RV campgrounds near San Leandro, California provide access to the diverse Bay Area landscape with elevations ranging from sea level to 400 feet. Located 15 miles southeast of San Francisco, this region experiences Mediterranean climate patterns with mild, wet winters and dry summers. Summer fog often blankets coastal campgrounds in mornings before burning off by afternoon.
What to do
Coastal path exploration: At Half Moon Bay RV Park, visitors can walk a quarter-mile to access the coastal path that extends to the marina or south to the Ritz Carlton. "From the park you can head about a quarter of a mile and walk or ride the coastal path all the way to the marina or south to the Ritz Carlton. Great ocean views," notes Patrick J.
Wildlife watching: San Francisco RV Resort in Pacifica offers opportunities to spot marine life from its oceanfront location. "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," reports Tom H.
Beach access: Pillar Point RV Park in Half Moon Bay places campers directly on the shoreline with multiple water activities available. "Walking distance to shops and restaurants, walking and bike trails, beach access, and friendly staff!" writes Raven P.
What campers like
Public transportation access: Marin RV Park in Greenbrae offers easy access to San Francisco without driving. "Drive in, park and then walk to all the sights you want to see in San Francisco. A short 10 minute walk from the RV park is the ferry that will drop you off downtown San Francisco," explains Jeff T.
Oceanfront location: The views at Pillar Point RV Park make up for some of its limitations. "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," says Brian O.
Redwood setting: Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort provides a forested camping experience with tall trees throughout. "This campground is covered entirely by redwoods with plenty of shade for a cool vacation. Spots were leveled with dirt," according to GotelRV.
What you should know
Site spacing concerns: Most RV parks in the area feature tight spacing between sites. At Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, a camper noted, "It's just very crowded with zero privacy. All big RV, there's a pool hall and a river."
Price expectations: RV camping in the Bay Area commands premium rates. At Santa Cruz Ranch RV Resort, one camper simply stated, "122 US$ for one night."
Reservation requirements: Many parks fill quickly, especially in summer. At Trailer Villa RV Park, spontaneous stays are sometimes possible: "We did a same day drop-in reservation for an overnight stay over the phone. After-hours check-in was a breeze, as the checkin instructions were taped to the main office door at the park entrance."
Urban environment: Some RV campgrounds near San Leandro are situated in industrial areas. At Candlestick RV Park, a visitor observed, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Limited play areas: Many RV parks in this region focus primarily on vehicle accommodation rather than recreation. At San Francisco RV Resort, one family noted, "There are a few picnic tables around, but nothing in terms of entertainment for kids. Thank goodness we brought the kids' bikes!!"
River access options: Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort offers limited natural recreation: "There is a little trail that goes down to the River where you can find a neat little beach. It's a goofy little descent/climb to get there and out but worth it."
Bathroom facilities: When camping with children, clean facilities matter. A camper at Tradewinds RV Park reported, "Decent clean facilities. No complaints," while Santa Cruz Redwoods received praise for "super clean restrooms."
Tips from RVers
Pad types: RV parks near San Leandro feature various pad surfaces. Trailer Villa RV Park offers "concrete and flat" pads that are "wide and spacious for maneuvering large RVs."
Utility positioning: At Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, hookup placement may require extensions: "I had to use a 6 foot extension on the sewer hose. Shore chord was fine as was the water spigot."
Internet connectivity: Wifi quality varies significantly between parks. At San Francisco RV Resort, a camper noted, "It's a little deceiving, the package tells you which wifi to choose, you choose it and then prices pop up for plans you can buy." At Santa Cruz Redwoods, "Wifi provided, however it would go out late at night after 10 pm until the morning time."
Noise factors: Proximity to highways affects some campgrounds. At Tradewinds RV Park, a camper observed, "Close to highway. Noise not a problem," while another noted it's "noisy being right against the freeway."
