Fall asleep to the sound of the ocean and wake up to a view that rivals any five-star hotel.
Doran Beach Campground, Bodega Bay: Bordered by the breezy Bodega Harbor, Doran Regional Park offers 120 campsites year-round and plenty of amenities to enjoy your stay on the bay. The campgrounds are equipped with potable water and restrooms with electrical outlets and coin-operated showers ($2 for five minutes). Campground reservations are required. Group campsites are closed. $37 per night from May 1 through Nov. 30. Doran Regional Park, 201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3540. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
A group of Analy High School graduates from the late 1960s have been gathering at the Doran Beach campground for the start of the crab season for the past 20 years. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Wright’s Beach Campground, Bodega Bay: This sandy beach campground at the Sonoma Coast State Park offers gorgeous ocean and sunset views. There’s plenty of fun outdoor activities here, including whale and bird watching, hang gliding and hiking the Kortum Trail to other nearby beaches. $35 a night. Campsites include restrooms, picnic tables, food lockers and a fire ring. No potable water filling areas at Wright's Beach; fill up water tanks at Bodega Dunes. No group camping available. Sonoma Coast State Park, 7095 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3483.
Camping at Wright's Beach Campground on the Sonoma Coast. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Laurie Bratton, right, and Lisa Holwagner pair wine with their cheese in one of the beach spots at Wright's Beach Campground on the Sonoma Coast. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
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Bodega Dunes Campground, Bodega Bay: Within walking distance of ocean beaches and the town of Bodega Bay, this year-round campground in the Bodega Harbor is a popular place for whale watching and horseback riding. The rough waters along this stretch on the coast prohibit wading and swimming. Masks required for non-vaccinated visitors in public, indoor places. $35 per night. Campsites include restrooms, showers, picnic tables, food lockers and a fire ring. Sonoma Coast State Park, 2485 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3483.
Ocean Cove Campground, Jenner: Just north of Fort Ross in the nook of a rocky cove is Ocean Cove Store and Campground, with 20 acres of campsites right on the Pacific Ocean. Amenities include hot showers, fire pits, picnic tables, chemical toilets and a boat ramp. With fishing, scuba diving, and nearby golf and hiking trails, this campground is a great place to relax or enjoy summer activities. $35 a night per vehicle (cash), $40 a night per vehicle (credit card). Campers are typically welcome from April 1 through November 30. Ocean Cove Store & Campground, 23150 Coast Highway 1, Jenner, 707-847-3422. (Courtesy photo)
Gualala Point Campground, Mendocino County: The Gualala Point Regional Park’s small campground is nestled along the Gualala River in a grove of redwoods. Various trails connect to the beach and coastal bluffs, and the area is a great place to go picnicking or whale-watching. Campground reservations are required. Group campsites are closed. The park features flush toilets, electrical outlets and a coin-operated shower ($2 for five minutes). $35 per night from May 1 through Nov. 30. Gualala Point Regional Park, 42401 Highway 1, Gualala, 707-785-2377.
Caspar Beach, Mendocino County: In the small coastal town of Caspar lies the campground of Caspar Headlands State Beach, located in a deep, sandy cove and bustling with kite flyers, boogie boarders and fishermen. The tent sites, sheltered by near 100-foot canyon cliffs, offer showers, picnic tables and fire rings, and full hookups are available for RVs. Rates are $47 (tent walk-in) to $180 (back circle group tent, up to 25 people). 10% lodging tax on all tent and RV campsites. 14441 Point Cabrillo Drive, Caspar, 707-964-3306. (Courtesy photo)
Westport Beach RV Park and Campground, Mendocino County: Located some 17 miles north of Fort Bragg, just off Shoreline Highway 1, this 50-acre privately-owned campground offers beach-side camping in the sand, on grassy sites and along a creek. Campers can wander along the private sandy beach, wade, surf, boogie board and play frisbee, or take advantage of seasonal fishing and abalone diving. Accommodations include 75 full hook-up RV sites, 50 tent sites and five group sites. Rates are $50 (beach tent, two people) to $68 (premium full hook-up RV). 10% lodging tax on all tent and RV campsites. 37700 North Highway 1, Westport, 707-964-2964. (Courtesy photo)
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Anchor Bay Campground, Mendocino County: This private, six-acre beach campground, stretched along a narrow gulch lined with ferns, redwoods and other native coastal plants, offers serene campsites on the beach complete with fire pits, picnic tables and water hookups. Popular beach activities here include fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, surfing or simply bathing in the sun and watching the waves lap the shore. Reservations recommended. Rates are $45-$60 per night (one site includes four adults, or a family of two adults and up to four children under 18, and one vehicle). 35400 South Highway 1, Gualala, 707-884-4222. (Shutterstock)
Wildcat Camp, Marin County: This seaside campground is an ideal location for backpackers, as the eight open meadow campsites, located on a bluff with stunning views of the ocean, have access to several gorgeous hiking trails, including a two-mile round-trip walk to the Alamere Falls (pictured). Rates for regular sites are $30 per night for one to six people, and $60-$90 for group sites for up to 25 people. Reserve online at recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777 or walking into the Bear Valley Visitor Center during normal hours of operation. 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station.
Kirby Cove Campground, Marin County: Located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge at Battery Kirby, this 400-acre campground offers spectacular views of the iconic bridge and northern San Francisco. Visitors like to explore the area by foot or bike, picnicking and taking in the views. The historic army battery, in use from 1898-1934, is also worth checking out. The Point Bonita Lighthouse and Nike Missile Site SF-88 are close by. There are five overnight camping sites. Rates are $40 per night for tent only, $75 per night for group picnic area. 948 Fort Barry, Sausalito, 415-331-1540.
Lawson's Landing, Marin County: This family-owned and operated fishing and boating resort and campground at the mouth of Tomales Bay has been running since 1957. Since the late '50s, generations of families have come to stay here, enjoying activities like clamming, boating and hiking. The campground is open year-round. Rates are $42 to $60 per night. 137 Marine View Drive, Dillon Beach, 707-878-2443.
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Summer is here, and after these long pandemic years, we are ready for some beach fun in the sun. To help combat your Vitamin D deficiency, we’ve rounded up a few coastal campgrounds in Sonoma, Mendocino and Marin that allow you to stay right by the beach. Click through the gallery for details and remember to check COVID-19 regulations at each campsite.
After years of patience and determination, Santa Rosa's first craft distillery and its tasting room are finally open.
Be sure to bring extra layers and be prepared for wet weather even in the hottest driest times of the year. Our coastline is rugged and beautiful be prepared and you will be rewarded.