Perfect Family Campgrounds in the Bay Area

How to find the perfect family campgrounds in the Bay Area? Easy enough, it’s all in here. It started with an email from my friend Erika, “My son has been asking to go camping. I’d like to reserve a weekend, but I’d like to get some advice from you first — good places to camp, when and how to reserve. I know a lot of those things book up early, and we might be too late, since it’s already the 2nd…” No Erika, it’s not too late! Of course, I’ll email this blog posting to Erika first because otherwise, she might write back that it WAS too late.

Photo Source: Parks.ca.gov

Kirby Cove: because it’s right underneath the Golden Gate bridge, Kirby Cove is popular with San Francisco families. The proximity factor makes it a winner and you can dig your toes in the freezing water by the beach, before cracking up the campfire and s’mores. Camping under a bridge sounds weird, but you’re still on national park land and the whole world envies your red bridge view. There. Camping season usually runs from April 1 to November 30. You can reserve here. One tiny detail: if you don’t like the sound of foghorns or fog, forget it. As one Yelper put it, “fog is manufactured right here.”

Photo Source: Nps.gov

Mt Madonna: One word to attract them all – yurts! Watch for the invasion of more Mongolian dwellings in the Santas Clara county parks as they’re installing more soon. Now that Big Sur’s Treebones Resort shares the Bay Area yurt market with Mt Madonna, Mt Madonna has become a prized destination and you’ll have to wake up early to live the Central Asian nomad life. Note a minimum of 2 nights for yurts on weekends. The park would still be prized without yurts, mind you. Redwood trees, great views on the mountains from the trails, a herd of white fallow deer on the decline, ruins of a big estate, and a Buddhist monastery that serves vegetarian food nearby – Mt Madonna has a lot going on. Here you can find more camping information, whether in yurts or not.

Photo Source: Sccgov.org

Henry Cowell Redwoods: two gigantic draws for kids here. First, the redwood trail and the creek that runs through the park with shallow swim spots. Second, Roaring Camp! I know this has got nothing to do with nature, but the sheer sight of steam engines puffing up the mountains or down to the Santa Cruz boardwalk gives me the chills. What kid doesn’t like trains? Check out their special events, they have fun ones. If you need to look at a map, you can walk from the Henry Cowell Redwoods ranger station to Roaring Camp and vice versa. It’s that close. As far as camping, the sites are OK but not outstanding and there’s no alcohol allowed. Read the Frog Mom report.

Photo Source: Thatsmypark.org

FAMILY CAMPGROUNDS IN MARIN COUNTY

I’m always struck by how green Marin is. No wonder they’ve got most of the dairy ranches over there. And nature like you wouldn’t believe. Marin’s great. Just cross the bridge, as they say in Sausalito.

Samuel P. Taylor: the only time I camped at Samuel P. Taylor, it rained all night and my tent was badly pitched on a slope. Despite the conditions, I really enjoyed Samuel P. Taylor. With hot showers and beautiful redwoods, the campground is close to paved trails which makes it ideal for kids on bikes. Papermill Creek runs in the lower part of the campground. Though it’s pretty cold for complete dips, the trail that runs along the creek is easy ands flat. Speaking of cold, the park is close to the coast and mostly shaded. Expect fresh nights and layer up! Samuel P. Taylor park is open all year round. The peak season starts from mid May to mid September. If you want to make reservations, you can get further informations here.

Photo Source: Reserveamerica.com

Steep Ravine Cabins: perched on top of rocky bluffs surrounded by crashing waves, the historic and rustic cabins at Steep Ravine are notoriously hard to get. Well, there’s only 10 of them so it’s understandable. Expect big windows on the Pacific Ocean,  waves rocking you to sleep and the comfort of your hideaway on the coast. Fog will be invited too so gear up. Peak season begins on March 1st and ends on November 30. Booking can be done until July 31, up to 7 months in advance and 2 days before arrival.

Photo Source: Parks.ca.gov

All Amazon links in this post are affiliate links. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post and that helps me bring you fun ideas. See my disclosure policy for more info. 

CAMPGROUNDS IN THE WINE COUNTRY

Point Reyes, Coast Camp: right by the beach at the edge of the Point Reyes peninsula, isn’t that camp a dream? Coast Camp is popular and one of the few perfect family campgrounds with sheltered sites, a white sandy beach 5 minutes away, and incredible views. The hitch? Backpacking only. You cannot drive your big car and unload in the parking lot. You’ll need to carry everything. Fortunately, the hike is really easy. It’s only 2.7 flat miles from the trailhead – even strollers do it! P.S. Coast = fog, let’s be clear on that. Read what Frog Mom has to say about Backpacking with Young Children. For a true backpacking experience, Wildcat campground at Point Reyes is 5.6 miles from the Palomarin trailhead but once you’re there, it’s breathtaking. Dark sandy beach, iridescent waves crashing on the beach under the moon light, and flat sites for comfy nights.

Ah, now we’re talking. A tourism opportunity? Fortunately for the kids, there’s more than wine in the northern wine valleys. Redwoods, creeks, lakes, mills or observatories are some of the perks of camping in Sonoma or Napa.

Photo Source: Nps.gov

Hendy Woods: Anderson Valley, how I enjoy driving up and down this valley where apples still steal the show to grapes – and where the yearly county fair features shepherd dog trials and a real rodeo. So there, I love the ruralness of Anderson Valley and Hendy Woods State park is part of it. I’ve tried both the rustic cabins and the tent sites and my votes goes to the latter. Rustic cabins are nice and feel like tree houses but awfully noisy when you wrestle with your sleeping bag at night. A short hike will take you to the Navarro River where swimming and wading are popular activities in the summer. Read the Frog Mom reports here and here. You can reserve now until Sunday, July 31, 2 days before ahead your arrival or up to 7 months in advance.

Photo Source: Reserveamerica.com

Bothe-Napa Valley: pretty much the only campground of the Napa Valley, so no need to be picky. Actually Bothe-Napa Valley offers some of the nicest hikes I know in that area and for kids, two major attractions. In the park there is a spring-fed swimming pool – which can become quite crowded on July 4th, I learned years before. On the other side of the park a few miles down the road, you will find a working historic mill where kids can make their own flour. Read the Frog Mom report. If you want to try it out, find further reservation informations here.

Photo Source: Parks.ca.gov

Sugarloaf Ridge: Sugarloaf Ridge is a true gem. Arranged in two semi-circles around big oval meadows, the campground just lends itself to late afternoon soccer games or morning gazing at the surrounding hills. Sugarloaf Ridge also features small wading spots along the creek, an observatory, a nature hike (whose description has been lost) and a planet hike. If your kids are super-kids, bring them up to the top of Bald Mountain to see the Bay Area from Sonoma. It gets hot during the day so pack plenty of water. I did a spectacular night hike on July 4th to Bald Mountain once. You can read a bit about night hikes on Frog Mom here.

Photo Source: Reserveamerica.com

Spring Lake: in Santa Rosa, Spring Lake is a favorite family hangout because of the swimming lagoon where you can swim  (with the ducks), the lake where you can rent paddleboats and burn off some energy, the paved paths that surround the lake and where you can ride your bike or push your stroller. Largely though, folks like that it’s real pretty and clean, and that it’s next to Howarth Park where a killer play area features a Western town, a prehistoric area, a Native village, a Rancho, a climbing wall and a train station. This isn’t exactly backcountry, but the kids won’t care.

Photo Source: Parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov

Well, that covers a few of my idea of perfect family campgrounds and hopefully it’s inspiring enough that you stopped reading the posting halfway through to start your reservations. Don’t hesitate to shoot me questions or feedback in the comments.