Campsites near Nicasio, California range from developed options in redwood forests to coastal sites near Point Reyes National Seashore. Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground offers tent, RV, and cabin camping in a wooded setting along a creek, while the Olema Campground provides similar accommodations with more hookup options. Several campgrounds in the area feature glamping and cabin options, particularly at locations like San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA and Steep Ravine Campground in Mount Tamalpais State Park. The coastal camping areas in Point Reyes National Seashore include hike-in tent sites at Wildcat, Sky, Glen, and Coast campgrounds.
Reservations are essential for most campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer months and weekends when sites fill quickly. Facilities vary significantly between locations, with some offering full hookups and amenities while others provide basic toilets without showers. Weather considerations include coastal fog and cooler temperatures year-round, especially at sites closer to the Pacific Ocean. Many campgrounds in redwood groves tend to be shaded and cooler even during summer months. The terrain at some locations can present challenges for large RVs or when setting up tents. "Samuel P Taylor camp ground is a great spot. The facilities are extremely nice and well kept. During the summer months it is extremely busy though. Expect the possibility of loud campers at night."
Campers consistently rate the redwood settings highly, with many visitors noting the peaceful atmosphere of camping under tall trees. Wildlife encounters are common, particularly with raccoons at Samuel P. Taylor, which multiple campers mention are quite bold around food. The campgrounds near creeks receive positive mentions for the soothing sound of water and swimming opportunities. Several visitors highlighted the convenient location of these campgrounds, noting their proximity to Point Reyes, beaches, and hiking trails while still being relatively close to San Francisco. One camper noted, "I love how the campsites are all nestled in the huge cypress trees. Water spigots just a few sites away and plenty of bathrooms too." Noise levels vary by location and proximity to roads, with some campers mentioning road noise at certain sites while others praise the quiet, especially at more remote locations.
$35 - $225 / night
"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."
"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."
"Near Pt. Reyes National Seashore. One complaint was they weed whipped the sites next to us rather then mow. Very loud."
"showers were always clean. there was some construction going on, since it was the off season. it looked like they were renovating some of the bathrooms and aisle end sites to add grass and decks. the location"
"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!"
"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."
"Point Reyes in California has to be my all time favorite camping site. There are miles and miles of beaches surrounded by dunes, hills, and cliffs."
"Hike in (and around!) this gorgeous area. We chose to stay two nights and had a great time exploring the surrounding hiking trails - a personal favourite was Alamere Falls."
$30 / night
"California, Washington and Oregon have lovely coast but this location is truly unique!"
"Tomales Bay is a boat in only campground on Indian Beach a unique experience if you have access to a boat. There are plenty of drive or walk in sites if you don't have a boat."
$25 - $100 / night
"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."
$7 - $25 / night
"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. "
"This is an ada compliant walkup campground situated near the top of Mount Tamalpais. Featuring 13 sites ranging from standard campground style to a few more secluded areas."
$30 - $90 / night
"West Marin offers an incredibly picturesque location to explore, and Coast Camp is about as good as it gets."
"The beach offers tidepools close by as well as a great place for beach fire (permit needed). There are two routes to hike in."
"Walking distance to the beach. Quiet place on non holiday weekends. Fun place to fish and the Beach is also pretty clean."
"There are a variety of campsites, and they are many - we camp as close to the ocean as possible in the meadow area."
ScoutLike to end trips at an RV park and this was what I was looking for. Easy to check in, to park, hookups worked. Near spectacular natural beauty.
I didn’t use any other amenities on site or go to the restaraunt, which seemed lively.
No privacy.
TravelerExceptional campground, clean, well kept, and very clean bathrooms/showers. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Grounds green, mowed lawns and nicely trimmer hedges. Campsites have ample room between neighbors. Well done Travis outdoor recreation team.
ScoutEnjoying this campground a lot. It’s a 10-15 minute walk down to Salt Point Trail head and it is STUN-Ning.
Could hear the sea lions barking from the campsite.
I moved from site 4 to 1.
4 had trees over it which was messing with the starlink.
1 is much better for starlink.
Another commenter mentioned the overflow parking lot and I agree that would be a nice option, I wasn’t able to find a staff member to ask to move there. It would be very cold and windy at night and no fire pits.
What I ended up doing was driving down to the Salt Point trailhead lot for the day to work and look at the view of the ocean then I’d come back up to the campsite for the night.
A very peaceful location!
There is pretty much nothing around here so need to come prepared.
ScoutNot much camping in the but Skyline fit the bill. Typically RV style campsites but showers were good, and the grounds were beautiful. Good hiking trails as well.
RangerWe had hoped to stay at another campgrpund about an hour west of here, but it was closed. Being from Connecticut, I knew nothing about this place, but I called the campground and was able to make a same-day reservation. We absolutely loved it here. Wish we could have stayed longer. It had all the amenities of most state campgrounds. No cell service at the campsites, but wifi was available at the camp office/store.
TravelerI stayed here for one night on a week day. One of the most beautiful campgrounds I’ve stayed at. Lots of tall trees that offer shade and privacy. Restrooms and shower facilities are clean, although a bit old.
GuideI'm not a big fan of campgrounds because I usually want peace and quiet, but I really enjoyed my one night here. I was surrounded by huge rigs that dwarfed by truck camper, but everyone was quiet and respectful, leaving me to enjoy the sounds of the wind, rain, and seagulls that I came to enjoy. If you're sound sensitive, you might not enjoy the foghorn that goes off 24/7, but I loved it. All and all, the campsites are clean but small with not a lot of privacy, but the Cove/Gull/Shell campsites have almost private harborside beaches behind them and a large oceanside beach across the road. All in all, a reasonable tradeoff for me.
TravelerThis place only allows a single overnight at a time, but you can come back a week later, I think. There seems to only be a single park ranger and she explained their camping policies and they seemed complicated. Or, I was just frustrated because I had just misplaced my wallet after taking it out to see if I had cash for the overnight fee, and I wasn't listening. Anyway, this place is awesome. It's peaceful and there is a sense of stillness despite there being a few dozen people walking throughout at any given time.
TravelerThis site is okay. It's fairly full on a Tuesday night in April. I haven't used pay showers before, but $2 for 3 minutes of hot water seems very expensive. I use a Cricket phone, which uses AT&T cell phone towers, and I have absolutely no signal. Luckily, Starlink is working very well in drive-through RV space 15, and I can turn on WiFi calling.
Campsites near Nicasio, California sit within the rolling hills of Marin County at elevations ranging from sea level to about 1,500 feet. The area experiences a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and dry summers, though overnight temperatures typically drop to the 40s even in summer months. Coastal fog often blankets western campsites in mornings before burning off by midday, creating distinct microclimates within just a few miles.
Horseback riding opportunities: Several trails near Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground accommodate equestrian use. "Five Brooks Ranch in Olema for horseback riding, Hog Island in Marshall (snag a picnic table and shuck your own oysters - definitely a highlight) and Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station" are nearby attractions according to one visitor.
Hiking to Alamere Falls: From Wildcat Campground, access the unique waterfall that flows directly onto the beach. "The hike to reach the campground is stunning. The hike changes drastically over the course of the six miles ranging from lush forests to grassy fields to breathtaking coastal views," notes one hiker who completed the trail.
Stargazing sessions: Clear coastal nights offer excellent viewing conditions. "We saw lots of wildlife and the stargazing was first-rate, even though you could see the distant glow of civilization in the night sky," reported a camper at Glen Campground, highlighting the area's low light pollution compared to nearby urban areas.
Well-defined campsites: Many campers appreciate sites that provide good separation. "Site 7 is a bit protected by trees and is the closest to the beach so would be my choice in the future," mentioned a visitor to Coast Campground, noting the layout benefits of specific locations.
Microclimate variety: The region offers diverse weather experiences within short distances. "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," explains a camper at Samuel P. Taylor, highlighting how temperatures can vary dramatically from day to night.
Wildlife encounters: Natural animal sightings enhance camping experiences. "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," shared an enthusiastic visitor to Steep Ravine Campground, documenting the diverse wildlife viewing opportunities.
Campsite reservations: Most sites require advance planning, particularly for weekends. At Sky Campground, "These sites are in high demand, but totally worth the wait to experience. The hike in was somewhat lengthy but the views make it seem far less daunting," according to one visitor who successfully secured a reservation.
Weather preparation: Pack for significant temperature swings. "One thing to note, the night is COLD up this way, and mere miles will cover several different weather systems. Bring layers," advises a camper who stayed at Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground.
Noise considerations: Road proximity affects some campgrounds. "Beautiful campground but close to the road... if you're tent camping, the vehicle noise from the nearby Sir Francis Drake Blvd can be distracting if you are a light sleeper," reports one visitor about Samuel P. Taylor, providing context about potential nighttime disturbances.
Beginner-friendly backpacking: For first family backpacking trips, select accessible destinations. "This was our first backpacking trip and we mostly wanted to test our gear. This was perfect for that. 5-mile hike in with some uphill in the last 1.5 miles that was challenging but not too hard," shared a family who stayed at Glen Campground.
Kid-friendly amenities: Seek campgrounds with facilities for children. At San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA, families find "Playgrounds, swimming pool, lots of space to run and scream. We stay when visiting the area and endure the screaming kids. The kids do have fun, I give them that," according to a candid review from a repeat visitor.
Food storage awareness: Wildlife interactions require proper precautions. "One thing to be aware of with Wildcat Camp is the small field mice that can get into the food storage boxes. Bring some steel wool or a critter-proof container to keep food safe, even inside the locker," warns one experienced camper, highlighting specific local wildlife challenges.
Size restrictions: Many coastal campgrounds have limited space for larger vehicles. "It's a bit too tight for large trailer or RV camping (unless you are an expert at maneuvering through tight spaces)," notes a visitor to Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground, warning about access limitations.
Hook-up availability: Utilities vary significantly between campgrounds. At Olema Campground, RVers appreciate that "We stayed in an RV Bay with Power Hookup. Clean toilets and bathrooms. The showers were hot and had decent water pressure," according to a recent visitor who found the facilities adequate for their needs.
Site selection advice: Choose locations based on specific RV needs. "Tested the water-Water tested as acceptable tap water after running it through an external filter. 21 elements checked, all within range. Dissolved solids were 251...pretty high," reported an RVer at San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA, suggesting bringing water filtration equipment when camping in this region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping in Nicasio, California?
While Nicasio itself has limited camping options, the surrounding area offers excellent alternatives. Just a short drive away, Coast Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore provides a secluded experience with beautiful coastal views and basic amenities including water and toilets. For those seeking more developed facilities, Olema Campground is conveniently located near Nicasio with drive-in access, water, toilets, and reservable sites. Both campgrounds serve as ideal basecamps for exploring the natural beauty of Marin County and the Nicasio region.
Are there any RV-friendly campgrounds in Nicasio?
While Nicasio itself doesn't have dedicated RV parks, nearby options include Lawson's Landing in Dillon Beach, which accommodates large rigs with drive-in access and water hookups. Another excellent choice is Half Moon Bay RV Park, where staff provide helpful guidance for navigating pull-through sites. Both locations are RV-friendly with necessary amenities and serve as comfortable bases for exploring Nicasio and the surrounding Marin County area, with driving distances of approximately 30-45 minutes.
What are the best camping spots near Nicasio Reservoir?
The best camping options near Nicasio Reservoir include Wildcat Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore, which offers a serene experience with walk-in sites, water access, and toilets. For a more luxurious stay, consider Steep Ravine Campground — Mount Tamalpais State Park with its breathtaking ocean views and rustic cabins. Both locations are within driving distance of Nicasio Reservoir and provide access to excellent hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and natural scenery that makes this region special.
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