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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. St. Helena camping options are particularly popular for those looking to combine outdoor recreation with wine tasting adventures. 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!"
"The location is great since you’re close to st Helena and Calistoga. The road is narrow and the spots are tricky to back into."
"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."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability"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!"
"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."
"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."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Very quiet and there's lots of trails to walk. Easy walking around the lake."
"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."
from $33 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Close to Oxbow public market, great spot for lunch or dinner."
"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."
from $5 - $55 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 / night
"Close to Santa Rosa up a long windy road sites Sugarloaf Ridge park. A pretty popular place, even in November. Lots to do here. Hiking, biking trails. Many families camping."
from $35 - $165 / night
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ScoutThis location is perfect for people who are looking for the wind. Everyone is pretty respectful of one another. First come first serve $45/night. Not well maintained the road was flooded and it hadn’t rained in weeks in the area. Not well maintained. Must have self contained camper: van, rv, trailer. Tight quarters, it’s like a parking lot of vehicles camping right next to one another. There is a boat launch.
GuidePopped in and only a few campers there. A bridge away from towns. Hot showers. Squirrels galore. Ill be back.
ScoutIt’s kinda more like a last choice in the area. I’m happy I had the opportunity to stay there (to compare the other campsites) and it is nicely set up with running water, picnic table, and pit toilets. Campsite 10 though is the worst of ‘em. Set directly in the middle with no privacy and no shade.
Whenever someone opened the pit toilet doors, the smell wafted gracefully like a hammer out of nowhere to abuse my olfactory senses! Just trying to be real and give the scoops.
The NPS does a great job with maintaining the campsite BUT I would definitely pick any of the other locations first. Eg Sky, Coast, or Wildcat. That being said, if there was nothing else available, I’d stay there again. Get in late and leave early.
TravelerFound a spot on the hill that had a sweet view, but was covered in trash and shotgun shells. A lot of dirt bikers so you hear that most of the day.
ScoutAbundant bad reviews were available for this campground but we had no major issues. Bathrooms and pool were in good condition.
TravelerSo the staff here are really nice and helpful and trying to keep the place up. There is definitely not enough staff for the size of of the grounds here. The river is super low right now but it's mid July inland in California so that's expected. Getting down to the river access is either by being dropped off by a car and then picked back up when you are done OR walking down the windy steep road and then back UP when you are tired and hungry and hot etc. If you have a mobility issue be prepared to get help. My husband has prosthetics and we couldn't be down at the same time without a lot of back and forth with the vehicle. The bathroom/bathhouse in A section of the park is trashed. I don't have a nicer way to put that. We lost water the second night we were there and that lasted most of the next day and then power went out at 11pm three nights later and was off for almost 24 hours. We more than likely won't be staying there again anytime soon. It looks like it used to be a really nice spot but it has just been neglected and abused.
RangerThis was interesting and fun, glad we did it but certainly would rather enjoy the island as a day visitor. Some info.
GuideLeft our van for the day, took an $30 uber into San Fran to visit and came back right before sunset. Busy throughout the day so therefore we felt quite safe. Stayed for the night after, with a couple of vans/car campers around us, all was quiet. No noise apart from the wind. It is a parking lot like others note but perfect for a free night so close to downtown.
GuideVery spacious camp site. We got invited here by a relative. Stayed in the upper area, so you had to drive down to the lake. Park rangers were present. Can’t remember the camp site we stayed in but if you don’t mind taking a 5 minute drive,book the upper campground. Lake water was 7/10. Great temperature, but I’m more of a Christal clear water person. There was some algae/ weeds. I heard a lot of negative comments about the water. Overall we had a good time Bathrooms and showers were next to our site.
Camping sites near St. Helena, California range from basic fairground accommodations to wilderness parks with extensive hiking trails. Located in the Napa Valley at approximately 250 feet elevation, the region experiences warm, dry summers with daytime temperatures often exceeding 90°F and cooler winters with occasional frost. Fire restrictions typically remain in place from May through October, with many campgrounds limiting or prohibiting open flames during peak fire season.
Hiking trails at Sugarloaf Ridge: The park offers numerous hiking options within easy reach of camping areas. "There are a handful of great loop options and a few great out and backs too. My personal favorite hike in this park is at the bottom of the hill from the campground, but can be accessed by trails and a short road walk, and that is the Goodspeed Trail to Gunsight Rock," explains one visitor to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Observatory access: Astronomy enthusiasts can visit the Robert Ferguson Observatory at Sugarloaf Ridge. "You can walk to a trail to check out a waterfall from there (pretty darn steep!) and you can walk to the Robert Ferguson Observatory as well! We went on a night hike for a star gazing tour and had a great time!" reports a camper at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Water activities on Lake Berryessa: The lake provides options for paddleboarding and boating in designated areas. "I came to check out the more calm waters in the canyon for my paddleboard. The site was great layout and I had a really enjoyable time out on the water. Other boaters were very respectful of the no wake zones," notes a visitor to Steele Canyon.
Strategic wine country location: Campers appreciate the cost-effective base for exploring nearby vineyards. "Nice campground halfway between St. Helena and Calistoga giving you access to the Napa Valley at a very reasonable price. Not very crowded during the week, but weekends are usually generally full," writes a reviewer about Ritchey Creek Campground.
Seasonal wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds offer opportunities to observe local fauna. "The site was great and I had a really enjoyable time... I walked the 'Nature Trail' through the campground and when we tried to sit they would swarm. But it was a nice short easy walk, where we saw a rabbit, turkeys, lizards, deer, and quails!" shares a camper at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Creek-adjacent campsites: Sites near flowing water provide natural sound barriers and cooling effects. "We had campsite 47 which backs up to the creek. The rumbling sound from the creek lulled us to sleep. We set up our tent towards the back of the site closest to the creek because it was more private," recounts a camper at Ritchey Creek Campground.
Seasonal temperature fluctuations: Be prepared for significant daily temperature swings. "Make sure you are prepared for the temperature swing. 89 in the day and down to 51 at night. I love a shower and they also have a pool open Memorial Day to Labor Day. Pick a spot in the shade if possible," advises a camper at Ritchey Creek Campground.
Limited water access: Some campgrounds require self-sufficiency with water supplies. At Skyline Wilderness Park, a reviewer notes it's "dry camping at this time (no fires, no water, no hookups, etc.). Fire scars all around the lake...looks like this entire area got hit a few years ago. Nice host at the front gate, $45 and at least on a Sunday PM (July) it's mostly empty. Bring extra H2O."
Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be problematic in certain seasons. "The flying bugs/mosquitoes were out so come prepared. Only left with 1-2 bites = victory! We walked the 'Nature Trail' through the campground and when we tried to sit they would swarm," shares a Sugarloaf Ridge camper.
Child-friendly activities: Many campgrounds offer dedicated recreational spaces. "We've camped here a couple of times with our kids it's perfect for novice campers like us. The staff is awesome, there are bathrooms and showers. You can rent a tent, buy wood and it's a short drive into town in case you need to stock up," explains a visitor to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds feature kid-friendly biking loops. "It is very forgiving here and close to everything in case you didn't pack enough food or propane or fire starter. The camp host is amazing. The bathrooms are clean with free cold showers or quarters for hot showers. They have fire pits at every location, firewood to buy on site, it is very kid friendly with a fun loop for the kids to bike or scooter around plus easy access to the lake," reports a camper at Spring Lake Regional Park.
Educational programs: Some parks offer structured activities for children. "They have a quest hike. They send you on an adventure hike and there is treasure at the end of it," shares a Sugarloaf Ridge visitor.
Leveling considerations: Some campgrounds have uneven sites. "Sites are level with minimal need for blocks. Staff are friendly. Native garden is very nice," notes an RVer at Skyline Wilderness Park.
Urban RV options: For those seeking full hookups and proximity to wine country, fairground RV parks provide basic services. "Centrally located but a little walk to downtown Napa. Hookups include 30 and 50 amp with water and sewer. Nice cemented pads. Easy place to stay for the weekend and explore downtown Napa," explains a visitor to Napa Valley Expo RV Park.
Variable site dimensions: RV site layouts can vary significantly between campgrounds. "All of the sites are good though space 43 is awkward if you have a 25ft+ trailer," warns a camper at Ritchey Creek Campground.
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.
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