18 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Several rustic cabin options can be found within a short drive of Muir Beach, California, with varying levels of amenities and comfort. Steep Ravine Campground in Mount Tamalpais State Park offers oceanfront cabins with wood-burning stoves, sleeping platforms for up to six people, and million-dollar coastal views. "These cabins are well worth the cost. There is a separate bedroom, you could sleep 2 couples on beds easily with extra floor space and a small individual bunk for larger families. No electricity but the wood burning stove provides some light," notes camper Amber D. Samuel P. Taylor State Park provides more modern cabin accommodations with electricity, outlets, and heating systems. These cabins include access to drinking water, dish washing stations, and shower facilities. Olema Campground and San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA also offer cabin rentals with varying amenities, from basic structures to more furnished options.
Reservations for cabin camping rentals in this region often require advance planning, particularly for the highly sought-after Steep Ravine cabins which can book up six months in advance. Pet policies vary significantly by location, with Steep Ravine prohibiting pets while Olema Campground and Porto Bodega Marina & RV Park welcome leashed dogs. Family-friendly options include the San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA, which features cabin rentals alongside amenities like a petting zoo, pool, and playground areas. Most cabins accommodate 4-6 people comfortably, though specific layouts differ. According to one visitor at Samuel P. Taylor State Park, "Cabins are incredible. They have electricity, outlets, and heating. All you need are sheets, pillows, and blankets." Winter visitors should note that some locations like Bothe-Napa Valley State Park can get quite cold at night despite having cabin accommodations.
Most cabin rentals provide basic furniture but require guests to bring their own bedding, pillows, and towels. Cooking facilities vary widely between locations, from simple outdoor fire rings and charcoal grills at Steep Ravine to more equipped kitchenettes in certain KOA cabins. Visitors should pack lanterns or flashlights for cabins without electricity, and mouse traps may be necessary at some coastal locations. Food storage containers are essential as wildlife encounters are common throughout the region. While some campgrounds have small stores with basic provisions, most visitors should plan to bring supplies or shop in nearby towns. Proximity to restaurants varies by location, with Porto Bodega offering dining options within walking distance while more remote cabins require self-sufficiency or a short drive for meals and groceries.
"Site had a fire ring, picnic table, and a stone grill. The grounds had running water, flush toilets and quarter showers. Camped here at night and explored point reyes during the day."
"This campground is beautiful, set in the redwoods, with a creek and nature trails. It has all the amenities: flush toilets, showers, fire pits, running water, and grills."
from $35 - $225 / night
Check Availability"These cabins are well worth the cost. There is a separate bedroom, you could sleep 2 couples on beds easily with extra floor space and a small individual bunk for larger families."
"There are dish washing spigots scattered among the cabins. There are wheelbarrows for schlepping your stuff to the cabins and campsites; more on that later. And charcoal grills outside each cabin."
from $25 - $100 / night
Check Availability"My site had plenty of shade, fire pit, picnic table, and water nearby."
"Small store, full hookups in places (will bring our trailer back), tables, fire rings. Not much privacy but at least this weekend it was quiet (except for our group 🤣)"
"Like most (if not all) KOAs, you can also tent camp or tent cabins. Good size dog park for the pets to run and be free, as well as plenty of fun activities to entertain the kiddos."
"A nice KOA close to Petaluma with great facilities. We took advantage of doing some laundry and having a hot shower."
"Staff was very nice and the restrooms looked great and worked perfectly fine. Very quiet."
"A ton of great hiking and horseback riding trails. Literally 5 mins outside of the town of Napa. Ate at an amazing Brazilian Steakhouse and came to camp in just a short drive."
"Super easy access and safe, in the city so close to wineries, restaurants and shops. We were here as a stop in our road trip so it was a perfect stay. They provide WiFi and hot shower."
"Water fountains/spigots relatively easy to find near most campsites. Bathhouse is next to site 10, operates with quarters."
"We set up our tent towards the back of the site closest to the creek because it was more private. The only concern was that there was a slight downward slope."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"If you wanna rv and craving crab,chowder, and oysters this is the spot for you, full hook up,fire pit , and picnic table walking distance to a restaurant and shops great views very relaxing...the down"
"This place was great full hook up W,E,S,C you get a fire pit and a picnic table, 3 minute walk to restaurant and deli, public restroom is clean every morning and garbage gets emptied...amazing views the"
"There is a small store with the basic essentials, a play area for young kids and of course the main attraction which is an access to the river. There is a kayak rental by the beach area."
"Stayed here for a few days and I have to say probably the best family campground around! The sites were super clean the staff were awesome! Lots of activities for the family. The River area is nice."
"It’s close to the entrance but the driveway only had a slight grade. Mostly folks with trailers. The sites are not too close together but it is easy to see into the surrounding neighbors."
"It is kid friendly, fun easy hike around the lake (no swimming but you can rent or bring your own kayaks or stand-up paddle boards), great location to way more technical hikes into and around Trione-Annabel"
from $35 / night
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TravelerThese cabins are well worth the cost. There is a separate bedroom, you could sleep 2 couples on beds easily with extra floor space and a small individual bunk for larger families. No electricity but the wood burning stove provides some light. Bring candles and lanterns and some fabric for curtains for privacy.
GuideI loved the quaint feel of our campsite. The only downside was that the main road runs alongside the grounds. Our site was small but my eyes were pleased by how it looked. Site had a fire ring, picnic table, and a stone grill. The grounds had running water, flush toilets and quarter showers.
Camped here at night and explored point reyes during the day.
GuideThis KOA is pretty big with plenty of options for RV sites. Wide variety of full hook-ups or partial hook-ups. Like most (if not all) KOAs, you can also tent camp or tent cabins. Good size dog park for the pets to run and be free, as well as plenty of fun activities to entertain the kiddos. For us, this is a great spot to shoot down the highway and pull in for a few days to get away from the hustle and bustle of normal life! Close to downtown Petaluma with plenty of premium shops and restaurants.
TravelerThis campground is beautiful, set in the redwoods, with a creek and nature trails. It has all the amenities: flush toilets, showers, fire pits, running water, and grills. The only drawback is the sites are small and close together, affording very little privacy. The campground can be pretty loud at night too. If you're looking for peace, quiet, and seclusion, this might not be the campground for you. We really enjoyed it though because we have a three year old, and with all the other noise in the campground, I didn't have to feel bad when she was being loud. Also, watch out for the raccoons! They stole my bread that I stupidly left out, and then tried to get into our ice chest. There are lockers provided at each campsite. Use them!
TravelerWe have previously tent camped and car camped here and we really enjoy it. It can get warm in the summer, but the cool moist ocean fog comes in and blankets the area in the evenings, which can really cool it down. On our first visit, there was no running water or showers, but they did have portapotties. On our second visit, water was available, but it was not potable, and the showers and toilets were still not working. Not sure if that is a Covid related issue or a temporary maintenance issue. It’s worth a drive through prior to staying, in order to find a site that fits your needs, they have many different sized sites available, and we like the sites in the high teens (18 & 19), as they seem a bit larger and are right along the creek. The sites appear to be your standard state park equipment with a fire pit, a picnic table and a lockable pantry. The parking area for our site was large enough to accommodate our SUV and another vehicle. There is firewood generally available with the camp host or at the gate. Good cell signal with Verizon. Because of the amazing redwood canopy, it might be hard to get good sun for solar in most of the sites. There are all kinds of trails available, as well as a paved path that runs for at least a mile or so along the creek, that used to be the old railroad line through that area. They have informational signs all over the place providing historical or ecological information. Access to the creek is seasonally restricted for spawning, and I believe that goes from spring to about mid June or July. Also, lots of poison oak in the unmaintained areas and off the trails, so be aware.
ScoutThe group site was spacious and had a wate spigot, two fire rings, two grills and three picnic tables. There was room for two vehicles and is right next to a bathroom with quarter showers. It's a large campground in a beautiful park. Didn't hike but enjoyed road biking around.
GuideSmall, cozy campground located in the heart of wine country. Site contains fire pit, picnic tables, and bear locker. Several prominent wineries located near by as well as a charming town called Calistoga. Sites and bathrooms were well maintained. Good option if you're doing Napa on a budget!
GuideCamp sites include fire ring and flattened areas with picnic table. Fresh water is available, as well as, bathrooms and showers. Nice level sites for RVs. Great Verizon and AT&T cell service.
TravelerHow is it possible that I am the first to review this place, the number one most difficult to reserve spot in all of California (and therefore presumably all of America)?!
So the cabins are not only notoriously difficult to reserve -- you need to be ready to click "reserve" on the website at no less than 5 minutes before the window opens for your dates of interest, which was 6 months ahead of time when I reserved -- but kind of expensive for what they are, at $100/night plus reservation fee.
For that, you get your own seaside cabin with million dollar views just 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Sleeping platforms for about 6 people split among 3 semi-private rooms. Flush toilets at the parking lot and an honor system for buying firewood bundles with kindling. A full-time host lives in the house at the parking lot. There are dish washing spigots scattered among the cabins. There are wheelbarrows for schlepping your stuff to the cabins and campsites; more on that later. And charcoal grills outside each cabin. A couple general use picnic tables scattered about. So those are the basics you can read anywhere.
Various thoughts and recommendations, based on my solo weekend visit in mid-March 2018, staying in Cabin 7 at the bottom of the hill closest to the little beach:
My advice? If you're a small party that just wants a couple days with the gorgeous oceanfront views and location, stay at the tent sites, not the cabins. You won't sleep with one eye open waiting for the mousetraps to pop, and it's a flat, easy portage from the parking lot to the campsites. Easier to keep clean, and I find cooking outside to be less of a hassle and easier to clean up than doing it inside the cabin where there isn't any water, sink, or spillage containment solution. Cheaper and (barely) easier to reserve a tent site, too.
If you're intent on having the cabin experience, or if you're staying in winter, or staying for more than a couple days, or have kids and really want to set up house, then go for a cabin, and I'd recommend choosing a cabin close to the parking lot. They're actually more private and you can use the wheelbarrows to move your stuff from car to cabin. The cabins further away from the parking lot are further down the hill; wheelbarrows are not an option, and footing is iffy when carrying large, heavy items up and down from the parking lot. Views are the same from all cabins so you're not losing any benefits. I'll try for CB04 next time.
But take whatever cabin you can get, and check "Steep Ravine Cabins" off your camping bucket list.
Samuel P. Taylor State Park cabins offer a valuable alternative to tent camping near Muir Beach, California. Located in dense coastal forests just 13 miles from Muir Beach, these accommodations provide shelter during the region's frequent temperature swings, with nighttime lows often dropping below 50°F even in summer. Cabin camping in this area ranges from rustic shoreline structures with wood stoves to more modern units with electrical outlets, depending on location and price point.
Creek exploration: Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground offers access to Lagunitas Creek with seasonal restrictions for fish spawning. "There is a paved path that runs for at least a mile or so along the creek, that used to be the old railroad line through that area. They have informational signs all over the place providing historical or ecological information," notes Joseph F.
Coastal hiking: Steep Ravine Campground connects directly to Mount Tamalpais trail network. "You can hike right onto the Steep Ravine / Matt Davis trails and climb all over Mt. Tam from the campground. It's also a great base camp for exploring Bolinas and the Pt. Reyes area by vehicle," advises one visitor.
Wildlife viewing: Cabins in the area provide opportunities to observe diverse coastal wildlife. At Steep Ravine, one camper reports: "The wildlife is off the hook...I've seen deer in the seaside vernal pools, wild miniature ocean bunnies boxing in the morning sunshine, and a great white shark off the cliffs one fine day."
Horseback riding: Several cabin accommodations provide access to equestrian activities. "I would highly recommend Five Brooks Ranch in Olema for horseback riding," suggests Kathleen C. who stayed at Samuel P. Taylor.
Privacy factors: Olema Campground offers cabin options with varying levels of seclusion. "Lovely large meadow with scattered trees. RC/van spots are arranged in cul de sacs, tent spots on the edges of fields," notes a recent visitor. While some cabin sites provide more privacy than others, most report acceptable spacing.
Water features: Many cabin locations provide access to water bodies for recreation. "This regional park is located on the southeast edge of the city of Santa Rosa and is surrounded on three sides by neighborhoods. Connected to Spring Lake Regional Park to the west is Howarth Park, a small city park offering a train ride, carousel, jump house, petting zoo and pony rides," explains Michael I.
Proximity to dining: Several cabin options allow convenient access to restaurants. At Porto Bodega Marina & RV Park, "There is a coffee/breakfast place, and a wine/beer/restaurant at the edge of the property. Very good and convenient! Lots of nice walking opportunities," reports Todd W.
Evening atmosphere: The cabin camping experience includes pleasant nighttime elements. At Porto Bodega, "You can see the Milky Way at night while listening to the soft foghorn and every now and then a soft bark of a seal."
Winter considerations: Cabin camping provides shelter from winter coastal conditions. "Cold plunge into that lake was exactly what was needed," notes Scott R. about Spring Lake Regional Park, highlighting the temperature variations common in the region.
Reservation challenges: Most cabins require significant advance planning. For Steep Ravine, "So the cabins are not only notoriously difficult to reserve -- you need to be ready to click 'reserve' on the website at no less than 5 minutes before the window opens for your dates of interest, which was 6 months ahead of time."
Pest management: Cabin users should prepare for wildlife encounters. "There were several brand new mouse traps provided at the entrance to my cabin. You'll need them. You'd think staying in a cabin would elevate the camping experience a bit, but frankly, this brought things down a couple notches."
Limited availability: Many cabin sites have restricted inventory. "Few places," notes John L. about Steep Ravine, highlighting the limited number of cabins available at most locations.
Playground access: San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA offers excellent family-oriented cabin options. "Great things for kids to be entertained by and enjoy for sure," reports Patrick J. The site includes multiple recreation facilities designed specifically for children.
Kid-friendly activities: Families appreciate organized programs at certain cabin locations. "They have a lot of kids activities! Face paining, s'mores campfire, hay ride, parks, kareoke- just to name a few!" shares Miya B. about Casini Ranch.
Noise considerations: Family areas can become lively, especially during peak seasons. "Somewhat noisy - kids, dogs, radios - but settled down by 9. Friendly vibe," reports a camper about the atmosphere at Olema Campground.
Educational opportunities: Several cabins provide learning experiences for children. "They have informational signs all over the place providing historical or ecological information," notes one visitor about the educational offerings at Samuel P. Taylor State Park.
Site selection: Bothe-Napa Valley State Park offers cabins with important site-specific considerations. "All of the sites are good though space 43 is awkward is you have a 25ft+ trailer," warns Robert S., highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate sites.
Water availability: RV users visiting cabins should note water access points. "Arrive at this park full of water. There was only one spigot with threads (for attaching hose to fill tanks); it was at spot 29," reports Tammy B. about Spring Lake Regional Park.
Proximity benefits: Cabins with close RV accessibility offer convenience for mixed-use situations. "We nestled our Sprinter between to large pine trees and took the dog for a walk. Then headed down the road for our first dinner indoors since February!" shares Maureen F., demonstrating how cabin and RV camping can complement each other.
Road conditions: Access to some cabin areas requires careful driving. "It's a classic, twisty ride on Highway 1 to get to the entrance, and then another steep, curvy ride down to the campground. Campers sensitive to motion sickness or vertigo be warned."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Muir Beach, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Muir Beach, CA is Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 57 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Muir Beach, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 cabin camping locations near Muir Beach, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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