Tom T.
Scout
ScoutDumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay
Open sky great starlink users.
Very quiet campground at night. See stars clearly. Use the fire pit after 730pm when the wind has calmed down.
Camping near Pleasant Hill, CA
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Campgrounds near Pleasant Hill, California span several regional parks and state recreation areas within 30 minutes of the city, ranging from developed RV and tent sites to cabin accommodations. Mount Diablo State Park serves as a prominent camping destination with developed sites at Juniper and Live Oak campgrounds providing tent and RV accommodations. Anthony Chabot Regional Park and Briones Regional Park offer additional campground facilities, with Skyline Wilderness Park featuring the area's only cabin camping. Most camping areas sit within the rolling hills of the East Bay region, providing elevated views of the surrounding landscape.
Road access varies significantly between camping areas, with Mount Diablo requiring a winding drive up narrow mountain roads that can challenge some drivers. Campgrounds typically remain open year-round, though summer temperatures can reach uncomfortable highs, particularly at Mount Diablo. Most established sites require advance reservations and feature basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, though fire restrictions are common during California's extended dry seasons. Cellular coverage is generally available but varies by provider and specific location. One camper noted that Mount Diablo can be "hot as hell in the summer" and advised "not going in July" when temperatures regularly exceed 100°F.
Campers consistently highlight the panoramic views available from higher elevation sites, particularly at Mount Diablo where visitors can see across the East Bay and sometimes all the way to San Francisco on clear days. Wildlife sightings are common, with visitors reporting encounters with deer, raccoons, turkeys, and coyotes. Sites with privacy and separation receive higher ratings than more open areas. Camping areas close to Oakland and Berkeley, like Tilden Regional Park, provide convenient urban escapes but lack the wilderness feel of more remote locations. Several reviews mention site selection as crucial for shade during hot months. A visitor to Juniper Campground recommended: "The sites in the teens have less overhead shade but more privacy than those of higher numbers," highlighting the importance of researching specific site characteristics.
Best Campgrounds near Pleasant Hill (162)
1. Anthony Chabot Regional Park
"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."
from $25 - $200 / night
Check Availability2. Live Oak Campground — Mount Diablo State Park Campground
"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"
from $30 / night
Check Availability3. Benicia State Recreation Area
"The area is beautiful and lots of people come here to walk and exercise, and once I took my dog on a walk I saw why nobody brings their dog - TICKS! So many! "
"It's peaceful and there is a sense of stillness despite there being a few dozen people walking throughout at any given time."
from $12 / night
Check Availability4. Skyline Wilderness Park
"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."
5. Tilden Regional Park
"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!"
from $75 - $120 / night
Check Availability6. Briones Regional Park
"Good parking and turn around. Lots of opportunities for horse riders in area. Pets on leash."
from $75 - $200 / night
Check Availability7. Juniper Campground — Mount Diablo State Park
"We didn’t have a reservation, but got 1 upon arrival around 2pm. Our site had nearby bathrooms, showers & trash. It included picnic table, fire pit, food storage boxes, & is very spacious."
from $30 / night
Check Availability8. Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park
"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 Availability9. Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
"The 31-mile East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail system, traverses"
from $15 / night
Check Availability10. Tradewinds RV Park
"Close to highway. Noise not a problem. Very friendly staff. Sites are close together but easy entry. Level sites with FHU’s. Would stay here again."
from $42 - $47 / night
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Drive Time
- 20 min from Vallejo, CA
- 28 min from San Francisco, CA
- 33 min from Napa, CA
- 55 min from Stockton, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Pleasant Hill, CA
178 Photos of 162 Pleasant Hill Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Live Oak Campground — Mount Diablo State Park Campground
Anthony Chabot Regional Park
Sunrise Campground — Angel Island State Park
Brannan Island State Recreation Area
Willow Campground — Brannan Island State Recreation Area
Kirby Cove Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Skyline Wilderness Park
Sandy Beach County Parkj
Hawk Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Sugar Barge RV Resort & Marina
Bicentennial Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation AreaC
Haypress Campground — Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Recent Reviews near Pleasant Hill, CA
837 Reviews of 162 Pleasant Hill Campgrounds
KrystleScoutMineral Springs Trailhead
Overnight stays not allowed
I was woken up by law enforcement and asked to leave on my second night staying here. They will issue a citation (luckily they took mine away and gave me a warning) this needs to be removed as a dispersed site.
Dawn S.
GuideSan Francisco RV Resort
Great for visiting the City
There are many spot. It's a parking lot and the spots are very snug. The edge by the ocean lost a few.
Staff is kind, helpful and responsive. Area is clean and very peaceful. It's a bit pricey. Our standard spot was $150.
- TTwindaddyGuide
Del Valle Campground — East Bay Regional Park District
East Bay Parks - IYKYK
Like most/all east bay parks, this is well appointed for the masses. It’s also surrounded by rolling hills and close to suburbia. For many, these are positives. As an east bay resident they are for me as well. Del Valle is a bit more removed than many east bay parks. From my location in Fremont, it’s a one hour drive. A pleasant drive for the most part. I camp to get away for a bit and almost always to mountain bike. As such, I seek parks that have trails. Del Valle has a map of many trails. They also appear on many of the mapping services used by mountain bikers. Review those and digest them if this is also your intention - these are east bay parka style trails. In other words, mostly steep and loose fire roads, with many “social trails” sprinkled between. If you are compelled to stay legit/legal trails, bring an ebike. Now on to the camping. I picked a spot as far removed from any booked spot on the map. I triple checked this up until the day before I arrived. I want solitude! When I arrived Thursday afternoon, I was surprised to see the sites just 3 spaces away, on both sides, occupied. This is a fairly compact area. And while I’m sure they’re lovely folks, this isn’t what I expected on a Thursday. Saturday? Sure. Anyway… be aware that these reservation services aren’t completely reliable in that regard. The bathrooms and showers are amazing! Clean, smell good, cared for. Noteworthy is the hot showers in the camp grounds are free and your one push of the button provides water for two minutes I'd guess. Very nice! The space, 135 for me, is okay. A couple trees for shade, a nice table and fire pit. It’s now dark and the noise is minimal - mostly from the group campsite just down the hill. I’ll update this with more details in the coming days since it’s a 4 day visit.
Update 1: it’s my first morning here. Using starlink as there is no cell signal to be found. What I noticed last night was that this park is directly below the flight path to the local airports. Every couple minutes last night, a plane would fly overhead. According to flight aware, they’re at about 10,000 feet. If this will ruin your getaway, you’ve been warned.
Update 2: On Friday night, the majority of the spots were filled. Many large groups of people with varying degrees of consideration, but to their credit almost all (except the barking German Shepard) were quiet by 10PM. It was a bit more crowded come Saturday morning. Some friends came to visit for a mountain bike ride, and we set off at about noon. I had been complimentary of the facilities and bragged that I'd be taking a nice shower after our ride. Unfortunately, upon our return, there was no hot water and no lighting in the showers. And, sadly, someone decided to remove the tags and hangers from their TJ Maxx haul and leave them all over the floor of two of the showers.
Verdict: I'd only come back here in the springtime when it's likely to be green and have some water in the arroyo and only during the week. The density and composition of the people here was akin to being at Costco on a Saturday, and I only did that once.
C. K.
TravelerSan Mateo Memorial Park
Under the Redwoods
Nothing like camping under the redwoods with sounds of streams nearby. Restrooms and facilities are clean and well maintained. Park Rangers are extremely nice and helpful.
- Dawn S.Guide
Marin RV Park
Great to see the City
We came in around 9pm. There's a board with names and site numbers on the office building. These are snug spots but we have enough room to put the slide out. It is a level gravel parking lot. There's not alot of places in San Fran to even day park. This is just fine. They do fill up fast. Called the next day to extend through Sat, they are booked solid.
Dog walk is through the gate at the back of the lot where abandoned railroad tracks are. There's a pond with some ducks and a walking path.
- DDon E.Traveler
Sherman Island Regional Park
Sherman island is about the wind and the beach and the launch
This is a fun place for you and the fam either to camp or for the day.
The tide comes in and out here as it’s a low level island and the approach to access sometimes will be under water from the tide. It is just like that, not poorly maintained, just one short section that can get 6inches deep and is not an issue for anybody.
I stayed in a tent camper fold-out. I hugged the hedge next to a teardrop. Everyone was nice and it was a relaxing stay. Can launch boat/kayak or do all the wind surfing type sports they talk about.
Stuart K.
LegendLas Trampas Regional Wilderness
Come for the Solitude & Stay for Those Ridgeline Views
Las Trampas is one of those wonderfully odd camping experiences that almost feels like you’ve discovered something you weren’t supposed to know about. Despite sitting on the doorstep of Danville and San Ramon, this 6,050-acre preserve quickly trades suburbia for steep ridges, oak woodland, grasslands and some terrific views across the East Bay. And camping here is decidedly primitive: the Corral Area is a single reservable group campsite for 17–50 people, rather than a conventional campground with individual sites. That means lots of privacy, lots of space and very little resembling a traditional developed campground.
While my earlier review goes into considerably more detail, I thought I’d revisit this campground with a quick topline of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS - along with a fresh batch of photos.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Remarkable feeling of seclusion considering you’re only minutes from the suburban East Bay, with Oakland lying just beyond; (2) Having essentially one primitive group camping area makes this feel more like your own private campground than a conventional campsite; (3) Picnic tables, BBQs, food-storage box and a drinking-water spigot provide just enough infrastructure without spoiling the primitive experience; (4) Direct access to a huge trail network with Rocky Ridge reaching 2,024 feet and panoramic views toward Mt. Diablo and the surrounding valleys; and (5) Abundant wildlife, seasonal wildflowers, grazing cattle and those beautiful rolling East Bay hills make the setting the real amenity here.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) This is group camping only, with a 17-person minimum, so it simply doesn’t work for a couple or small family looking for an ordinary campsite; (2) No hookups, showers or flush toilets - here, primitive means primitive; (3) Water at the campsite should be considered unreliable, so bring your own rather than betting the weekend on the spigot; and (4) Many of the best trails are steep, exposed and short on shade, which can make hot-weather hiking considerably more strenuous than the beautiful scenery initially suggests.
Insider’s Tip: Bring more water than you think you’ll need and make time for a ridge hike. Las Trampas is one of those places where climbing a few hundred feet completely changes your perspective especially when the suburban Bay Area seemingly disappears beneath you, which is precisely what makes camping here so unexpectedly special.
Happy Camping!
Sidney C.TravelerOlema Campground
Loved it!
Had a late check in after scheduling in the same day, but the staff were so welcoming and helpful over the phone! The campsite is so clean you could walk around barefoot. the scenery is so beautiful with sheep, cattle, mountains and a stream surrounding/on the property. Would definitely recommend
Guide to Pleasant Hill
Camping options near Pleasant Hill, California include established campgrounds and remote sites throughout the rolling East Bay hills. These areas sit at elevations ranging from 500 to 3,849 feet, creating significant temperature variations between locations. Winter camping remains possible at most sites with average lows of 40-45°F, though higher elevations like Mount Diablo can experience occasional frost or rare snowfall.
What to do
Archery practice: Skyline Wilderness Park offers archery facilities along with disc golf courses. "The 800+ acres of hills, woods and fields offers archery, disc golf, hiking, horseback riding and more. Very friendly, helpful staff. Bonus: short drive to Downtown Napa," notes Jamie G.
Trail exploration: Anthony Chabot Regional Park features extensive trail networks through eucalyptus groves. "There is an extensive network of trails accessible from the campground. It's a great natural area that is so conveniently located in the Bay Area," writes Amanda P., who also mentions seeing "deer, turkeys, owls, etc."
Wildlife viewing: Take early morning hikes for the best animal sightings. "We loved our site #15, and enjoyed the privacy it provided, plus the views (if you stand on the table or are tall). We didn't encounter critters," shares one visitor to Mount Diablo State Park.
Lake activities: Several parks feature lake access, though with restrictions. "While you can get down to the lake easily, there's no swimming for either dogs or humans," explains a camper at Chabot. The lake views still provide scenic value, as Adam B. notes: "The views of the lake are very nice."
What campers like
Accessible wilderness: Many campers appreciate the proximity to urban areas while feeling removed. "Paradise an hour from the city. It is great for laid back camping! Karl the fog even likes it!" writes Kyla M. about Anthony Chabot Regional Park.
Sunrise viewing spots: Angel Island State Park offers unique perspectives on the bay. "There's no better place to get views of the Bay! Angel Island is a unique backpacking experience," explains Brittany R., who recommends the exposed Sunrise campsite for unobstructed views despite wind challenges.
Privacy between sites: Campers consistently rate sites based on separation from neighbors. At Juniper Campground, "Our site had nearby bathrooms, showers & trash. It included picnic table, fire pit, food storage boxes, & is very spacious," reports Brittney L.
Night sky observation: The higher elevation sites offer exceptional stargazing opportunities away from city lights. "We watched the sunset over the Bay Area, whew, it was spectacular," shares Linda A. about her Mount Diablo experience, where she hiked "to the top of the mountain, to the lookout point, on a trail through the woods and brush."
What you should know
Wind conditions: Higher elevation sites experience significant wind, especially at night. "No matter how hot it is you'll never be able to escape the howling winds at night. Good tent stakes and warm gear is a must," advises Mike C. about Mount Diablo.
Reservation requirements: Most popular sites require advance booking. For Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, "Reservation must be completed at least 5 days in advance by calling 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2," explains Elliott B.
Wildlife precautions: Food storage is critical at all sites. "Keep in mind that if you walk the single track trails with your dogs, you'll be spending some quality time with them later picking off ticks. Be aware of the poison oak as well," warns Lori T. from Skyline Wilderness Park.
Road conditions: Access roads vary significantly between areas. Ryan W. notes about Anthony Chabot: "The road in is fairly winding with a bit of a drop down the cliff. If you're heading in at dusk or dawn, go slow. You will see deer stepping through the road."
Tips for camping with families
Best entry-level sites: Choose flatter, more accessible campgrounds for younger children. "This is not the most adventurous spot. It's simple family car camping at its finest. It's minutes from Oakland and Castro Valley," explains J.d. E. about Anthony Chabot Regional Park.
Educational opportunities: Tilden Regional Park offers family-friendly amenities. "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!" shares Nicholas M.
Site selection strategy: For families, pick sites with shade and bathroom proximity. At Juniper Campground, Brittney L. reports hearing "coyotes howling night and day which was neat. No raccoons. Saw some lizards," making wildlife viewing accessible even from camp.
Timing considerations: Schedule family camping during moderate temperature seasons. Ben W. warns about Mount Diablo: "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."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Several campgrounds near Pleasant Hill offer full hookups. At Skyline Wilderness Park, "RV Campsites are close together and semi-level. Bathrooms could use some TLC. But the park is nice with lots of hiking, views and close to Napa," reports Rich J.
Cell service quality: Reception varies significantly between sites. A camper at Skyline notes: "Cell phone coverage is good. Have both Verizon and Att with at least 2-3 bars. 10-12 Mbps down 4-5 Mbps up," which allows for remote work possibilities.
Leveling requirements: Some RV sites require additional equipment. At Skyline Wilderness, one camper reports: "Sites are level with minimal need for blocks. Staff are friendly."
Space considerations: RV sites often provide less separation than tent areas. At Tradewinds RV Park, Roxanna L. notes: "Our slide couldn't come out all the way or we'd hit the camper next to us. His slide was touching meter box," highlighting the importance of checking site dimensions before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Pleasant Hill, CA?
What camping is available near Pleasant Hill, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Pleasant Hill, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 162 campgrounds and RV parks near Pleasant Hill, CA and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Pleasant Hill, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Pleasant Hill, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pleasant Hill, CA is Anthony Chabot Regional Park with a 4.6-star rating from 29 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pleasant Hill, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pleasant Hill, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Pleasant Hill, CA.
What parks are near Pleasant Hill, CA?
What parks are near Pleasant Hill, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Pleasant Hill, CA that allow camping, notably Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore.
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