Top Tent Camping near Upper Lake, CA
Looking for the best Upper Lake tent camping? The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. You're sure to find the perfect tent campsite for your California camping adventure.
Best Tent Sites Near Upper Lake, CA (43)
1. BLM Sheldon Creek
5 Reviews•19 Photos•285 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Picnic Table
2. Cow Mountain Rec Area Dispersed
3 Reviews•4 Photos•65 Saves- Tents
- Trash
- Toilets
- Alcohol
3. Val G
1 Review•6 Photos•11 SavesOld 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.
- Pets
- Electric Hookups
- Reservable
- Tents
- Cabins
- Standard (Tent/RV)
$39 - $175 / night
4. Red Mountain
2 Reviews•7 Photos•103 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
5. Kyen Campground
6 Reviews•13 Photos•3 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Trash
- Picnic Table
6. Cole Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park
1 Review•3 Photos•1 SaveThis 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
8. Penny Pines Campground
2 Reviews•2 Photos•7 SavesNo Day Use Area or General Parking.
- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
10. Snow Mountain Wilderness
1 Review•5 Photos•12 SavesThe 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
Showing results 1-10 of 43 campgrounds
Recent Tent Reviews In Upper Lake
517 Reviews of 43 Upper Lake Campgrounds
- K
Kelly S.
Traveler
Kelsey Creek Campground — Clear Lake State Park
Lake Front Sites
Great camping, hiking, boating. Lots of nature trails. Super friendly staff
Shari G.
Legend
Gerstle Cove 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.LegendGerstle Cove 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.
- TT A.
Scout
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.Traveler
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.
- RRoss H.Traveler
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.TravelerOcean 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...
Catherine L.
Guide
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.Traveler
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.
- CChristopher T.Scout
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.GuideBothe-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- LLawrence L.Guide
Cloverdale-Healdsburg KOA
Nice place
Nice place. Friendly people. Well maintained. WiFi not reaching our campsite.
- JJeff A.Guide
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.
- LLeonard H.Traveler
Woodside Campground
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.
- BB C.Traveler
Russian Gulch State Park
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
- KKyle H.Scout
Manchester State Park
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.
Ranger
Hendy Woods State Park
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.Ranger
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. - KKevin N.Scout
Napa County Fairgrounds
Closed
Appears to abandoned.
- Sadie J.Scout
20 Oaks Cottages and Resort
My experience
I tried to call and the number is disconnected and when I emailed it came back as not found.
- AAllisonGuide
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.
Partha S G.Traveler
Atchison Campground
Solitude
Nice camp ground, if you want solitude. Lots of birds chirping around. There is a small creek flowing. Clean toilets.
- DDanni W.Scout
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
Beth B.Scout
Lake Sonoma Marina Campground
Not worth the noise
Our small group camped at the Lake Sonoma Marina campground and had a very spotty experience. There was no warning in their confirmation emails or website that there is NO WATER available at the campsite. Even the restrooms down at the marina state that the water from the taps is non-potable. You have to bring all of your water with you.
The portapotties were ok. Nothing great but nothing terrible.
The campground seems well maintained with the grass recently cut and poison oak only visible in small areas. The ground is not very flat so it was hard to find a great site for a tent.
The biggest problem was Saturday night when a large group came and took over two adjacent campsites. They brought lights and loud music with them and the lights and loud music stayed on until after midnight. This group finally turned off the speakers but continued shouting and screaming until 4 am.
There is NO NOISE CONTROL and no attempt to enforce campground rules. There is no one patrolling the campsite and no one to call at midnight to request help to stop the noise. Don't bother staying here overnight. Come for the day to the enjoy the lake but go home and get a good night's sleep after.
- RRhianna T.Scout
Koa Cloverdale Camping Resort
Best Glamping
Love this spot for glamping it has a fishing pond, swimming pool, and a hiking trail! Very beautiful scenery! Very close to the town of Cloverdale about a 5-10 min drive!
- RRhianna T.Scout
Cloverdale-Healdsburg KOA
Best Glamping
Love this spot for glamping it has a fishing pond, swimming pool, and a hiking trail! Very beautiful scenery! Very close to the town of Cloverdale about a 5-10 min drive!
- DDerek D.Scout
Cowboy Camp
2/9/2024 —- closed
The camp area is closed, as of 2/9/2024. No indication of that on the BLM website.
Guide to Upper Lake
Camping near Upper Lake, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.
What to do:
- Hiking: Explore the trails around the campgrounds. Many campers enjoy the scenic hikes, with one reviewer from Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park saying, "The trail to the beach was a nice walk and easy to follow."
- Beach Access: Spend time at the nearby beaches. A visitor at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground mentioned, "Access to several roadside dog-friendly beaches within minutes."
- Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. One camper at Hendy Woods State Park Campground noted, "There is plenty of wildlife to see."
What campers like:
- Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A reviewer at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground said, "Restrooms are clean and showers are clean and tidy and warm."
- Privacy: Many sites offer a sense of seclusion. A visitor at Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park remarked, "The sites were distant enough to give each camper privacy."
- Friendly Staff: Campers often mention helpful staff. One reviewer at Hendy Woods State Park Campground shared, "The campground host was friendly and respectful."
What you should know:
- No Hookups: Many campgrounds in the area do not offer electric hookups. A camper at Van Damme State Park Campground pointed out, "Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and bear box. No hookups."
- Coin-Operated Showers: Be prepared to pay for hot showers. A visitor at Hendy Woods State Park Campground mentioned, "The shower was $1 for 5 minutes. The hot water felt amazing!"
- Wildlife Caution: Be aware of local wildlife, including raccoons and mountain lions. One camper at Gualala Point Regional Park noted, "Several other campers experienced over-eager raccoons while eating dinner."
Tips for camping with families:
- Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds that offer family-friendly activities. A reviewer at Casini Ranch Family Campground said, "Lots of activities for the kids (ice cream social, hay ride, parks, etc)."
- Spacious Sites: Choose campgrounds with larger sites for more room to play. A camper at Doran Regional Park mentioned, "Sites all appeared to be level. Depending on your site, you may have more privacy/separation than in others."
- Pet-Friendly Options: Many campgrounds allow pets, making it easier to bring the whole family. A visitor at Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park noted, "Pets are allowed."
Tips from RVers:
- Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Van Damme State Park Campground advised, "If you are in a tent you may have a challenge finding a flat enough spot."
- Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for poor cell reception in some areas. A camper at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground mentioned, "There is also no cell coverage for any of the major providers."
- Dump Station Fees: Some campgrounds charge for using dump stations. A visitor at Doran Regional Park noted, "There is a dump station, but it costs $10 to use."
Camping near Upper Lake, California, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. With beautiful campgrounds and plenty of activities, you're sure to have a memorable experience.
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 BLM Sheldon Creek with a 4.6-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Upper Lake, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 43 tent camping locations near Upper Lake, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.