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Best Tent Camping near Mendocino, CA

464 Reviews

Jackson Demonstration Forest, Usal Beach, and Jughandle Creek Farm offer tent camping options throughout the heavily forested coastal landscape of Mendocino County. Usal Beach provides dispersed tent camping on the sand or in wooded areas, accessible via a rough dirt road that requires vehicles with good clearance. Jughandle Creek Farm features secluded walk-in tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings, located between Mendocino and Fort Bragg near the beach. Jackson Demonstration Forest provides primitive tent sites along the Noyo River approximately 6 miles from Fort Bragg on Highway 20.

Most tent campgrounds in the Mendocino area have basic amenities with varying degrees of development. Sites typically include picnic tables and fire rings, though water availability differs significantly between locations. Vault toilets are common at established sites, while dispersed areas may lack facilities entirely. Usal Beach Campground provides only a single pit toilet near the entrance road. Road conditions vary dramatically - Jackson Forest sites require navigating 3 miles of dirt road, while Usal Beach demands high-clearance vehicles to traverse an extremely rough 30-minute drive on a mountain road shared with logging trucks. Seasonal considerations include potential winter closures at some locations.

Tent campers experience significant solitude at many Mendocino sites, particularly in more remote areas. Jackson Forest offers quiet camping with the Noyo River flowing through the center of the campground, providing both scenic beauty and recreation opportunities. Jughandle Creek Farm features a hiking path that leads directly to the beach and pygmy redwood forest. A visitor noted that "it was the perfect spot to set up two (or more) tents" with sites that remained "pretty quiet even when they were all full." At Usal Beach, campers can choose between sites directly on the beach or more sheltered locations in the adjacent wooded areas, though the challenging access road keeps crowds relatively small despite its popularity.

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Best Tent Sites Near Mendocino, California (15)

    1. Jackson Demonstration Forest

    3 Reviews
    Caspar, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 964-5674

    "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."

    "Each camp has a picnic table, fire pit and a bbq. Dump lap has 17 spots and a vaulted toilet. There was a small creek behind the campground which was nice."

    2. Jughandle Creek Farm

    1 Review
    Caspar, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 745-7302

    $45 / night

    "Jughandle is a beautiful area between Mendocino and Fort Bragg. It contains excellent hiking, a beautiful beach, and even a Pygmy Redwood Forest."

    3. Paul M. Demmick Campground — Navarro River Redwoods State Park

    7 Reviews
    Navarro, CA
    15 miles
    +1 (707) 937-5804

    $10 - $35 / night

    "Shaded, peaceful and lovely. We arrived early afternoon in August on a Saturday and found a nice empty spot no problem. The remaining spots mostly filled up by Saturday evening."

    "Although Hwy 128 runs parallel to it (and not far away), there isn’t much traffic going by so road noise isn’t a bother."

    4. Dunlap Campground

    5 Reviews
    Comptche, CA
    15 miles
    Website

    "3 sites are currently closed due to COVID to encourage social distancing; sites fill up quickly on weekends; no on-site camp host, but Cal Fire does come through to write receipts and pick up trash."

    5. Usal Beach Campground

    12 Reviews
    Leggett, CA
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 247-3318

    "6 miles of potholes, rough dirt road and some deep puddles and you'll find a beautiful sandy beach with camping spots above the tide and some in the trees for privacy. Fire pits built all over."

    "The road itself is rough and could be very unsettling for anyone trying to do this trip in a vehicle without good off-road clearance. The ruts can be big and cause bottoming out of street cars."

    6. COE Mendocino Lake Bu-Shay Campground

    3 Reviews
    Mendocino Lake, CA
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 467-4200

    7. King Range Conservation Area

    4 Reviews
    Whitethorn, CA
    50 miles
    Website

    "A pay by the day and rangers will enforce. Dress in layers. Nestled in with large pieces of driftwood trees acting as berms between your campsite and the beach sand."

    "When we were there a few years ago, there was no water available because illegal pot growers had "poached" the park's water for their crops, forcing the BLM to shut down the water system."

    8. Red Mountain

    2 Reviews
    Ukiah, CA
    42 miles
    +1 (707) 468-4000

    9. Old Train Caboose

    1 Review
    Upper Lake, CA
    46 miles
    +1 (707) 367-8168

    $39 - $175 / night

    "We're happy to welcome this property to our platform. This property is offering 2 lodging options, a Caboose & Tent camping under the Walnut trees."

    10. Penny Pines Campground

    2 Reviews
    Upper Lake, CA
    48 miles
    Website
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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Mendocino, CA

14 Photos of 15 Mendocino Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Mendocino, CA

464 Reviews of 15 Mendocino 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).

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • MarinMaverick
    Aug. 14, 2020

    Russian Gulch State Park Campground

    Great Spot

    I like this a little better than Van Damm down the road because of the small private beach which never appears crowded. You do have road noise but it really is not bad.

    Great little tent camping spots and a fabulous group tent camping spot.  From the small beach you can play in the waves and launch protected kayaks into the small bay.  On the right day there are some tidepools (not a lot).  A stream runs through camp and empties on to the beach.

    Great Fern Canyon trail and waterfall trail back in the gorge.

    You can explore all the Mendoconio Coast from here.

    Sites are well spaced and protected. Tables, fire rings and food storage.  Nice rest rooms with showers.  I like the lower loop along the creek and thes sites at the end, near the beginning of the fern canyon trail are choice.

  • 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 Mendocino

Mendocino County features a rugged coastline with dramatic cliffs alongside dense redwood forests that extend inland. The area's Mediterranean climate brings mild temperatures year-round, with summer highs rarely exceeding 70°F and winter lows seldom below 40°F. Tent campsites near Mendocino, California often require navigating unpaved roads and can fill quickly during summer weekends.

What to do

Beach exploration: Usal Beach Campground offers campers direct beach access for tidepooling, beachcombing, and wildlife watching. "We camped on the beach with the woods to our backs. Saw some coyotes when setting up camp, but they didn't mind us. Most beautiful sunrise in the morning and saw mama and baby bear prints on the sand," notes Matthew S.

River swimming: Jackson Demonstration Forest provides access to the Noyo River for swimming and wading during warmer months. "Beautiful, clean and peaceful. Plenty of trails to explore and Noyo River meanders through the center... Nice day use area with tables and creek for playing in," shares Danielle F.

Hiking to pygmy forest: Several camping areas connect to unique pygmy forest trails where stunted trees grow in acidic soil conditions. "There is a hiking path that takes you down to Jughandle Beach where you will find all kinds of tourists, animals, and great sand to play in or up to the pygmy redwood forest," reports Hayley K. from Jughandle Creek Farm.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many Mendocino tent campsites offer good separation between camping areas. At Jughandle Creek Farm, "we were able to score a site that was very secluded at the end of the road before the private property line... The sites were pretty quiet even when they were all full and you were able to get to your site without distracting others too much."

Clean facilities: Despite their rustic nature, many campgrounds maintain clean bathrooms. At Paul M. Demmick Campground, "the vaulted ones were extremely clean no flies and didn't have a strong odor," according to Susan W., who appreciated the maintenance level despite limited amenities.

Wildlife viewing: The remote location means frequent wildlife encounters. "We saw one Scrub jay and one ground squirrel while we were there... (Pro tip: Don't leave your food out overnight on the picnic table or that ground squirrel will spirit it away)," warns L. from Paul M. Demmick Campground.

What you should know

Road conditions vary dramatically: Access to many tent camping areas requires careful driving. For Usal Beach Campground, Ryan T. advises, "The road coming into Usal is a pretty messed up mountain road thanks to the fact that it's also used by logging trucks. I would really only recommend this road if you have AWD or 4WD."

Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds close during winter months. "They were closed!" reports avery R. about Paul M. Demmick Campground in September, with another reviewer noting it "Closes sept 2 until May."

Limited amenities: Most sites lack running water and electrical hookups. "No water but fire pits and grills, and picnic tables in campsites," explains Danielle F. about Jackson Demonstration Forest, while Usal Beach has "a single pit toilet that's sort of hidden by the entrance road."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Some campgrounds offer unexpected play areas for children. At COE Mendocino Lake Bu-Shay Campground, Joshua H. notes "Our young kids had a great time playing on the playground which was an unexpected bonus."

River play areas: Look for campgrounds with gentle water access. "Nice day use area with tables and creek for playing in," recommends Danielle F. about Jackson Demonstration Forest.

Cell service considerations: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. Joshua H. reports "We had OK cell coverage with Verizon - we could usually browse the internet but streaming videos were difficult," at COE Mendocino Lake Bu-Shay Campground, while another camper notes "No cell service with Verizon, you'll have to drive into Mendocino for that" at Paul M. Demmick Campground.

Tips from RVers

Length restrictions: Most primitive camping areas near Mendocino have limited space for larger vehicles. At Red Mountain Campground, justin notes it was "Ultimate seclusion, with normal camping accommodations," but requires driving "6 miles from civilization down a windy road, then up a mountain side."

Dump station availability: Few campgrounds offer sanitary facilities for RVs. COE Mendocino Lake Bu-Shay Campground provides dump stations, though campers should note the campground's seasonal operation from May 1 to September 29.

Getting stuck risk: RV campers should exercise caution when choosing campsites near beaches. At Usal Beach, campers warn "Beware of the deep sand. Lots of folks get stuck here, so drive carefully" and recommend bringing recovery gear during wet seasons when trail conditions deteriorate.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mendocino, CA is Jackson Demonstration Forest with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Mendocino, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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