Best Tent Camping near Upper Lake, CA

Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Upper Lake? Find the best information on tent camping near Upper Lake, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. You're sure to find the perfect campsite for your California tent camping excursion.

Best Tent Sites Near Upper Lake, CA (40)

    Camper-submitted photo from Old Train Caboose
    Camper-submitted photo from Old Train Caboose
    Camper-submitted photo from Old Train Caboose
    Camper-submitted photo from Old Train Caboose
    Camper-submitted photo from Old Train Caboose
    Camper-submitted photo from Old Train Caboose

    1. Old Train Caboose

    1 Review
    6 Photos
    11 Saves
    Upper Lake, California

    Old train Caboose for rent. New queen bamboo bed, hot plate, cold refrigerator. Outdoor hot shower and claw tub. Sweet deck open space. Star studded sky. Artesian well water, drink from the spigot and bring bottles to take some home. Glen Eden hiking trail abuts the land. Camp in a quiet field across the dry creek bed. We have 3 dogs that roam hills, will do our best to keep them away most of the time. Have rooster who does crow up the sun. We are 15 minutes to Safeway in Lakeport, 20 minutes to north side Ukiah and 10 minutes to Upper Lake. We are 2 miles from the pristine Blue Lakes, day pass there for swimming and boating rentals. Also Clear Lake State Park is not far and they also offer swimming and boating. Disney boat rentals will deliver craft to Clearlake for you. My personal favorite is Highland Springs Reservoir about 20 minute drive on country roads, and pass the small aircraft airport and restaurant. Boating, swimming, hiking and BBQ available at Highland Springs.. We are not ADA. Cell phone and wifi won't work in this canyon. Climb the hill maybe. We are not fancy, we are unique. Come for bird watching, the quiet and the stars. We have some coupons for wine tasting from a few of the nearby vineyards We offer a farm stand with fresh eggs and vegetables in season daily. Highland Springs Reservoir offers swimming, BBQ and Disk Golf, all free. Lakeport has a drive in theater, google Lakeport auto movies drive in. New Rule: if you are inviting guests they must be pre approved. PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY AND NOT RAISE DUST IN OUR NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY TO OUR PROPERTY.  We also have two big private campsites and one long term area.

    Please read reviews here: https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/dashboard/land/34844/listings

    • Pets
    • Electric Hookups
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Cabins
    • Standard (Tent/RV)

    $39 - $175 / night

    Camper-submitted photo from Red Mountain
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Mountain
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Mountain
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Mountain
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Mountain
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Mountain

    2. Red Mountain

    2 Reviews
    7 Photos
    103 Saves
    Ukiah, California
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • ADA Access
    • Tents
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    Camper-submitted photo from Cole Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Cole Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Cole Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park

    3. Cole Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park

    1 Review
    3 Photos
    1 Save
    Kelseyville, California

    This campground winds along beautiful Cole Creek. Cole Creek campground offers 26 well shaded campsites and 2 Hike and Bike sites. Each site has a fire ring, a table, and a food storage box. Nearby restroom facilities offer pay showers and flushable toilets.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Picnic Table
    • Showers

    $30 / night

    • No image available
      Camper-submitted photo from Penny Pines Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Penny Pines Campground

      5. Penny Pines Campground

      2 Reviews
      2 Photos
      7 Saves
      Upper Lake, California

      No Day Use Area or General Parking.

      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Tents
      • Trash
      • Picnic Table
      • Toilets
      Camper-submitted photo from COE Mendocino Lake Bu-Shay Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from COE Mendocino Lake Bu-Shay Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Snow Mountain Wilderness
      Camper-submitted photo from Snow Mountain Wilderness
      Camper-submitted photo from Snow Mountain Wilderness
      Camper-submitted photo from Snow Mountain Wilderness
      Camper-submitted photo from Snow Mountain Wilderness

      7. Snow Mountain Wilderness

      1 Review
      5 Photos
      12 Saves
      Stonyford, California

      The Wilderness Act of 1984 established 23 new wilderness areas including the 60,000-acre Snow Mountain Wilderness in the Mendocino National Forest. The Snow Mountain Wilderness straddles the summit of the North Coast Range within Colusa, Glenn and Lake counties. The area is less than a four-hour drive from San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Sacramento. The central feature of this wilderness is the large broad topped Snow Mountain, which drains water toward the Sacramento River on the east and the Eel River Basin on the west. The wilderness also has the largest known waterfall on the forest. Elevations range from 1,800 feet in the gorge of the Middle Fork of Stony Creek to 7,056 feet on the summit of East Snow Mountain Peak. The deep canyons skirting the Wilderness compress ecological life zones creating a unique biological sky-island. Forty miles of trail are located in the wilderness. This leaves a vast amount of acreage very remote and highly conducive to cross-country exploration. The moderate hike to the top of East Peak affords visitors a magnificent view of the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the east, Clear Lake to the southwest, the Coastal Mountains to the west, and the timbered mountains of the Mendocino National Forest to the North. Good drinking water is scarce in the Snow Mountain Wilderness during much of the summer. Plan ahead and refill canteens at every opportunity. Mountain streams may look inviting but they may not be safe for drinking. Treat all water for drinking and cooking by either processing through a portable water filter or by boiling over a portable cook stove.

      • Tents
      • Drinking Water
      Camper-submitted photo from Buckhorn Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Buckhorn Campground
      Camper-submitted photo from Buckhorn Campground

      8. Buckhorn Campground

      1 Review
      3 Photos
      17 Saves
      Lakeport, California
      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Tents
      • Standard (Tent/RV)
      • Picnic Table
      • Toilets
      Camper-submitted photo from Pine Grove Cobb Resort
      Camper-submitted photo from Pine Grove Cobb Resort
      Camper-submitted photo from Pine Grove Cobb Resort
      Camper-submitted photo from Pine Grove Cobb Resort
      Camper-submitted photo from Pine Grove Cobb Resort
      Camper-submitted photo from Pine Grove Cobb Resort

      9. Pine Grove Cobb Resort

      2 Reviews
      26 Photos
      52 Saves
      Cobb, California

      Pine Grove is a majestic forest retreat of timeless natural beauty, blessed with abundant mountain spring water. In this oasis, bordered by spring fed year-round Kelsey Creek and overlooked by Cobb Mountain, you will discover a vast and personal connection with the natural world in any season. We invite you for a workshop, personal retreat, family reunion or just the day. Serene year-round cabins, all with inviting redwood decks overlooking Kelsey Creek, and camping give many options for your stay.

      • Pets
      • Electric Hookups
      • Phone Service
      • Reservable
      • ADA Access
      • Tents

      $40 - $210 / night

      Camper-submitted photo from Calso - Boggs Mountain Demo Forest - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
      Camper-submitted photo from Calso - Boggs Mountain Demo Forest - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

      10. Calso - Boggs Mountain Demo Forest - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

      2 Reviews
      2 Photos
      17 Saves
      Cobb, California

      Closed for the 2023 season to repair storm damage. State Forest staff will be focused on repairing winter storm damage to roads and facilities throughout the State Forests in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.

      Day use will continue to be permitted from sunrise to sunset.

      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Phone Service
      • ADA Access
      • Tents
      • Toilets
    Showing results 1-10 of 40 campgrounds

    Recent Tent Reviews in Upper Lake

    528 Reviews of 40 Upper Lake Campgrounds


    • Natalie T.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Cowboy Camp
      Nov. 20, 2024

      Cowboy Camp

      Camp closed

      Visit was for 11/19/2024 found the gates locked, no entry. Seasonal? No signage to tell.

    • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Salt Point State Park Campground
      Oct. 7, 2024

      Salt Point State Park Campground

      The Overflow Lot is Where It's At!

      Along the forgotten coast of Central California along Hwy 1, this small state park offers a great way to explore the area. 

      The upper campground is relatively small and was still heavily impacted by 2023-24 winter storms, many downed trees still had some campsites closed in the spring of 2024. Most of these sites would accommodate smaller rigs and tents only. The campground is tucked in between the remaining coastal pines and live oak. The bathrooms were small but tidy with flush toilets and running water, no showers.   We drove through here and then headed to the overflow lot...

      If you are in a self-contained vehicle, the most stunning place to camp in this park is the “overflow” camping lot closer to the beach. Here you can camp with a 180 degree view of the ocean and the rolling hills leading to the beach. The lot is completely open to the sky, so solar and satellite internet work great. The only downside is that the closest bathroom and fresh water spigot is either in the day-use area down toward the water, or back uphill at the campground. But the view and scenery were more than worth the minor inconvenience. 

      If you’ve got a solar powered system, you could have the most inexpensive California beach vacation around. The rocky beach area is great for wildlife viewing, we saw sea lions, seals, and even the occasional spout from migrating gray whales. While not necessarily good for swimming, the beach area is great for fishing.  Hiking is right from the campground and leads to the north or south from the headland area. 

      Come prepared with food and gas!  Supplies will be difficult to come by, as there are only a few small convenience/ general stores and restaurants, in nearby Jenner. The larger grocery outlets will be inland in Santa Rosa about an hour away. This is the price you pay to have a stunning California beach vacation without the normal crowds.

    • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Salt Point State Park Campground
      Oct. 1, 2024

      Salt Point State Park Campground

      Overflow Lot FTW

      Salt Point State Park has 3 separate camping areas: Woodside Campground, Gerstle Cove Campground, and Gerstle Cove Overflow. The overflow is a lot that overlooks the ocean, and you don’t have to wait for the campground to be full to be able to camp here. You can ask to stay here when you arrive at the ranger station at the entrance. 

      The overflow is for self contained RVs only. No tents or car camping allowed. There is a trash bin in the center of the lot but no other amenities. It seems to be mellow during the week and busy on weekends. We’re glad we were just paying day by day because it got too crowded for us when the weekend hit, so we decided to leave. 

      There are beautiful hikes in this area, and a trail straight from the lot to the ocean. You can also see whales from the lot! 

      Dogs ok, cell service is good, the lot isn’t very level but it isn’t too bad. No designated spots so just come down and figure out a good place to set up once you get there. This is a beautiful place to camp and we do love it, even at $30.

    • T
      Camper-submitted photo from Gualala Point Regional Park
      Sep. 28, 2024

      Gualala Point Regional Park

      Raccoons were aggressive and plentiful

      This campground lives up to all the other positive comments BUT the raccoons were extremely aggressive and even ate its way into a tent at 2AM. It would have been nice if the host had warned of them when he visited to check reservation and sell us wood!

    • Emma R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
      Sep. 25, 2024

      Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

      Close to wine country

      Lovely campsite with very sweet camp hosts. Always waved when they drove by.

      Chose site 17 because of the beautiful tree seen in another review but was felled prior to our arrival, so no big tree. We did however get a beautiful view of the stars.

      Two things to note, some of the sites (didn’t look like all of them had this issue) have an incredibly fine dusty dirt that gets on absolutely everything, it made our feet, legs and sandals completely beige from the dust and we had to wipe them with wet wipes before going into our tent and tracked a fair amount into our car upon leaving.

      The other thing we were disappointed with was that we had to pay for showers on top of already paying over $50 for our site for one night, we felt that was a pretty big con and that it should be included in the fees.

      Overall, you can’t get closer to the wineries and it was an otherwise lovely site.

    • RThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Ocean Cove Store and Campground
      Sep. 18, 2024

      Ocean Cove Store and Campground

      Campground by the Ocean

      I tent camped here on a September weeknight. The campground is very spacious on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Very few other campers so I had plenty of options for sites. It was cool, sunny, and no wind-perfect weather! Stunning views all around, with a trailhead to Stillwater Cove. Very quiet and relaxing stay here!

    • Roxanne S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Ocean Cove Store and Campground
      Sep. 16, 2024

      Ocean Cove Store and Campground

      Picture perfect views!

      The views are worth the drive!  The cliffs are just spectacular and there are places to walk and explore the coast, albeit it can be windy. We arrived on a Thursday afternoon and there were plenty of spots to choose from. Most campsites are fairly spacious, the general store is well stocked and prices are reasonable. The outdoor showers are a win, as we stayed 4 nights and it was so quite once the weekend passed. If the guy with the BBQ oysters is set up on the weekend - they are fabulous! Cafe Aquatica in Jenner has amazing chowda and quaint outdoor seating. Sunsets for days...

    • Greg D.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Golden Rule RV Park
      Sep. 16, 2024

      Golden Rule RV Park

      Mostly permanent residents

      Winding downhill road in a valley to get there only to find basically a trailer park. Restroom in need of repair and not very sanitary. There was only one site available when we arrived and the rest were mostly permanent/long term residents. The host was very friendly and helpful in getting us settled in and other guests were very friendly. Overall I’d say avoid unless you’re very weary of driving

    • Catherine L.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Cowboy Camp
      Sep. 15, 2024

      Cowboy Camp

      Quiet

      Quiet stop, but I wouldn't call it the most beautiful stop I've ever stayed. Camping spots are to the left and the right I'd the day use. Pit toilets. No garbage.

    • Cathy E.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Kyen Campground
      Sep. 1, 2024

      Kyen Campground

      Loud, Dirty, and Poorly Maintained

      This is the worst campground I’ve ever seen. There was trash throughout the campground - including a used condom and condom wrappers in our campsite - bathrooms were dirty and had no soap, and there were several loud groups well after the posted quiet hours. We stayed one night and left early. If you’re into obnoxious parties, then this place is for you. The “potable” water is brown out of the tap.

    • C
      Camper-submitted photo from La Bohemia
      Aug. 28, 2024

      La Bohemia

      Amazing Place

      Full Disclosure: I know the owner of the property and stayed at La Bohemia for free. 

      Nevertheless, this is an amazing spot.  The owner and his young daughter have done an amazing job restoring the forest and making a special place over the past few years.  It is a great getaway from everything.  No sign of any building insight.  

      I must admit, my favorite part was watching football on the large outdoor screen and eating BBQ by the campfire.  It was an amazing experience in an amazing place.

    • Gina D.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
      Aug. 26, 2024

      Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

      Beautiful

      This rv site was awesome.It's quiet beautiful, lush green. Be aware tho. It's full of poison oak!!!! But yiu can get around it.
      There are no hook ups. But the sights are mostly shaded, so it was a great help and I did not go in a hot time of the year. They have good hours for use of generators as well We Brought our electric bikes and rode to the geyser in Calistoga and to multiple wineries It was a great way to travel

    • JThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Mendocino Magic
      Aug. 14, 2024

      Mendocino Magic

      Not Ready for the Public Camping But a Lot of Potential

      On the positive side, the people that work there are very hospitable and friendly.  We had reserved 2 days.  But for $70 per day for 2 people (they charge by the person per day) there are not enough amenities and the grounds are not well kept.  Check in is not until 4pm.  First, there is no place to put garbage.  You have to take it with you.  Bathrooms are just blue porta-potties.  There is a map of the property, but almost no signs on the property, so it's hard to know where you are in relation to the map.  The campsites are numbered on the map, but not at the physical campsites.  Although the property is in the mountains and there is a reservoir for swimming and boating, (a big plus), there are tools and equipment in various stages of disrepair at several places on the facility that are not screened from view of the camping areas.  The RV hookup areas are too primitive compared to typical campsites.  (again, the price is too much for what you get)  There are canoes and kayaks available for use at the reservoir, (a very nice amenity) but various boating equipment litter the shores and spoil the views.  I was told this facility caters mainly to group events, like weddings and there are nice glamping tents available.   But it looked like they just didn't pick up after the last party.  We left after one day.

    • JThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Kyen Campground
      Jul. 20, 2024

      Kyen Campground

      Sketchy

      Hot weather looking for a cool, on lake CG. We didn’t camp there. Thought we might but, instead just drove through. Day-use area close. Parking lot for boaters open. CG host said full; grounds not well maintained. Open sites with expired occupancy dates on them. Large groups with extra vehicles. Some sites looked like long term occupancy. Pleased there was no room. Don’t think would’ve been comfortable experience.

    • LThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Woodside Campground — Salt Point State Park
      Jun. 30, 2024

      Woodside Campground — Salt Point State Park

      Beautiful Campground... Deserves more than one night...

      Beautiful campground nestled among the trees.  Drive to campground (we came from the south and departed same way) is true Highway 1 spectacular scenery with narrow road along some cliffs with some hair-pin turns.  (Parts of road were under repair in June 2024 creating some delays.)  Individual camp sites were perhaps 1/4 to 1/2 mile from both entrance gate and camp host site.  Individual sites were good size with picnic table and cleared-out area surrounding it.  RV parking was on good asphalt surface.  Restrooms were clean and had flush toilets.  Unfortunately no showers, no RV dump station, no threaded connections to refill RV potable water tank.  Did have portable water spigots in campground to fill personal water bottles.  Coastal fog rolled in at night and cleared by mid-morning.  We would have loved to hike trails to beach; however, we did not have time.  We will save that for next time we are passing through.

    • BThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Russian Gulch State Park Campground
      Jun. 23, 2024

      Russian Gulch State Park Campground

      Surprised in Mendocino

      Serene, Beautiful, clean bathrooms, spacious Tucked away off the hwy we were surprised by the sound of babbling creek and the little bridges that meanders through this campground

    • KThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Manchester State Park Campground
      Jun. 21, 2024

      Manchester State Park Campground

      Clean and spacious

      Went up the coast in June knowing it would be hard to find a spot. Just as I thought our chances were running thin we stumbled across this place. Mostly open sites, all were fairly secluded. Big spaces, clean area and ocean sounds abound. Kids loved it to ride their bikes around and I stressed less knowing there were few, if any, cars passing by. Site 6 had lots of Cypress trees for the kids to climb, too. We will be back!

    • Michelle W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Hendy Woods State Park Campground
      Jun. 17, 2024

      Hendy Woods State Park Campground

      It was good

      It was a good place with lots of trees. Nice trails down to the river. I didn’t live this place because there were so many large groups. It was a Saturday night and I was pretty tired at the end of my trip.
      The shower was $1 for 5 minutes. The hot water felt amazing!

    • Michelle W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Stillwater Cove Regional Park
      Jun. 17, 2024

      Stillwater Cove Regional Park

      Lots of wood on my site

      There were several felled trees behind my site and the camp host said they were told not to process it due to labor costs. Just a few branches gave me a huge bonfire.
      My site had a shared pad and the campsite was sold out. I was dreading when they would pull in, but they never showed up. There is a wonderful trail through redwoods down to the beach. The campers were friendly and invited me for breakfast.

    • AThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Kelsey Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park
      Jun. 3, 2024

      Kelsey Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park

      So disappointed

      Pros: If you are a person who likes to either stay all day at your campsite or are a water sport/water toy type person this campground is for you. Cons: Bathroom near our campsite wasn’t working. Campsites were overgrown with foxtails, not good for my dogs. Trash in our fire pit. A few campsites away from ours had a huge poison oak plant at the back where you park your rig. A walkway near the campground popular for fishing had a tree fall on it, instead of clearing the tree, the park rangers closed it off. Not much hiking in the park, and if you decide to walk the couple short hikes, don’t bring your dogs, NO DOGS ALLOWED. For the number of workers this park employs you would think these things would be dealt with, but no. I guess this is typical of State Parks in California, so much potential but sadly California parks slowly deteriorate.

    • D
      Camper-submitted photo from Gualala Point Regional Park
      May. 15, 2024

      Gualala Point Regional Park

      one of my favorite camping spots

      bathrooms where clean, park ranger was super nice, and i love how the trees gave lots of shade. the campsite we got was pretty big as well. also extremely pet friendly



    Frequently Asked Questions

    • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Upper Lake, CA?

      According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Upper Lake, CA is Old Train Caboose with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

    • What is the best site to find tent camping near Upper Lake, CA?

      TheDyrt.com has all 40 tent camping locations near Upper Lake, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.