Madeleine B.
Scout
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.
Camping near Lake Sonoma
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Lake Sonoma offers a mix of established campgrounds with varying amenities within the California wine country. Liberty Glen Campground provides tent and RV sites with lake views, though it is temporarily closed for maintenance. The Lake Sonoma Marina Campground offers open grounds with scenic vistas of the water, while nearby options include the Cloverdale/Healdsburg KOA and Thousand Trails Russian River, both featuring cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping. Most campgrounds in this region are situated within 20-30 minutes of Cloverdale and Healdsburg towns, providing access to wine country attractions.
Seasonal considerations impact the camping experience throughout the area. Campgrounds like Ocean Cove Store and Campground operate on a limited schedule from April through November, while others remain open year-round. During summer, facilities can reach capacity quickly, particularly on weekends. Water availability varies between locations—Lake Sonoma Marina Campground notably lacks potable water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies. Roads to certain campgrounds may require longer routes during winter months when seasonal bridges are removed. A review noted, "In the winter, the bridge is removed, so you have to go through the town of Cloverdale and back track, adding about 15-20 minutes to your trip."
Campers report mixed experiences with noise levels at Lake Sonoma area campgrounds. Several visitors mentioned concerns about limited noise enforcement at Lake Sonoma Marina Campground, particularly during weekend nights. The terrain at many sites features rolling hills with limited flat areas for tent setup. Facilities range from basic with porta-potties to more developed campgrounds offering showers, swimming pools, and recreation options. Family-friendly activities are highlighted at the KOA locations, where fishing ponds, playgrounds, and swimming pools provide entertainment options. A recent review of Cloverdale KOA described it as having "a fishing pond, swimming pool, and hiking trail with very beautiful scenery," making it popular for families seeking a balance between outdoor recreation and comfort.
Best Camping Sites Near Lake Sonoma (159)
1. Thousand Trails Russian River
16 ReviewsCloverdale, CA9 milesWebsite+1 (888) 707-1477"Location to the river/ creek is great."
2. Cloverdale/Healdsburg Campground
11 ReviewsCloverdale, CA5 milesWebsite+1 (707) 894-3337$89 - $109 / night
"Love this spot for glamping it has a fishing pond, swimming pool, and a hiking trail! Very beautiful scenery! Very close to the town of Cloverdale about a 5-10 min drive!"
"Off the beaten path so if you plan to visit cities or wineries you need a tow vehicle."
3. Casini Ranch Family Campground
24 ReviewsDuncans Mills, CA18 milesWebsite+1 (707) 865-2255"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."
4. Woodside Campground — Salt Point State Park
24 ReviewsAnnapolis, CA20 milesWebsite+1 (707) 847-3221"I've taken my 3 kids a couple of times now, and it's such a great location along the Sonoma Coast."
"The sites are tucked on the hillside amongst mixed evergreen forests, redwoods, ferns, and oaks. The sites all have picnics tables with food lockers, large fire pits, and privacy."
5. Ocean Cove Store and Campground
22 ReviewsCazadero, CA20 milesWebsite+1 (707) 847-3422$28 - $280 / night
"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."
6. Bullfrog Pond Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
7 ReviewsGuerneville, CA11 milesWebsite+1 (707) 869-2015"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."
"The entrance to the campground is located at the back of the park and you drive up a very winding, bumpy one lane road for about 10 minutes before you reach the campgrounds."
7. Liberty Glen Campground - Temporarily Closed for Maintenance
4 ReviewsCloverdale, CA3 milesWebsite+1 (707) 431-4533$25 - $100 / night
"If you talk to the the ranger at the gate, most of the time they will let you drive around the grounds and pick any open site."
"The walk down to swim in the lake was a significant downhill but the dip was worth it! Funny dead trees sticking out of the lake were fun to climb on."
8. Schoolhouse Canyon Campground
9 ReviewsRio Nido, CA15 milesWebsite+1 (707) 869-2311$48 / night
"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."
9. Koa Cloverdale Camping Resort
3 ReviewsCloverdale, CA4 milesWebsite+1 (707) 894-3337"Love this spot for glamping it has a fishing pond, swimming pool, and a hiking trail! Very beautiful scenery! Very close to the town of Cloverdale about a 5-10 min drive!"
10. the ranch at lake Sonoma campground
5 ReviewsLake Sonoma, CA1 mileWebsite+1 (707) 494-4449"The other campground near the lake is quite a bit further drive from the actual lake. This one is closest and parking at the marina is included with the camp slip."
Recent Camping Photos near Lake Sonoma
324 Photos of 159 Lake Sonoma Campgrounds
Julie D.
Liberty Glen Campground - Temporarily Closed for Maintenance
Madeleine B.
Koa Cloverdale Camping Resort
Rick F.
Cloverdale/Healdsburg Campground
william B.
The Wilton on the Russian River
Ken B.
Wildhaven Sonoma
Chelsea N.
Bullfrog Pond Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Kenneth S.
Schoolhouse Canyon Campground
H L.
River Bend Resort
Joe S.
Pine Grove Cobb Resort
Christopher B.
La Bohemia
Summer A.
BLM Sheldon Creek
Marissa A.
Casini Ranch Family Campground
Recent Reviews near Lake Sonoma
880 Reviews of 159 Lake Sonoma Campgrounds
- H
Heather D.
TravelerThousand 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.
GuideLake Pillsbury Resort and Marina
Nice dirt road drive!
Enjoyed our time at pillsburry. Water was warm, but too much clay and some areas had algae. Camp site was very spacious with fire pit. We fit our vehicles perfectly. Water spigot at camp site and bathrooms were across. There’s a store and token showers
- Alan L.Guide
Upper 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!
- DDaniel D.Guide
COE Mendocino Lake Bu-Shay Campground
Unmaintained Free-for-all
Apparently this place has been closed for four years and is just re-opening. It definitely looks like it. Sections of the campground are still closed, and the parts that are open were ROUGH. This places does have potential- views of the lake are good, bathrooms have showers. By far the worst part of camping here is that there was no camp host and no park ranger. Saw unsafe fire practices, and experienced extremely loud music that went to 2:00 am and started again at 6:30 am. Did I ask for it by coming here on Fourth of July weekend? Probably. On the whole, the entire experience felt like trying to camp in a run down city park. Having no one to contact when things get out of control after the sun goes down invites campers to try to regulate other campers, which is always recipe for disaster. I’ve camped in all kinds of place - Nat’l park, state parks, county parks, BLM, National Forests, and have experienced the full range of camping experiences . I will never come back to this place again.
- EEllen C.Scout
Lakeview Dispersed Campground
Coyote Troubles
The good: Drive in was awesome. Beautiful view of the lake and sunset. Many spots to pull out into and choose from. Very quiet, minimal road noise.
The bad: pair of coyotes spotted stalking our campsite, did not respond to hazing and had to pack up dinner preparations quickly to ensure no bad encounters
*also note that cell service is okay for t mobile and barely existent for Verizon
Chia-Chia W.TravelerOlema Campground
Easy to book, plenty of sites, harmless animal
It's a popular campground in the northern california that's relatively easy to book. We book 1-2 weeks before and still got a spot.
Guide to Lake Sonoma
Lake Sonoma sits at approximately 500 feet elevation in the coastal mountain range, surrounded by rolling hills and oak woodlands. The recreation area encompasses 17,500 acres of land and water, providing both secluded wooded campsites and open grounds with lake views. Camping options vary considerably with terrain that requires careful site selection, especially for tent campers seeking level ground.
What to do
Fishing at the lake: The Lake Sonoma Marina Campground provides convenient access to the water, where campers can fish directly from the marina area. "Stumbled upon this place while out exploring. Really great views. Great sites. Can purchase firewood and provisions (if needed) from the Marina Store," notes a visitor from Lake Sonoma Marina Campground.
River swimming: For those preferring river waters over lake recreation, Schoolhouse Canyon Campground offers access to the Russian River. A camper reports, "The beach is across the street and through a little trail but well worth it. Very nice water for floating and swimming, with a cute little beach area to keep your stuff."
Hiking coastal terrain: Salt Point State Park features unique geological formations along hiking paths. "Unusual rock formations make this a unique part of the California coast. Abalone diving and spear fishing is popular here," notes a visitor to Woodside Campground.
What campers like
Private beach access: Schoolhouse Canyon Campground maintains a private beach area for guests only. "There is a private beach just for guests of the campsite right across river road. Wood for sale and tubes available for rent. Prices are very reasonable," writes a camper at Schoolhouse Canyon Campground.
Oceanfront camping: Sites at Ocean Cove allow for camping directly on coastal cliffs. "We camped right on an ocean cliff in October of 2019 and it was the most beautiful campsite we've ever stayed at! Coin operated showers were adequate. Port-a-potties were also fine," reports a visitor to Ocean Cove Store and Campground.
Distinct camping zones: Several campgrounds separate family and adult camping areas. At Schoolhouse Canyon, "There are two sections to this campground. Lower half is family section and the upper section is adults only. This is a family run campground."
What you should know
Water availability varies: Not all campgrounds offer drinking water. "There was no warning in their confirmation emails or website that there is NO WATER available at the campsite. Even the restrooms down at the marina state that the water from the taps is non-potable," explains a camper from Lake Sonoma Marina Campground.
Varying site privacy: Campgrounds range from exposed to secluded. "Always windy. 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," notes a visitor to Ocean Cove.
Quiet hours enforcement: Noise management differs significantly between campgrounds. At Thousand Trails Russian River, "Place is quiet at night, but seems run down. They are going to assign sights which is what I don't like in most camp grounds."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds feature dedicated recreational facilities. "A little run down but my four year old did not care! Lots for kids to do. Pool, fishing pond, playground, hiking trails. We were there for one night during the week but it looks like they have additional activities on the weekend," shares a visitor to Cloverdale/Healdsburg Campground.
Beach activities for children: Schoolhouse Canyon provides safe river access for children. "The Russian River is conveniently across the street, and the gravel beach area is great for little waders (River shoes are a must though). There are inner tubes and paddle boards for rent if you are so inclined."
Noise considerations: Family sections can be livelier than adult areas. "It is in a canyon so noise does carry," notes a Schoolhouse Canyon regular, something to consider when selecting sites for light sleepers or families with early bedtimes.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Some campgrounds present challenges for RVs. "I am reasonably ok at backing in my travel trailer but this place is a mess. I parked in wrong spot, moved to the right one, the power pedestal did not work... the camp side on most is terrible," reports an RV camper at Thousand Trails Russian River.
Limited hookup options: At Casini Ranch Family Campground, "Casini Ranch is really two campgrounds: the tent campground features charming sites tucked into private groves; the RV sites with electrical and water hookups are crammed together, with little more than a fence post to demarcate them."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring preparation. "The asphalt of many spots is crumbling along the edges and the dirt eroding away. If you have stairs that come out a ways they may just end at a cliff," notes a Thousand Trails Russian River camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make reservations for camping at Lake Sonoma?
How do I make reservations for camping at Lake Sonoma?
For Lake Sonoma camping, reservations can be made for Liberty Glen Campground through recreation.gov or by calling the reservation line. Even during peak season, Liberty Glen often has availability, and rangers sometimes allow visitors to drive around and select open sites upon arrival. For boat-in camping at Lake Sonoma Marina Campground, contact the marina directly to reserve your spot. It's advisable to book well in advance during summer months and holidays, though mid-week reservations are typically easier to secure. Be aware that Liberty Glen is currently closed for maintenance, so check reopening dates before planning your trip. Reservation fees are required and must be paid at the time of booking.
What camping options are available at Lake Sonoma?
What camping options are available at Lake Sonoma?
Lake Sonoma offers several distinct camping experiences. Liberty Glen Campground provides traditional drive-in camping with family-friendly sites, though it's temporarily closed for maintenance. The Lake Sonoma Marina Campground offers a unique experience near the water, but be aware that campers report no potable water is available at these sites, so bring your own supply. Beyond these main options, Lake Sonoma features boat-in campsites accessible only by water, which provide more secluded experiences. There are also numerous primitive camping areas around the lake's perimeter. Facilities vary by location, with some offering vault toilets while others are more rustic. Most sites include fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities are generally basic.
Are there camping areas near Lake Sonoma but outside the main campgrounds?
Are there camping areas near Lake Sonoma but outside the main campgrounds?
Yes, several excellent camping options exist near Lake Sonoma beyond its main campgrounds. San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA serves as an ideal base camp for exploring both Lake Sonoma and wine country, located just a short drive away in Petaluma. For coastal camping within driving distance of Lake Sonoma, Bodega Dunes Campground offers clean facilities and semi-private sites with easy access to dog-friendly beaches. Other nearby options include Cloverdale/Healdsburg Campground, which provides amenities like water and toilets with big-rig-friendly sites, and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground, a quiet family-friendly option with hiking trails and scenic views.
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