Best Cabin Camping near Rio Vista, CA

I wanted somewhere not too far to go and stay when my 5-6 year-old had 5 days off from school. This was perfect in so many ways.

Positives

- Amenities! I love how everything was themed, from the street names to the signs. Two nice playgrounds, ball courts, pool and hot tub. Watching your kids play red light/green light on the jumping pillow put a smile on every parent's face.

- Seasonal programming (weekends only). For October, we did an outdoor movie, magic pumpkins, costume contest, trick or treating, hay ride, and haunted house. My daughter loved everything except the haunted house, which she said was "too scary!"

- Clean, comfortable facilities. Lots of ways to stay. We car camped and found the hook ups really easy to use. Water, drain, 3 types of electricity, picnic table and firepit at every site. We used their bathrooms and showers and was impressed by how clean they were. Most of the time we had them completely to ourselves and they were even climate controlled.

- Restaurant. I cooked breakfast and lunch most days at the campsite, but for dinner we splashed out at the kid-friendly Waterfront Grille. Friendly staff, good food (lobster and prime rib, yum!), amazing views of the sunset.

Negatives

- Water park was closed. Call ahead to see if it is open when you want to go. I heard that it is never open because of some issue with permits or drought. If so, the promotional video is misleading and I almost deducted a star for this.

- Expensive. For camping, it is expensive, but think of it more as a theme park/resort, than true camping. We saved on the cabin and RV, and spent on the optional activities and the fancy meals.

Bottom line, I would totally go back and stay as long as I could. I hear it is super crowded in the summer, but it would be worth it if the water park is open.

This is a big campground with everything you need for boating and fishing. They have a big boat launch for easy launching. They closed their boat berths because they were rotting. They have one cabin with electricity. It has a bunk bed And a queen. Bring air mattresses cause they are just wooden frames. Very close to the Sacramento River for a nice cruise.

It’s a cozy place with boat rentals! Plenty of shade and bathrooms available. Only reason got 4 star is the constant blue-green algae, making the water unavailable for swimming. Regardless of that, you can still fish and go on boat rides.

Great place for a quick getaway with some friends or family. Enjoyed walking around and taking in the views. Saw some deer, rabbits, and hummingbirds. Enjoyed hanging out by the lake.

Staff is very friendly. Bathrooms were clean.

Brennan Island State Park is an absolute gem nestled in the heart of the California Delta. From the moment you arrive, you're greeted by friendly staff who make you feel right at home. The park's natural beauty is simply breathtaking, with expansive views of the Delta's sparkling waters and lush landscapes.

The park offers a variety of activities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're into boating, fishing, hiking, or simply relaxing by the water, there's something here for everyone. The well-maintained trails provide the perfect opportunity to explore the local flora and fauna, and the picnic areas are ideal for a leisurely lunch with family and friends.

One of the highlights of Brennan Island State Park is its sense of community. The other visitors are always warm and welcoming, creating a pleasant and enjoyable atmosphere. It's a great place to meet new people who share a love for the great outdoors.

Overall, Brennan Island State Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the natural beauty and friendly vibes of the California Delta. It's a perfect spot for a day trip or a weekend getaway, offering a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

I had a very different take on this place than the others. The RV spot was a fair distance from the neighboring spots, it was low-density, quite, all good qualities, but there was very little see or do near the loop. There were no hikes suitable for young kids as far as I could tell. There was a little store for ice cream and camping supplies and dump station on the loop.  HOWEVER, WARNING: the road around the campground looks wide but there are boulders every 10 feet or so making it insanely hard to back into our spot - and we had only a 22ft trailer! I can't see myself coming back here. The maps do accurately depict the relatively narrow space you have for back in spots. Once we were in, it was fine.  The pedestal and sewer set-up was just fine. No issues there. It's just not worth the hassle. 

As for the park/water part of the park, well, it was covered in garbage from the day-trippers. It was packed and only accessible by driving to it. Truly not a place I wanted to BBQ or picnic at.  Cars, people, dogs, loud music, and garbage. A gross diaper on the shore.     We took a very nice hike starting at the dog run. That was beautiful, but not worth the trip.

I didn't bother to photograph our site. There were all adequate, just avoid back in site here. There are so many better places to visit.  I checked this off the list, no reason to return. I don't believe there was reception either from the campsite.

Last thing, we peaked in on the cabins in our loop. They looks very nice and maintained.

We go with several families with kids 5-13 and they all have a blast. The price per night is very expensive but there are a lot of amenities. Nice playground, basketball court, volleyball, bouncy pillow, outdoor movies, pool, lazy river, water park, bumper boats, laser tag, boat rentals on the delta, restaurants and quick bites. There is an ice cream shop, general store, and crafts some free some for purchase $7-$30. We went for Christmas in July and Santa was there for pictures, we go for Halloween and there is trick or treating through the whole place, a haunted house and a decor and costume contest. Our kids really enjoy the freedom to go play while the adults sit back and relax.

This place is awesome! Has a cute restaurant on the water too. Very clean facilities, it’s right on the water- the California delta river. They have paddle boards you can rent and go out on the water in the morning. They have cute little cottages people can rent too. Very peaceful and fun atmosphere. They had live music on the Saturday we were there. Highly recommend!

This wasn’t the best campground I’ve ever been, the river was extremely muddy and our campsite provided little shade. But it was very spacious and the staff were amazing! I got injured while fishing and they were extremely helpful. It was also close to stores and other swimming/fishing spots with beautiful views of the delta.

Nice place on river. Run by private contractor. Middle loop with hookups and showers was closed because the grass wasn't mowed yet. Upper loop has hookups and tight sites, no bathrooms or showers. Lower loop has no hookups but has two bath houses. One was completely locked. Other was mostly locked. Two open showers, one didn't work. Two open toilets, one was clogged. I guess March is off season and nobody cares. Host was not to be found. Site was nice and big and along River. It is a shame.

Nice park. Very quiet in late Nov. Bathrooms were closed. Couldn’t Find any trails. Good for one night.

Lots of fishing and boating activities. Campsites are spaced out. Easy access to the water. Family favorite.

You will be put on a curfew like a teenager. The first day we arrived, we ran into San Francisco to do a boat tour. When we left we hit traffic and got back at 10 to the gate closed and locked. We called and the lady chewed us out. We were not told during checkin and they have signs that are not in noticeable spots. They tried to tell us we had to come back the next day. We said to her on the phone "just so we are understanding you are saying that my kids have to sleep in our car and you are not allowing access to our camper." They came immediately. The river access is great if you have a boat but not great if you dont have a boat. We did not feel comfortable knowing that we were locked in at night in case of an emergency. We will not be back.

It good place to camp but remember the wind. It has great facility for disabled and has great area to run around and you can fish the bay area from the area or go fishing in boat

This place is noisy (lots of traffic on the main road bc of all of the boating traffic), hot and windy (seriously, it's like being in a super hot wind tunnel), and full of grasses like foxtails (that are quite dangerous for dogs, especially when they're dry!) I won't be coming back

Brannan Island is conveniently located from SF Bay Area. Great for families. Plenty of roads to bike out / back. Love being close to the water for recreation. Clean facilities. Can be windy. Since easy access it is busy, sometimes more noise in evenings to my liking. It's a great option for beginner campers as well as veterans.

Beautiful campground, very few spots with hookups . Restrooms clean, showers available bring your quarters. We stayed right on the levee 🤗 Bonus bike trail!!