162 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"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"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"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"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."
"Good parking and turn around. Lots of opportunities for horse riders in area. Pets on leash."
from $75 - $200 / night
Check Availability"The area is beautiful and lots of people come here to walk and exercise, and once I took my dog on a walk I saw why nobody brings their dog - TICKS! So many! "
"It's peaceful and there is a sense of stillness despite there being a few dozen people walking throughout at any given time."
from $12 / night
Check Availability
RangerNo tents, no rest room, no dump, must arrive after 4pm and leave by 9 am, MUST have your own bathroom…. But it’s like $12, and if you need to be in Benecia it’s great.
ScoutWe don't have kids, but this is a great place with a petting zoo, pool and hayride.
GuideThis campground is okay (3.5/5 stars) - the sites are close together and it seems to be very popular spot with a lot of families. Our section was fairly quiet but other areas were quite loud.
The campground is dog friendly and dogs are allowed on the paved roads. The bathrooms were pretty nice and the showers had hot water. You need to purchase a token for $1 from the park ranger when checking in and that will get you 5 minutes of hot water.
We stayed at site 49 and couldn't figure out where other folks put their tents. There was a slightly elevated area in the back left site of the campsite but it didn't look used, was on a slight hill, and looked directly into the campsite next to us so we opted to put our tent on the flat area right by the driveway.
ScoutStayed here for 2 nights. Staff was very nice and the restrooms looked great and worked perfectly fine. Very quiet.
ScoutObviously a long term lot with a very “wrong turn” kind of vibe. Website on apple is blocked for deceptive practices . There was but link from here works. Never got confirmation e,ail so I called.. 800 number, no answer.. local number answered said I wouldn’t get confirmation until noon tomorrow. Then told me to come on as a walk in. We pulled up, pulled through, left quickly.. bad decisions unless you are on hard times.
ScoutThe campgrounds was well kept - grass was mowed - trashes empty. Beautiful little spot if you like to fish the delta. But they have a sign as you enter the property that says “Pay Here” but don’t do that because the prices on the sign are not correct, and the instructions are also incorrect… I guess. I know this because I was told that I got it wrong and if you argue about it, they will threaten to call the sheriff. I like sheriffs.
GuideFriendly staff, well run, clean bathrooms and showers. Bumpy narrow road on the levee on the road in but doable. It is windy due to the location, particularly at night. Really shook the RV.
ScoutThis spot is actually very ideal for people like me who was stressing every night while living in my car, I had multiple parking tickets while I was in San Francisco and got my car towed even so once I found out about this free camping rest area I jumped on it. Beautiful views that's a plus
GuideReservations and check-in were very easy. Stay at site 5 and and site 4 was right next us. Their house door was face our house door (see picture) and very little privacy. Otherwise, it is a very nice campground and everyone we met were so friendly. Their house door bathrooms and laundry room were very clean.
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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