166 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The East Bay region surrounding Moraga, California features a mix of established campgrounds within regional parks, providing camping access within 30 minutes of urban areas. Anthony Chabot Regional Park offers both tent and RV sites with partial lake views in a eucalyptus forest setting, while Mount Diablo State Park provides more primitive camping options at Juniper and Live Oak campgrounds. Tilden Regional Park and Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve round out the camping areas near Moraga, with most facilities maintaining year-round availability. These mixed-use campgrounds typically provide basic amenities like toilets, picnic tables and fire rings, though hookup availability varies significantly between locations.
Many campgrounds in the region require advance reservations, especially during summer months when sites fill quickly. Roads leading to these campgrounds are often winding and narrow, with steep grades that can challenge larger vehicles. "We arrived at around 7pm. The park is very well maintained. Super clean. Nice bathrooms," notes one visitor about Anthony Chabot Regional Park. Weather remains mild year-round, though summer fog can affect coastal areas while inland locations like Mount Diablo experience hotter conditions. Cell service varies by location and carrier, with reviews indicating spotty coverage in some campground areas. Most locations enforce leash requirements for pets, with some charging additional fees that aren't always clearly stated during the reservation process.
Campers report high satisfaction with sites offering lake or bay views, particularly those at Anthony Chabot Regional Park overlooking Lake Chabot. One camper described the experience as "beautiful and at 50% of normal capacity even better! The campground is set among a grove of eucalyptus trees that offer shade, which would be really nice during summer, and a calming aroma." While some sites are positioned close together, many feature adequate spacing and natural screening. Hiking trails connect most campground areas with nearby natural features, making them popular bases for day hikes. Several reviewers mentioned wildlife sightings including wild turkeys and deer as highlights of their camping experience. Site levelness can be an issue in this hilly terrain, with reviews indicating many sites are situated on slopes that can complicate tent placement.
"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."
from $25 - $200 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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. "
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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!"
from $75 - $120 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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"
from $40 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Magical :) I feel at Peace at Such a Beautiful Location. Its a Must see."
from $75 / night
Check Availability"The 31-mile East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail system, traverses"
from $15 / night
Check Availability"campground than a conventional campsite; (3) Picnic tables, BBQs, food-storage box and a drinking-water spigot provide just enough infrastructure without spoiling the primitive experience; (4) Direct access to"
from $75 / night
Check Availability"What they do have are scores of hookup sites for $60 / night and three tent / drive-in no hookup water-only sites for $45 / night."
"Since it's a new campground, the trees are young and don't supply much shade, but since it's close to the SF Bay, the bay breeze helps."
from $45 - $65 / night
Check Availability
GuideWe arrived and looked at our site and needed sun to recharge our batteries so the attendant let us pick one from the available list. A bit dusty but well worth it for the amenities.
GuideThis is more of a rest, stop in a camp area and there’s signs all over that say do not leave valuables exposed in vehicle. Amazing dude perfect time to be here for a airshow
TravelerAround this time of year, park is practically empty during weekdays. Nice and quiet and peaceful place where you can slow things down
GuideGreat location with spaces in safe SE bay area location and reasonable prices New development small young trees limited natural shade
ScoutVery quiet campground at night. See stars clearly. Use the fire pit after 730pm when the wind has calmed down.
ScoutI was woken up by law enforcement and asked to leave on my second night staying here. They will issue a citation (luckily they took mine away and gave me a warning) this needs to be removed as a dispersed site.
GuideThere are many spot. It's a parking lot and the spots are very snug. The edge by the ocean lost a few.
Staff is kind, helpful and responsive. Area is clean and very peaceful. It's a bit pricey. Our standard spot was $150.
GuideLike most/all east bay parks, this is well appointed for the masses. It’s also surrounded by rolling hills and close to suburbia. For many, these are positives. As an east bay resident they are for me as well. Del Valle is a bit more removed than many east bay parks. From my location in Fremont, it’s a one hour drive. A pleasant drive for the most part. I camp to get away for a bit and almost always to mountain bike. As such, I seek parks that have trails. Del Valle has a map of many trails. They also appear on many of the mapping services used by mountain bikers. Review those and digest them if this is also your intention - these are east bay parka style trails. In other words, mostly steep and loose fire roads, with many “social trails” sprinkled between. If you are compelled to stay legit/legal trails, bring an ebike. Now on to the camping. I picked a spot as far removed from any booked spot on the map. I triple checked this up until the day before I arrived. I want solitude! When I arrived Thursday afternoon, I was surprised to see the sites just 3 spaces away, on both sides, occupied. This is a fairly compact area. And while I’m sure they’re lovely folks, this isn’t what I expected on a Thursday. Saturday? Sure. Anyway… be aware that these reservation services aren’t completely reliable in that regard. The bathrooms and showers are amazing! Clean, smell good, cared for. Noteworthy is the hot showers in the camp grounds are free and your one push of the button provides water for two minutes I'd guess. Very nice! The space, 135 for me, is okay. A couple trees for shade, a nice table and fire pit. It’s now dark and the noise is minimal - mostly from the group campsite just down the hill. I’ll update this with more details in the coming days since it’s a 4 day visit.
Update 1: it’s my first morning here. Using starlink as there is no cell signal to be found. What I noticed last night was that this park is directly below the flight path to the local airports. Every couple minutes last night, a plane would fly overhead. According to flight aware, they’re at about 10,000 feet. If this will ruin your getaway, you’ve been warned.
Update 2: On Friday night, the majority of the spots were filled. Many large groups of people with varying degrees of consideration, but to their credit almost all (except the barking German Shepard) were quiet by 10PM. It was a bit more crowded come Saturday morning. Some friends came to visit for a mountain bike ride, and we set off at about noon. I had been complimentary of the facilities and bragged that I'd be taking a nice shower after our ride. Unfortunately, upon our return, there was no hot water and no lighting in the showers. And, sadly, someone decided to remove the tags and hangers from their TJ Maxx haul and leave them all over the floor of two of the showers.
Verdict: I'd only come back here in the springtime when it's likely to be green and have some water in the arroyo and only during the week. The density and composition of the people here was akin to being at Costco on a Saturday, and I only did that once.
TravelerNothing like camping under the redwoods with sounds of streams nearby. Restrooms and facilities are clean and well maintained. Park Rangers are extremely nice and helpful.
Camping sites near Moraga, California range from foggy coastal areas to warmer inland locations, with seasonal temperature variations of 30-40°F between day and night. Trail access from many sites often requires navigating steep terrain, making sturdy footwear essential. Most campgrounds maintain 10 pm to 6 am quiet hours with limited night entry options.
Explore volcanic formations: The Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve features unique geological formations from an ancient volcano. "There are several trails providing tons of access throughout the preserve. The 31-mile East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail system, traverses the preserve along the ridgeline between Wildcat Canyon and Anthony Chabot Parks," notes one camper about Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.
Visit wildlife areas: Regional parks around Moraga provide opportunities to observe local wildlife in natural settings. "Amazing urban get-away...the eucalyptus groves make the air smell wonderful, and there is so much wildlife to see (deer, turkeys, owls, etc.)," reports one visitor about Anthony Chabot Regional Park.
Summit Mount Diablo: For panoramic views, hike to the observation point at Mount Diablo's peak. "This is literally the best place to see a sunset of 'The Bay'. There are a lot of trails for hiking," shares a camper at Mount Diablo State Park. The summit provides visibility across much of Northern California on clear days.
Night sky viewing: The higher elevation campgrounds offer excellent stargazing when fog conditions permit. "The weather in May was really nice imo. Not too cold at night with layers, & starts warming up quick in the morning. Heard coyotes howling night and day which was neat," mentions a visitor at Juniper Campground.
Biking trails: The extensive trail networks accommodate cyclists of varying skill levels. "I 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," explains a mountain biker about Anthony Chabot Regional Park.
Water features: Several parks include lakes or ponds for additional recreation. "Nice clean decent cell service. Lots of birds singing. The views of the lake are very nice. Would stay again," comments a visitor about the lake views at Anthony Chabot.
Variable weather conditions: Temperature fluctuations can be significant between day and night. "No matter how hot it is you'll never be able to escape the howling winds at night. Good tent stakes and warm gear is a must," advises a camper at Mount Diablo State Park.
Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife can be persistent around campsites. "The raccoons are vicious and fearless. Store all food and ANYTHING with a scent in the bear box. If you plan to leave your cooler outside of the bear box make sure it has a lock or secure latch," warns a camper at Kirby Cove.
Site selection: Campground layout and features vary considerably between parks. "The sites in the teens have less overhead shade but more privacy than those of higher numbers. The sites closest to the driving road/entrance/overlook will have the potential to be downwind of the bathroom, unfortunately," advises a visitor about Juniper Campground.
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer historical sites and nature programs. "The upside of being patient with how far out you make your reservation is that once the last ferry leaves, you have the island practically to yourself. It is pretty awesome," notes a visitor at Angel Island State Park, which features immigration and military history exhibits.
Heat management: Summer temperatures can be extreme in some locations. "Insanely hot in the summer, I would recommend not going in July like we did. It was 104° or something and I was just drenching my clothes in water to stay cool," cautions a camper about Juniper Campground.
Pet restrictions: Rules for pets vary between parks. "Dogs are allowed throughout this section of the park and in camp on leash but are not allowed on the adjacent Huckleberry trails," explains a visitor about Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, noting that policies differ even within the same park.
Site levelness: Many campgrounds have sloped parking areas challenging for RVs. "The better sites are #5-12 with #11 and #12 being the best. Not all sites were open during our visit likely due to the pandemic," recommends an RVer at Anthony Chabot Regional Park.
Access roads: The winding roads to many campgrounds can be difficult for larger vehicles. "If you are queasy about motion, plan on bringing a plastic bag to vomit in. There are no guard rails, so if your driver isn't paying attention off you go down the mountain," warns a camper about the drive to Mount Diablo State Park.
Hookup availability: Electric, water, and sewer connections are limited to specific campgrounds. "A few low spots. Cleared 12' barely with minor scrapes. Good parking and turn around. Lots of opportunities for horse riders in area," notes a visitor about Briones Regional Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping in Moraga, California?
While Moraga itself doesn't have campgrounds, several excellent options exist nearby. Anthony Chabot Regional Park in Oakland is one of the closest options, offering family-friendly sites with good facilities and trail access. Another nearby option is Tilden Regional Park in the Berkeley Hills, just a short drive from Moraga. For those willing to venture slightly farther, Mount Diablo State Park offers camping with impressive views of the Bay Area. Most campgrounds in the region require reservations, especially during peak seasons.
Are there any free camping areas in or around Moraga?
True free camping is limited near Moraga. Your best option might be H. Dana Bower Rest Area Northbound, which allows overnight parking but has restrictions. For budget-friendly alternatives, consider Castle Rock Trail Camp, a hike-in campground with minimal fees. For dispersed camping, you'll need to travel farther to national forests like Mendocino or Tahoe. Always verify current regulations before attempting free camping, as rules change and unauthorized camping can result in fines.
What are the best seasons for camping near Moraga?
Spring and fall offer the most pleasant camping conditions near Moraga. Spring (April-May) brings comfortable temperatures and wildflower blooms at places like Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground, which features nice views and family-friendly sites. Fall (September-October) provides mild weather and fewer crowds at destinations like Skyline Wilderness Park. Summer can be hot, especially inland, though coastal options remain cooler. Winter camping is possible but prepare for rain and cooler temperatures, with some campgrounds reducing services or closing entirely.
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