Best Campgrounds near Piedmont, CA

Camping areas surrounding Piedmont, California encompass both urban-adjacent parks and more secluded natural settings. Anthony Chabot Regional Park offers tent and RV camping within 30 minutes of the city, while Tilden Regional Park provides primitive camping options in a eucalyptus forest environment. These established campgrounds serve as alternatives to more distant wilderness experiences, with most sites offering basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, though amenity levels vary significantly across locations.

The East Bay Regional Park District manages several campgrounds in the region, with most requiring advance reservations through their online system or by phone. "The campground is beautiful and at 50% of normal capacity even better! The campground is set among a grove of eucalyptus trees that offer shade, which would be really nice during summer, and a calming aroma," noted one visitor to Anthony Chabot. Access roads to many sites are winding and narrow, presenting challenges for larger RVs. Weather remains mild year-round, though summer fog and winter rains affect camping conditions. Many campgrounds operate year-round but may have seasonal closures for specific sites or areas during winter months.

Proximity to urban amenities distinguishes camping in this area, with most sites located within 20-30 minutes of towns and services. Several visitors mentioned appreciating the balance between natural settings and accessibility. According to one camper, "We love to camp here for barbecuing, mountain biking and hiking." Trails for hiking and mountain biking connect many campgrounds to surrounding parklands, with Lake Chabot and Briones Regional Park offering additional recreational opportunities. Wildlife viewing includes wild turkeys, deer, and various bird species common throughout the area. Campsite spacing and privacy vary substantially between locations, with some sites closely grouped while others, particularly in Anthony Chabot and Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, offer more separation and natural screening. Cell service is generally available but can be spotty in canyon areas or more remote sections of parkland.

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Best Camping Sites Near Piedmont, California (160)

    1. Anthony Chabot Regional Park

    29 Reviews
    Castro Valley, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 327-2757

    $25 - $200 / night

    "as usual some spots are better than others but most close to restrooms and/or water. lots of poison oak and star thistle right off trail. great deterrent for kids to stay out of tick areas but id worry"

    "Midweek in June the park, which is fairly large, is still nearly empty."

    2. Kirby Cove Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area

    15 Reviews
    Sausalito, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 331-1540

    $40 - $75 / night

    "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"

    3. Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park

    9 Reviews
    Tiburon, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 435-5390

    $30 / 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. "

    4. Live Oak Campground — Mount Diablo State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Diablo, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (925) 837-2525

    $30 / night

    "This mountain has many of hiking trails for various levels of hikers."

    "Live Oak is the closest to the entrance (and town), and features some cool rock formations to explore, but it's colder, has terrible cellular data service, and doesn't quite have the sunset / sunrise views"

    5. H. Dana Bower Rest Area Northbound

    11 Reviews
    Sausalito, CA
    14 miles
    Website

    "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."

    6. Tilden Regional Park

    4 Reviews
    Kensington, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 327-2757

    $75 - $120 / night

    "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."

    "Tilden offers a lake in the middle to swim in and fish. The campsites have lots of fire pits. The weather is always great too!"

    7. San Francisco RV Resort

    15 Reviews
    Pacifica, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "If you want a great little place with quick easy access to San Francisco that has a great view of the ocean this place is great! And affordable!"

    "Very nice park for an on the water location, I've been to some where you can't even turn without hitting someone."

    8. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

    1 Review
    Piedmont, CA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 327-2757

    $75 / night

    "Magical :) I feel at Peace at Such a Beautiful Location. Its a Must see."

    10. Marin RV Park

    10 Reviews
    Larkspur, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (415) 461-5199

    $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."

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Recent Reviews near Piedmont, CA

799 Reviews of 160 Piedmont Campgrounds


  • yThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA

    Great area, safe, kid friendly

    I planned to stay here just one night and stayed like 4. Great spot, I loved downtown Petaluma and enjoyed the safe feeling and convenience of this location. Great amenities for children too.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground

    Feels much more remote than it is

    Great campsite, awesome staff. Tucked away off highway 12 in wine country it feels much more remote than it actually is. It's a great fast getaway from the northbay, but it can be hard to reserve a site ahead of time but they do have first-come first serve sites too. Excellent hiking with both fairly flat trails, to challenging trails with lots of elevation change. It's often very hot in the summer, and there can be lots of rattle snakes sunning themselves on the rocks. This is one of my favorite camping spots.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Anthony Chabot Regional Park

    Lovely site, really close to San Francisco!

    On visiting San Francisco we were looking for a site that wasn’t a car park. This really met the mark! Beautiful place with great sites. Nice picnic tables & fire pits! Was very quiet

  • T
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Anthony Chabot Regional Park

    Nice location and activities, but a bit cramped

    I just needed/wanted a short getaway without driving hours from home. Since I'm used to this place for mountain biking, I figured I'd try camping here for a couple nights. 

    I did a recon ride previously on my mountain bike, so knew which spots I'd prefer and booked site 35 for a Thursday and Friday night. 

    Arrived at about 5PM and found my spot. The ranger booth was closed, but I didn't feel the need to chat with them anyway. The place was largely unoccupied at this point. Maybe a dozen or so spots appeared taken. 

    The weather, though hot in the Bay Area at this point, was quite nice. The breeze and shade of the park made for a very comfortable setting. I believe it was 88 in Castro Valley, but felt about 78 at the campground. I don't have AC for the van, but didn't feel I needed any. 

    I got setup and then headed out for a short ride, followed by a warm shower, cold beer and dinner. It was quiet that evening and I slept well. 

    I worked through the morning Friday, though the Starlink suffered some interruptions due to the tree cover. Early afternoon more people started to show up, as I expected. I went for a long ride and when I returned the place was much more occupied and people were setting up tents, starting their bbq's, etc. Though a bit close to the neighbors, none of them were obnoxious. 

    My advice would be to know the spot you're selecting and know that in the summer months the grass isn't green :) 

    I'd score the individual aspects as follows (1-5):

    Bathrooms: 4

    Location: 5

    Activities: 5

    Privacy: 3

    Cleanliness: 4

  • g
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Olema Campground

    Nice spot, little privacy

    Lovely large meadow with scattered trees. RC/van spots are arranged in cul de sacs, tent spots on the edges of fields.

    Somewhat noisy - kids, dogs, radios - but settled down by 9. Friendly vibe. Expensive at $83/nt but good showers. Wifi was slow when I stayed.

    Decent backup option for the area if Samuel Taylor is booked.

  • g
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground

    Small and lovely

    Lovely site in redwoods. Sites are close, but have some privacy. Stream is accessible shallow. Beautiful trees.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA

    Best KOA

    Paid a premium price for a Saturday one nighter, but it certainly is a great VIP campsite. The host says they will come around in the morning and empty our tanks! No need to hook up our sewer hose!

  • Patrick J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA

    Great for Families and groups, but not for just one night.

    Check in was fine. Got wrong direction how to get to the site. After looping around to approach the site, I found the streets all very tight for RV maneuvering. The place was packed. Had a pull through FHU site. Pretty narrow. Seems like a common theme. Great things for kids to be entertained by and enjoy for sure. We were passing through and I think we would have been better served elsewhere. Our site was patches of grass and looked like it needed some TLC. 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. The worst water in our 6 week trip. Must be a California thing.

  • Sabrina V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Lawson's Landing

    So much litter

    • Price too high for dry camping
    • people litter and discard catch on and around sites
    • people don’t keep their pets on leash (nobody responsible seems to be checking in on these things?)
    • Porter potties only/no shower houses
    • potable water available
    • no check in procedure after online booking and later arrival time? (Unsure)
    • check out time also unsure

Guide to Piedmont

Camping near Piedmont, California, offers a fantastic escape into nature with a variety of campgrounds to choose from. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there's something for everyone.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the beautiful trails at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground. One reviewer said, "Beautiful trails nearby," making it a great spot for both novice and experienced hikers.
  • Beach Access: Visit New Brighton State Beach Campground for a day at the beach. A camper mentioned, "Great views and easy access to the beach," perfect for sunbathing or beachcombing.
  • Wildlife Watching: At Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground, keep an eye out for local wildlife. One visitor noted, "We were harassed by cute little chipmunks and birds," adding a fun twist to your camping experience.

What campers like:

  • Scenic Beauty: Campers rave about the stunning surroundings. A review for Bodega Dunes Campground states, "Beautiful sunsets just a short walk away in the dunes," highlighting the picturesque views.
  • Clean Facilities: Many appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A visitor at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground mentioned, "Restrooms are clean. Showers are clean and tidy and warm."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Families enjoy the amenities at San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA. One reviewer said, "Great playground, jumping pillow, petting farm and mining fun," making it a hit with kids.

What you should know:

  • Poison Oak: Be cautious of poison oak in some campgrounds. A camper at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park warned, "It's full of poison oak!!!! But you can get around it."
  • Site Sizes Vary: Not all campsites are the same size. A visitor at Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground noted, "Keep in mind, not all campsites at Sammy P. are the same size."
  • Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds have poor cell reception. A reviewer at Anthony Chabot Regional Park mentioned, "ATT was a bar, occasionally two," so plan accordingly.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Bring Snacks: Kids love snacks, especially when camping. A camper at New Brighton State Beach Campground suggested keeping an eye on food, saying, "We were harassed by cute little chipmunks and birds."
  • Check Showers: Before committing to a shower, test the water. One camper at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground advised, "Test your shower first before you fully commit since it might be freezing cold."
  • Plan for Activities: Look for campgrounds with family-friendly activities. A reviewer at San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA mentioned, "This place was absolutely beautiful," highlighting the fun atmosphere for families.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Accessibility: Make sure your RV can fit in the site. A visitor at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground noted, "The campground is only a few minutes from Kenwood and many wineries, but feels more remote than it is."
  • Bring a Lock for Food Storage: At some campgrounds, food lockers are not secure. A camper at Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground mentioned, "Make sure you bring a pad lock as there is no locking mechanism on the door."
  • Be Prepared for Crowds: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A reviewer at New Brighton State Beach Campground said, "The campground was full so the bathrooms were not very clean," so plan your visit accordingly.

Camping near Piedmont, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery, family-friendly activities, and unique experiences. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there's something for everyone to enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Piedmont, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Piedmont, CA is Anthony Chabot Regional Park with a 4.6-star rating from 29 reviews.

What parks are near Piedmont, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Piedmont, CA that allow camping, notably Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore.