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."
$25 - $200 / night
"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."
$45 - $65 / 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."
$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."
"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."
"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!"
"Very nice park for an on the water location, I've been to some where you can't even turn without hitting someone."
$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."
"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."
GuideThis 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. Walgreens, Safeway, and a couple coffee shops, local bakery and restaurants all walking distance. Spectacular sunsets over the pacific if the fog permits. Saw a couple whales too. When it’s clear you can see the farralon islands 30 miles offshore. On the downside the “campsites” are close together… it’s more like a parking lot than a campground, but everyone is friendly and the overall vibe is good.
GuideBeautiful mature trees all over campground. The bathrooms need to be cleaned more often. Sites are not level.
LegendI camped here prior to Covid and there was already a lot of peeps camping up and down the streets outside the campground and I know that it has increased in numbers since. Inside the campground it was fine and didn't get hassled at all. Used this spot to attend an event at the Marconi Center and commuted on my bike without issue. Don't know that I would vacation here necessarily but the campground overall had nice showers and worked for what I needed overall a nice place just in a tough neighborhood.
LegendVery nice park for an on the water location, I've been to some where you can't even turn without hitting someone. The area is a bit industrial but quick access to San Fran and the other sites around town. Nice bike trail right on the water
GuideWe loved how wooded this campground is and is close to nearby towns! We went to Sea Harvest in Moss Landing for dinner and would definitely recommend!Long walk to the beach, so we ended up just parking at the day use parking lot. Beach had plenty of litter and even a decaying seal which was a little unpleasant. Our paved site was decently unlevel. Bathrooms had private showers- 50 cents for 2 minutes. One shower ate my 2 quarters and didn’t work, but the next one worked fine and had hot water! Most people seem to not follow leash rules with their dogs.
LegendThis is our 3rd or 4th stay here. We visit people in the Bay Area and this place is convenient to Palo Alto and the Peninsula. It is usually not crowded, but this trip has more rigs the bathrooms are modern and clean, if spartan. The showers are roomy with ok water pressure (for California) and warm water. The laundry is super convenient. 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. Every time we have stayed here it has been windy. Sites, though asphalt, require some leveling.
TravelerWe arrived around 5:30pm, and were able to park for the night. There are several parking spots Several other campers soon pulled in around us. It’s a very busy overlook for the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay, so don’t expect to be here alone. But it’s a great place to stop for a night if you’re in the SF area.
GuideHad a great 1 night stay at Juniper! We didn’t have a reservation, but got 1 upon arrival around 2pm. Our site had nearby bathrooms, showers & trash. It included picnic table, fire pit, 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!
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.
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.
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