional Park
"We walked through and enjoyed the nature areas so much. We continue to go back and spend time at Cayote Hills because it is so beautiful. We can't wait until thwe next time."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $75 / night
5. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
"Magical :) I feel at Peace at Such a Beautiful Location. Its a Must see."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $75 / night
6. Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
"The Sibley backpack camp is a small, primitive hike-in site for a maximum of 15 campers (although this would be super cramped in my opinion, unless it a bunch of small kids), a moderate 0.2 mile walk from"
Check Availabilityfrom $15 / night
7. Tilden Regional Park
"Tilden Park is perfect for anyone whose interested in wildlife and hiking in perfect climates. Tilden offers a lake in the middle to swim in and fish. The campsites have lots of fire pits."
"Tilden is great for anyone looking for a close park right outside of the Berkeley/San Fran area. It is a rather large park area that overlooks Berkeley."
Check Availabilityfrom $75 - $120 / night
8. Briones Regional Park
"A few low spots. Cleared 12' barely with minor scrapes. Good parking and turn around. Lots of opportunities for horse riders in area. Pets on leash."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $75 - $200 / night
9. Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park
"Angel Island is a unique backpacking experience, one I'd gladly do again."
"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!"
2 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $30 / night
10. Round Valley Regional Preserve
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 / night
Drive Time
- 29 min from San Jose, CA
- 38 min from Vallejo, CA
- 40 min from Stockton, CA
- 51 min from Napa, CA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Dublin, CA
45 Photos of 33 Dublin Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
Sunol
Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State ParkR
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Castle Rock Trail Camp — Castle Rock State Park
Haypress Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Alice Eastwood Group Camp — Mount Tamalpais State Park
Pantoll Campground — Mount Tamalpais State ParkS
Tent Camping Reviews near Dublin, CA
692 Reviews of 33 Dublin Campgrounds
Laura K.ScoutCalifornia Delta's Snug Harbor
This campground needs a lot of work including docks, boat births and sites need pads and less weeds, stickers, burs.
- kkelly E.
GuideUvas Pines RV Park
Nice big campsites, creek running but unsure if clean enough to go in. There’s a dog park with lights which is really awesome for our old dogs. There are definitely some long term campers here but it still has a nice feel. Only reason it’s not 5 star is we are close to the road so it’s loud.
C. K.
TravelerSan Mateo Memorial Park
Redwood canopy
Around this time of year, park is practically empty during weekdays. Nice and quiet and peaceful place where you can slow things down
T T.GuideDumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Great safe place in sourh east bay
Great location with spaces in safe SE bay area location and reasonable prices New development small young trees limited natural shade
Kylee R.
RangerCaswell Memorial State Park Campground
Caswell Memorial State Park
Lots of sites with privacy! Bathrooms are clean and they have coin operated showers. Dumpsters and water in various spots. Right on the river, a small beach access. Saw some cats. Bear box, picnic table, and fire pit at each spot.
Tom T.ScoutDumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Open sky great starlink users.
Very quiet campground at night. See stars clearly. Use the fire pit after 730pm when the wind has calmed down.
- TTwindaddyGuide
Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
East Bay Parks - IYKYK
Like most/all east bay parks, this is well appointed for the masses. It’s also surrounded by rolling hills and close to suburbia. For many, these are positives. As an east bay resident they are for me as well. Del Valle is a bit more removed than many east bay parks. From my location in Fremont, it’s a one hour drive. A pleasant drive for the most part. I camp to get away for a bit and almost always to mountain bike. As such, I seek parks that have trails. Del Valle has a map of many trails. They also appear on many of the mapping services used by mountain bikers. Review those and digest them if this is also your intention - these are east bay parka style trails. In other words, mostly steep and loose fire roads, with many “social trails” sprinkled between. If you are compelled to stay legit/legal trails, bring an ebike. Now on to the camping. I picked a spot as far removed from any booked spot on the map. I triple checked this up until the day before I arrived. I want solitude! When I arrived Thursday afternoon, I was surprised to see the sites just 3 spaces away, on both sides, occupied. This is a fairly compact area. And while I’m sure they’re lovely folks, this isn’t what I expected on a Thursday. Saturday? Sure. Anyway… be aware that these reservation services aren’t completely reliable in that regard. The bathrooms and showers are amazing! Clean, smell good, cared for. Noteworthy is the hot showers in the camp grounds are free and your one push of the button provides water for two minutes I'd guess. Very nice! The space, 135 for me, is okay. A couple trees for shade, a nice table and fire pit. It’s now dark and the noise is minimal - mostly from the group campsite just down the hill. I’ll update this with more details in the coming days since it’s a 4 day visit.
Update 1: it’s my first morning here. Using starlink as there is no cell signal to be found. What I noticed last night was that this park is directly below the flight path to the local airports. Every couple minutes last night, a plane would fly overhead. According to flight aware, they’re at about 10,000 feet. If this will ruin your getaway, you’ve been warned.
Update 2: On Friday night, the majority of the spots were filled. Many large groups of people with varying degrees of consideration, but to their credit almost all (except the barking German Shepard) were quiet by 10PM. It was a bit more crowded come Saturday morning. Some friends came to visit for a mountain bike ride, and we set off at about noon. I had been complimentary of the facilities and bragged that I'd be taking a nice shower after our ride. Unfortunately, upon our return, there was no hot water and no lighting in the showers. And, sadly, someone decided to remove the tags and hangers from their TJ Maxx haul and leave them all over the floor of two of the showers.
Verdict: I'd only come back here in the springtime when it's likely to be green and have some water in the arroyo and only during the week. The density and composition of the people here was akin to being at Costco on a Saturday, and I only did that once.
- C. K.Traveler
San Mateo Memorial Park
Under the Redwoods
Nothing like camping under the redwoods with sounds of streams nearby. Restrooms and facilities are clean and well maintained. Park Rangers are extremely nice and helpful.
Guide to Dublin
Tent camping sites near Dublin, California range from primitive backcountry locations to more developed campgrounds with varying amenities. The East Bay region features volcanic terrain, rolling hills, and elevations ranging from 400 to 3,800 feet. Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F at lower elevations, while winter nights can drop below 40°F, especially at higher campsites.
What to do
Hiking volcanic formations: Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve features unique geological hiking opportunities around an ancient volcano. "There are several trails providing tons of access throughout the preserve. The 31-mile East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail system, traverses the preserve along the ridgeline," notes Elliott B. in his Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve review.
Swimming spots: Lake Anza at Tilden Regional Park offers refreshing swimming options during hot summer months. "Tilden Park is perfect for anyone whose interested in wildlife and hiking in perfect climates. Tilden offers a lake in the middle to swim in and fish," shares Nicholas M. in his Tilden Regional Park review.
Backpacking routes: Several parks allow overnight backpacking for more adventurous tent campers. "Great backpacking getway. Many day hikers here but you can backpack as well. I camped on a beautiful ridge," reports MarinMaverick about Sunol, where the Ohlone Wilderness offers more remote camping opportunities.
What campers like
Off-grid feeling: Morgan Territory Regional Preserve delivers a sense of remoteness despite being close to Dublin. "Feels very off grid. Camp experience was smooth and the sun was shining," says Tyler S. in his Morgan Territory Regional Preserve review.
Wildlife encounters: Coyotes, raccoons, deer and other animals are commonly spotted throughout the region's campgrounds. "Heard coyotes howling night and day which was neat. No raccoons. Saw some lizards," notes Brittney L. about her camping experience at Mount Diablo State Park.
Low crowds on weekdays: Most tent campgrounds around Dublin see significantly lower usage Monday through Thursday, particularly outside summer months. "Las Trampas Regional Wilderness is a nice hidden gem that many won't know even has a campground. While tiny and available only for a small number of campers, if you can get a spot booked well in advance, you'll have the place nearly all to yourself," writes Stuart K.
What you should know
Summer heat considerations: Temperatures can become extreme at some campgrounds in July and August. "Insanely hot in the summer, I would recommend not going in July like we did. It was 104° or something and I was just drenching my clothes in water to stay cool," warns Ben W. about Juniper Campground.
Limited water sources: Several backcountry tent sites lack reliable drinking water. At Sunol/Ohlone Wilderness backpacking camps, "The sites are primitive and the water source questionable and unreliable. I hiked in all the water I needed," advises MarinMaverick.
Reservation requirements: Most tent sites require advanced booking, especially during peak season (May-September). At Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, "Reservation must be completed at least 5 days in advance by calling 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757."
Tips for camping with families
Little Farm visit: Combine tent camping with educational farm activities at Tilden Regional Park. "Taking the kids to Tilden's Little Farm (bring your own carrots, kale and lettuce)," suggests Stuart K., who notes this makes a great add-on activity to camping with children.
Wildlife safety: Teach children about proper food storage to avoid nighttime visitors. "They have food lockers, not bear lockers, and ours was broken one time so have a solid backup plan, the raccoons are very intelligent and they come out at night so be prepared for that," warns Ben W. about Juniper Campground.
Heat management: When tent camping with children during summer months, choose higher elevation sites. "The weather in May was really nice imo. Not too cold at night with layers, & starts warming up quick in the morning," reports Brittney L. about her spring camping experience.
Tips from RVers
Low clearance challenges: Some campgrounds have access roads with height restrictions. At Briones Regional Park, "A few low spots. Cleared 12' barely with minor scrapes. Good parking and turn around," reports Cococounty L.
Limited hookup options: Most tent camping areas near Dublin don't offer full RV hookups. Las Trampas Regional Wilderness has some accommodation for smaller RVs but with minimal amenities, according to reviews.
Parking restrictions: Larger RVs should verify parking availability before arrival. At Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, "Vehicles must be parked in the staging area and display a valid overnight parking permit: 3 parking permits are included in the reservation and will be mailed 5 days in advance."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Dublin, CA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Dublin, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dublin, CA is Morgan Territory Regional Preserve with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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tent camping near
Dublin, CA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Dublin, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Dublin, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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