Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground's pet-friendly sites accommodate tent campers, RV owners, and cabin guests throughout the year. Visitors with pets can access a range of amenities including drinking water, fire rings, picnic tables, showers, and toilets. Olema Campground near Point Reyes Station welcomes pets with spacious sites that include electric hookups, water connections, and sewer facilities for RVs. The campground features a dedicated dog park where pets can exercise off-leash. Most campsites have fire rings and picnic tables, with firewood available for purchase. The tent camping area remains relatively empty even during busy periods, providing a quieter experience for campers with pets.
Coast Campground in Point Reyes National Seashore requires pets to remain on leash while exploring the miles of hiking trails and unique coastal ecosystem. The hike-in or boat-in access limits the crowds, creating a more serene environment for nature-loving dog owners. Several campgrounds in the region offer full hookup RV sites with pet-friendly policies, including San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA and Lawson's Landing. Campers report the staff at these facilities are responsive to pet-related concerns and work hard to maintain clean, well-trimmed grounds. Winter camping with pets requires preparation for wet conditions, as December rains can create muddy sites. During summer months, the campgrounds generally quiet down by 8 PM, making them suitable for pets sensitive to noise and activity.
$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."
"Pros: Has numerous amenities including hot (free) showers (cleaned daily), flush toilets, full hookup RV spots, laundromat, US Post office, fenced playground, dog park, drive in tent sites, and firewood"
"We nestled our Sprinter between to large pine trees and took the dog for a walk. Then headed down the road for our first dinner indoors since February!"
$30 - $90 / night
"Inside the Point Reyes National seashore, this is a hike in only campground. But has pit toilets, potable water. Groups sites also available."
"In the Point Reyes National Seashore it is in a valley that is minutes from the beach. The beach offers tidepools close by as well as a great place for beach fire (permit needed). "
"Good size dog park for the pets to run and be free, as well as plenty of fun activities to entertain the kiddos."
"Great playground, jumping pillow, petting farm and mining fun :)"
"There are a variety of campsites, and they are many - we camp as close to the ocean as possible in the meadow area."
"Such an amazing location! We stayed in the Meadow View sites cause most of them were available but after walking through the campground that's where I would go back."
$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."
$45 / night
"A short drive away is the gorgeous Bodega Head Trail which winds up along the headland and offers amazing scenery."
"This campsite is centrally located on the peninsula. Access to several roadside dog friendly beaches within minutes. The bay and the beach are within walking distance to campground."
"We stayed here for a night at the tail end of a December California adventure before flying out of SFO the next day."
"Easy access to the beach, lots of day use areas all around this park, and bonus: a dog beach that was available on a trial basis when we were there- dogs got to run free on this little patch of enclosed"
$99 - $115 / night
"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."
"30 mins away from the City. A bit pricy but that is to be expected in SF."
"Quick access to some solid trails, beautiful views, and close proximity to a park and San Francisco. Just be ready for a winding drive with some sharp turns and sheer cliffs."
"Most sites are near the road and you’ll hear bicycles all night. Though, you can see the city shine in the distance. Cost us $25"
TravelerInside the Point Reyes National seashore, this is a hike in only campground. But has pit toilets, potable water. Groups sites also available. Sites have picnic tables and bear/critter lockers for food. 2 min walk to beach, with amazing views of the cliffs and seashore. Access to a long list of other short/long hikes.
LegendI used to live in the area and wish I had spent more time camping in and around the Point Reyes National Seashore. This camp has been open for generations but is still lightly used because it’s a bit out of the way and not friendly to big rigs (this is part of the charm, pack in and walk in). Tons of amazing hikes and you feel like you are really far away from the hustle and bustle even though the lights of San Francisco are almost visible on the horizon. I have a soft spot for waking up to fog first thing in the morning! (But on that note, be aware that fog is wet and you may want to use your rain fly and such!)
LegendCoast camp is a favorite get away. In the Point Reyes National Seashore it is in a valley that is minutes from the beach. The beach offers tidepools close by as well as a great place for beach fire (permit needed). There are two routes to hike in. I prefer the longer Coast Trail (about half a mile longer) rather than the fireroad for it's scenic beauty.
The campsites go from surrounded by coyote brush to out in the open to secluded. I like the sites back in the valley as there is less wind or fog. That would be 13 and 14.
Always expect fog. Expect cold and damp at night.
There are miles of beach ot explore, and you can continue along teh coast trail to hike even farther.
LegendIf you want to explore the Point Reyes National Seashore you do not have many options. This facility has been there a long time, and while not the best, it gives you great access. It is mostly used for RV's some appear to be year round residents. I am a tent camper and there are tent camping sites. They are on a grassy area and not well defined. Not a lot of shade for tent sites.
That being said you are at the gateway to a large fabulous national seashore.
They have great ameneities - a store, post office, hot showers. Everything you need is there. There is a great restuarant down the road and a church next door!
LegendThere is short backpack trip to Sky Camp which is litereally on the ridge. You are in the Point Reyes National Seashore up on a ridge. Beautiful views when there is no fog - but expect fog.
I like the sites under the trees rather than those in the open. The sites have space between them so you do feel alone. Typical sites wiht tables and food lockers as well as fire ring. You will need to walk in your wood as there is no wood gathering allowed.
My only issue with the campground is that unless you using it as a stop over to another site - like Coast Camp there is not much to do. Other than hang out there is not much to do here - you can continue to hike down the mountain but then you have to hike back up. I use it to get away for a day or two to un wind and read.
When there is no fog there are great sunsets. Also if you like huckleberries - the trail is lined with them.
LegendHave you been over to Bodega Bay? I think you'd like it there. Our friends sure know us well! While the town doesn’t look much different than when it appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”, the cafes in the village have definitely upped their game.
Bodega Dunes State Park is a great way to experience the area without the same activity and noise in the camp grounds down closer to the water. The campsite loops wind through the coastal Live Oak and Bishop Pine trees and provide some privacy in between sites in some areas, though some sites are right on top of each other.
They are generally smaller pull-in sites geared more toward tents, vans, and small travel trailers. There are just a handful of sites that can accommodate bigger RVs. Many of the sites have decent open sky resources for solar power and satellite internet, though many in the lower areas had standing water and torn up asphalt pads from the heavy rains the last couple of years.
The bathrooms were clean and comfortable with flush toilets and warm showers (coin operated). My only complaint about the bathrooms is that there weren’t quite enough for the demand, in my opinion, but a few port-o-potties might help offset that during the busy season.
Hiking among the sand dunes and along the beach provide some really stunning scenery. Reaching the beach, you’ll find as much coastal sand as you can handle with miles and miles of it to yourself. The water, which is normally pretty cold year round, can also be pretty rough for swimming.
A short drive away is the gorgeous Bodega Head Trail which winds up along the headland and offers amazing scenery. It’s sort of like a small Point Reyes National Seashore, but much easier to get to.
Bodega Bay has a couple of small grocery stores, gas stations, and more than a few restaurants to meet nearly any craving. The area is known for its Dungeness Crab Harvest, so be sure to check that out when it's in season!
TravelerCamped here for three nights over Fourth of July holiday (site 52). 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. Unfortunately, the site across from mine was the epicenter of all things July 4th and the aforementioned multivariate families. Had I chosen the site to my left, or a few more down the road, I would have barely noticed them at all - sites 47-44 had no one across the way, more private, set back. Aside from the crew across the way playing the LOUDEST game of cornhole/bags I have ever heard (think gunshot every time a bag struck the board), the group(s) were mostly awkward lively teenagers and their parents (think Riverdale without the murders). To the teenagers' credit, I didn't hear a curse word from the group, just pure spaz. I think they really did create some rad summer memories. Having said all that, if I returned I would snag site 44. Just trust me on this. Most of the sites are pretty decent, but 44 was the best.
In terms of cell service, I had pretty good range, was able to listen to the Cubs win one of four games against the Pirates (the series started with a brutal take down of the Cubs 18 to 5 - don't worry - Cubs managed a 3 game sweep of them a week later).
Bathrooms are decent, not the cleanest, but well stocked and had hand soap. Coin operated showers were also a treat (again, not the cleanest, but...). Potable water close to sites. Raccoons, Chipmunks and Blue Jays were NOT SHY but also not a harrowing issue.
The win on this campground is how close it is to Point Reyes National Seashore, San Rafael, Olema, Novato and Marshall. I would highly recommend Five Brooks Ranch in Olema for horseback riding, Hog Island in Marshall (snag a picnic table and shuck your own oysters - definitely a highlight) and Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station. Oh, Point Reyes Yoga - yes to this! - also in Point Reyes Station. Novato had the most adorable 4th of July parade complete with a pancake breakfast. And San Rafael - home of Terrapin Crossroads - music venue of the one and only Phil Lesh was also a highlight. There is also Kayaking in Tomales Bay which is okay fun.
Overall, this is a campground that checks a LOT of boxes.
One thing to note, the night is COLD up this way, and mere miles will cover several different weather systems. Bring layers.
Happy camping!
GuideThis KOA is pretty big with plenty of options for RV sites. Wide variety of full hook-ups or partial hook-ups. Like most (if not all) KOAs, you can also tent camp or tent cabins. Good size dog park for the pets to run and be free, as well as plenty of fun activities to entertain the kiddos. 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! Close to downtown Petaluma with plenty of premium shops and restaurants.
LegendRanger Review: Mountain House’sHomestyle Turkey Casserole Dinner at Wildcat Campground – Point Reyes National Seashore: Great spot to watch the fog role in and explore some solitude on the beach…
Campsite Review: Wildcat Campground, in Point Reyes National Seashore, is located in an open meadow on a bluff overlooking the ocean with a short walk to the beach and a 3.2 kilometer (2.0 miles) round-trip walk to Alamere Falls, which is one of the main draws of this campground. The Falls will get extremely busy during the day as people start hiking in and this way you can head over for a little bit without too any people first thing in the morning. Tip: If you head in the opposite direction of the Falls, you’ll have miles and miles of no one around…
The campground is about 10 kilometer (6.3 miles) hike from the Bear Valley Visitor Center or an 8.8 kilometer (5.5 miles) hike on the Coast Trail from Palomarin.
Note: Reservation/Confirmation Notice ≠ Permit. So even though you may have already made a reservation online, you must stop by the Bear Valley Visitor Center on your arrival date to pick up your camping permit and parking pass.
So, if you want to drive back to the Palomarin trailhead for the “shorter” hike this could make your overall trip a bit longer as it can be almost a 40-minute drive. Also, you could bike to the campground, but the only bicycling route is via a strenuous 10.7 kilometer (6.7 miles) ride along the Stewart Trail from the Five Brooks Trailhead. The campground consists of five individual sites and three group sites; three of the individual sites only hold up to four people.
Vaulted toilets, and potable water! Campsites have charcoal grills, picnic tables, bear boxes/food storage lockers, and some sites have a little privacy due to the high grass. Because the campground is in the middle of a grass field, campfires are only allowed on the beach (You need to get a permit from the Visitor Center). That’s really a good thing as whom wants to wake up in the middle of a field on fire. Also, you might want to be on the lookout for small vermin running around the fields and looking to snag any food you’ve left out. We didn’t have any issues, but definitely heard them.
During our hike in and out we hung out at site #2 as this site didn't have people currently camping there. I'd be cautious about actually staying at this site as unfortunately it had the horse riders come right by as this is really the only way they can get to the hitches…I’d avoid this site at all costs if possible (unless you come in on a horse!). Also, it looked like sites #4 and #8 are basically connected and if you happen to be there in both sites with friends that might be OK, otherwise you’re staring at strangers the entire time…
Thus, from our exploring the campground I’d recommend campsites 6 &/or 7 as they provide a little more seclusion. Also, as I went in late July the majority of the campground seemed a little drab. Mostly brown dried out and dead glass, from what I understand this is typical of summer in this part of CA. I’d maybe try coming in spring (May) as the wildflowers in the area are amazing!! Saw them off the Tomales Point Trail, which I highly recommend.
While the campgrounds themselves are nice, and I appreciate not having to lug in all of our water and the use of the vault toilets I personally think that the amount of day hikers, and horse back riders detracts from the feel of this being a back-country campground. Maybe in the Fall/Winter or Spring it’s better.
Gear/Product Review: As a Ranger for TheDyrt.com from time to time I get to review different products and during this trip I got to reward myself for the hike into the campground with Mountain House’s new 2-Serving Homestyle Turkey Dinner Casserole. I’ll admit that after reading the description I was a little skeptical at first, however, I think the best way of describing this meal is that it tastes like Thanksgiving!!
I really enjoyed the combination of turkey, stuffing, vegetable and spices. They really did add up to what I think a true Thanksgiving day meal tastes like. While like any dehydrated meal you have to be good at mixing it, this one is no exception. If you don’t mix it up properly (they suggest at least twice in the directions) you could definitely find yourself with a ball of spice or a piece of stuffing that isn’t fully rehydrated, but that’s easily fixed by mixing it up some more.
The large chucks of turkey and what ends up looking like real stuffing was a very pleasant surprise to this meal. It was well deserved after an 8+ mile hike. The amount of carbs and protein are perfect for that post hike meal. Especially if you eat both servings like I did! Although, I think that a normal couple could easily share the meal.
As my final thought, I would definitely recommend that anyone looking for a meal that tastes home cooked with little effort, you take this one along with you on your next backpacking trip. As it weights less than 4 oz, you’ll be able to bring quite a few!
I give the Mountain HouseHomestyle Turkey Dinner Casserole 4.75/5 Stars!
Point Reyes National Seashore receives approximately 2.5 million visitors annually and encompasses 71,028 acres of protected coastline. Winter temperatures average 45-55°F with summer ranging from 55-75°F, though coastal fog frequently reduces visibility and temperatures. Camping areas range from sea level to 1,407 feet in elevation at Mount Wittenberg.
Beach exploration: 1.8 miles from Coast Campground to a sandy beach with tidepools. "The beach offers tidepools close by as well as a great place for beach fire (permit needed). There are two routes to hike in. I prefer the longer Coast Trail (about half a mile longer) rather than the fireroad for it's scenic beauty," notes a reviewer at Coast Campground.
Crabbing at Dillon Beach: Lawson's Landing provides access to Tomales Bay crabbing spots. "Caught and ate crabs both times i've been here," reports a camper. The campground includes a pier where visitors catch Dungeness crab during season (typically November through June).
Horseback riding in Olema: Five Brooks Ranch offers trail rides near Olema Campground. "The win on this campground is how close it is to Point Reyes National Seashore, San Rafael, Olema, Novato and Marshall. I would highly recommend Five Brooks Ranch in Olema for horseback riding," shares a visitor. Trail rides start at $50/hour and require advance booking.
Protected camping environments: Many pet-friendly sites feature natural windbreaks. At Bodega Dunes Campground, campsites are "nestled among the coastal Live Oak and Bishop Pine trees and provide some privacy in between sites in some areas." Another camper notes that sites are "spread out in a scrub-brush area that provides a nice amount of privacy and protection for the wind."
Close proximity to beaches: "The beach was sandy and beautiful, not that many people around," writes a Coast Campground visitor about their pet-friendly camping trip. Another adds, "Coast camp is a favorite get away. In the Point Reyes National Seashore it is in a valley that is minutes from the beach."
Access to local seafood: "Go to the wharf near by to pick up some live crab to boil over the fire," suggests a Bodega Dunes camper. Nearby restaurants serve fresh catches. "I would highly recommend Hog Island in Marshall (snag a picnic table and shuck your own oysters - definitely a highlight) and Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station," reports a Samuel P. Taylor State Park visitor.
Winter camping considerations: Prepare for wet conditions beyond what the existing description mentions. "Always expect fog. Expect cold and damp at night," warns a Coast Campground visitor. At Pantoll Campground, "the night is COLD up this way, and mere miles will cover several different weather systems. Bring layers."
Reservation systems vary: Samuel P. Taylor State Park requires advance booking, while Pantoll operates first-come, first-served only. "This is the only first come first campground around as far as I know," notes a camper. During peak season (April-October), arrive by mid-morning on weekdays for best site availability.
Wildlife management: Secure food from raccoons and other animals. "Raccoons, Chipmunks and Blue Jays were NOT SHY but also not a harrowing issue," notes a Samuel P. Taylor visitor. At Coast Camp, "there are miles of beach to explore, and you can continue along the coast trail to hike even farther," but wildlife protections limit pet access in some areas.
Less crowded weekday options: Mid-week camping offers quieter experiences with pets. At Doran Regional Park, "tent camping is secluded. RV is parking lot. There are only a handful of tent only sites, most of which are secluded by trees... Beach access is very easy, especially with kids. The beach is wide, flat and great for families."
Educational opportunities: "The first Saturday of the month the rangers do a tide pool talk. They bring sea creatures (like sea stars, sea slugs etc) to share and let the kids hold them," explains a Doran Regional Park visitor. Family programs occur year-round at most campgrounds.
Site selection for pets and children: "For privacy, book a site out of the meadow," recommends a Coast Camp reviewer. At Samuel P. Taylor, "for families who want a quick trip over Golden Gate Bridge to introduce their children (or adults!) to the great outdoors, their first camp, nowhere is more convenient and instantly gratifying."
Limited hookup availability: Most pet-friendly coastal campgrounds have minimal or no hookups. At San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA, "this campground is clearly a getaway from the more congested parts of the area. Cute petting zoo and a pool that was open during COVID! We didn't stay long enough for sure."
Maneuverability considerations: Samuel P. Taylor "is a bit too tight for large trailer or RV camping (unless you are an expert at maneuvering through tight spaces)," warns a camper. Measure your rig before booking at coastal campgrounds as many have narrow access roads.
Dog exercise facilities: Beyond standard pet-friendly policies, Olema Campground provides "a fenced playground, dog park, drive in tent sites, and firewood for sale." The dedicated dog park allows off-leash exercise that most beach areas prohibit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Point Reyes National Seashore?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Point Reyes National Seashore is Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 54 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Point Reyes National Seashore?
TheDyrt.com has all 66 dog-friendly camping locations near Point Reyes National Seashore, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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