The Bay Area is really fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful state and national forest & parks, along with some really awesome campgrounds. No matter which direction you turn, drive…
The Bay Area is really fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful state and national forest & parks, along with some really awesome campgrounds.
No matter which direction you turn, drive a few hours (or less) and you’re bound to hit a park that boasts beautiful landscapes, great hiking trails and scenic camping spots.
Of course, most places require a 6 month advance reservations. You will need to visit Reserve America for those campsites.
And you’ll need to spam your refresh button like it’s Comic-con for popular sites.
I’m looking at you, Yosemite.
But don’t let that get you down! There are several first come, first serve campgrounds that cater to those who wish to just get away from the city for a weekend.
So take a look at my list for Bay Area Campgrounds that don’t require a reservation!
Awesome Last Minute Bay Area Campgrounds:
No Reservation Required
Attention: My post may contain affiliate links!
Los Padres National Forest
Los Padres NF is extremely large, spreading from just north of Los Angeles all the way to Big Sur and encompassing almost 2 million acres.
Though it’s a 3-4 hour drive south of San Francisco, with rolling hills dipping into valleys and beautiful views at every turn, it’s well worth the drive. Take the 1 down the coast for a more scenic drive!
And since this area is right on the coast you can head down to the vista turn-outs and beaches to enjoy a sunset or beach picnic.
This northern area of Los Padres also has miles of hiking trails and streams which offers some secluded swimming and wading areas. Always use caution and only use spots which are marker for swimming.
No reservation campgrounds include:
$20/night + 1st vehicle, $10/night 2nd vehicle with an RV max length (no hook-ups).
There are 9 campsites and a few vaulted toilets, as well as, fire ring and tables. Bear boxes are not necessary in this area but food should be stored inside a locked vehicle.
There is no water so bring water with you. For those who have backcountry water filters, you can use the stream behind the campground to fill water. Otherwise, bring it with you.
This campground is pet friendly but may have leash laws. Check with the ranger station ahead of time.
Related: 6 Awesome Last Minute L.A. Campsites: No Reservation Required
Sonoma Coast State Park
This place is a beach-lovers dream destination! Located about an hour north of San Francisco and just east of Santa Rosa, you’ll find miles of public beaches with gorgeous coastal views.
While there isn’t much in the way of hiking, there is tons of swimming, fishing and looking for seashells.
Did I mention wine tasting, as well?!
Sonoma County is known worldwide for it’s beautiful vineyards and delicious wines – take a short drive into Alexander Valley for some amazing vintages.
If you don’t want to cook over a campfire, a short drive into Duncans Mills offers quaint shops and restaurants.
I highly recommend stopping at Mr. Trombly’s Tea shop for loose leaf teas before heading home.
No reservation campgrounds include:
Willow Creek Environmental Campground
$25/night – 2 night max. This is a tent-only site.
Located just off the Russian River, this shady campground comes with 11 walk-in campsites, each with its own fire ring, food locker and picnic table.
Remember that walk-in campsites mean you’ll park in a communal parking lot and walk your items into the camping area. No vehicles are allowed within the campground.
This site isn’t pet-friendly so best to leave Fiddo at home and enjoy a beautiful setting of tall evergreens and eucalyptus trees.
This site has vaulted toilets but no running water so make sure to bring water with you.
While there isn’t much in the way of hiking, you are allowed to swim in the river which is cool and refreshing.
Pro-Tip: For a awesome, secluded site, grab sites 8, 9, or 11 which have a lot of privacy and pathways leading down to the water.
Mount Tamalpais State Park
Mount Tam, as it’s affectionately known as, rises above Marin county and is easy to see, on a clear day, from a high rise in San Francisco. Barely a 45 minute drive north of the city, this gem of a state park is bursting with fun things to do.
Grab your bike and ride through the tall redwoods or down the winding roads throughout the park.
Check out Stinson Beach or Muir Woods using one of the many hiking trails. Take your swimsuit with you and make a day at the beach! Just know that fog is common so you may wish to pack a sweater as well.
On a clear, moonless night, you can catch an astronomy lecture at the Mountain Theatre (amphitheater) – don’t forget to peek through the visiting astronomer’s telescopes!
No reservation campgrounds include:
$25/night, $8 per vehicle, per night. Max of 2 night stay. Tent-only campground with ample shade. No RVs.
Since this site is a walk-in campground, you won’t be able to sleep next to you vehicle. Thankfully, the parking lot is only 300ft away so towing your things back and forth is pretty darn easy.
There are 16 pet-friendly campsites, each with it’s own ring and picnic table. I believe food lockers are available but you might want to call ahead.
There is also flushing toilets (no showers) and drinking water available.
Pantoll is a beautiful area so it fills very quickly so make sure to arrive early in the morning and stalk out a spot. The campsites closer to the parking lot are larger but the ones further back offer more privacy.
If you head out there on a moonless night you’ll get beautiful stars.
Pro-Tip: Bring a hammock with you as there’s tons of trees for relaxing.
$25/night, $8 per vehicle, per night. Max of 2 night stay. Tent-only campground with ample shade. No RVs.
If you can’t get into Pantoll, Bootjack is a nice alternative. It’s a 15 site, walk-in campground with the parking lot being really close so you won’t have to lug your items too far.
While this campground is pet-friendly, with running/drinkable water and flushing toilets, there are no fire rings.
Instead you get vintage grills to cook over! Fun and still useful for s’more making, but if you’re looking for that nostalgic campfire experience, this isn’t the campground for you.
The campsites and grounds recently went through a renovation so everything is super nice and has several trailheads which is really convenient! There’s also a trail leading down to Stinsons Beach.
In recent summers, wasps have become an issue but they go away at night and only show up in the summer.
Related: 6 Awesome Last Minute L.A. Campsites: No Reservation Required
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
If you’re looking to really get away from the Bay Area, a 4 hour drive up to Shasta-Trinity National Forest is definitely the way to go.
Breathtaking scenery, majestic mountains and the clearest mountain lakes make for the perfect camp setting.
Besides nature viewing, there are several places to go rock climbing (call ahead for climbing conditions) and miles of interconnected hiking trials.
Most notably is the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) which runs through Shasta-Trinity, connecting the Canadian and Mexican borders. Hike one of the off-branch trails to get to the PCT and log those miles!
If you’re looking for a refreshing swim (I mean icy cold), Shasta-Trinity offers several designated swimming spots including Beehive Point Shoreline, Stoney Creek Swim Area and Clark Spring Beach.
Looking for some thrilling, bike paths? Shasta-Trinity is a mountain rider’ dream with several long trails leading out from Shasta Lake. Be sure to check out Clikapudi Trail which is popular among riders.
No reservation campgrounds include:
Something interesting I learned about this campground is that 80% of the sites require a reservation, which can be made 4-60 days in advance. This is why I included this campground in my list.
Plus Mary Smith Campground was rated one of the most beautiful lake campground in the California, how could it not make the list?
Mary Smith has two different types of sites: Traditional and Glamping. I’ll break them both down for you.
Traditional Camping:
$11/night + 1st vehicle, $5/night for 2nd vehicle. 11 Tent-only sites, no RVs. Walk-in campground which means you will not be camped next to your vehicle.
Each site comes with a fire ring, grill and food storage container, as well as lots of privacy.
There are several flushing toilets and drinkable, cold water. The campground is pet friendly but check for leash laws before heading over.
This campground fills quickly so make sure to get there early.
Pro-Tip: Get one of the further campsites, they offer more trees for privacy.
Glamping All-Out:
Glamping is basically the mash-up of traditional camping and glamorous amenities.
$85/night + 1st vehicle, $5/night for 2nd vehicle. These sites do need to be reserved in advance but double check in case you can get a last-minute reservation in the off season.
There are 6, large, canvas glamping tents (several are ADA compliant) each with its own queen size bed, linen & comforter, nightstand, lamps and rugs.
Out on the deck you’ll find adirondack chairs and a coffee table set up and ready for that perfect, brisk morning cup o’ Joe!
Each glamping site comes with a fire ring and picnic table for cooking.
And there you have it folks! 5 awesome campgrounds that are perfect for a last-minute get-away from the Bay Area.
Remember that many of these local spots are very popular in the summer so make sure to arrive at the campgrounds early to stake out a spot.
Some have more privacy than others, others come with more amenities, but all are beautiful and worth checking out.
Know of a no reservation, Bay Area campsite that’s not listed? Share it in the comments below!
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