Join the fun near Novato. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that California camping has to offer. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your California camping adventure.
$35 - $225 / night
"Because of the holiday and the proximity to Oakland/San Fran, the campground was in FULL EFFECT with a gang of variant families camp site hopping. "
"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."
"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!"
"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."
$35 - $175 / night
"You won't be able to drive up to your campsite. You have to carry your gear in a short distance from the parking lot."
"Located on the west side of the San Rafael/Richmond Bridge, on San Francisco Bay, this park is extremely popular with mountain bikers. "
$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."
$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."
$99 - $115 / night
"30 mins away from the City. A bit pricy but that is to be expected in SF."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"Nice, clean place with beautiful hiking trails. The garden is very cute, perfect for a quiet walk or meditation. Sites are close to each other. This place is a good getaway into nature."
TravelerCasini Ranch is really two campgrounds: the tent campground features charming sites tucked into private groves; the RV sites with electrical and water hookups are crammed together, with little more than a fence post to demarcate them. Some of the RV sites are essentially parallel parking on a dirt roadway.
This campground is NOT for you if you are seeking a quiet experience, connection with nature, a good night’s sleep or reliable wifi. It is for you if you don’t mind throngs of children & teens on motorized scooters, noisy campers partying into the night and a lot of dirt and dust.
Don’t be fooled: The “premium” sites are basically parking spaces in a dirt lot. Also: There is NO VERIZON service in the campsite and limited to no Verizon service for about 1/2 mile out of the campsite.
GuideWe escaped without a scratch but had some, ahem, 'fascinating' moments with our feathered friends. The birds were so fun to watch, especially if you're a fan of the movie! This was the start of a beach vacation, which was the perfect getaway! The campground was very clean. Restrooms and showers were decent. No power and water spigots are there to gather water. Spots are fairly close to the bay. It's not a bad place to pitch camp in the entire area. Change up in the campers a different night was irritating, but the campground ranger got it under control quickly. Highly suggest taking scooters or your bicycle as there are many places to explore within the park. We had fun being part of our own version of "The Birds." You must go into the town to get the experience of seeing where the movie " The Birds" was filmed🐦⬛🦅🐦🦆🦜
LegendThis is our 3rd or 4th stay here. We visit people in the Bay Area and this place is convenient to Palo Alto and the Peninsula. It is usually not crowded, but this trip has more rigs the bathrooms are modern and clean, if spartan. The showers are roomy with ok water pressure (for California) and warm water. The laundry is super convenient. They even have summer ranger programs but we didn’t see many kids here. We are in a Class B van, but many sites are large enough for Class A rigs. Every time we have stayed here it has been windy. Sites, though asphalt, require some leveling.
TravelerWe arrived around 5:30pm, and were able to park for the night. There are several parking spots Several other campers soon pulled in around us. It’s a very busy overlook for the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay, so don’t expect to be here alone. But it’s a great place to stop for a night if you’re in the SF area.
GuideHad a great 1 night stay at Juniper! We didn’t have a reservation, but got 1 upon arrival around 2pm. We asked for the site with the best view and were given site 23 at Juniper. It did not disappoint!! Our site was pretty private & we had our own sunset viewpoint. It’s next to a trail, & nearby bathrooms with showers & trash dumps. Site included picnic table, fire pit, 2 food storage boxes, & is very spacious.
The weather in May was really nice imo. Not too cold at night with layers, & starts warming up quick in the morning. Bugs weren’t too bad. Heard coyotes howling night and day which was neat. No raccoons. Saw some lizards.
Just a heads up the drive is windy, I got carsick on the way down. Will be returning & hopefully trying some hikes next time!
*Site 13 & 15 also seemed like they had nice views! (:
GuideArrived after hours end of May on Thursday night. Selected non-reserved level paved site in 54-89 loop (close to bay). Paid using supplied envelope and check drawn on US bank. Two clean restroom/shower buildings in this loop. Each had token machine ($1 for 5 minutes). Good hot water pressure. Saw some porti-potties in other loop so don't know what's working over there. Quiet at night except for non-annoying fog horn and soothing ocean waves over hill. Would stay again. NOTE: Wright's Beach State Park campground 5-miles north has Overflow camping next to entrance station (no hook-ups).
GuideStaff at the visitor center/store were friendly. Sugarloaf had lots of sites to choose from. We had many neighbors (mostly RVs) but enough space between sites. Can’t blame the campsite for the guy who brought a tv & played it out loud lol. It was quiet by 10pm.
The weather was nice mid-April. Good amount of shade. Flat ground for tent. Picnic table, fire pit, bear box, nearby bathrooms & dumpsters.
The flying bugs / mosquitoes were out so come prepared. Only left with 1-2 bites = victory! We walked the “Nature Trail” through the campground & when we tried to sit they would swarm. But it was a nice short easy walk, where we saw a rabbit, turkeys, lizards, deer, & quails! Seems they have lots of hikes available. Had a great time!
TravelerGreat experience! Park staff was friendly and very helpful. There’s a good amount of space between campgrounds to allow for privacy. Lots of shaded spots. Multiple clean and flushable toilets and showers. Drinking water was murky, so bring water if you’re picky. Lots of foxtails in the grass, so be careful if bringing pets.
TravelerI was here in the month of May very quiet squirrels running around lots of birds I think there was only three or four people that it was during the week so there's that good cell service I have a 25 ft RV fit in the space fine.
Camping near Novato, CA, offers a fantastic mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.
Camping near Novato, CA, offers a variety of experiences, from serene nature walks to family-friendly activities. Just be prepared for the unique quirks of each campground, and you're sure to have a great time!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Novato, CA is Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 51 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Novato, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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