Dog-Friendly Camping near Redwood City, CA

Pet friendly camping near Redwood City, California offers options within 30-45 minutes of the Silicon Valley hub. The area sits at the intersection of coastal influences and inland valley climates, creating mild camping conditions year-round with average summer highs of 70-80°F and winter lows rarely below 40°F. Coastal fog often burns off by late morning, especially during summer months when inland temperatures rise.

What to do

Coastal trail exploration: Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground provides access to a scenic coastal trail system. "We stayed in a spot without hookups and it was $35 per night. Gate staff was friendly and helpful. No dogs allowed in the beach in the park but a short walk away there is a public beach that is dog friendly," notes Michell C.

Birding opportunities: Dumbarton Quarry Campground on the Bay offers excellent bird-watching along estuary trails. "We stayed here for 12 days while visiting relatives in the Bay area. This campground, while in the heart of Fremont, feels remote and safe in spite of being close to town. It is in the Coyote hills regional Park. There are many many trails for hiking and biking, and wildlife is plentiful," explains Michael D.

Mountain biking access: Trails at Anthony Chabot Regional Park provide both easy and challenging routes for cyclists. "I just needed/wanted a short getaway without driving hours from home. Since I'm used to this place for mountain biking, I figured I'd try camping here for a couple nights," shares Twindaddy.

What campers like

Convenience to urban areas: The location of many campgrounds makes them ideal for quick escapes. "We appreciate how convenient it is for people who live in the Bay Area and if you want to visit the area from out of state or out of the Bay Area, it would be a great place to park your camper and explore," reports Ann I. about Dumbarton Quarry Campground.

Clean facilities: Trailer Villa RV Park maintains well-kept grounds and hookups. "This RV park is great! We did a same day drop-in reservation for an overnight stay over the phone. The grounds are clean; parking pads are concrete and flat; and drive lanes AND parking spots are wide and spacious for maneuvering large RVs," says Tony C.

Walk-in camping options: Sanborn County Park offers walk-in sites for those seeking more seclusion. "This is a nice camping away from the car experience. It's a short walk up a paved path from the parking to the campsites. The park provides carts to help with hauling gear, and storage boxes are provided at the site, near the picnic table," Amanda P. explains.

What you should know

Limited shade at newer campgrounds: Some recently developed sites have young trees. "Since it's a new campground, the trees are young and don't supply much shade, but since it's close to the SF Bay, the bay breeze helps. It is right off 84 near the Dumbarton bridge so there can be a lot of traffic noise," explains Ann I.

Site spacing considerations: Not all campgrounds offer the same level of privacy. "The sites are close together but arranged in such a way as to feel private. It is in the Coyote hills regional Park," notes Michael D. about Dumbarton Quarry.

Seasonal traffic patterns: Pillar Point RV Park experiences varying levels of congestion. "Walking distance to shops and restaurants, walking and bike trails, beach access, and friendly staff! Only cons are the extremely busy road is right next to the park, it can be very loud and when the park is full the spaces can get pretty tight," writes Raven P.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Dumbarton Quarry Campground provides recreational facilities for children. "There's a great playground if you have small kids, and lots of gentle hiking trails. If you hate wind, you should know it can get windy here," advises N V.

Nature programs: Anthony Chabot Regional Park offers ranger-led activities during summer. "They even have summer ranger programs but we didn't see many kids here. We are in a Class B van, but many sites are large enough for Class A rigs," Kim G. mentions.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many local campgrounds provide chances to spot local animals. "We love Anthony Chabot! The eucalyptus groves make the air smell wonderful, and there is so much wildlife to see (deer, turkeys, owls, etc.). It's a great natural area that is so conveniently located in the Bay Area," shares Amanda P.

Tips from RVers

Leveling requirements: Be prepared to level your rig at many area campgrounds. "Sites, though asphalt, require some leveling," notes Kim G. about Dumbarton Quarry Campground.

Full hookup availability: San Francisco RV Resort provides complete services for RVs. "This is an interesting RV park on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It has a CA beach town feel, but is just 20 minutes from San Francisco. When it's clear you can see the farralon islands 30 miles offshore," Tom H. explains.

Reservation timing: For pet friendly camping near Redwood City, securing spots well in advance is recommended, especially during summer. "We stayed in site #5. Sites #1-4 back up to the Towhee Trail, so expect hikers to pass by close behind you. The better sites are #5-12 with #11 and #12 being the best. Not all sites were open during our visit likely due to the pandemic," advises Lori T. about Anthony Chabot Regional Park.