M
MATTHEW R.
Ranger
RangerWildwood RV Park & Campground
Tired from the drive over the mountains rolled in here for a secure night of sleep. Plenty of spots. Electric water, flushers, but bring your quarters for the shower.
Camping near Mendocino, CA
90 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
The coastal redwoods and shoreline cliffs of Mendocino draw campers looking for both forest and ocean experiences. Hendy Woods State Park Campground sits in Anderson Valley with good trails and the Navarro River nearby, giving campers a quiet forest spot that's still close enough to towns for supplies. Salt Point State Park lets you camp near rough coastal areas where you can hike and check out tide pools when the ocean pulls back. Watch for wildlife throughout the area and keep food stored properly so animals don't come visiting your campsite. You should make reservations ahead of time, particularly in summer, since these campgrounds fill up fast. Most camping areas have bathrooms and drinking water, but what's available changes from place to place, so check before you go. Some spots have shower buildings too, which helps on longer trips. Mendocino weather stays mild enough for camping all year, though you'll often wake up to coastal fog and cooler temps than you might expect. Booking early helps secure spots, and coming during spring or fall means fewer people around you. The campgrounds here let you choose between redwood groves or oceanside spots depending on what you prefer. Plan carefully and follow good camping practices to keep these natural areas in good shape for future visitors. Following Leave No Trace principles helps protect Mendocino's natural beauty that makes camping here so worthwhile.
Best Campgrounds near Mendocino (90)
1. Mackerricher State Park Campground
"This campground is only a couple miles north from fort Bragg and then just a bit further south is the cute coastal town of Mendocino."
"There are many sites next to the ocean."
from $45 - $260 / night
Check Availability2. Van Damme State Park Campground
"Campground can be foggy in summer months, but is very close to the beach where ocean kayaking is common. Only a few minutes away from Mendocino. Bathrooms have flush toilets and showers are available!"
"Simple campground just outside of Mendocino/Ft Bragg. Steps from a beautiful sandy beach."
from $45 - $160 / night
Check Availability3. Pomo RV Park & Campground
"The convenience of being so close to town, yet feeling like you’re in the forest is hard to beat. There are showers & restrooms, although the showers operate on quarters."
"Even though you are so close to town this is off the beaten path and you can’t even get into this campground unless you have a reservation."
from $50 - $73 / night
Check Availability4. Caspar Beach RV Park & Campground
"Conveniently located between Ft. Bragg 6 miles to the north and Mendocino 3 miles south. Points of interest include Caspar Beach right here in the cove, Pt."
"The walk in sites are secluded and this park has all the amenities including free showers. Dog friendly. I hear it gets very busy in the summertime."
from $47 - $72 / night
Check Availability5. Russian Gulch State Park Campground
"We stayed one night here in early October, after exploring the Mendocino area on a campervan road trip. Campsite was quiet and secluded, lots of trees so was pretty quiet and private."
"This is a lovely, peaceful campsite with so many positives. Great hiking trails, a small protected beach, helpful camp host, and well-maintained showers and flush toilets."
from $45 - $140 / night
Check Availability6. Navarro Beach Campground — Navarro River Redwoods State Park
"It is right off of the highway, yet it feels so secluded. The beach is beautiful and the campsites are roomy."
"We got there at around 2pm and there were only 2 other campers. By the end of the night most of the spots had filled up. The beach was very quiet with few other visitors."
7. Hidden Pines RV Park & Campground
"It's not much to look at when you drive up on highway 1 but behind that facade is a great Campground. There are different sections and the upper loop is definitely the best."
"The entrance to this campground is behind a store so it technically is hidden. What it lacks in privacy of sites it definitely makes up for in amenities."
from $59 - $99 / night
Check Availability8. Harbor RV Park
"Located next to Pomo Bluffs Park and over looking the ocean and the Noyo River/Bay. Stayed 6 days in November paid $250. Full hook ups with cable."
"Nice place to camp with a lots of hiking trails, very well managed. The one that stand more, is the wonderful ocean view."
from $58 - $63 / night
Check Availability9. Albion River Campground
"Actual RV sites are not special but the campground sits underneath the wooden bridge and at the mouth of the river, so beautiful location. Fog horns at night make it quite mystical."
"The drive to Albion, Ca was beautiful. We arrived at the Campground and the nice fact was being able to reserve and choose our campsite."
10. Jackson Demonstration Forest
"There was a small creek behind the campground which was nice. It was about a 30 minute drive to fort Bragg made for an easy day trip. The campground is maintained by cal fire $20 a night."
"Jackson State Demonstration forest is about 6 miles from fort Bragg on hwy.20 Campground is about 3 miles down a dirt road down into the forest from the highway. Beautiful, clean and peaceful."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 53 min from Santa Rosa, CA
- 2 hrs 38 min from Napa, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Mendocino, CA
329 Photos of 90 Mendocino Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Russian Gulch State Park Campground
Van Damme State Park Campground
Caspar Beach RV Park & Campground
Jughandle Creek Farm
Pomo RV Park & Campground
Albion River CampgroundE
Hidden Pines RV Park & CampgroundD
Woodside RV Park
Navarro Beach - Navarro River Redwoods State Park
Camp Candy Cap
Mackerricher State Park Campground
Paul M. Dimmick Campground — Navarro River Redwoods State Park
Recent Reviews near Mendocino, CA
532 Reviews of 90 Mendocino Campgrounds
Juliana J.
GuideUsal Beach Campground
Beautiful Spot, fun drive, family/group friendly
Heck of a drive getting here, but worth the trek. I absolutely would not recommend hauling a camper up here. One way, winding road off of highway 1 that was actually pretty well marked. No service or amentities. Pack in and pack out! Both wide open spots near the beach or you can tuck your vehicle in by the trees with about a 1/4 mile walk to the beach. There was some group event going on and individuals who brought dirt bikes, so it was not quiet/peaceful, but the scenery made up for that. No marked sites, but plenty of fire pits to show where others have camped in the past. Lots of beautiful birds.
- LLeonard H.Ranger
Richardson Grove State Park Campground
Madonna Sites 37-76 Open FC-FS
Only Madrone loop sites 37-76 open now during winter. Can't reserve online... first-come first-served pay at site. Checks or cash in envelope. 20% occupancy on Wednesday night mid-October. Most sites paved... only a handful sufficiently level without blocks for RV. Flush toilets and hot-cold water sinks in clean restrooms. Showers take tokens. Very dark and quiet at night under beautiful redwood canopy. Would stay again.
- KKathryn T.
TravelerNavarro Beach Campground — Navarro River Redwoods State Park
Beach Front Campinh
These camp spots have the most epic view of the ocean and a massive rock arch. The spots are close to each other (I’d recommend grabbing spot #1 as it’s the most private). The porta potties were clean and the beach was nice.
This spot reminds me more of dispersed camping than a traditional campground. No fee tube and people saw some people camping on the beach in tents. Great spot, would definitely come back.
- KKate G.
ScoutNavarro Beach Campground — Navarro River Redwoods State Park
Surprise bonus spot
There’s no campground sign at the turnoff, no envelopes to pay, and no ranger. So beach front camping for free. Nothing fancy, no running water, but clean portos. 8 sites
Whitney R.GuideBushay Recreation Area
Needs TLC but Perfect Spot!
I was hesitant about booking this campground because the reviews said it was overgrown, unkempt, and dirty in spots. However, I had been driving all day and saw other reviews of the gorgeous lakeside campsites and did it. I stayed at 93 right next to the restrooms and a weird overgrown amphitheater. I'll add the photo 😀 When it says lake side- I am sure at one point it was when the water could fill the lake to the top! But it was still amazing. You can walk down to the beach below. And enjoy the lake. I was on a deadline and had to head out early the next morning. Many sites were overgrown so they should state that when booking- or have them unavailable.
Kylee R.RangerWestport Union Landing State Beach — Westport-Union Landing State Beach
West Union Beach
Bathrooms were terrible but views were awesome. Right off the US1 with picnic tables, bear boxes, and fire rings.
Ryan S.GuideUsal Beach Campground
I brought my rig here....
I read the reviews but decided to try it anyway, bringing my 42 foot rig, a 1960 Chevy C20 with a 21' Geo Pro camper that has a 3' cargo hitch on the back. I made it down and back, and if I could call my past self I would say not to do it at all. Aside from the aggressive bouncing that throws all your stuff everywhere (male sure to stow everything tight) the problem for a rig, even one with good ground clearance, is there are long very narrow sections of the road with no pull outs so if you happen to meet someone coming the other way, one of you needs to back up for a long way, either up or down very windy and rutted roads until you find one. And it does have very steep areas, and the pot holes are pretty dramatic at times. Near the end, the road grade was so steep that I cooked my brakes and was still sliding down the road with very little traction. Then I came upon two very deep pothole/ruts (would have been fun in a jeep), one in front of the other and offset so that there was a big hump to high center on, no mater which way you took it. Going down I was able to control my speed and get by ok but one the way up I had to hit it with some speed, and bent the hell out of one of my stabilizers which caught the dirt coming up and over. But if you do bring a rig, there are eventually good places to get turned around, but you'd better hope you don't break down along the road because you'll cause quite the traffic jam for both directions. I stayed at the site just before the bridge but there are many more sites down farther. And be sure to check out the Cathedral Trees, there is a trail that is marked there near that bridge. There is no cell service here.
- FFrederick I.Scout
Richardson Grove State Park Campground
Big trees
Big Redwood trees, large sites spaced far enough apart for privacy cell service good
Guide to Mendocino
Camping in Mendocino spans diverse ecosystems where coastal bluffs meet inland redwood groves at elevations ranging from sea level to 300 feet. Morning fog frequently blankets the coastline until midday, creating temperature differentials of 10-15°F between beach and inland sites. Most Mendocino campgrounds require advanced booking 3-6 months ahead for summer weekends, though fall and winter offer more availability with temperatures rarely dropping below 40°F.
What to do
Tide pooling at low tide: MacKerricher State Park Campground offers excellent tide pool exploration opportunities. "Short walk to the beach. Beautiful camp sites. Trees are beautiful all around the sites," notes Jeanette C., who frequents the park to observe marine life. The park's Laguna Point area provides designated tide pool access points.
Kayaking river mouths: Navarro Beach Campground sits at the confluence of river and ocean. "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," shares Norma Y. Campers can launch kayaks directly from the beach when conditions permit.
Pygmy forest hikes: Van Damme State Park Campground provides access to unique botanical areas. "The next morning the Ranger suggested we check out a nearby Pygmy Tree Forest as a point of interest it was pretty cool and definitely worth checking out," reports Jessica R. The stunted cypress and pine trees grow in nutrient-poor soil conditions.
What campers like
Private campsites with natural dividers: Pomo RV Park & Campground features sites separated by vegetation. "Very private sites divided by hedges. Sites are fairly large and very well maintained," says Scott P. Another camper mentions that "each site has shrubbery around it. It feels like you are in a world by itself."
Off-season solitude: Russian Gulch State Park Campground offers a different experience in quieter months. "We stayed one night here in early October, after exploring the Mendocino area on a campervan road trip. Campsite was quiet and secluded, lots of trees so was pretty quiet and private," shares Carly E. Weekday visits during spring and fall often mean half-empty campgrounds.
Ocean sounds without exposure: Caspar Beach RV Park & Campground protects campers from harsh coastal elements while providing ocean proximity. "A forest of trees right across the street from the crashing surf. Lovely! It has a wonderful tent camping area back away from RVs in the Redwoods and many other trees," notes Rosemary A.
What you should know
Token-operated showers: Many state parks charge for shower usage. At MacKerricher, "Showers require tokens. This seems pretty standard in California State Parks but it's successful at deterring us from showering every night. One token gives 4 minutes of showering. Each token is $1," reports Mea H.
First-come sites fill early: Navarro Beach operates without reservations. "This campground doesn't take reservations, it's on a first come basis but I like that about it," explains Allison. Sites typically fill by noon on summer weekends and holiday periods.
Property security concerns: Take standard precautions with valuables. "Our site and tent were burglarized while we were gone for part of a day. They stole all cooking equipment since it was closest to the car then they started on the tent," warns Nancy M. from Van Damme State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Stream access for children: Hidden Pines RV Park & Campground provides water features for kids. "My spot (13) had a babbling stream next to it, and empty spots on all sides," notes Jessi P. These shallow water areas allow for safer water play than ocean beaches.
Driftwood exploration: Beach campsites offer natural building materials. "The beach has lots of character, tons of driftwood that people have moved around and made crude huts out of," explains Jack R. about Navarro Beach. These structures provide ready-made play areas for children.
Ranger programs: Several parks offer educational programming. Hannah S. mentions that at Pomo Campground, "they have a good supply of books/games that you can borrow from the main office," while others report evening amphitheater presentations on local wildlife.
Tips from RVers
Limited full hookup availability: Albion River Campground offers varied site types. "Most sites are water and electric, but there are some with full hookups," notes James N. Reservations for sewer hookups should be made 3-4 months in advance.
Dump station fees: Plan for additional charges at some parks. "The dump station has a mandatory fee of $10. You pay with a credit card. When payment is approved, the cap to the dump hole unlocks," explains Mea H. about MacKerricher State Park.
Site leveling challenges: Coastal terrain creates uneven parking surfaces. At Hidden Pines, one reviewer noted "The lot was so bad our auto leveling trailer couldn't level." Bringing additional leveling blocks is recommended for most coastal campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you camp on Mendocino beaches, and do you need permits?
Can you camp on Mendocino beaches, and do you need permits?
Direct beach camping is limited in Mendocino County, but there are designated beach-adjacent campgrounds. Navarro Beach Campground in Navarro River Redwoods State Park offers one of the few opportunities to camp near the beach, with drive-in and walk-in access. Gualala Point Regional Park is another option with campsites about a mile's hike from a beautiful beach with scenic views. Most beach camping requires permits obtained through reservation systems for specific campgrounds. Overnight camping directly on beaches outside designated areas is generally not permitted in Mendocino County due to conservation efforts and safety concerns.
Are there private camping options in Mendocino with more amenities?
Are there private camping options in Mendocino with more amenities?
Manchester Beach / Mendocino Coast KOA offers a full-service private camping experience with amenities beyond what state parks provide. This KOA is ideal for those seeking convenience and organized activities, making it perfect for RV's maiden voyages or families wanting extra comforts. Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort is another private option located just outside Willits on CA-20 to Fort Bragg. While showing some signs of wear from the pandemic, it remains in good condition and provides RV-specific amenities. Private campgrounds in the area typically offer electrical hookups, WiFi, shower facilities, and sometimes community areas with planned activities.
What camping facilities are available at Mendocino State Park?
What camping facilities are available at Mendocino State Park?
While there isn't a specific "Mendocino State Park," the Mendocino area has several state parks with camping facilities. Van Damme State Park Campground offers inner meadow sites with ample space and wooded outer sites. The facilities include flush toilets, showers, and drinking water. The campground is steps from a sandy beach perfect for ocean kayaking and just minutes from downtown Mendocino. Mackerricher State Park Campground is another option located just north of Fort Bragg with beautiful coastal views and beach access, though some sites lack privacy and tree cover.
What are the best campgrounds in Mendocino for tent camping?
What are the best campgrounds in Mendocino for tent camping?
Mendocino offers excellent tent camping options in serene natural settings. Hendy Woods State Park Campground is a top choice, nestled under majestic redwoods with beautiful hiking trails. It's particularly pleasant in early fall and provides easy access to Anderson Valley's wineries. Russian Gulch State Park Campground is another excellent option with quiet, secluded sites surrounded by trees for privacy. The campground features clean bathrooms, convenient drinking water stations, and nearby hiking trails. Both parks offer an authentic Mendocino forest experience while still being close to coastal attractions and towns.
Keep Exploring