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Best Tent Camping near Lakeport, CA

670 Reviews

Tent campsites near Lakeport, California range from established campgrounds to primitive backcountry options, with several locations in Clear Lake State Park providing dedicated tent accommodations. Cole Creek Campground and Upper Bayview Campground offer tent-specific sites within the park, featuring fire rings, picnic tables, and access to showers and toilet facilities. Lower Bayview Campground provides additional tent camping areas approximately 5 miles from Lakeport along Soda Bay Road, with most sites requiring advance reservations.

Most tent campgrounds in the region have basic amenities including picnic tables and designated fire rings, though drinking water availability varies significantly between sites. Buckhorn Campground, located near Ukiah, provides primitive tent camping with vault toilets but no potable water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies. Walk-in tent sites at Red Mountain campground offer free camping with greater privacy, though with minimal facilities. During summer months, fire restrictions often apply throughout the region, especially at higher-elevation primitive tent camping areas. The typically hot, dry conditions from June through September make tree cover a critical consideration when selecting tent sites.

Areas farther from the main lake shore offer deeper seclusion and less noise for backcountry tent camping experiences. Penny Pines Campground provides year-round tent camping access with picnic tables and toilets in a more remote forest setting. Tent campers seeking primitive experiences can find opportunities in the forested areas surrounding Clear Lake, though these require proper preparation for self-sufficient camping. A review of nearby Snow Mountain Wilderness noted, "Easy to reach, great in beauty backpacking trip. Campsites are delineated and many have rock fire rings. Water can be obtained from the creek but needs filtering."

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Best Tent Sites Near Lakeport, California (38)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lakeport, CA

30 Photos of 38 Lakeport Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Lakeport, CA

670 Reviews of 38 Lakeport Campgrounds

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 13, 2023

    Gualala Point Regional Park

    Small but beautiful county campground

    General: 19 general and six walk-in campsites among giant redwood and Bay Laurel trees on the Gualala River. Sites 17 & 18 are a double site. 

    Site Quality: Level sites with bear box, picnic table, and fire ring. Site One’s camper pad fit our 18-foot camper van, but it would not accommodate anything much larger. Several other camper pads looked short as well. No hookups. 

    Bath/Shower house: Three individual units with toilet, sink, soap, and paper towels. One shower that takes quarters – three minutes for $2.00. 

    Activities: There is a trail that leads through the walk-in sites, under Highway One, and to the beach, approximately 1.5 miles. You can also drive to the day-use area for a shorter walk. We were there on a weekday but there were many activities scheduled for the upcoming weekend including kayaking on Bodega Bay, outside yoga, and healthy hustle circuit training – I was sad to miss all of these options. 

    This campground is beautiful and peaceful. But note that although we did not encounter any, several other campers experienced over-eager raccoons while eating dinner. There was also a sign warning of mountain lions but we did not encounter any. Shout-out to the ranger who shared a lot of good information about the area.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2018

    Sunset Point Campground

    The name says it all

    Super cool place to camp in Sequoia National Park. I drove in from the south and passed quite a few full campgrounds before I finally made it to Sunset and scored a spot that I thought was great- up high and dry, no neighbors, a nearby source of downed wood. It looks like the Park Service stays busy downing dead/dying trees, however there were lots of trees providing cover. The closest neighbors were even able to hammock (though I was not due to lack of trees). When noisy neighbors moved in at the adjoining site, I was able to move to a primo site the next day. The new site (52, I think) was right on the edge of the granite slope with an amazing view of the sunset (hence the name of the campground). All sites had the usual amenities of picnic table and fire ring (and the mandatory must use bear boxes), but you need to take a look around for a site that is level and has adequate space between the fire pit and the tent site (mine did not, so no fire for me).  There is a visitor center across the road at Grant Grove Village with ranger station, grocery, post office, restaurant, gas station, and cabins. This is a good place to set up camp if you want to see big trees; the big sequoia tree General Grant is in a sequoia grove just up the road (you could easily hike there from the campground).

  • Michi P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 24, 2025

    Middle Creek Campground

    Great place for dry camping

    Beautiful location, campground was easily accessible going up Elk Mountain Road. Camped in Site 11, pull through, no hook ups, nice picnic table, grill and fire pit. Vault toilets, no showers. There is potable water close to the campsites. Very quiet during the week, it did get noisier on the weekends, but everyone settled down for the evening.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 2, 2023

    Van Damme State Park Campground

    Close to the ocean but dark and damp

    General& Site Quality: 74 campsites; 1-13 in the lower loop and the remainder in the upper loop. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and bear box. No hookups. Camper pads are dirt. 

    Bath/Shower house: Self-contained units, some with toilet and sink, and some with just a toilet. NO soap but paper towels and a hook for toiletries. Showers take tokens; each $1.00 token gives you a five-minute shower. Didn’t use the shower. 

    Activities & Amenities: The day-use area and the Fern Canyon Trail accessed from the campground are currently closed due to storm damage. You can drive a short distance south to walk on the Pygmy Forest boardwalk (about a quarter of a mile) but there is very limited parking (about 8-9 spaces). You can extend the hike on the Fern Canyon trail but cannot hike to/from the campground. There is a dump station, but it costs $10 to use. There is a Visitor Center but it had limited hours during our stay. There is easy access to the ocean just across Highway One (you can even camp in the parking lot for the same rate as long as you are out by 9 a.m.)  The park is close to the town of Mendocino with great restaurants and shopping if that appeals to you.

    We arrived around dusk and left fairly early the next morning to walk on the Pygmy Forest boardwalk. I didn’t explore too much (including the upper loop) as there was a black bear sighting the day we were there. Even though it was a sunny day, the campground felt dark and damp.

  • Lindsay The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2020

    Hendy Woods State Park Campground

    Convenient, clean, chill

    Location • state park located north of Sonoma and an hour south of Mendocino • in the Virgina redwood forest • closest town: about 6 miles away

    Facilities • Bathrooms & showers easily accesible for all sites - cleaned regularly • some bathrooms updated very recently • Spigots every few sites with good draining • campfire theatre • firewood sold on premises • about 70 campsites • some cabins • day use picnic area • wheelchair accesible trails

    Ambiance • quiet hours 10pm - 8am • mostly families • dogs allowed on leash

    Sites • Small to medium, close together • More open than private; good for groups who need multiple sites • Most hace at least part shade throughout the day • ring fire pits with grill • wooden food locker at each site • wooden picnic table at each site • enough space for 3-4 cars

    Things to do • Variety of easy hikes/walks • drive to Mendocino • wine tasting in town

    Beware • Poison oak

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 8, 2021

    Westside Regional Park

    Great views, but close to the neighbors

    First, you stay here for the views. Great views from the first two rows closest to the water. There are very few plantings between spaces. No hook ups at all, but water is available if you fill before you park. Seven dollar dump station. Each campsite has a fire ring and a wooden picnic table and grass. Since there’s no hook ups between the hours of 8 AM and 8 PM, you will always be listening to somebody’s generator running. Always. No privacy at this campground. I did not check out the bathrooms for the campground, but I did look at the bathrooms for the large boat launch area next-door. No showers in that bathroom, but it was clean. A bit spendy for no hookups. Safe. Zero long term campers when I was here. There are no first come first served campsites at this location. All camping spaces had a reserve sign on them, even though the place was about 40% full. Completely dark at night, which was great.

  • A
    Aug. 1, 2016

    Manchester State Park Campground

    Stars!

    Second time I've been here. Five years ago, I thought it was pretty bare-bones but just what I wanted: first-come, first-serve tent spot within 3 hours of San Francisco and within a walk of the ocean. No city lights to speak of = incredible stargazing. Oceanside = fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves. Did I mention first-come, first-serve? Nearly all the other campgrounds on the CA coast require a reservation 6 months in advance for weekends, with weekday availability not much better. This small campground had a number of empty spots available at 8pm on a Saturday.

    This year, it was nearly the same story. Park funding cut back, so no host = no firewood (KOA up the road sells bundles for $8). And it's only open on weekends until further notice. The vault toilets had plenty of TP, and the sites were well maintained so clearly someone is looking after the place. In fact, the overgrown grass and coastal scrub that previously lent some extra privacy to sites was cut down, a bit of a bummer. Go for the spots on the northern loop. The trees there offer some wind protection and the views over the valley toward Alder Creek are worthwhile. I wanted to set up my hammock, but tree-less sites closer to the road render that a non-option. For site variety, spaciousness, privacy, and amenities, I'd say Manchester is more like 2-2.5 stars. But last-minute availability bumps it up to 3.

    There is still a pasture full of cows across the street and the Pt. Arena lighthouse just beyond to greet you in the morning, and the ocean still crashes within earshot. Salt Point and Gualala campgrounds are warmer and woodsier. Mackerricher and Russian Gulch offer much more to do. But in a pinch, Manchester will continue to be my impromptu coastal road trip stopover.

  • MarinMaverick
    Aug. 12, 2020

    Navarro Beach - Navarro River Redwoods State Park

    Closed For A While - Sweet Spot

    So this has been closed for a while, but hope with funding it will re open.

    It is sweet spot just before you reach the coastline.

    A little stretch of redwoods on the Navaro River.  Sites are along the river. Defnse redwoods and ferns.  SHaded. Good swimming holes and good fishing.  Great access for kayaks and canoes.

    Sites have tables, fire rings and some have food storage. Primitve rest rooms.

  • Norma Y.
    Jun. 13, 2018

    Navarro Beach Campground — Navarro River Redwoods State Park

    Primitive and great!

    There is no source of fresh drinking water. There are portable toilets, but they are often lacking toilet paper, and at times the garbage cans are overflowing and the toilets are a health hazard. The 10 campsites are small, and except for #1, there is no privacy or space between sites. The picnic tables are rotting away. It's ridiculous that the camping fee is $35. And yet, this is one of my favorite places to camp. The Navarro River flows into the Pacific here, and this is a great site to watch seals in the ocean and otters in the river. People build incredible driftwood structures on the beach.

Guide to Lakeport

Clear Lake State Park offers the main concentration of tent camping areas near Lakeport, California. The park sits at approximately 1,300 feet elevation, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F between June and September. Winter camping remains available at several sites, though facilities may operate with reduced services during the off-season.

What to do

Hiking with lake views: Explore the trails at Pine Grove Cobb Resort where tent sites sit beneath forest cover. "Four of us stayed in the Glamping Tent for two nights and it was perfect- very comfortable and relaxing. We also had access to our own private bathroom and shower a short walk away," notes camper Aulden F.

Mountain biking: The trail system around Boggs Mountain Demo Forest provides routes through recovering burn areas with valley views. A recent visitor commented, "I used to be a Boggs regular, so it's sad to see what remains after the fires five years ago. None the less, I still come here to enjoy the new growth, the impressive new trails and the new views of the valleys below."

Fishing access: Multiple shoreline access points for anglers exist within a 15-minute drive from most campgrounds. Many tent sites at Bu-Shay Campground offer water proximity. "I've camped here on and off at the paid campgrounds and the free ones throughout my life. VERY beautiful scenery. There are bathrooms with showers. Water spickets everywhere," reports Israel M.

What campers like

Spacious campsites: Bu-Shay Campground receives positive feedback for its site configuration. "The camp facilities are fine. The sites are spacious and there are a mix of shady and sunny sites. The flush bathrooms are fine, and there are free showers," notes Joshua H.

Budget-friendly options: Several free or low-cost tent camping options exist within 30 minutes of Lakeport. "This is a small spot in the forest accessible by a rough road. It is beautiful and very affordable at $6 per night," writes Cary A. about Penny Pines Campground.

Playground amenities: Families appreciate the unexpected recreation options at certain campgrounds. "Our young kids had a great time playing on the playground which was an unexpected bonus," mentions Joshua H. about Bu-Shay Campground.

Cell coverage: Many tent sites maintain workable connectivity despite forest settings. "We had OK cell coverage with Verizon. We could usually browse the internet but streaming videos were difficult," reports a Bu-Shay camper.

What you should know

OHV activity impacts: Several tent camping areas serve as bases for off-highway vehicle users. "This campground seems to be mostly for OHV use. Most campers bring dirt bikes and the camp is circled by OHV trails. Not a lot of hiking or activities nearby unless you drive up the dirt road a ways," reports Cary A. about Penny Pines.

Post-fire recovery: Many forest camping areas show evidence of past wildfires. "Beautiful area very nice to see the Forrest healing from 2015 Valley fire will go back again," notes Stephanie S. about Boggs Mountain.

Remote access challenges: Red Mountain Campground requires significant travel on unpaved roads. "This location was 6 miles from civilization down a windy road, then up a mountain side. If you like driving off road then the trip would be worth it, especially if you plan to stay a while," explains justin.

Limited water availability: Several tent campgrounds require bringing your own water supply. "You should bring a solar shower and water to drink and cook with, as there is none," advises Becky H. about Red Mountain Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Motor home testing ground: Local campgrounds provide ideal first-trip locations. "We had just bought a motor home and wanted to go somewhere close to home to try it out. Nice clean camp sites close to restrooms and showers. Lots of places to fish, hike and bike," reports Chris P. from Cole Creek Campground.

Weekend crowd patterns: Some campgrounds remain surprisingly empty even during peak times. "We stayed on a Saturday night and there weren't that many other people in the campground. I'm not sure why it's not busier, as it's just as nice as the state park campgrounds we've stayed in," notes Joshua H.

Supplies proximity: Most tent camping areas maintain reasonable distance to resupply points. "The town of Ukiah is pretty close as well, so you can get food or supplies easily," mentions a Bu-Shay visitor.

Tips from RVers

Off-road approach considerations: Some campgrounds require four-wheel drive for comfortable access. "Worth the 4x4 trek to the campground. There is a 'million dollar' view of the mountain range and Clearlake," states Becky H. about Red Mountain.

Small campground limitations: Many tent-focused areas have minimal space for larger rigs. "Small campground with only a few tables and sites at it with one toilet. Unfortunately a lot of damage was done during the fires. Can get very hot in the summer with limited shade," explains keith B. about Buckhorn Campground.

Stay duration options: Several campgrounds permit extended stays. "You can stay 14 days out of the year for free. Be mindful of the environment," advises a Red Mountain camper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lakeport, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lakeport, CA is Cole Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Lakeport, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 38 tent camping locations near Lakeport, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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