Best Cabin Camping near Point Arena, CA

Normally I wouldn't think of myself as a KOA sort of camper. This campground is enough to change my mind! There are some weekends you need to get away, but there's no time to pack the long list of stuff needed for camping. So we tried out one of these little cedar cabins. It was fantastic!!

We loved the quiet, laidback campground, with lovely old pines giving a sense of being in the forest -- even while being walking distance from the water. You're literally close enough to hear the surf, and see the Point Arena lighthouse.

It's dog friendly, with pool, hot tub, hot showers, full bathrooms, and also extensive Camp Kitchen facilities with sho-nuff gas grills.

We absolutely plan to return!

Cabins are perfect. The location is surrounded by a lot of fun things to do. The site has 2 parks, trails, pool/hot tub, and so much more. You never have an opportunity to be bored even if you just stay at the camp grounds the entire time.

It's a KOA. It's pretty much exactly what you might expect. It's beautiful hinder the trees, with an excellent location to make beach access pretty convient too. Being so close to the beach though, it gets COLD at night. We usually rent a cabin. The cabins have heaters with is definitely nice. They also have beds, but the beds are really uncomfortable, it's just a pad on top of a slat wood frame, remember to bring a foam topper. Store/pool/hot tub. Perfect location to set up and use as a base of operations while you explore up and down the mendocino coast.

We chose this campground for its amenities and full hookups. It was our first time camping with a little pop up tent trailer. The sites are shady and the campground it is only a short walk to the beach (not a swimming beach). The pool and hot tub are great, the bathrooms could have been cleaned better. It can be loud during the day since some of the campers are showing off their equipment but it gets very quiet at 10pm.

KOA is awesome for campers who aren't ready to be completely off the grid, which most people in my group were. Their bathrooms are clean. Hot shower (!!) and hot tub (but you have to sign-up early or the spots run out quick, each party has 30 mins slot due to Covid restriction).

I took off a star because of the price. We ended up paying $66/night for 1 regular tent site (no electricity or water hook-up). Even though the site supposed to accommodate up to 6 people, there was a $5 extra charge per person after the first 2 guests. 

It's ridiculous because they assumed we all will be using every amenities every day for that extra charge (which we didn't since we arrived very late on the first night and were out for most of the following day). I'd rather be charged individually for each shower use or kitchen use, etc.

The beach is about a mile hike, you can ride your bike though on the road outside the KOA or drive and the beach is closer. Point Arena lighthouse is a close drive away. There is an Ace Hardware about a 2 mile drive so that’s convenient. The WiFi is super spotty and we honestly couldn’t join it. The pool is nice and heated, they do have a spa but it was closed because of Covid. Staff was super nice too. The closest town doesn’t really have anything open but a small grocery store.

We've spent most of our twenty years of camping together off the beaten path, avoiding the likes of anything KOA, but for our RV's maiden voyage we thought we'd start with the Machester Beach KOA, and we were very glad we did. We arrived early evening as camp activities were getting underway, setting up to the soundtrack of Beetlejuice showing nearby. The site was clean, KOA's office and service staff were very friendly, not that corporate-disengenuous-give-us-a-good-rating friendly, but real, authentic hospitality. Everything quieted down after 10:00p. We stayed for four days, enjoying everything the area has to offer from Mendocino to Point Arena and had one of the best camping experiences of our lives, and it wasn't just the RV that made it that way. 

One little-known secret about this site is that the beach (a moderate walk away) is the home of the Manchester Cable Station, built by AT&T in 1954 on the United States’ closest point to the Hawaiian Islands, where the internet backbone starts its journey across the Pacific.

Senior camping at it's best. A heated cabin and pad on bed that was comfortable. Got showers and a family vibe. Great location for scouting Mendocino coastline and Pt Arena. No wifi though so don't bring work.

The basic cabin was just that, but spacious and the heaters worked very well. Nice, well kept campground with plenty of activities and access to a coastal trail. The community fire pit was a nice place to hang out at night.

This campground is only an hour from home for us, and it will be a regular frost. The prices are a little bit high, but that is to be expected with a KOA. The pool was so clean and warm, we were told it was 85°, and I believe it. The sites are all decent sizes. With walkways between so that people hopefully don’t walk through your site. The restrooms and showers were impeccably clean. There are RV, tent, and cabin sites. We will definitely go again. Highly recommend.

The campground is your typical KOA. there's a store, pool, pond, bathrooms, cabins, disc golf etc. The electric scooters are pretty fun, and the paddle boats too. The ground themselves arent really anything special though. It's open, very little privacy. Honestly it's kinda like a massive group site. No real walking trails or anything. Getting to the campground is easier in the summer because there is a bridge that goes over the river, making it a shorter drive. In the winter, the bridge is removed, so you have to go through the town of Cloverdale and back track, adding about 15-20 minutes to your trip.

Location • state park located north of Sonoma and an hour south of Mendocino • in the Virgina redwood forest • closest town: about 6 miles away

Facilities • Bathrooms & showers easily accesible for all sites - cleaned regularly • some bathrooms updated very recently • Spigots every few sites with good draining • campfire theatre • firewood sold on premises • about 70 campsites • some cabins • day use picnic area • wheelchair accesible trails

Ambiance • quiet hours 10pm - 8am • mostly families • dogs allowed on leash

Sites • Small to medium, close together • More open than private; good for groups who need multiple sites • Most hace at least part shade throughout the day • ring fire pits with grill • wooden food locker at each site • wooden picnic table at each site • enough space for 3-4 cars

Things to do • Variety of easy hikes/walks • drive to Mendocino • wine tasting in town

Beware • Poison oak

The good: The private beach is great for kids (and adults). Easy swimming without a strong current. Lots of shallows but a deep swimming hole are for adults too. The camp store is cute and there’s a brewery next door if you want a meal out. There are several playgrounds which are fun for kids. And an arcade.

The bad: super expensive and the actual sites aren’t great. We camped in our van in the rv area and it’s really just a big parking lot right by the highway. I think the tent sites are a bit better.

Other info: there are cabins and camper vans to rent so could be a good place to go with friends or family who aren’t campers and want a nice river day but again it’s $$$.

BEACH CAMPING!! It is awesome! Bring ear plugs because it is a popular campground. 

The store has everything you might need while out camping and it is literally across the street from a beautiful beach! 

This is a LARGE campground and can accommodate all types of campers. There are even tiny houses and cabins for those less willing to lose the comforts of home. 

The RV sites are right on top of each other in the entrance but they open up in the back field(we weren’t able to get back in there since we were just tent campers). 

They are high on security here. I LOVED the list of activities that were happening around the area. It really helped you get involved with the local ecology. 

There is a big gazebo for fish cleaning. Laundry room and propane for sale.

A few friends and I recently spent 4 days camping at this beautiful ranch right outside of Duncan Mills and absolutely loved our stay. We spent much time swimming in the river, playing on the basketball court and hanging out at camp. The site was extremely clean and well set up, the staff was friendly and helpful and the natural beauty that surrounds the area was more than exceptional. Not to mention, there are a few places just outside of the ranch that has great food and live music, definitely worth checking out!

My only complaint would be regarding the lack of wifi. I suppose it's nice to get away from it all, it truly is, but I needed to respond to a few work emails as well as calls and the wifi/reception was nowhere to be found. Again, I'm not truly complaining about this but it's worth noting for those that may have business to handle while taking a getaway.

Cheers!

Stayed here for a few days and I have to say probably the best family campground around! The sites were super clean the staff were awesome! Lots of activities for the family. The River area is nice. A few Rental activities for the River. Also has a store that pretty much has everything you’ll need. Pretty much everything was well maintained. Definitely camping here again.

I was lucky enough to spend four nights here last winter. It was breezy and rained on and off. The walk in sites are secluded and this park has all the amenities including free showers. Dog friendly. I hear it gets very busy in the summertime. There are a few year round residents, and it’s fun to stroll through the RV section of the park, but also fun to go back into the trees and get away from it all.

We were able to book one of the last sites at Hendy Woods for a last minute getaway. The camp sites were well maintained and well marked, the campground host (Shirley) was friendly and respectful. It is a short drive to Fort Bragg and other coastal attractions as well as a multitude of wineries. I highly recommend stopping by Gowans farm stand for some apple cider- they also have outdoor cider tasting in their orchard (while they did have a non-alcoholic cider slushy available at the time, this is a tasting of their alcoholic offerings). There is plenty of wildlife to see; however, the Navarro River is dried in many places at this time. Finding a place to fish will require some travel away from the campground and some of its surrounding areas.