Best Campgrounds near St. Helena, CA

Campgrounds near St. Helena, California range from state park facilities to private resorts, catering to diverse camping preferences in the heart of wine country. Bothe-Napa Valley State Park's Ritchey Creek Campground offers tent sites, RV spots without hookups, and glamping options including yurts and cabins. Located between Calistoga and St. Helena, this park serves as a budget-friendly base for exploring nearby vineyards. Other options include Skyline Wilderness Park near Napa and San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA, which provides full hookup sites and cabin rentals for those seeking more amenities.

Most campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during peak wine tourism seasons from late spring through fall. The Mediterranean climate creates ideal camping conditions throughout much of the year, though summer temperatures can rise significantly. Winter brings cooler temperatures and occasional rain, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. Fire restrictions frequently impact camping experiences during dry summer months, with bans often extending into fall. A camper noted, "The sad reality of the ongoing drought in California is that summer camping is not the experience it used to be. Winter or early spring is now the best time to visit places like Bothe-Napa."

Several visitors highlight the strategic location of campgrounds relative to wine country attractions. Ritchey Creek Campground receives particular mention for its proximity to wineries and tasting rooms. "It's so nice to be right in the Napa Valley. If you're a wine drinker, during non-COVID times you can catch a wine bus from here," wrote one reviewer. Poison oak presents a common challenge throughout the region's campgrounds, with multiple campers mentioning its prevalence at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. The natural surroundings feature oak, madrone, and manzanita forests with creeks running through some properties. Campers appreciate these locations as affordable alternatives to expensive wine country accommodations, with one reviewer noting, "Camping here leaves lots of money for food and wine splurges!"

Best Camping Sites Near St. Helena, California (165)

    1. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground

    31 Reviews
    Kenwood, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 833-5712

    $35 - $45 / night

    "Easy access to a lot of trails. The view from the campground is nice and relaxing. Some sites are very tight and close to each other. Some are spacious enough."

    "There are certainly some that are better situated than others regarding size, shade, and other amenities--but the entire campground is nice."

    2. Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

    27 Reviews
    Deer Park, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 942-4575

    $43 / night

    "You need reservations but there are a few walk in campsites up at the end that go on first come first serve basis. Great hiking in the redwoods along a nice creek."

    "Great place to stay at when visiting the Napa wine valley that is halfway between St Helena and Calistoga, two nice tourist towns."

    3. San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA

    31 Reviews
    Penngrove, CA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 763-1492

    "showers were always clean. there was some construction going on, since it was the off season. it looked like they were renovating some of the bathrooms and aisle end sites to add grass and decks. the location"

    "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!"

    4. Skyline Wilderness Park

    29 Reviews
    Napa, CA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 252-0481

    "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."

    "Nice, clean place with beautiful hiking trails. The garden is very cute, perfect for a quiet walk or meditation. Sites are close to each other. This place is a good getaway into nature."

    5. Spring Lake Regional Park

    8 Reviews
    Santa Rosa, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 539-8092

    $35 / night

    "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."

    "Spring Lake has been that for us. We have been here for 2 weekends in the last few months."

    6. Sonoma County Fairgrounds RV Park

    8 Reviews
    Santa Rosa, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 293-8410

    $33 - $70 / night

    "The park itself is like a little slice of heaven and surrounded by the town so nothing is that far away. It is 5 min away from the Planet fitness and it is quiet and has a night security guard too."

    "A little close to others for my liking, but everyone was friendly and helpful."

    7. Napa County Fairgrounds

    3 Reviews
    Calistoga, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 942-5111

    "Close to Oxbow public market, great spot for lunch or dinner."

    8. Steele Canyon (formerly Lupine Shores)

    6 Reviews
    Yountville, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 966-9192

    $5 - $55 / night

    "Our favorite spot to take the kids to the lake. If your looking for something calm this is the spot at Lake Berryessa."

    "Lake water level is pretty low. Overall nice experience."

    9. Putah Canyon - Lake Berryessa USBR

    3 Reviews
    Witter Springs, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 966-9051

    "Loads of space, security driving around, noise limit is 10pm. Toilets are clean and trash cans are provided. They sell ice and propane on-site ."

    "Lake Berryessa is a large lake that has many turnouts to fish or even stop for a quick stretching of the legs , even saw a few turnouts with picnic tables and clean bathrooms."

    10. Napa Valley Expo RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Napa, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 333-6014

    $60 - $80 / night

    "Rv park at the fairgrounds, walk to downtown Napa. Concrete pads, full hook ups. Basic but great!"

    "The site is very clean but noise from the traffic outside of it. It’s difficult to sleep."

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Recent Reviews near St. Helena, CA

926 Reviews of 165 St. Helena Campgrounds


  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 22, 2025

    High Valley Ridge

    Stunning Vistas

    There are numerous pull-outs and campsites along this High Ridge Road with absolutely breathtakingly stunning views of the valley to the east and the lake to the west. It is primitive camping to be sure but you will find nothing more beautiful and peaceful than this. While there are a few campsites with foliage canopies, most are in the Sun and where I stayed it is entirely sunny all day with equally beautiful sunsets and sunrises. Verizon is two bars. The road coming in from the north is easy though it can be rutted and bumpy in spots as well as narrow. Overall it's an easy Road for van lifers and vehicles with reasonable clearance. Pulling a small trailer up here would also be straightforward. This is not an area for large rvs. It is about a 45 minute drive into town with full services. It's not far but a very slow drive.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 22, 2025

    Lake Solano County Park

    Good spot for the night

    Just electric $40. Two of four bathrooms are closed. I like to stay close to the bathroom, since I don’t have one. You can hear the freeway traffic.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 21, 2025

    Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park

    Noisy lighthouse, excellent campground

    Pack earplugs if you are not a deep sleeper, keep reading to find out why. The campsite is located in a unique location near the pacific coast highway 1. There are large trees and sandy dunes to explore. There's a little bird under habitat protection, so no dogs on trails, but you can take your dog walking on Marshall beach just a few miles up north on the coast. There's a RV park with a friendly little cafe with sunny outdoor seating and honey lavender lattes back down south. The campground is quite large and bushes give excellent privacy. The state park staff offer a large cardboard box of firewood for $10 dollars. Lower light pollution makes for good night sky views. Unfortunately the proximity to the highway and a lighthouse make the night noisier than it should be. The boat horn from the lighthouse can be heard every 10 seconds blasting faintly, but loudly enough to make falling asleep tough, I used earplugs which made this maneageable, but the lighthouse starts the horn interval at nightfall and doesnt stop sounding the horn until 6AM. The amenities like a sink and indoor bathrooms make up for this.

  • Carly B.
    Nov. 19, 2025

    The Aurora RV Park & Marina

    Good short stop

    It’s a cute little campground, conveniently located right on the lake. There are a few sites directly at Lake side and Moore across the street. Generally well kept looks a little older. Has showers and washrooms.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2025

    Putah Canyon - Lake Berryessa USBR

    Fish splash cows moo, and great lake views

    The campsites have various placements on the hill and two walkable peninsulas. The sunrise is wonderful from the views on the hillside campgrounds. Has amenities but since it's by the lake the firewood was damp and made getting a fire going a struggle of feeding it more and more bundles of dried pine. The highway is within earshot and cars can be heard faintly going by. I did see mosquitos, only few, and they were not trying to bite often (Nov 2025). There's a farm keeping cows which moon all night. The stargazing is great and there's a periodical splash of a fish from the lake. Overall great and would go again, maybe site 118 next time, but 117 was close to the lake and a parting in the trees made a great lookout.

  • OThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 10, 2025

    Wildcat Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore

    GORGEOUS Experience! 10/10

    For my first west coast/pch camping experience, must say I’d HUGELY recommend it (especially with its close proximity to the LOVELY Alamere Falls!)

    Be sure to plan for at least 2-to-3 days if you’d like to soak up all the adventures!

    dive into safety tips for the region/season on YouTube university and of course nps.gov resources!

  • Lance L.
    Nov. 5, 2025

    Marin RV Park

    If you're in a pinch...

    Not sure how to justify $100 a night even after a good Sam discount but if you're in a pinch...sure. It's very tight spacing, no privacy in between lots so be prepared and skilled if you have a bigger rig. My 34 foot trailer took some time to get in. They don't have traditional posts where you would expect the water to be so bring extra hose. We got flooded out as well...

  • Anna R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2025

    Dawn Ranch: Hotel – Restaurant – Spa

    Riverside Retreat

    Easily accessible & right near downtown. These cabins are thoughtfully developed with wonderful onsite amenities. The staff are incredible and the restaurant is delicious! Enjoy relaxing near the Russian River here.

  • s
    Oct. 28, 2025

    Doran Regional Park

    Bodega Beach Getaway

    A great camping spot in Bodega Bay. We stayed in the shell loop and it was a short walk to the bathroom. Bathrooms were very clean, I was impressed, with coin operated showers (we did not use). There are lots of RVs but we pitched a tent. We went in October and one day it was completely sunny and the next morning it was pretty wet. Nothing too bad though. Only downside is how close together the campsites are, otherwise great site with fire ring and picnic table provided. We were at site 44 which had a great tree, but sites 42, 41, and 40 looked spacious and had great views. The town is a short drive away too with good seafood spots.


Guide to St. Helena

Camping near St. Helena, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery, outdoor activities, and family-friendly spots. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the stunning trails around the area. Many campers rave about the local hikes, with one reviewer from Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground saying, "The local trails and creeks were breathtaking. Hiking through the forest felt like you were walking through a scene from Fern Gully."
  • Wine Tasting: Being in Napa Valley, you can easily visit nearby wineries. A camper at Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park mentioned, "Great spot for cheap and restful accommodation while visiting wine country."
  • Beach Access: If you want some beach time, head to Bodega Dunes Campground — Sonoma Coast State Park. One visitor noted, "The beach itself was quiet and only a few folks were out there after the storm."

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers appreciate the beautiful surroundings. A review from Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground highlights, "It’s a lovely campsite with most sites being under tree canopies."
  • Clean Facilities: Many campgrounds pride themselves on cleanliness. A visitor at San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA said, "The bathrooms were really clean compared to other places."
  • Wildlife: Campers enjoy spotting local wildlife. One reviewer at Anthony Chabot Regional Park shared, "We were able to take a closeup look at the wild turkeys."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have full hookups. A camper at Lawson's Landing mentioned, "Porta pottys were very dirty and TP less."
  • Crowded During Holidays: Expect busier campgrounds on holiday weekends. A visitor at Bodega Dunes Campground noted, "Went on Veterans Day weekend so it was pretty busy."
  • Poison Oak: Be cautious of poison oak in some areas. A camper at Ritchey Creek Campground warned, "It's full of poison oak!!!! But you can get around it."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. A reviewer at San Francisco North-Petaluma KOA said, "This KOA offers a variety of activities that cater to children, such as petting zoos, jumping pillows, and climbing walls."
  • Choose Spacious Sites: Opt for campgrounds with larger sites. A camper at Gualala Point Regional Park mentioned, "The campsite we got was pretty big as well."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring your own food and snacks, as some campgrounds may not have markets nearby. A visitor at Woodside Campground — Salt Point State Park noted, "Bring firewood; there’s none available on site."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground said, "Most sites being under tree canopies... but some sites are smaller."
  • Be Prepared for Limited Services: Some campgrounds may not have full hookups. A reviewer at Anthony Chabot Regional Park mentioned, "No full hookup at stations."
  • Enjoy the Views: Many campgrounds offer stunning views. A visitor at Skyline Wilderness Park shared, "Fantastic views and good facilities."

Camping near St. Helena, California, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, explore local attractions, and create lasting memories with family and friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds near St. Helena, California?

Ritchey Creek Campground — Bothe-Napa Valley State Park is ideally located between St. Helena and Calistoga in the heart of wine country. This campground offers clean sites nestled among redwoods, oaks, and madrones with hiking trails throughout the park. For those wanting to explore beyond Napa Valley, Skyline Wilderness Park provides another excellent option near St. Helena with varied terrain and recreational opportunities. RV travelers may appreciate Napa Valley Expo RV Park for its proximity to wineries, while those seeking a more rustic experience can check out the campgrounds at Lake Berryessa, approximately 30 minutes from St. Helena.

How far is Spring Lake Regional Park from St. Helena?

Spring Lake Regional Park is approximately 25 miles west of St. Helena, about a 45-minute drive via Highway 12. This Santa Rosa park offers camping with newer bathrooms and shower facilities, though sites are relatively open and exposed. The campground provides excellent access to water activities on Spring Lake, hiking trails, and connects to both Trione-Annadel State Park and Howarth Park. For a coastal alternative at a similar distance, Bodega Dunes Campground is about 50 miles from St. Helena, offering access to several dog-friendly beaches with clean facilities and semi-private sites.

Where can I find a map of St. Helena, CA camping areas?

The most reliable maps of camping areas around St. Helena can be found on The Dyrt app or website, which offers interactive maps showing campground locations with reviews and amenities. Official maps are also available at visitor centers in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park and the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce. For specific campground layouts, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and Napa County Fairgrounds provide downloadable site maps on their websites. California State Parks' official website features detailed PDF maps of state park campgrounds in the region. Most visitor centers in Napa Valley also distribute free printed maps showing local camping options.