There is no better way to escape the city than to head to a campground near San Francisco for the weekend. Renting a campervan and hitting the road is an inexpensive way to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, enjoy the peace and serenity of the mountains, or the calming sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Whether you’re a resident of San Francisco, visiting from out of state, or from another country, we’ve put together a list of our top RV parks & campervan campgrounds near San Francisco. So pick up your campervan rental, hit the road, and spend the weekend at one of these excellent campervan destinations.
SEE OUR CAMPERVANSSAN FRANCISCO RV RESORT – SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Distance from San Francisco: 15 miles
With beach vacation in mind, San Francisco RV Resort allows for a candid RV and campervan experience. Located on cliffs facing the Pacific Ocean, this campground hosts a plethora of views (in all directions) while still holding the luxury of nearby famous sites such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Half Moon Bay, Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz. Only 15 miles from the heart of San Francisco Bay tourism, San Francisco RV Resort boasts second to none ocean views, sunsets, and 162 paved and level campsites– all oceanfront and steps away from the beach.
Amenities: complete hookups at the majority of the sites; bathroom, shower area, and laundry facilities; and a picnic and barbecue area, outdoor pool and hot tub, clubhouse, and playground.
Note: No hookups on the sites directly oceanfront.
Olema Campground near Point Reyes National Seashore
Distance from San Francisco: 37.1 miles
Located north of the Point Reyes National Seashore, Olema Campground gives guests excellent and reserved bird watching, hiking, kayaking, and beach excursions. With both RV and tent sites and pets allowed in the campground, Olema campgrounds serve as an excellent midpoint to many global attractions. A coastal trek to San Francisco offers incredible views for an hour drive, and southward Napa and Sonoma vineyards pull tourists from all over. With natural and serene stomping grounds in all directions, Olema Campground is the perfect site for short or extended stays.
Amenities: Showers, dump stations, full water, and electrical hookups, laundry facilities; Recreational activities, playground, picnic area; Firewood, WiFi, Convenience Store
Moss Landing KOA near Monterey Bay
Distance from San Francisco: 95.4 miles
Located in the heart of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Moss Landing KOA boasts its versatility in activities and adventures surrounding the campsite. With full hookups throughout the site and several other amenities, the KOA provides for a central location to come home to after a day full of adventures. With the Moss Landing State Beach just a short away, stand up paddling in Elkhorn Slough, chartered whale-watching cruise out of the harbor, and other water activities are one of many things to keep campers busy throughout the day. Day trips to the Santa Cruz boardwalk 30 miles north and visits to the Shakespeare Society of America also adorn the bustling Monterey Bay.
Amenities: Full hookups, Cable TV, WiFi.
Note: If you book a campervan with Travellers Autobarn, you will receive a discount at any KOA you stay at during your campervan trip.
Pinnacles Campground in Pinnacles National Park
Distance from San Francisco: 123 miles
With access to the campsite only through the east entrance of the park, Pinnacles Campground has the only tent camping and RV sites parked in the middle of the deep and jagged Pinnacles Mountains. The campground has 149 sites with an assortment of picnic tables, fire rings, and electrical hookups to make camping in and out a comfortable experience. Pets are allowed on paved roads and in the parking lots, but they must have a six-foot leash at all times, cannot go on the trails, and cannot be left unattended. Large Oak trees giving excellent shade to the campground, and the Pinnacles Mountains and High Peaks give hikers the ultimate experience of beautiful night skies, more than 30 miles of trails to hike and climb, and gorges hiding an assortment of caves and waterfalls.
Amenities: Water locations throughout the campground, some electrical hookups, coin-operated showers, garbage and recycling containers, and dump stations; swimming pool, communal picnic tables, fire pits, and barbecue pits.
PFEIFFER BIG SUR STATE PARK CAMPGROUND near Big Sur
Distance from San Francisco: 26 miles
With its 26 mile distance south of Carmel, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground hugs the stout Sycamore and Redwood trees above the Big Sur coast. While each campsite can accommodate large RV’s, there are no hookups available. With the forest enveloping the sites in the shade, the trails diverge into fantastic views of the Big Sur River Gorge and the rest of Big Sur Valley. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground and its promising outdoor experiences allow for it to be a popular choice to vacation at, so consider booking ahead of time to ensure a spot at this incredible campground.
Amenities: fire rings, picnic tables, restrooms, token showers, camp store, laundromat, RV dump station
Note – No hookups available, so you will need a campervan with solar power to stay here.
Francis Beach Campground at Half Moon Bay State Beach
Distance from San Francisco: 29.6 miles
Located in Half Moon Bay, California, Francis Beach Campground is an epic spot for the beach enthusiast and offers 52 campsites just steps from the shore. Half Moon Bay State Beach is actually four beaches that run together; Francis Beach, Venice Beach, Dunes Beach, and Roosevelt Beach. Half Moon Bay is a hot spot for surfing, kiteboarding, and kayaking to Pillar Point Harbor. Swimming isn’t well recommended at Half Moon Bay unless you’re a strong, experienced swimmer. The colder water temperatures, rip currents, and potential sharks lurking in the water make for a challenging, potentially dangerous, swimming environment. Enjoy the Coastside Trail that runs 4 miles long and provides some incredible ocean views, and if you’re lucky, you may even spot a gray whale.
Amenities: restrooms, showers, potable water, electric hookups (only 40 sites), picnic table, fire ring, RV dump station & water fill station, beach access
Juniper Campground in Mount Diablo State Park
Distance from San Francisco: 42.5 miles
Boasting a sweeping array of trails, views, biking, hiking, and horseback riding, the largest campground in Mount Diablo State Park, Juniper Campground is the perfect place to go for smaller groups and excursions. Groups are limited to 8 people per site, but with 50 sites overlooking the Diablo State Park and much of the Bay Area, you are sure to make the most of the extensive experiences the park has to offer. Whether it be biking straight up the 20km route to the top of Mt. Tam and reaching unparalleled views, or hiking the Grand Loop Trail and the Tarantula Treks, Juniper Campground meets all needs of a place to come back to for the night. Grills provided for a few of the more spacious campsites, and the campground is dog friendly, provided you have them on a six-foot leash and avoid specific hiking trails. Keep in mind, campsites tend to hug pretty close, so there is less isolation than other campgrounds in the area.
Amenities: ADA Accessible, flushing toilets, potable water, picnic table, grill
Note – No hookups available, so you will need a campervan with solar power to stay here.
Prefer to do some Tent Camping? Rent A Minivan and Check Out These Tent Only Campsites.
Angels Island Campground in Angel Island State Park
Distance from San Francisco: 6.2 miles
Just a short ferry ride away from San Francisco, Angel Island Campground grants its guests the serenity and adventure of the San Francisco area. With hikes up to two miles to its four campsites, East Bay, Ridge, Sunrise, and Kayak Camp, each site is unique with its views, the ridge sites even having incredible views of Golden Gate Bridge. Sunrise campsite offers more protection and is available to reserve for larger groups up to 24. No matter which site guests choose to hike into, the fishing, hiking, biking, paddling, swimming, and boating produce a peaceful escape from the bustle of San Francisco, all the while enjoying the views the city has to offer.
Amenities: Pit toilets, water sources, picnic tables
Huckleberry Campground in Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Distance from San Francisco: 71.2 miles
Just 1.5 miles from the Big Basin Redwoods State Park Headquarters, the Huckleberry Campground hosts 30 tent sites and 36 petite tent cabins (must be reserved in advance) for guests to rest between the many activities the park provides. Mountain bikes aren’t allowed on the single lane trails. However, you can still partake in recreational biking, horseback riding in Rancho Del Oso, and hiking in Big Basin Redwoods. If you’re a hiking enthusiast, then make sure to put Sequoia Trail and Redwood Trail, the 10.5-mile roundtrip to the four cascades of Berry Creek Falls, on your itinerary. These are all excellent ways to explore the incredible mountain peaks, giant redwoods, and to observe the extensive wildlife. If interested in adventuring further from the campsite, windsurfing, and kiteboarding at Waddell beach, a fifty-minute drive across Highway 1 at the park entrance is an option that attracts many each year.
Amenities: Picnic tables, food lockers, fire pits; potable water and showers
Kirby Cove Campground in Golden Gate National Recreational Area
Distance from San Francisco: 7.4 miles
Located north of the Golden Gate Bridge at Historic Battery Kirby, Kirby Cove Campground allows guests to witness some of the exquisite landmarks, views, and the vastness of the California Pacific Coast. The campground provides overnight accommodations as well as single-day picnic table rentals. The cove rests at the bottom of Marin Headlands and boasts incredible access to the sandy beach. With an assortment of hikes, picnicking, fishing, berry picking, and mountain biking, Kirby Cove ensures a relaxing visit to enjoy the beauty of the natural world around San Francisco.
Amenities: Firepits, food lockers, picnic tables, tent pads, and barbecues.
Pantoll Campground in Mount Tamalpais State Park
Distance from San Francisco: 19.4 miles
Pack wisely for Pantoll Campground in Mount Tamalpais State Park– or be ready to hike! Located off Panoramic Highway from Mill Valley in Tamalpais State Park, the Stinson Beach Community Center, an impressive 1.5-2 hour hike, is the nearest center to get supplies for the trip. Mt. Tamalpais is the birthplace of mountain biking, yet also has options for road bikers to explore their wild side. Although, Road bikers face the infamous seven sisters and the twisting road to the top of the peak. On the other hand, mountain bikers enjoy the coastal view, and the Dias Ridge trails as they climb their way to the top. Tamalpais has more than 50 miles of trails that connect to a 200-mile trail system such as Mount Davis hiking trail or the Steep Ravine. Both are great hikes to enjoy lush waterfalls and old-growth Redwoods and give unparalleled views of the Bay Area, and it’s sister peak, Mt. Diablo, across the fog line. If horses attract, guests can see the Sierra Mountains or Farallon Islands on clear days, and even stop along the way to fish the wide array of fish in the area.
Amenities: Potable water, picnic tables, flush toilets, fire rings
Note: Parking a campervan at Pantoll is allowed in the lower parking area, but only between 6 pm to 9 pm.
There are so many beautiful places to campervan throughout California our list of campervan campgrounds near San Francisco could go on! Here are a few other blogs we recommend, especially if you can take a week or two to campervan around the United States.
Guide to Free Camping in the USA
Guide to the Best Campgrounds for Campervans in the USA
Top 5 Road Trips to Take Your Campervan out of San Francisco
Ultimate National Parks Campervan Road Trip Adventure
About the Author
Bastian Graf
Bastian is the Sales & Marketing Manager here at Travellers Autobarn. He holds a Master of Commerce in Marketing and International Business Management, and 20+ years experience in campervan hire, road trips and travel.
Our Campervans
Seats 2-5
Tent Optional
Chairs Optional
Ice Box Optional
Ext. Table Opt.
Gas Cooker Opt.
