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Several campgrounds surround Point Reyes Station, each with different settings and comfort levels. The City Park Campground is close to trails and has trees that block the sun on hot days. In the State Park area, some campsites give you more privacy than others, and many look out over the landscape. Campers who want something more basic can find spots in the National Forest where you don't have formal campsites. Before picking a place, think about what size site you need and what facilities matter to you. Most campgrounds have drinking water and bathrooms. Since wildlife is common here, store your food properly so animals don't come looking for a snack. The Recreation Area has well-kept campsites not far from places to swim, hike and fish. While camping, you'll likely see deer, raccoons and lots of birds around your site. Some roads to camping areas can be rough, so check conditions if you don't have a truck or vehicle that sits up high. Families often prefer the County Park Campground because the sites are bigger and it's set up well for kids. Both tent and RV campers can find spots that work for them in these campgrounds. Pack clothes for all weather since the coast can get foggy, windy, or sunny without much warning. The natural setting around Point Reyes Station makes camping here worth the trip.
"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."
from $35 - $225 / night
Check Availability"It's a popular campground in the northern california that's relatively easy to book. We book 1-2 weeks before and still got a spot."
"Nice place to eat within walking distance but make reservations on a weekend. WiFi. Showers. Spots are close together but the drive here is amazing. Openings on a Saturday night."
"showers were always clean. there was some construction going on, since it was the off season. it looked like they were renovating some of the bathrooms and aisle end sites to add grass and decks. the location"
"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!"
"Point Reyes in California has to be my all time favorite camping site. There are miles and miles of beaches surrounded by dunes, hills, and cliffs."
"Hike in (and around!) this gorgeous area. We chose to stay two nights and had a great time exploring the surrounding hiking trails - a personal favourite was Alamere Falls."
"Really great site right next to the water and beach. The hike in is pretty easy and beautiful. We had fun making a fire on the beach at night. It's pretty windy, so be prepared."
"I used to live in the area and wish I had spent more time camping in and around the Point Reyes National Seashore."
"Walking distance to the beach. Quiet place on non holiday weekends. Fun place to fish and the Beach is also pretty clean."
"There are a variety of campsites, and they are many - we camp as close to the ocean as possible in the meadow area."
"West Marin offers an incredibly picturesque location to explore, and Coast Camp is about as good as it gets."
"The beach offers tidepools close by as well as a great place for beach fire (permit needed). There are two routes to hike in."
from $30 - $90 / night
Check Availability"California, Washington and Oregon have lovely coast but this location is truly unique!"
"Tomales Bay is a boat in only campground on Indian Beach a unique experience if you have access to a boat. There are plenty of drive or walk in sites if you don't have a boat."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
"The California coast is hard to beat. This campground is in the sand dunes, with a short walk to the beach. This is absolutely one of the best places to see the sunset."
from $45 / night
Check Availability"We stayed here for a night at the tail end of a December California adventure before flying out of SFO the next day."
"General: Located between Bodega Bay and Bodega Harbor, this county park has over 140 sites in four campgrounds: Shell, Gull, Cove, and Jetty."
GuideLeft our van for the day, took an $30 uber into San Fran to visit and came back right before sunset. Busy throughout the day so therefore we felt quite safe. Stayed for the night after, with a couple of vans/car campers around us, all was quiet. No noise apart from the wind. It is a parking lot like others note but perfect for a free night so close to downtown.
TravelerTons of signs that say no camping no parking no trespassing. There was a fence and it was locked. Definitely don’t come here
TravelerIt's a popular campground in the northern california that's relatively easy to book. We book 1-2 weeks before and still got a spot.
GuideWas a larger site and not very close to others, secluded enough. Bathrooms are well kept and they sell fire wood!!
RangerHands down the cleanest and most well-kept campsite I have ever been to. The pride the owners take in the property is clear from the moment you enter the campground.
Bathrooms are immaculate and coin-operated showers are nice. A dedicated dish washing station, complete with soap and sponges when we stayed, was also a nice touch.
As other reviewers have said, privacy is minimal and this isn't the place for you if you don't want to camp around a lot of families.
This campground is perfect for families who want to take a short walk down to the beach (bring a wagon or something to carry your gear/children), and spend the day enjoying the water.
RangerNo tents, no rest room, no dump, must arrive after 4pm and leave by 9 am, MUST have your own bathroom…. But it’s like $12, and if you need to be in Benecia it’s great.
ScoutWe don't have kids, but this is a great place with a petting zoo, pool and hayride.
GuideThis campground is okay (3.5/5 stars) - the sites are close together and it seems to be very popular spot with a lot of families. Our section was fairly quiet but other areas were quite loud.
The campground is dog friendly and dogs are allowed on the paved roads. The bathrooms were pretty nice and the showers had hot water. You need to purchase a token for $1 from the park ranger when checking in and that will get you 5 minutes of hot water.
We stayed at site 49 and couldn't figure out where other folks put their tents. There was a slightly elevated area in the back left site of the campsite but it didn't look used, was on a slight hill, and looked directly into the campsite next to us so we opted to put our tent on the flat area right by the driveway.
ScoutRolled up to the site around 12am. I called ahead of time because I saw they closed at 5pm, but you can show up at anytime. It is first come first serve, but we had no troubles on finding a spot! The views are very beautiful. Plenty of porter potties. The ones I went in were decently clean and had toilet paper. Would come back.
Several camping options near Point Reyes Station provide different experiences based on your needs and preferences. The area sits at the edge of Point Reyes National Seashore where coastal fog regularly rolls in during summer months, creating temperature swings of 20-30 degrees between day and night. Most campsites require reservations months in advance, especially during peak season from May through September when temperatures average 65-70°F during daytime hours.
Visit tidal pools during low tide: At Wildcat Campground, you can take a short beach walk to Alamere Falls. "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," notes ranger Elliott B.
Harvest your own seafood: When camping near Tomales Bay, consider getting fresh seafood. One camper at Lawson's Landing mentioned, "Caught and ate crabs both times i've been here" while staying at this oceanfront campground.
Explore historic sites: The area around Point Reyes Station contains several cultural landmarks. "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," says Kathleen C.
Protected camping locations: Many campgrounds offer protection from coastal elements. At Coast Campground, "Sites 1-7 are located on the inland side of the Coast Trail just south of the junction with Firelane Trail. They're spread out in a scrub-brush area that provides a nice amount of privacy and protection for the wind," according to Michael I.
Diverse terrain within walking distance: Campers appreciate varied landscapes they can explore directly from camp. "We did the Point Reyes sky trail hike in to sky camp, stayed the night, and then hiked the loop around coastal trail and back to the visitor center," writes Jeremy S., noting the diversity of trails available within a short distance.
Dark night skies for astronomy: The coastal location offers excellent stargazing when fog isn't present. A reviewer at Glen Campground noted, "The stargazing was first-rate, even though you could see the distant glow of civilization in the night sky."
Weather changes quickly: Pack clothing for all conditions regardless of forecast. "One thing to note, the night is COLD up this way, and mere miles will cover several different weather systems. Bring layers," advises Kathleen C.
Advance reservations essential: Most campsites require booking well ahead of time. A camper at Wildcat Camp observed, "These are sites are in high demand, but totally worth the wait to experience."
Wildlife encounters common: Take precautions with food storage. "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," warns one reviewer about Wildcat Camp, while another mentions, "the raccoons are everywhere at night!" at Tomales Bay.
Choose sites with amenities: For family comfort, select campgrounds with appropriate facilities. San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA offers "Playgrounds, swimming pool, lots of space to run and scream. We stay when visiting the area and endure the screaming kids. The kids do have fun, I give them that."
Consider hike distance for young campers: Some campgrounds require hiking with gear. At Sky Campground, a family noted, "We went this past weekend... It was a hike-in camp site called sky camp. It was a 1.3 mile hike uphill so that was pretty rough. It was our first time going to a hike-in camp site."
Look for protected beach access: Beaches with calm water work best for children. At Tomales Bay State Park, one camper mentioned, "Heart's Desire Beach is a gem. Great beach for kids as there is sand bar so there is shallow area that warms the water for them to play."
Check site dimensions carefully: Many campgrounds have limited space for larger vehicles. At Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground, a reviewer noted it's "a bit too tight for large trailer or RV camping (unless you are an expert at maneuvering through tight spaces)."
Consider campgrounds with full hookups: Only a few campgrounds offer full service sites. At Olema Campground, one RVer appreciated that it "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 for sale."
Plan for varying road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds can be challenging. "Some roads to camping areas can be rough, so check conditions if you don't have a truck or vehicle that sits up high," particularly during winter months when coastal roads may experience weather damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping near Point Reyes Station?
Several excellent camping options exist near Point Reyes Station. Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground offers family-friendly sites with full facilities, located just a short drive from Point Reyes. For a unique experience, Tomales Bay Boat-In Camping — Point Reyes National Seashore provides boat-access-only sites along the eastern shore of Tomales Bay. Additional options include Coast Campground and Wildcat Campground within Point Reyes National Seashore, both requiring hiking to access. Most campgrounds in this area require reservations well in advance, especially during summer and holidays. Facilities vary by location, with some offering basic amenities like pit toilets and water, while others provide more developed services like showers and electrical hookups.
Is dispersed camping allowed in Point Reyes National Seashore?
Dispersed camping is not allowed in Point Reyes National Seashore. Camping is permitted only in designated campgrounds with proper permits. Coast Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore and Wildcat Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore are the main backcountry options, but both require permits and camping in designated sites. The National Seashore strictly enforces these regulations, and citations are issued for illegal camping. For those seeking a more remote experience, the hike-in backcountry sites offer a wilderness feel while still following park regulations. All overnight stays require advance reservations through the National Park Service reservation system, with permits available up to six months ahead.
Can I car camp at Point Reyes Station or nearby areas?
While Point Reyes Station itself doesn't have car camping facilities, several excellent options exist nearby. Olema Campground is one of the closest drive-in campgrounds to Point Reyes Station, offering water, toilets, and big-rig-friendly sites. Another popular option is Lawson's Landing near Dillon Beach, which provides drive-in access with waterfront sites. Both locations are suitable for car camping with various amenities. For those willing to drive a bit further, Bodega Dunes and Samuel P. Taylor State Park also offer car-accessible sites. Most of these campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak season. Note that within Point Reyes National Seashore itself, all campgrounds require hiking in - there are no drive-up sites within the park boundaries.
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