Best Tent Camping near Upper Lake, CA

Wasn't very private, but is good for tent camping in a safe family environment.

Brought my trailer her for the first time as an adult after many times tent camping at nearby Gerstle Cove as a child. Had a FANTASTIC time. Woodside campground is BY FAR the more beautiful of the two Salt Point campgrounds. Plenty of flat parking pads for rv campers, yet sites are thickly wooded and appropriately spaced to have an awesome tent camping experience as well. Take note that many of the nearby beaches have dangerous rip currents and aren’t exactly great for swimming or water play.

The tent camping is full of roots, and low privacy, but it’s okay for a quick overnight stop

Always windy. Great scenery, and many of the tent sites are tucked away in little nooks and crannies for privacy if you don’t want the more open outer ring sites.

I like this a little better than Van Damm down the road because of the small private beach which never appears crowded. You do have road noise but it really is not bad.

Great little tent camping spots and a fabulous group tent camping spot.  From the small beach you can play in the waves and launch protected kayaks into the small bay.  On the right day there are some tidepools (not a lot).  A stream runs through camp and empties on to the beach.

Great Fern Canyon trail and waterfall trail back in the gorge.

You can explore all the Mendoconio Coast from here.

Sites are well spaced and protected. Tables, fire rings and food storage.  Nice rest rooms with showers.  I like the lower loop along the creek and thes sites at the end, near the beginning of the fern canyon trail are choice.

This KOA has large tent sites and a HUGE kitchen with 3 electric stoves and several sinks and microwaves for camper use. They have movies each night and have lots of trees for shade. No sprint cell signal but good WiFi.

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!

Nice state park north of Napa, the few car tent sites are nicely situated near a creek. Good space between sites. Easy and fun camping.

Yurts and cabins available. Close to road so a little noisy. Great for a less expensive stay. Saves money for wine tastings...

Here's another promise NOT gonna happen. If you have any trailer at all, you must turn around at the bottom of the hill, then go UP the steep hill to your promised site. Yeah...that site...shorter than you need and SO unlevel, you can't level out. All this for dry camping. BTW, if you are tent camping, it's wonderful. You're welcome.

We’ve been travel trailer camping twice to this campground and love it! Beautiful, large sites under the redwoods and along the Gualala River. The campground offers partial hook-ups with a dump service for a fee (dump station on site as well). There is a little camp store for basic camping / RV needs as well as bathrooms, showers, and laundry. The camp is great for RV and tent camping. We’ll definitely be returning many more times.

Fuller grove was a nice little campground on Lake Pillsbury (our rented minivan just weathered the dirt road in from the 101). It’s a small loop with great options for multi-tent camping. Some of the sites far from the entrance and along the water are very nice with multiple pads and tables. The campground beach is beautiful, definitely recommend some late-night stargazing. There’s only outhouses in decent condition. We were there with only a few other campers, so it was a peaceful stay.

Tent camped here several times before I got my trailer. Fantastically close to many great wineries, and minutes from Calistoga. The park has a great swimming pool that my kids enjoyed, and I heard there was a fun hike to the mill located elsewhere in the park. Heads up for RV campers- the park is hilly, and some of the parking spots aren’t flat, so make sure you check sites like campsitephotos first to make sure you get a spot that works for you.

Beautiful spot to go camping. First time here, tent camped in a halfdome 2+. Second day was so windy one of the poles bent! Saw several tents mangaled and in the trash.
Know how to anchor your tent! Lots of RV's. Quiet at night. Trails to the beach, and at low tide there was so much sea life for my son and I to explore.
We saw 1 shower building with 4 showers, $2.50 in quarters. Boat launch for med to small boats. Fish cleaning station.

We came Fathers day weekend, didn't have problem getting a site late in the day. $35 cash $40 credit card price for tent with 1 vehicle. The store has a good selection. Firewood is light weight, but a big bundle is Cash only $9.

I'd go back.

The good: The private beach is great for kids (and adults). Easy swimming without a strong current. Lots of shallows but a deep swimming hole are for adults too. The camp store is cute and there’s a brewery next door if you want a meal out. There are several playgrounds which are fun for kids. And an arcade.

The bad: super expensive and the actual sites aren’t great. We camped in our van in the rv area and it’s really just a big parking lot right by the highway. I think the tent sites are a bit better.

Other info: there are cabins and camper vans to rent so could be a good place to go with friends or family who aren’t campers and want a nice river day but again it’s $$$.

Nice valley with great campsites - tent camping for me, but great for RVs as well. They are spaced well and have good tree canapy. The facilites are good and well maintained and even have showers scattered thoughout. At the moment I am referring tot eh site in the two lower loops along the creek.

The beach is great for sunsets and if you are a diver.  Can do some limited tidepooling if the tides are right. Great place to explore the Mendocino Coast from.

There are great forest trails, a stream throughout, a waterfall to find and some choice hike-in sites back in the canyon.

Just was there again (9/2020) stayed in upper loop for the first time.  These sites are very different  Some are open in a meadow with no shade.  Some are also not very private. They have recently done some tree work thee is thin things out which effect privacy and shade. Choose wisely.

KOA is awesome for campers who aren't ready to be completely off the grid, which most people in my group were. Their bathrooms are clean. Hot shower (!!) and hot tub (but you have to sign-up early or the spots run out quick, each party has 30 mins slot due to Covid restriction).

I took off a star because of the price. We ended up paying $66/night for 1 regular tent site (no electricity or water hook-up). Even though the site supposed to accommodate up to 6 people, there was a $5 extra charge per person after the first 2 guests. 

It's ridiculous because they assumed we all will be using every amenities every day for that extra charge (which we didn't since we arrived very late on the first night and were out for most of the following day). I'd rather be charged individually for each shower use or kitchen use, etc.

This can get crazy in the summer but in the spring and fall it is still beautiful.  I like the Gerstle Cove side (ocean side) camping area rather than the hillside area across the highway.  Smaller loop.  There is no better place to watch a sunset!

Good sites with tables, fire ring and privacy. The inside loop sites are open. More shade on the outside of the loop. Visitor center and small harbor type area to launch kayaks. Lots of abalone divers.

Great hiking trail along the bluff. Hear the ocean crashing the whole way.  Great rock formations.

There is tidepool area which is fun to explore at low tide.

Great moutain biking nearby from the top of the mountain down to the sea.

Near the Rhododendron Grove which - if you hit it when they are blooming is spectacular.  A whole grove hidden on the hillside in the redwoods you can hike through.

Good surf fishing at the picnic area at Stump Beach.

The group tent site is on a bluff away from the other sites at Gerstle Cove. A great place to gather.