Tent campsites near Pacheco, California allow access to multiple East Bay regional parks within a 30-minute drive. The region sits at the edge of the Diablo Range with elevations ranging from 500 to 3,800 feet, creating diverse microclimates. Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F while winter nights can drop below 40°F with occasional rainfall from November through March.
What to do
Trail exploration at Tilden Regional Park: The park offers multiple hiking routes with varying difficulty. "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. It is great for biking (but be weary of the hills)," notes reviewer Ethan K. The park also features a lake for swimming and relaxation.
Volcanic formations at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve: This preserve sits on an actual volcano with unique geological features. The site offers "360 degree views of Mount Diablo and surrounding parklands," according to reviewers. The small hike-in site requires a moderate 0.2-mile walk from the parking lot with no vehicle access available.
Sunrise viewpoints at Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park: Take a ferry from Tiburon to experience island camping with city views. "The island is about a 5 mile hike from one end to the other with a very modest elevation gain so it's definitely worth doing," according to Marion D. The island includes Immigration Museum exhibits and historic military structures to explore.
What campers like
Secluded experience after dark: Many campgrounds become remarkably quiet once day visitors leave. At Angel Island, "once the last ferry leaves, you have the island practically to yourself," explains Bryan R. The limited number of campsites (only 10 on Angel Island) creates a more private overnight experience.
Unique camping environments: The region offers everything from volcanic landscapes to coastal settings. At Steep Ravine Campground, campers enjoy "incredible views, hiking, and hot springs" along with "seaside cabins with million dollar views just 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge," according to reviewers.
Wildlife encounters: Many campgrounds provide opportunities to observe local fauna. At Steep Ravine, one camper reported seeing "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." Tilden Park campers frequently spot wild turkeys near their sites.
What you should know
Weather challenges: Temperatures fluctuate dramatically throughout the year. At Juniper Campground, one camper warned it gets "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." Coastal sites like Steep Ravine require "layers of functional clothes since the weather on the SF bay can be anything from roasting to foggy frigid cold during the day and night year round."
Reservation difficulties: Many sites book quickly. Steep Ravine Cabins require bookings six months in advance with one reviewer noting, "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." Angel Island has only 10 sites total, creating high demand.
Wildlife precautions: Food storage is critical at most sites. At Juniper Campground, campers report: "They have food lockers, not bear lockers, and ours was broken one time so have a solid backup plan, the raccoons are very intelligent and they come out at night so be prepared for that."
Tips for camping with families
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature programs. Tilden Park includes a "Little Farm" where children can interact with animals. One visitor suggests: "bring your own carrots, kale and lettuce" for feeding the animals.
Accessibility considerations: Some sites require significant hiking to reach. Las Trampas Regional Wilderness campground requires hauling gear approximately "150 yards, so not all that bad, but the pathway is a bit choppy in places, so you'll want to carry most of what you've got on your back."
Facility planning: Bathroom and water access varies widely. At Pantoll Campground, "Water spigots are spread out among the sites, but all the bathrooms are located down the hill near the parking lot." Some sites like Juniper offer "free showers too which is awesome, but don't use the stinky toilet at the top there's way better ones around the bottom area."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options: Most campgrounds near Pacheco accommodate tents only. At Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, the backcountry campsite "feels very off grid" according to Tyler S., making it unsuitable for larger vehicles or those requiring hookups.
Access challenges: Many roads to campgrounds feature steep grades and sharp turns. The route to Steep Ravine includes "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."
Alternative nearby options: When campsites are full, nearby towns offer services. Near Tilden Park, reviewers note "if you get tired of campfire food, there's always nearby Zachary's Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza in Berkeley along with a frosty cold Anchor Steam!"
