5 Popular Campsites Within 60 Miles of San Francisco

Technically, Summer ended on September 21st, but if this California heat wave is any indication, the summer weather is far from over. Sea, sand, or hills, California’s terrain has a lot to offer the Indian Summer adventurer. In association with our friends at TheDyrt.com (think Yelp for public campsites), we’re highlighting some of the most popular camping spots in our California Camping Series. Part I focused on Los Angeles, and Part II focused on Santa Barbara. In Part III, we’re highlighting 5 great campsites within a 60 mile drive of San Francisco, reviewed and photographed by real campers in the Bay Area.

1. Kirby Cove Campground Distance from San Francisco: 7.4 miles

★★★★☆ “Very easy to get to from San Francisco. We had amazing views of the bridge and the city and were lucky enough to have a clear day (which is rare in SF!). We biked across the Golden Gate bridge and back. We hung out on the beach and had amazing views of the Golden Gate bridge from there. We had a great time in this area and would definitely recommend.” - The Dyrt user Ethan K. See more here.

2. Anthony Chabot Distance from San Francisco: 18 miles

★★★★★ “Amazing urban get-away. We love Anthony Chabot! The eucalyptus groves make the air smell wonderful, and there is so much wildlife to see (deer, turkeys, owls, etc.). It's a great natural area that is so conveniently located in the Bay Area. There is an extensive network of trails accessible from the campground. It's popular, especially on the weekends, and I'd recommend reservations. Restrooms are fairly clean, there are showers, and recycling collection, which I appreciate.” - The Dyrt user Amanda P. See more here.

3. Steep Ravine Environmental Camp Distance from San Francisco: 22 miles

★★★★☆ “Incredible views, hiking, and hot springs, BUT: bring layers of functional clothes since the weather on the coast of the SF bay can be anything from roasting to foggy frigid cold during the day and night year round. Don't just look at weather online and go. Be ready to ACTUALLY camp, not just glamping drive in, unless you have one of the cabins. Many people have less than stellar experiences due to being underprepared.” -The Dyrt user Patrick O. See more here.

4. Mt. Diablo State Park Distance from San Francisco: 30 miles

★★★★☆ “Great campsite near San Francisco/Berkeley. This was a great campsite for people that want to go hiking near Berkeley or SF and have a car. They had a good number of spots to camp with grills at each site. Our site had some good trees as well to hang up our hammocks. Great hiking in the area through desert terrain although be ready for some hills. It was very hot on the hikes as their was not much sun coverage. Would definitely recommend. No open fires allowed when we were there because of the dryness of the area.” -The Dyrt user Ethan K. See more here.

5. Point Reyes National Seashore Campground Distance from San Francisco: 37 miles

★★★★★ “Point Reyes is breathtaking... If you go camping one place this is it. Point Reyes is HUGE! There are a half dozen camping spots in this beautiful park. Tomales Bay is a boat in only campground on Indian Beach a unique experience if you have access to a boat. There are plenty of drive or walk in sites if you don't have a boat. Pick your terrain the coast, meadow, or woods and there is a campground for you. You can easily spend a week here with all of the trails, horseback riding, mountain biking and kayaking options.” –The Dyrt user Kayko S. See more here. And that wraps up our list of top San Francisco camping spots. With a list this great, you have no reason NOT to get out there and explore the coast! And remember - You could win a $100 Toad&Co gift card when you camp in California and review your campsites on TheDyrt.com. Contest ends on September 30th!