24 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Rustic cabins dot the coastline and forest areas within an hour of San Rafael, creating ideal weekend escapes with varying comfort levels. Steep Ravine Campground at Mount Tamalpais State Park features oceanfront cabins with wood-burning stoves, sleeping platforms, and million-dollar views just 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Samuel P. Taylor State Park offers cabin accommodations nestled among mature redwoods with fire pits and picnic tables. According to one visitor, "The cabins are well worth the cost. There is a separate bedroom, you could sleep 2 couples on beds easily with extra floor space and a small individual bunk for larger families."
Reservations for cabin sites are notoriously competitive, especially at premium locations like Steep Ravine where bookings open six months in advance. The San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA provides year-round cabin options with more amenities than state park alternatives. Olema Campground and Porto Bodega Marina & RV Park both accommodate pets in their cabin rentals, unlike Mount Tamalpais where no pets are allowed. A camper noted, "We've been lucky enough to score one of these cabins twice by checking in every so often to see if someone cancelled a reservation."
Most basic cabins include sleeping platforms or beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, pillows, and cooking supplies. Rustic options typically lack electricity, requiring lanterns or candles for lighting. "Bring candles and lanterns and some fabric for curtains for privacy," advised one Steep Ravine visitor. Wood for heating is generally available for purchase on-site at locations with wood-burning stoves. While KOA and private campgrounds often include more amenities like electricity and running water, state park cabins focus on simplicity. Nearby stores in Point Reyes Station, Olema, and Stinson Beach provide groceries and camping essentials for longer stays.
"Site had a fire ring, picnic table, and a stone grill. The grounds had running water, flush toilets and quarter showers. Camped here at night and explored point reyes during the day."
"This campground is beautiful, set in the redwoods, with a creek and nature trails. It has all the amenities: flush toilets, showers, fire pits, running water, and grills."
from $35 - $225 / night
Check Availability"These cabins are well worth the cost. There is a separate bedroom, you could sleep 2 couples on beds easily with extra floor space and a small individual bunk for larger families."
"There are dish washing spigots scattered among the cabins. There are wheelbarrows for schlepping your stuff to the cabins and campsites; more on that later. And charcoal grills outside each cabin."
from $25 - $100 / night
Check Availability"My site had plenty of shade, fire pit, picnic table, and water nearby."
"Small store, full hookups in places (will bring our trailer back), tables, fire rings. Not much privacy but at least this weekend it was quiet (except for our group 🤣)"
"Like most (if not all) KOAs, you can also tent camp or tent cabins. Good size dog park for the pets to run and be free, as well as plenty of fun activities to entertain the kiddos."
"A nice KOA close to Petaluma with great facilities. We took advantage of doing some laundry and having a hot shower."
"A ton of great hiking and horseback riding trails. Literally 5 mins outside of the town of Napa. Ate at an amazing Brazilian Steakhouse and came to camp in just a short drive."
"Super easy access and safe, in the city so close to wineries, restaurants and shops. We were here as a stop in our road trip so it was a perfect stay. They provide WiFi and hot shower."
"Water fountains/spigots relatively easy to find near most campsites. Bathhouse is next to site 10, operates with quarters."
"We set up our tent towards the back of the site closest to the creek because it was more private. The only concern was that there was a slight downward slope."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"If you wanna rv and craving crab,chowder, and oysters this is the spot for you, full hook up,fire pit , and picnic table walking distance to a restaurant and shops great views very relaxing...the down"
"This place was great full hook up W,E,S,C you get a fire pit and a picnic table, 3 minute walk to restaurant and deli, public restroom is clean every morning and garbage gets emptied...amazing views the"
"There is a small store with the basic essentials, a play area for young kids and of course the main attraction which is an access to the river. There is a kayak rental by the beach area."
"Stayed here for a few days and I have to say probably the best family campground around! The sites were super clean the staff were awesome! Lots of activities for the family. The River area is nice."
"It’s close to the entrance but the driveway only had a slight grade. Mostly folks with trailers. The sites are not too close together but it is easy to see into the surrounding neighbors."
"It is kid friendly, fun easy hike around the lake (no swimming but you can rent or bring your own kayaks or stand-up paddle boards), great location to way more technical hikes into and around Trione-Annabel"
from $35 / night
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TravelerThese cabins are well worth the cost. There is a separate bedroom, you could sleep 2 couples on beds easily with extra floor space and a small individual bunk for larger families. No electricity but the wood burning stove provides some light. Bring candles and lanterns and some fabric for curtains for privacy.
GuideI loved the quaint feel of our campsite. The only downside was that the main road runs alongside the grounds. Our site was small but my eyes were pleased by how it looked. Site had a fire ring, picnic table, and a stone grill. The grounds had running water, flush toilets and quarter showers.
Camped here at night and explored point reyes during the day.
GuideThis KOA is pretty big with plenty of options for RV sites. Wide variety of full hook-ups or partial hook-ups. Like most (if not all) KOAs, you can also tent camp or tent cabins. Good size dog park for the pets to run and be free, as well as plenty of fun activities to entertain the kiddos. For us, this is a great spot to shoot down the highway and pull in for a few days to get away from the hustle and bustle of normal life! Close to downtown Petaluma with plenty of premium shops and restaurants.
TravelerThis campground is beautiful, set in the redwoods, with a creek and nature trails. It has all the amenities: flush toilets, showers, fire pits, running water, and grills. The only drawback is the sites are small and close together, affording very little privacy. The campground can be pretty loud at night too. If you're looking for peace, quiet, and seclusion, this might not be the campground for you. We really enjoyed it though because we have a three year old, and with all the other noise in the campground, I didn't have to feel bad when she was being loud. Also, watch out for the raccoons! They stole my bread that I stupidly left out, and then tried to get into our ice chest. There are lockers provided at each campsite. Use them!
TravelerWe have previously tent camped and car camped here and we really enjoy it. It can get warm in the summer, but the cool moist ocean fog comes in and blankets the area in the evenings, which can really cool it down. On our first visit, there was no running water or showers, but they did have portapotties. On our second visit, water was available, but it was not potable, and the showers and toilets were still not working. Not sure if that is a Covid related issue or a temporary maintenance issue. It’s worth a drive through prior to staying, in order to find a site that fits your needs, they have many different sized sites available, and we like the sites in the high teens (18 & 19), as they seem a bit larger and are right along the creek. The sites appear to be your standard state park equipment with a fire pit, a picnic table and a lockable pantry. The parking area for our site was large enough to accommodate our SUV and another vehicle. There is firewood generally available with the camp host or at the gate. Good cell signal with Verizon. Because of the amazing redwood canopy, it might be hard to get good sun for solar in most of the sites. There are all kinds of trails available, as well as a paved path that runs for at least a mile or so along the creek, that used to be the old railroad line through that area. They have informational signs all over the place providing historical or ecological information. Access to the creek is seasonally restricted for spawning, and I believe that goes from spring to about mid June or July. Also, lots of poison oak in the unmaintained areas and off the trails, so be aware.
ScoutThe group site was spacious and had a wate spigot, two fire rings, two grills and three picnic tables. There was room for two vehicles and is right next to a bathroom with quarter showers. It's a large campground in a beautiful park. Didn't hike but enjoyed road biking around.
GuideSmall, cozy campground located in the heart of wine country. Site contains fire pit, picnic tables, and bear locker. Several prominent wineries located near by as well as a charming town called Calistoga. Sites and bathrooms were well maintained. Good option if you're doing Napa on a budget!
TravelerThis 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.
GuideCamp sites include fire ring and flattened areas with picnic table. Fresh water is available, as well as, bathrooms and showers. Nice level sites for RVs. Great Verizon and AT&T cell service.
Cabin accommodations near San Rafael, California provide year-round access to Northern California's coastal forest environment where summer temperatures average 75-85°F during the day and 45-55°F at night. Winter cabin stays often experience considerable temperature drops, with rainfall concentrated between November and March. Redwood groves and coastal bluffs create distinct microclimates where cabin renters should plan for temperature swings of up to 30 degrees between day and night.
Horseback riding in Olema: 30 minutes from San Rafael, visitors can access Five Brooks Ranch from Olema Campground which offers cabin rentals for those interested in multi-day excursions. "We nestled our Sprinter between to large pine trees and took the dog for a walk. Then headed down the road for our first dinner indoors since February!" notes Maureen F., highlighting the convenient location.
Napa Valley wine tasting: 40 minutes northeast, cabin rentals at Skyline Wilderness Park provide affordable basecamp options. "A safe, beautiful, affordable property to spend outdoors time on. Convenient sites with complete hookup and also restroom/showers handy... Bonus: short drive to Downtown Napa," notes Jamie G., emphasizing accessibility to wine country amenities.
Coastal exploration: 45 minutes northwest along Highway 1, cabin options at Porto Bodega Marina & RV Park offer ocean proximity. "We truly love the quiet quaintness of this campground at this snug harbor. You can see the Milky Way at night while listening to the soft foghorn and every now and then a soft bark of a seal," describes Duranne C., capturing the maritime experience available.
Morning wildlife viewing: Cabin visitors at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park appreciate the natural setting just 45 minutes from San Rafael. "Beautiful Campground in the heart of Napa Valley. Sites are generous in size and uncrowded... The rumbling sound from the creek lulled us to sleep," notes Claudia J., describing the park's creek-side ambiance.
Rustic cabin amenities: Most basic cabins include modest cooking facilities but require visitors to bring essentials. "These cabins are not only notoriously difficult to reserve... but kind of expensive for what they are," explains Adam, who stayed at Steep Ravine. "You get your own seaside cabin with million dollar views... Sleeping platforms for about 6 people split among 3 semi-private rooms."
Family recreation options: Cabin facilities at Spring Lake Regional Park offer structured activities for children. "It is kid friendly, fun easy hike around the lake (no swimming but you can rent or bring your own kayaks or stand-up paddle boards), great location to way more technical hikes," says Scott R., highlighting the recreation diversity.
Reservation difficulties: Securing cabins requires advance planning. "Everything about the campground is GREAT. The location is CLASSIC. West Marin is BEAUTIFUL," writes Susie B. about Samuel P. Taylor State Park, though she cautions about the popularity leading to crowding.
Weather preparation: Coastal cabins experience significant temperature variations. "It can get warm in the summer, but the cool moist ocean fog comes in and blankets the area in the evenings, which can really cool it down," explains Joseph F. about Samuel P. Taylor, emphasizing the need for layered clothing.
Noise considerations: Many cabin areas have minimal sound barriers between sites. "Neighbors were all polite and good about quiet times," notes Scott R. at Spring Lake, while Susie B. cautions that at Samuel P. Taylor, first-time campers sometimes lack "camping etiquette."
Choose cabin locations strategically: When booking accommodations with children, select sites away from main roads. "We imagine it's a very busy place in peak season, but a nice quiet getaway in winter," advises RoamingAspen V. about Bothe-Napa Valley cabins, noting the seasonal differences in crowd levels.
Pack entertainment options: Cabin stays offer limited built-in activities for children. "We only had to walk so far to get to the restroom... We were prepared for mosquitos and wasps but it seemed the park had plenty of traps set up," notes Claudia J. about Bothe-Napa Valley, indicating the importance of preparation.
Consider proximity to amenities: Casini Ranch Family Campground offers cabin options with nearby conveniences. "Spent the weekend with family (10 kids, 6 adults) at Casini Ranch for a couple birthdays. Kids were busy the whole time, riding bikes and scooters, playing on the jump pillow, feeling the animals. Sites are HUGE!" reports Dustin C.
Winter cabin advantages: For cold-weather trips, consider cabins instead of RVs. "Make sure you are prepared for the temperature swing. 89 in the day and down to 51 at night. I love a shower and they also have a pool open Memorial Day to Labor Day," advises Tanya B. about Bothe-Napa Valley cabins.
Cell service reliability: Working remotely from cabins requires service verification. "In terms of cell service, I had pretty good range," reports Kathleen C. about Samuel P. Taylor, while she also notes that "the night is COLD up this way, and mere miles will cover several different weather systems."
Space constraints: Cabin parking often presents challenges for larger vehicles. "Beautiful campground but close to the road... It's a bit too tight for large trailer or RV camping (unless you are an expert at maneuvering through tight spaces)," cautions Tai W. about Samuel P. Taylor's limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near San Rafael, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near San Rafael, CA is Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 57 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near San Rafael, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 cabin camping locations near San Rafael, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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