The Sonoma Coast region near Cazadero offers diverse camping experiences at elevations ranging from sea level to 900 feet. Winter temperatures typically range from 40-60°F, while summer brings milder 50-75°F temperatures with consistent coastal fog patterns. Campgrounds in this area often feature gravel or dirt pads that can become muddy during the rainy season from November through March.
What to do
River activities: Casini Ranch Family Campground: Located along the Russian River, this campground provides excellent water access. "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," reports Dustin C. The Russian River offers swimming, kayaking, and tubing opportunities, with rental equipment available on-site.
Hiking coastal headlands: Bodega Dunes Campground: The campground connects to multiple trail systems with varying difficulty levels. "Hiking among the sand dunes and along the beach provide some really stunning scenery. Reaching the beach, you'll find as much coastal sand as you can handle with miles and miles of it to yourself," notes Shari G. Trails range from flat beach walks to more challenging headland hikes with elevation changes.
Tidepooling: Ocean Cove Store and Campground: At low tide, the coves below this campground reveal rich marine ecosystems. "We saw 1 shower building with 4 showers, $2.50 in quarters. Boat launch for med to small boats. Fish cleaning station. Trails to the beach, and at low tide there was so much sea life for my son and I to explore," explains Cecil K. Morning low tides typically provide better viewing conditions with less wind.
What campers like
Private beach access: Schoolhouse Canyon Campground: Campers appreciate the dedicated river access. "They own a large beach across the road and is only open to schoolhouse guests so it's not too crowded and all familiar faces," mentions Seneca E. The beach area features a gentle slope into the water, making it suitable for less confident swimmers.
Well-spaced sites: Many campgrounds in the area offer more privacy than typical coastal camping. "The sites were large, water fill stations and bathrooms (with showers) were easily accessible, though one was out of order for construction," notes Dustin C. about Bodega Dunes. At Salt Point State Park's Woodside Campground, "sites are small, but private. Nice hiking and close to ocean preserve."
Wildlife viewing: The Sonoma Coast provides opportunities to observe coastal wildlife. "Otters playing below. One mile of cliffside hiking from Ocean Cove to Stillwater Cove," shares Ray B. Morning and evening hours typically offer the best wildlife viewing, with harbor seals, sea otters, and various shorebirds commonly spotted along the shoreline.
What you should know
Weather preparedness: Stillwater Cove Regional Park: Coastal camping requires preparation for rapid weather changes. "Walking around I'd say Site #10 is the best...very isolated and a great view of trees all around. I can confirm there is no cell service nor wifi at the campground. We had to drive about a mile north to pick up a signal," explains Michael C. Temperatures can drop 20-30 degrees when fog rolls in, even during summer months.
Reservation windows: Most Sonoma County Regional Parks accept reservations 6 months in advance, while state parks use a rolling 6-month window. During peak summer weekends, popular campgrounds fill within minutes of reservation windows opening. Weekdays and shoulder seasons (April-May, September-October) offer better availability.
Water restrictions: Some campgrounds have limited water facilities. "Unfortunately, when we arrived all of the water faucets were placarded with E. Coli warnings! I only brought up about 1/3 of a tank of water along with 6 gallons of drinking water. Given this, we immediately went into conservation mode," reports Michael C. at Stillwater Cove.
Tips for camping with families
Activity-focused campgrounds: Casini Ranch Family Campground: Certain sites provide dedicated children's activities. "This campground is on Russian river. They have full hook ups and a lot of very cool sites. They have an insane amount of kids activities! Face paining, s'mores campfire, hay ride, parks, kareoke- just to name a few," shares Miya B. Planned activities typically run Friday-Sunday during summer months.
Beach safety: The Russian River offers safer swimming than the open ocean coastline. "The beach is wide, flat and great for families. The first Saturday of the month the rangers do a tide pool talk. They bring sea creatures (like sea stars, sea slugs etc) to share and let the kids hold them," explains Teresa B. about Doran Regional Park. Most coastal beaches have dangerous rip currents and sudden drop-offs unsuitable for children.
Camp layout considerations: When booking, consider proximity to amenities. "The only con we had was the restrooms were very scarce for the size of the campground. We had to walk so far to get to the restroom," notes Maria O. about Casini Ranch. Sites closer to bathrooms often have more foot traffic and less privacy, requiring families to balance convenience with desired atmosphere.
Tips from RVers
Site sizing: Wright's Beach Campground: Many coastal campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. "I added pictures below because we couldn't find any pictures of space 14 online before we left. Hopefully this will help anyone else that is wondering how much space they will have. It works, but with a 23' trailer it was tight. Parking wasn't fun- but we did it!" advises Kerri C. Most campgrounds in the region accommodate RVs up to 27 feet, with only a few sites suitable for larger vehicles.
Utility limitations: Hookup availability varies widely among campgrounds. "Nice level campground with reasonable amount of privacy. Showers cost $1 and you need a token. The token machine was broken and the camphost was kind and gave me a free token," explains Kathy B. Many campgrounds offer potable water and dump stations but lack full hookups.
Wind protection: The coastal location makes wind management crucial for RV camping. "This was a quiet park with large sites. No showers, but well maintained bathrooms, food storage, etc. it was fogged in when we arrived at 5 and still foggy when we left at 8am, but peaceful and nice neighbors," shares Johanna K. about Salt Point State Park. Sites with natural windbreaks from trees or terrain provide more comfortable camping experiences.
