Kensington is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Kensington is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Find the best campgrounds near Kensington, CA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$25 - $200 / night
"as usual some spots are better than others but most close to restrooms and/or water. lots of poison oak and star thistle right off trail. great deterrent for kids to stay out of tick areas but id worry"
"Midweek in June the park, which is fairly large, is still nearly empty."
$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"
$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. "
"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."
$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"
$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."
$75 - $120 / night
"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."
"Tilden offers a lake in the middle to swim in and fish. The campsites have lots of fire pits. The weather is always great too!"
$30 / night
"This mountain has many of hiking trails for various levels of hikers."
"Live Oak is the closest to the entrance (and town), and features some cool rock formations to explore, but it's colder, has terrible cellular data service, and doesn't quite have the sunset / sunrise views"
$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."
$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."
TravelerI 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.
ScoutI 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.
TravelerGreat 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.
GuideOn 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
TravelerThis sweet little spot is a paddle boarding and fishing dream. Primitive site where Smittle Creek flows into Lake Berryessa.
GuideI 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
TravelerLovely large meadow with scattered trees. RC/van spots are arranged in cul de sacs, tent spots on the edges of fields.
Somewhat noisy - kids, dogs, radios - but settled down by 9. Friendly vibe. Expensive at $83/nt but good showers. Wifi was slow when I stayed.
Decent backup option for the area if Samuel Taylor is booked.
TravelerLovely site in redwoods. Sites are close, but have some privacy. Stream is accessible shallow. Beautiful trees.
TravelerPaid a premium price for a Saturday one nighter, but it certainly is a great VIP campsite. The host says they will come around in the morning and empty our tanks! No need to hook up our sewer hose!
Camping near Kensington, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and family-friendly activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.
Camping near Kensington, California, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're hiking through redwoods or relaxing by the beach, there's something for every camper to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Kensington, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Kensington, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 148 campgrounds and RV parks near Kensington, CA and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Kensington, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Kensington, CA is Anthony Chabot Regional Park with a 4.6-star rating from 29 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Kensington, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Kensington, CA.
What parks are near Kensington, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Kensington, CA that allow camping, notably Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore.
Keep Exploring
