129 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options surrounding Muir Woods include a range of developed campgrounds within Mount Tamalpais State Park and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Mount Tamalpais State Park hosts several campgrounds, including Pantoll and Bootjack, which are primarily tent-focused with walk-in sites. Nearby Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground accommodates tents, RVs, and even offers cabins, while Steep Ravine Campground provides tent sites and rustic cabins with ocean views. Several campgrounds in the region feature both tent and RV sites, though amenities vary significantly between locations.
Access to campgrounds varies by location, with many sites requiring advanced planning due to their popularity. First-come, first-served options like Pantoll Campground fill quickly, especially during summer months and weekends. "This is the only first come first campground around as far as I know. Sites are spacious and include grills and fire pits," noted one visitor about Pantoll. The coastal influence creates variable weather conditions, with fog common in mornings and evenings throughout the year. Most campgrounds in the area have limited or no cell service, and some sites require hiking in gear from parking areas. Mount Tamalpais campgrounds often experience strong winds, and road access involves navigating winding, steep mountain roads that can be challenging after dark.
Campers report high satisfaction with the extensive hiking opportunities connecting directly from many campgrounds. The proximity to Muir Woods National Monument is a significant draw, with trails from Pantoll and other Mount Tam campgrounds leading directly to the redwoods without requiring separate parking reservations. Several visitors mentioned appreciating the ability to access popular hiking destinations while avoiding crowds. Bathroom facilities at most established campgrounds are well-maintained, though amenities vary widely from primitive vault toilets to flush toilets with dishwashing stations. Wildlife encounters, particularly with raccoons and owls, are commonly reported in reviews. Road noise affects some campgrounds, particularly those situated near Panoramic Highway on Mount Tamalpais, with sites higher up the hillside generally offering more solitude and privacy than those closer to parking areas.
"Beautiful trees and wonderful California charm. The campsites were decently located. Above the Mendocino coast the mornings are wet and Cold. Loved this place"
"This campground is less than an hours drive from San Francisco. It is along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard which takes you through a bunch of very cute tiny towns."
from $35 - $225 / night
Check Availability"1 to get to the entrance, and then another steep, curvy ride down to the campground."
"The entire Mount Tamalpais watershed is within 30 minutes drive from this location."
from $25 - $100 / 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"The real draw here is to hike down to Muir Woods. And I mean down to Muir Woods. Save your energy for the hike back up. Absolutely worth it, though, for the gorgeous views."
"Pantoll is a pretty campground located adjacent to the entrance to Mount Tamalpais. You can hike to, bike to, take the bus to, or even drive to this campground. "
from $7 - $25 / 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."
"Great location to the city and Muir woods. Good stores near by. Narrow sites. No room for awning. Close to gather. Sites are gravel and level. Nice area for pets with view."
"30 mins away from the City. A bit pricy but that is to be expected in SF."
from $99 - $115 / night
Check Availability"It's a popular campground in the northern california that's relatively easy to book. We book 1-2 weeks before and still got a spot."
"Nice place to eat within walking distance but make reservations on a weekend. WiFi. Showers. Spots are close together but the drive here is amazing. Openings on a Saturday night."
"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"Really great site right next to the water and beach. The hike in is pretty easy and beautiful. We had fun making a fire on the beach at night. It's pretty windy, so be prepared."
"I used to live in the area and wish I had spent more time camping in and around the Point Reyes National Seashore."
"All three sites here are next to each other and have no seperation, but if you’re okay with that it’s a wonderful place to camp Site 3 is closest to the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the trails connected"
"It has great hiking nearby and an incredible view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city, and is a short drive into the city. you definitely want to reserve a space well in advance, especially during peak"
from $25 / night
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GuideLeft our van for the day, took an $30 uber into San Fran to visit and came back right before sunset. Busy throughout the day so therefore we felt quite safe. Stayed for the night after, with a couple of vans/car campers around us, all was quiet. No noise apart from the wind. It is a parking lot like others note but perfect for a free night so close to downtown.
TravelerTons of signs that say no camping no parking no trespassing. There was a fence and it was locked. Definitely don’t come here
TravelerIt's a popular campground in the northern california that's relatively easy to book. We book 1-2 weeks before and still got a spot.
RangerHands down the cleanest and most well-kept campsite I have ever been to. The pride the owners take in the property is clear from the moment you enter the campground.
Bathrooms are immaculate and coin-operated showers are nice. A dedicated dish washing station, complete with soap and sponges when we stayed, was also a nice touch.
As other reviewers have said, privacy is minimal and this isn't the place for you if you don't want to camp around a lot of families.
This campground is perfect for families who want to take a short walk down to the beach (bring a wagon or something to carry your gear/children), and spend the day enjoying the water.
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.
Mount Tamalpais State Park elevates to 2,571 feet above sea level, creating diverse microclimates for campers exploring near Muir Woods. The coastal influence creates a temperature gradient from the ridge campgrounds to lower elevation sites with temperatures varying by 10-15°F between locations. Camping options near Muir Woods National Monument range from backcountry sites to developed campgrounds with varying amenities and reservation requirements.
Hike to Alamere Falls: From Wildcat Campground, take a 2-mile round trip beach walk to see the waterfall. "Just a short beach-walk away... There are some nice day hike options out of Wildcat Camp if you're lucky enough to spend a couple of days there," notes a camper who recommends heading "south on Coast Trail past Wildcat, Ocean, Pelican, and Bass Lakes."
Explore the historic batteries: When staying near Sausalito, visit the old military installations. A camper at Kirby Cove Campground mentions, "Battery Kirby is right there at the campground and interesting to explore. Active from 1898 to 1934 the battery is quite interesting to walk through, despite the vandals that have clearly spent a lot of time there."
Take the ferry to San Francisco: Several campgrounds offer easy access to ferry service. "A short 10 minute walk from the RV park is the ferry that will drop you off downtown San Francisco. We spent a week here and only drove when we wanted the experience driving down Lombard St and driving across the Golden Gate Bridge," shares a visitor.
Direct trail access to Muir Woods: Camping on Mount Tamalpais provides back-door access to the redwoods. A visitor to Pantoll Campground explains, "I can't think of a better place to camp on or near Mt. Tamalpais than Pantoll in terms of the access to trails and the various parks in the area. From Pantoll you have very easy access to the summit of Mt. Tamalpais, easy access Stinson Beach and the coast, plus you can even skip the long lines and shuttles to get into Muir Woods."
Ocean views and beach proximity: Several campgrounds offer coastal views. At Steep Ravine Campground, one camper describes, "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."
Solitude after ferry departures: Some sites become secluded after day visitors leave. A camper at Angel Island State Park notes, "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."
Wildlife interactions: Raccoons are exceptionally active at many sites. A camper at Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground reports, "Raccoons, Chipmunks and Blue Jays were NOT SHY but also not a harrowing issue." Another camper at Kirby Cove warns, "I've been camping my whole life and NEVER have I seen raccoons so persistent. Not aggressive. Just persistent. And fearless. They. Will. Not. Leave. You. Alone. From like 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm they will stalk your site looking for ANY unsecured food."
Extreme reservation competition: Booking windows open months in advance for popular sites. "This is 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."
Fog horn noise: Coastal sites experience recurring fog horn sounds. At Bicentennial Campground, a camper warns, "Be warned, at night the fog horns on the bridge are very loud and very close, so bring something to cancel the noise."
Family-friendly visitor etiquette: First-time campers frequently visit Samuel P. Taylor State Park. One experienced camper suggests: "For families who want a quick trip over Golden Gate Bridge to introduce their children (or adults!) to the great outdoors, their first camp, nowhere is more convenient and instantly gratifying... More good people who know how to camp SHOULD camp here, because peer pressure and good community is the only thing that works."
Playground and activities: Olema Campground offers recreational facilities for children. "Has numerous amenities including hot (free) showers (cleaned daily), flush toilets, full hookup RV spots, laundromat, US Post office, fenced playground, dog park, drive in tent sites, and firewood for sale," writes one camper. Another mentions "The kids love the playground and try their hand at shuffleboard."
Weather preparation: Temperatures can change dramatically. "The night is COLD up this way, and mere miles will cover several different weather systems. Bring layers," advises a visitor. Another camper notes, "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."
Ferry access for city exploration: Keep your RV parked and use public transportation. "Drive in, park and then walk to all the sights you want to see in San Francisco. A short 10 minute walk from the RV park is the ferry that will drop you off downtown San Francisco," shares one RV camper at Marin RV Park.
Site space constraints: Many RV sites are compact. "Narrow sites. No room for awning. Close to gather. Sites are gravel and level," explains one RVer. Another notes, "Like mentioned in the other reviews, the spots are narrow. The ground is made up of small rocks, but is perfectly level."
Proximity to amenities: Several RV sites provide convenient access to necessities. "There's also a grocery store and a gas station right around the corner, which is convenient," notes a visitor. Another mentions that "Trader Joe's and Chevron [are] a few blocks away."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is camping allowed in Muir Woods National Monument?
Camping is not allowed within Muir Woods National Monument itself. The monument is a day-use area only with no overnight camping facilities. However, nearby Pantoll Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park offers a great alternative for those wanting to camp close to Muir Woods. This campground provides access to trails leading directly to Muir Woods, allowing you to hike down to the monument and avoid the parking congestion. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving early is recommended, especially during summer months when it's particularly popular.
Are there cabin accommodations available at or near Muir Woods?
Cabin accommodations near Muir Woods are limited, but there are options. Steep Ravine Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park offers rustic cabins with stunning ocean views, located about 7 miles from Muir Woods. These popular cabins feature wood stoves but no electricity or running water, and must be reserved well in advance. For those seeking more amenities, Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground area has rental cottages nearby, though slightly further from Muir Woods. The surrounding Marin County area also offers numerous vacation rentals and B&Bs that provide comfortable accommodations within a short drive of Muir Woods.
Where are the closest campgrounds to Muir Woods National Monument?
The closest campgrounds to Muir Woods include Alice Eastwood Group Camp — Mount Tamalpais State Park, which offers a convenient location with a good walking trail down to Muir Woods and back. This group campsite requires advance reservations. For those with RVs, Marin RV Park provides a great location with proximity to both Muir Woods and San Francisco, though sites are somewhat narrow. Other nearby options include Steep Ravine Campground and Kirby Cove Campground in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, both requiring reservations well in advance due to their popularity and prime locations near Muir Woods.
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