Trying to find a place to camp in the Bay Area on a sunny weekend can be exasperating enough to make you almost resent California’s outdoorsy nature — or at least, its outdoorsy residents who all want the same thing you do.
Trawl the National Parks Service’s camping reservation system, recreation.gov, or the State Parks’ reservecalifornia.com for campsites of any kind — tent, trailer, RV or cabin — in Point Reyes, Big Sur and other popular spots, and it’s not uncommon to see every weekend sold out months ahead. It’s reached such a point that in December, California State Parks announced it was dropping traditional reservations for Mount Tamalpais’ popular Steep Ravine cabins and piloting a lottery system instead.
But don’t give up on planning a great summer outing yet. The truth is, there are a ton of other amazing overnight opportunities around the Bay Area, from glamping in a Calistoga yurt in Wine Country to escapist backpacking on Angel Island. We also scouted out what may be the only dog-friendly backpacking opportunity in the region without having to schlep to a national forest (psst, it’s in Antioch).
Here are six fantastic Bay Area camping options to explore that include state, county, city and regional parks and some private campground options, too. Some boast wilderness access, while others enjoy proximity to more urbane regional draws, like wine tasting — and they’re all within an hour or two of home. Consider it a sampling for adventures of all kinds, now and in the future.
Backpacking on Angel Island
Panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay are among the perks of camping at Angel Island State Park. (Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group)
Angel Island offers one of the best overnight escapes right in the middle of the Bay. Campsites, which must be reserved through the California State Parks system, are in high demand, so patience is required – weeknights tend to have greater availability — but the wait is worth it.
Load up your backpacking gear, then board the Angel Island ferry in Tiburon. Once you arrive at the island, snag a snack at the Ayala Cove Cafe before embarking on the 1.5 to 2-mile hike from the ferry station to the campsites.
This is a perfect backpacking outing for taking friends or family members who might be new to the activity – or, in my case, a friend who is very scared of bears. There’s plenty of wildlife, but there are no bears on Angel Island!
Learn about the island’s history as an immigration station, quarantine location and army fort as you explore the island, where eerie, abandoned buildings offer a glimpse of the past. The Angel Island Immigration Museum at China Cove is particularly informative, as it describes the period from 1910 to 1940 when the island became known as the Ellis Island of the West and was used to enforce laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Traipse the island’s perimeter trail or hike to the top of Mount Livermore for panoramic views of the entire Bay. After the last ferry departs for the mainland, it will feel like you’ve got the island to yourself.
Details: There are reservation-only tent camping sites ($30 per night, no dogs) in four locations on the island, with water and pit toilets nearby. Find details at parks.ca.gov. Board the Angel Island Ferry ($6-$18) at 21 Main St. in Tiburon; https://angelislandferry.com.
Yurt camping at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Yurts at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park offer more rustic than rugged overnight accommodations in Calistoga. (Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group)
Did you know you can stay somewhere amazing near Napa Valley for under $100 a night? Napa may get flack for its spendy resorts and hotels, but a yurt stay at Calistoga’s Bothe-Napa Valley State Park makes for an economical – and beautiful – way to enjoy a wine country weekend without breaking the bank. At $80 a night, the yurts at the state park provide warmth, shelter and a bed, with shared, but pristine showers and toilets, but it’s BYO light and linens.
The park also offers traditional campsites ($43, no hook-ups) and cabins ($125 and up) and a pool that will be open on weekend afternoons during the summer.
“It’s a great place in wine country where you can camp, go get a bottle of wine and not have to pay an arm and a leg,” says Jay Jessen, park steward assistant.
The park’s location midway between St. Helena and Calistoga puts it temptingly near wine country landmarks such as Castello di Amorosa and Sterling Vineyards. There are beautiful hiking trails on-site, and the Petrified Forest is a short drive away, where you can venture out on a self-guided tour to see 3.4-million-year-old petrified redwoods. Jessen also recommends visiting the nearby Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, which is home to a water-powered grist mill used to grind corn and wheat into meal and flour.
Need more itinerary inspiration? Napa’s Croccante Pizza makes a great stop for Detroit-style pizza on your way to Calistoga. In the morning, pick up coffee and an apple turnover at Calistoga’s Bella Bakery before heading to the trailhead to tackle Mount St. Helena. Then refuel with a post-hike sandwich from Napa’s Contimo Provisions.
Details: Find Bothe-Napa Valley State Park at 3801 St. Helena Highway in Calistoga. Yurts are $80 per night. Dogs are allowed in some areas of the park but not on trails. Find more details at parks.ca.gov/.
Camping at The Ranch at Cross Road
Curious goats eye a camper staying at the Ranch at Cross Road, a private campground in Livermore. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
This privately-owned campground is located in the heart of Livermore’s wine country and available for reservations via Hipcamp. It’s also an organic farm with pens of ducks and goats – so farm animal fans (and parents) take note.
Each of the 10 campsites ($55) provides everything you’ll need for a tent or RV-based outing with shared showers and flush-toilets housed in a stylish shed near a communal barbecue area.
Nearby amenities include the Purple Orchid, a wine country resort and spa across the street, and plenty of eating and drinking options downtown. Pick up a coffee and hot waffles at Story Coffee or a beer from First Street Alehouse.
Looking for a more nature-heavy weekend? Head to Del Valle Regional Park, where you can rent a boat, go fishing or explore the park’s abundant – albeit steep – hiking trails, like the 4.4-mile East Shore Loop. (Del Valle also offers camping options; go to reserveamerica.com for more information.)
A fire pit overlooks the farm buildings at Livermore’s Ranch at Cross Road, a private campground that can be reserved through Hipcamp, in Livermore, Calif., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Details: The Livermore ranch is located at 4779 Cross Road; note that you’ll need to get a key code from the host to enter the property. Each campsite is $55 per night, and they’re dog-friendly, as long as Fido is comfortable around farm animals; hipcamp.com.
Backpacking at Black Diamond Mines Regional Park
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve offers dog-friendly backpacking in Antioch, which earned it two thumbs up from the author. (Courtesy Gennady Sheyner)
Getting a reservation at this East Bay Regional Preserve in Antioch may be the hardest part, but not for the reason you think. The park can host 20 people at a time in the backcountry, but you’ll have to call an actual phone number to place a reservation. That’s a tall order for those of us who are telephonically awkward or trying to coordinate an outing with multiple parties.
Still, it’s well worth it, because this is one of the only dog-friendly backpacking spots in the Bay.
During the summer, the hills can be sweltering as you hike the 3 miles to your campsite, but a gentle breeze from the Delta helps. Cell signal is iffy out here so make sure you pre-download any digital maps ahead of time.
Even on a summer Saturday night, it was easy to find solitude here. And as a bonus, the outhouse was surprisingly well-maintained and looked like its interior had recently received a fresh coat of paint. Note: Make sure to bring lots of water and be aware of snake activity, particularly in the spring and summer.
The park offers guided tours of its Coal Mine Experience and the Hazel Atlas Mine on weekends beginning May 18, so if you time your trip just right — and make reservations — you can learn more about the region’s mining history.
Details: Find the Black Diamond Mine Regional Preserve at 5175 Somersville Road in Antioch. Fees are $5 per person per night, with extra fees for parking and tours; ebparks.org/parks/black-diamond.
Camping at Foothills Nature Preserve
Towle campground at Foothills Nature Preserve in Los Altos Hills offers a surprisingly remote overnight escape not far from Palo Alto. (Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group)
A 1,400-acre park that until December 2020 was for Palo Alto residents and their guests only, this nature preserve is a newer-to-many-of-us gem nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Los Altos Hills. The park has eight tent-only campsites at Towle Campground and at $43 per night, it might be one of the most affordable accommodations for many miles around. (The best bargain — at $2 per person — is likely still Black Mountain Backpack Camp at Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, which is operated by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. It’s a lovely 1.5-mile hike in to the campsites.)
Looking for a gorgeous, but challenging hike? Check out the Los Trancos Trail, a 7-mile, mostly shaded loop through some of the Peninsula’s most scenic open space.
Details: Find the park, which is dog-friendly on weekdays at 11799 Page Mill Road in Los Altos Hills. Tent-only campsites are $43 per night; https://is.gd/towle.
Camping at Mount Madonna County Park
Want to camp in the redwoods and also bring the pup? Most of the state parks in the area have a no-pets-on-trails policy, even if you’re allowed to camp with them, but that’s not a problem at this county park in Watsonville. Leashes are required, though.
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Camp in the southern Santa Cruz Mountains in Santa Clara County’s Mt. Madonna County Park, which has 116 drive-in and walk-in campsites and five yurts of different sizes. There’s plenty of hiking on-site, including four routes with different difficulty levels inspired by local wildlife. Download the Agents of Discovery app, and you’ll be able to play augmented reality mobile games as you hike the 1.5-mile Newt Trail. You can also pair the trip with an excursion to the Santa Cruz coast or visit nearby wineries in Gilroy, such as Fortino and Sarah’s Vineyard.
Details: This dog-friendly park at 7850 Pole Line Road in Watsonville offers walk-in campsites ($18 per night) and drive-in sites ($34), with RV hookups for water and electricity available; parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/.
