Christine L.
Scout
ScoutAustin Creek State Rec Area
Summer 2026 - Closed
Currently the Bull Frog Campground is closed Until Further Notice and there is no Back Country Camping available either. Day Use only.
Camping near Pope Valley, CA
155 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The Pope Valley area provides camping access to the heart of California's wine country, with established campgrounds like Ritchey Creek Campground in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park and nearby sites around Lake Berryessa. Accommodation options range from basic tent sites to cabins, yurts, and RV-compatible campgrounds. Several campgrounds in the area feature a mix of walk-in, drive-in, and boat-in access, making the region suitable for various camping styles. The proximity to wineries and tourist destinations like Calistoga and St. Helena creates a unique camping landscape where outdoor recreation meets wine country exploration.
Road conditions and seasonal considerations significantly impact camping experiences near Pope Valley. Most campgrounds remain open year-round, though summer represents peak visitation when advanced reservations become essential. "Be careful of the poison oak, it is prevalent there as it is so anywhere in Northern California," notes one camper who visited Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Cell reception varies throughout the area, with spotty service reported in many campgrounds. The terrain includes volcanic rock that can make tent staking difficult in dry weather. Showers at some locations require quarters, and campfire restrictions are common during dry seasons due to fire danger in this wildfire-prone region.
Campers consistently mention the balance between natural settings and proximity to wine country amenities as a key benefit of Pope Valley area campgrounds. The developed sites typically include picnic tables, fire rings where permitted, and access to potable water. According to reviews on The Dyrt, camping in this region offers "a great way to travel" to wineries and attractions like the Calistoga geyser, particularly for those bringing electric bikes. While some visitors note issues with poison oak throughout certain campgrounds, most appreciate the relative tranquility compared to staying in expensive wine country accommodations. Weekend stays generally see higher occupancy rates, with midweek periods offering more solitude and availability at popular campgrounds like those in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.
Best Campgrounds near Pope Valley (155)
1. Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
"We just stayed here for 2 nights, great location very close to Calistoga and not to far from Saint Helena! Next time i would love to try out a cabin or yurt."
"Good access to wineries close by. Only real downside was that because of the dry conditions we could not have a campfire."
from $43 / night
Check Availability2. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground
"Easy access to a lot of trails. The view from the campground is nice and relaxing. Some sites are very tight and close to each other. Some are spacious enough."
"There are certainly some that are better situated than others regarding size, shade, and other amenities--but the entire campground is nice."
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability3. Putah Canyon - Lake Berryessa USBR
"Loads of space, security driving around, noise limit is 10pm. Toilets are clean and trash cans are provided. They sell ice and propane on-site ."
"Lake Berryessa is a large lake that has many turnouts to fish or even stop for a quick stretching of the legs , even saw a few turnouts with picnic tables and clean bathrooms."
4. 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. Steele Canyon (formerly Lupine Shores)
"Our favorite spot to take the kids to the lake. If your looking for something calm this is the spot at Lake Berryessa."
"Lake water level is pretty low. Overall nice experience."
from $5 - $55 / night
Check Availability6. Putah Canyon Campground
"Amazing location. Limited hookups - no electric , no water, at site. Has a dump station for a fee. Friendly staff. Boat launch."
7. Napa County Fairgrounds
"Close to Oxbow public market, great spot for lunch or dinner."
8. Spring Lake Regional Park
"It’s close to the entrance but the driveway only had a slight grade. Mostly folks with trailers. The sites are not too close together but it is easy to see into the surrounding neighbors."
"Spring Lake has been that for us. We have been here for 2 weekends in the last few months."
from $35 / night
Check Availability9. San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA
"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!"
10. Hidden Knoll Farm Glamping
"We were close to a small splash pool for floating on in pool rings and pool noodles that the host provided and there is also a galvanized soaking tub for two with an amazing view and we enjoyed it underneath"
"We love to visit Harbin Hot Springs near Middletown after wine tasting in Napa Valley, but Harbin doesn’t allow dogs. We discovered this great campground on private land."
from $45 - $75 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 41 min from Napa, CA
- 51 min from Santa Rosa, CA
- 56 min from Vallejo, CA
- 1 hr 30 min from Sacramento, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Pope Valley, CA
230 Photos of 155 Pope Valley Campgrounds
Joe C.
Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
keith B.
Putah Canyon Campground
Stuart S.
smittle creek
Sue B.
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
John
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground
Joel A.
Steele Canyon (formerly Lupine Shores)
Gabriella B.
Hidden Knoll Farm Glamping
Tammy B.
Spring Lake Regional Park
Julie D.
Harbin Hot Springs
Joe S.
Pine Grove Cobb Resort
Melanie M.
Cache Creek Regional Park Campground
Ken B.
Wildhaven Sonoma
Recent Reviews near Pope Valley, CA
915 Reviews of 155 Pope Valley Campgrounds
Patrick W.ScoutGlen Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore
In the middle of nowhere
It’s kinda more like a last choice in the area. I’m happy I had the opportunity to stay there (to compare the other campsites) and it is nicely set up with running water, picnic table, and pit toilets. Campsite 10 though is the worst of ‘em. Set directly in the middle with no privacy and no shade.
Whenever someone opened the pit toilet doors, the smell wafted gracefully like a hammer out of nowhere to abuse my olfactory senses! Just trying to be real and give the scoops.
The NPS does a great job with maintaining the campsite BUT I would definitely pick any of the other locations first. Eg Sky, Coast, or Wildcat. That being said, if there was nothing else available, I’d stay there again. Get in late and leave early.
- LLandon R.
TravelerBlue Oak Campground
Very cool views, but a lot of trash
Found a spot on the hill that had a sweet view, but was covered in trash and shotgun shells. A lot of dirt bikers so you hear that most of the day.
Madeleine B.ScoutKoa Cloverdale Camping Resort
Glad I Ignored the Bad Reviews
Abundant bad reviews were available for this campground but we had no major issues. Bathrooms and pool were in good condition.
- HHeather D.Traveler
Thousand Trails Russian River
They're trying
So the staff here are really nice and helpful and trying to keep the place up. There is definitely not enough staff for the size of of the grounds here. The river is super low right now but it's mid July inland in California so that's expected. Getting down to the river access is either by being dropped off by a car and then picked back up when you are done OR walking down the windy steep road and then back UP when you are tired and hungry and hot etc. If you have a mobility issue be prepared to get help. My husband has prosthetics and we couldn't be down at the same time without a lot of back and forth with the vehicle. The bathroom/bathhouse in A section of the park is trashed. I don't have a nicer way to put that. We lost water the second night we were there and that lasted most of the next day and then power went out at 11pm three nights later and was off for almost 24 hours. We more than likely won't be staying there again anytime soon. It looks like it used to be a really nice spot but it has just been neglected and abused.
Alan L.
GuideUpper Bayview Campground — Clear Lake State Park
Spacious camp site!
Very spacious camp site. We got invited here by a relative. Stayed in the upper area, so you had to drive down to the lake. Park rangers were present. Can’t remember the camp site we stayed in but if you don’t mind taking a 5 minute drive,book the upper campground. Lake water was 7/10. Great temperature, but I’m more of a Christal clear water person. There was some algae/ weeds. I heard a lot of negative comments about the water. Overall we had a good time Bathrooms and showers were next to our site.
- CCarley C.Traveler
smittle creek
Definitely not a spot
Tons of signs that say no camping no parking no trespassing. There was a fence and it was locked. Definitely don’t come here
- TTwindaddyGuide
Calso - Boggs Mountain Demo Forest - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Open to camping again!
Finally open again after a couple years of clearing storm damage.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/demonstration-state-forests/boggs-demonstration-state-forest
I was there the week prior to July 4 and expected a crowd. Instead I was one of only two campers until I left on the 3rd.
As in years past, the "no-see-ems" and bees get a bit thick. The bees absolutely LOVE water, so have a van with a shower on the rear door complicates things. Nonetheless, the stay was nice. The mountain biking, though tough, was super fun. I got lucky with the weather too - only hit about 82 at the warmest.
Vault toilets are reasonably well maintained. Don't be afraid to use them if you need to.
There continues to be a lot of forest recovery after the fire over a decade (wow!) ago.
The trees that were planted are now reaching an impressive height and providing shade on many of the trails. See the pic with the bike against the tree for a sense of scale.
Nice to have the option available again - I'll be back in the fall.
Oh... the pizza parlor in Cobb is also excellent. They have great pizza a great sleection of good beers on tap!
- EEllen C.Scout
Lakeview Dispersed Campground
Coyote Troubles
The good: Drive in was awesome. Beautiful view of the lake and sunset. Many spots to pull out into and choose from. Very quiet, minimal road noise.
The bad: pair of coyotes spotted stalking our campsite, did not respond to hazing and had to pack up dinner preparations quickly to ensure no bad encounters
*also note that cell service is okay for t mobile and barely existent for Verizon
Guide to Pope Valley
Pope Valley camping spots offer a unique base for exploring the Napa region beyond its famous wineries. Located east of the main Napa Valley, this area sits at approximately 600-800 feet elevation with a Mediterranean climate that includes hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The volcanic soil around Lake Berryessa campgrounds creates challenging tent staking conditions during dry months when the ground becomes extremely hard.
What to Do
Waterfront activities at Lake Berryessa: Steele Canyon (formerly Lupine Shores) offers direct lake access for paddleboarding and swimming. "I came to check out the more calm waters in the canyon for my paddleboard. The site was great layout and I had a really enjoyable time out on the water. Other boaters where very respectful of the no wake zones," notes a camper at Steele Canyon.
Explore astronomical features: Sugarloaf Ridge State Park has an observatory and offers night sky programs. "There is an observatory and nice hiking here. We went on a night hike for a star gazing tour and had a great time!" according to a visitor at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Mountain biking trails: Spring Lake Regional Park connects to Trione-Annadel State Park with extensive mountain bike trails. A reviewer notes, "Connected to the west of Spring Lake is Trione-Annadel State Park, a wildly popular spot for local mountain bikers...there are miles upon miles of trails to explore."
What Campers Like
Budget-friendly base for wine country: Camping costs significantly less than local hotels. "We have rented at this campground many times. Never had any trouble getting a reservation in spring or fall. Camping here leaves lots of money for food and wine splurges!" explains a camper at Ritchey Creek Campground.
Diverse accommodation options: Beyond tent camping, several areas offer alternative lodging. "This was a great campground to come on a winter weekend. Only 90 minutes from home to site... The campground is next to a very popular lake. Lots of trails. A great place to bring a bike too," states a visitor to Spring Lake Regional Park.
Swimming opportunities: Several campgrounds provide water access during hot months. "Nice crystal clear water. There's a pretty awesome cliff jump nearby as well. Dogs are allowed. The lake is a very popular day use area as well. Does get very hot make sure you bring your bathing suit," notes a camper at Manzanita Canyon.
What You Should Know
Poison oak management: Bring identification guides and preventive measures. "Beautiful and close to downtown Calistoga however the campgrounds were infested with poison oak. Maybe just the time of year and because of so much rain this year? Not sure but it was thick and lush everywhere," warns a camper.
Wildlife encounters: Local fauna includes deer, turkeys, and other creatures. "I was awoken (as is the norm in NorCal) to gobbling turkeys at dawn. Easy access to hiking trails," shares a visitor at Ritchey Creek Campground.
Challenging ground conditions: The volcanic soil becomes extremely hard in dry weather. "The ground is volcanic rock and super hard in the dry weather. I broke a couple tent poles and couldn't pull the rest out of the ground, so they're now donations," advises a camper.
Tips for Camping with Families
Kid-friendly facilities: Some campgrounds specifically cater to families. "This place was wonderful! We stumbled upon this place after wine tasting in Sonoma. This place had many sites and super family friendly. Very easy to find. There was lots of deer/wildlife which was cool to see up close," reports a visitor to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Swimming areas for children: Several locations have designated swimming spots. "Walked to the water park on spring lake that featured an inflatable, floating obstacle course/bouncy house thing. The kids LOVED that," mentions a Spring Lake Regional Park camper.
Educational opportunities: Look for ranger programs and nature activities. "Take a walk to check out the Pioneer Cemetery and nearby mill. St. Clement Vineyards is a fun stop on the way out of town and is kid-friendly," suggests a visitor.
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Bring extra blocks for uneven sites. "Sites are level with minimal need for blocks. Staff are friendly," notes an RV camper at Skyline Wilderness Park.
Limited hookup availability: Not all campgrounds offer full RV services. "Clean showers and bathrooms, some trees, close to Raley's Grocery store. Easy drive to the wineries of Napa Valley, a little further to Sonoma but a nice drive. Picnic table, some full hook-ups and some partial," advises an RVer at Skyline Wilderness Park.
Water access planning: Fill tanks before arrival at some locations. "Arrive at this park full of water. There was only one spigot with threads (for attaching hose to fill tanks); it was at spot 29," cautions a Spring Lake Regional Park visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Pope Valley, CA?
What camping is available near Pope Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Pope Valley, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 155 campgrounds and RV parks near Pope Valley, CA and 10 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Pope Valley, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Pope Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pope Valley, CA is Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 32 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pope Valley, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pope Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Pope Valley, CA.
What parks are near Pope Valley, CA?
What parks are near Pope Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 parks near Pope Valley, CA that allow camping, notably Lake Sonoma and Point Reyes National Seashore.
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