Searching for the best camping near San Carlos, CA? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—San Carlos is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near San Carlos, CA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$35 - $165 / night
"We rarely make reservations to camp in California Beach Parks, as they are usually filled up weeks or even months in advance."
"Beautiful beach walking distance from campground. Bike or walking trails to wonderful beaches and places to eat. Short drive to many other areas. small but good size sites for where it is."
"as usual some spots are better than others but most close to restrooms and/or water. lots of poison oak and star thistle right off trail. great deterrent for kids to stay out of tick areas but id worry"
"Always went here when we don't wanna drive too far. Staff is great and place is clean. Campsite #69 has the best view but is next to trail. Very nice trails and not super far from town to get food."
$35 - $50 / night
"Given all that and its proximity to SF, I’ll be aiming to get reservations here every summer, and some winter seasons too."
"Bathrooms are easily accessible but showers are a bit of a walk maybe 5 mins from your site."
$45 - $60 / night
"What they do have are scores of hookup sites for $60 / night and three tent / drive-in no hookup water-only sites for $45 / night."
"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."
"Clean, has some views from far border of the hills but the spots are tight and there is not much to do but hook-up."
"After-hours check-in was a breeze, as the checkin instructions were taped to the main door of the office at the park entrance."
$35 / night
"Not far from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area in California. When you arrive it's like stepping in to a whole other world. Huge redwoods blanket the mountain and line every site."
"So sad the devastation of last month's fires on the oldest state park in California, home to thr biggest redwoods south of San Francisco."
$95 / night
"Walking distance to shops and restaurants, walking and bike trails, beach access, and friendly staff!"
"Great spot right off the highway and on the beach. Lots of activities and places to eat within walking distance. Surfing, walking/bike trails, kayaking….Pet friendly"
$35 / night
"It is a smaller park than many of the other redwoods parks in Northern California, so it was very nice and peaceful. Butano is a bit off the beaten path to get to, but so worth it."
"Large, user-friendly campsites surrounded by redwood trees. Great ferny hiking trails for every level of camper/hiker. Very easy access to campsites and near Pescadero and Highway One."
"If you want a great little place with quick easy access to San Francisco that has a great view of the ocean this place is great! And affordable!"
"It is essentially a parking lot on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. The cliff edge here has fallen into the sea so the site must of lost 50 spaces when it happened. "
"The site was a pull through as well as our friends who were able to face the opposite way to have a common camp side with us. Of course the utility sides were in great position for that."
"From booking until leaving, we had a positive experience. Our site was a little tight, that would be the only thing I wish was better."
GuideHad a great 1 night stay at Juniper! We didn’t have a reservation, but got 1 upon arrival around 2pm. We asked for the site with the best view and were given site 23 at Juniper. It did not disappoint!! Our site was pretty private & we had our own sunset viewpoint. It’s next to a trail, & nearby bathrooms with showers & trash dumps. Site included picnic table, fire pit, 2 food storage boxes, & is very spacious.
The weather in May was really nice imo. Not too cold at night with layers, & starts warming up quick in the morning. Bugs weren’t too bad. Heard coyotes howling night and day which was neat. No raccoons. Saw some lizards.
Just a heads up the drive is windy, I got carsick on the way down. Will be returning & hopefully trying some hikes next time!
*Site 13 & 15 also seemed like they had nice views! (:
GuideAlmost level ajoining asphalt parking slots face boats in harbor. Water / electric / sewer connection at back of parking slot. Picnic tablet in parking slot. Garbage and recycle bins at end of RV parking row. NO bathrooms or showers available as part of RV parking fee. No public facilities close by. Nice walk alone south side of harbor to three restaurants and small market by mouth of harbor / beach that also sells food and soft serve ice cream ($4/cone). Benches along the way. Commerants nesting in trees. Longer walk along north side of harbor to town/other areas. Camp ground host provided map when arrived. Good location to rest after and/or before a long drive. Quiet no-frills.
GuideWe arrived after the front office was closed. We were still able to check-in and get a spot right next to the lake. There are about 25 spots for rigs of all sizes, on a leveled surface. There are restrooms available, and some areas for grilling and walking. In the morning there was some people fishing or in their fishing boats. There are plenty of sicks flying and swimming in the lake, with their poop all over the deck
GuideToilets are clean but is just a big parking spot you have to pay for the WiFi
TravelerLes endroits pour camping car sur SF sont très limités ! La ville ne s’y prête pas du tout. Environ 20 min du pont en voiture. Le parking est très étroits et bondé. Nous avions l’impression que les personnes présentes sur le camping y habitaient toute l’année.
TravelerEndroit très sympathique. Malheureusement nous n’avions pas réservé donc nous avons eu une place simple sans branchement… la vue est belle sur la mer.
TravelerAbsolutely soo clean and a great place to camp without having to travel so far. Bathrooms are constantly cleaned and showers are free and clean. Parking is free with paid camping . People seem to be very aware and pick up after themselves which i love. Will definantly bring family more often
LegendThis is a nice enough campground if you need a place to stay, but it's not our first choice for when we need something in this area. The sites are sort of awkwardly spaced and placed, and it's hit or miss if you get something level or private. I think for tents this is a better campground, but for us in an RV it wasn't the greatest. But overall, still very nice, and it's a nice walk to the beach. Dogs are allowed on the beach.
We didn't have good cell reception (we did have some) in the campground, but on the beach the reception was great. Showers were $0.25/min and they take quarters. No dump station on site, and no hookups.
We took the "trail" to the beach one time, overgrown and grassy, and were all covered in ticks afterwards. Stick to the paved roads if you're walking to the beach, unless they mow or clean up the trail. There's also a group camping area here.
GuideThis campsite was lovely. The sites were quite large and had the needed amenities. The shower had hot water and the restrooms were cleaned each morning. I loved that the beach was easily accessible for my morning walk. The many flowers were also lovely to wake up to.
Camping near San Carlos, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor fun. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an adventure-filled trip, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.
Camping around San Carlos, CA, offers a variety of experiences, from beach days to forest hikes. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a memorable outdoor adventure!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near San Carlos, CA is Half Moon Bay State Beach Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 27 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near San Carlos, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
Keep Exploring
