Dispersed Camping in Marin County, California
Showing 65 locations in Marin County.
Accessible Site 10
An accessible environmental campsite located close to the paved Perimeter Road, offering easier terrain for visitors while retaining scenic vistas of the surrounding bay.
Angel Island State Park Campsites
A collection of premier environmental walk-in, bike-in, and kayak-in campsites scattered across Angel Island State Park. Accessible exclusively by ferry or private non-motorized boat, these sites offer unmatched, postcard-worthy vistas of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the bay. Camping is strictly by reservation only, and no personal vehicles are permitted on the island.
Anytime Fitness Marin City
This suburban parking lot at the Anytime Fitness in Marin City offers a paved overnight option suited for quick, low-profile stealth stays near highway access.
Bat Wallace Environmental Campsites
Walk-in environmental campsites tucked on the west side of Angel Island. These sites offer excellent privacy nestled among trees and shrubs with glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bicentennial Campground
A scenic walk-in campground nestled within a grove of cypress trees in the Marin Headlands. Situated just a short distance from the city, this quiet tent-only site offers excellent access to hiking trails and coastal views. No vehicle or RV camping is permitted; all gear must be carried 200 yards down a moderately steep dirt path from the parking area.
Bolinas Lagoon Road Turnouts
Roadside turnouts along Olema Bolinas Road bordering the scenic Bolinas Lagoon. While these paved pullouts offer beautiful coastal views, they are highly exposed and subject to strict county parking and camping restrictions.
Buck Center Drive Stealth Parking
Roadside shoulder parking located along Buck Center Drive. This zone spans both municipal and county boundaries, leading to varied enforcement. The corridor is heavily utilized for long-term vehicle residency and experiences significant highway noise.
China Camp State Park - Back Ranch Meadows Campground
This developed campground within China Camp State Park features standard walk-in campsites, hiker/biker sites, and group areas set under a scenic canopy of oak trees. On-site facilities include flush toilets, water spigots, and coin-operated showers, with parking located in a paved day-use lot a short walk from the campsites. Small campervans can occasionally be accommodated in the parking area, though the park enforces strict overnight regulations and closes its access gates from 9 PM to 8 AM.
Coast Campground
Coast Campground offers 14 hike-in or bike-in campsites situated in a scenic valley just behind Santa Maria Beach. This backcountry camping area features vault toilets, picnic tables, food storage lockers, and a water faucet, though treatment is required. It is an exceptional coastal escape for backpackers and bikepackers.
Corte Madera Urban Stealth
An urban stealth parking area on residential and side streets in Corte Madera, situated close to local coffee shops, libraries, and dining. This area is highly exposed to local residences and is best suited for small, low-profile vehicles looking for a quick, single-night stay.
Devil's Gulch Group Camp
A scenic developed group camp nestled within Samuel P. Taylor State Park. The area offers a shaded redwood canyon setting close to pristine hiking trails and creeks, ideal for organized groups and nature outings.
Five Brooks Horse Camp
A trailhead area primarily serving equestrian users and hikers heading into the southern wilderness. Features parking suitable for larger horse trailers and acts as a gateway to backcountry trails.
Glen Camp Campground
Glen Camp is a secluded walk-in backcountry campground nestled in a wooded valley of Point Reyes National Seashore. The camp consists of 12 cleared sites equipped with vault toilets and a water faucet, though water must be treated before use. Access requires a multi-mile hike or bicycle ride from nearby trailheads, offering a peaceful wilderness experience away from vehicles.
Glen Fire Road Trailhead & White Hill Stealth Parking
An urban parking area along the road shoulder across from White Hill Middle School, providing immediate access to the White Hill School Fire Trail. While located adjacent to scenic open space hills, the surrounding area is residential, and local regulations heavily restrict overnight parking.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
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Hawk Campground
Hawk Campground is a primitive hike-in campground nestled in the scenic Marin Headlands, offering panoramic views of the coastal valleys. Accessible only via a steep 2.5 to 3.5-mile hike from nearby trailheads, this walk-in site is designed strictly for backpackers.
Haypress Campground
A primitive, hike-in-only campground tucked into the coastal scrub of Tennessee Valley, located one mile from the trailhead parking lot. This car-free setting offers a peaceful wilderness experience with easy trail access to Tennessee Cove.
Highway 1 Pullouts (Red Rock Beach)
A series of scenic roadside pullouts along Highway 1 near Red Rock Beach and Stinson Beach. While some pullouts offer spectacular views of the ocean, access to coastal trails, and a freshwater spring, overnight parking and camping are strictly regulated by State Parks and local authorities.
Kayak Group Camp
A group campsite located on the shoreline of Angel Island, specifically designed for kayak-in or boat-in campers. Offers beautiful views of the bay and requires a short walk from the water. Facilities include picnic tables and vault toilets.
Kirby Cove Campground
Perched on the bluff north of the Golden Gate Bridge, this iconic site offers unparalleled views of San Francisco and the Pacific Coast. It is strictly a walk-in tent-only campground, with no vehicle or RV camping permitted, and requires advance reservations.
Marin Civic Center Area
An urban paved parking area located near the Marin County Civic Center. Local county regulations govern overnight vehicle parking and habitation.
Marin County Civic Center Parking
A spacious, paved public parking area surrounding the historic Marin County Civic Center. While convenient and peaceful, overnight stays are subject to local county regulations, and parking is strictly prohibited during major events and weekly farmer's markets.
Marin RV Park
An established, full-service RV park situated in Marin County, offering extremely convenient access to San Francisco via the nearby Larkspur Ferry. The property features basic gravel back-in sites with hookups, along with amenities like an outdoor pool, laundry facilities, and hot showers.
Marshall Beach Boat-In Campsites
These scenic boat-in campsites on Tomales Bay are accessible only by water or a hike-in trail, requiring a National Park Service permit.
Mount Tamalpais State Park - Alice Eastwood Group Camp
An official group campground situated within Mount Tamalpais State Park. Tucked inside a lush, forested canyon near Muir Woods, it offers spacious sites with group amenities in a quiet redwood setting.
Mount Tamalpais State Park - Bootjack Campground
A scenic, developed walk-in tent campground nestled under the redwood canopy of Mount Tamalpais State Park. The site offers first-come, first-served camping with picnic tables, fire rings, food lockers, and nearby flush toilets. Parking is available in the paved lot, but all campsites are walk-in only and vehicle sleeping is prohibited.
Muir Woods National Monument
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Muir Woods Road Roadside Pullouts
This scenic roadside pullout is located just outside the entrance to Mount Tamalpais State Park along Muir Woods Road. Overnight parking and vehicle habitation are strictly prohibited by both county ordinances and state park regulations.
Novato RV Park
An established, full-service RV park located in Novato offering full hookups, laundry facilities, a swimming pool, and an on-site deli. The sites are paved and closely spaced, making it a highly functional basecamp for exploring the Marin County area.
Olema Campground
A privately owned commercial campground situated just outside the national seashore boundaries, offering full and partial hookups as well as tent sites. While it provides convenient amenities like hot showers, laundry, and a dump station, rates are premium and spaces can be tightly packed. It serves as an accessible basecamp for exploring the nearby Point Reyes National Seashore trails and visitor centers.
Pantoll Campground
A popular walk-in developed campground nestled in Mount Tamalpais State Park, surrounded by lush redwood forest and coastal views. The campground features paved parking, but individual campsites require walking a short distance from the parking area. Due to walk-in restrictions, vehicle and RV camping is not permitted in the parking lot.
Point Reyes National Seashore Backcountry Camps
Point Reyes National Seashore offers highly regulated backcountry hike-in, bike-in, and boat-in camping across several wild coastal campgrounds. A valid permit is strictly required and must be reserved in advance, with no dispersed or vehicle camping permitted anywhere within the park. Accessible trailheads provide paved parking where overnight parking is allowed only for permit holders. The campgrounds feature backcountry amenities like vault toilets and food lockers in a pristine coastal wilderness environment.
Point Reyes National Seashore
Spot
Ridge Sites 4, 5, 6
Environmental walk-in campsites positioned along the ridge of Angel Island, offering stunning, elevated views of the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. Accessible via a hike up from the ferry pier.
Samuel P. Taylor State Park - Camp Taylor
A scenic developed campground situated in a deep redwood forest along the banks of Lagunitas Creek. The area comprises standard family sites, group areas, and hike-and-bike options. Facilities include flush toilets, hot coin-operated showers, and potable water. High weekend demand makes advanced bookings recommended.
San Rafael Industrial Stealth Parking
An industrial street parking area along a paved dead-end road in San Rafael. Conveniently located near local services and highway access, this spot is best suited for low-profile vehicles.
San Rafael Urban Parking
Urban parking option in downtown San Rafael, situated near public facilities and cultural centers. The area is highly exposed and subject to strict local municipal regulations.
Sausalito Marina Parking Lot #4
Sausalito municipal parking lot #4, situated near the marina. This lot is restricted to standard-sized passenger cars and smaller campervans under 6 meters. Overnight parking is free from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM, but daytime fees apply starting strictly at 7:00 AM.
Sausalito Parking Lot #3
Official municipal parking lot #3 in Sausalito, located along the waterfront. This is the only city lot that explicitly permits RVs and motorhomes up to 25 feet for overnight stays, with a maximum limit of 72 hours. Parking is free overnight between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM, with daytime rates applying outside those hours. The area is highly secure and offers convenient access to public restrooms and the San Francisco ferry terminal.
Sausalito Street Parking
An urban street parking area along Nevada Street in Sausalito, situated next to a municipal maintenance yard. Paved parallel spaces are located in an industrial-commercial pocket with low residential density, suitable for quick, respectful overnight stays.
Sausalito Urban Stealth Parking
An urban area covering street and roadside parking options throughout Sausalito. Overnight sleeping in vehicles is heavily restricted on public streets, making stealth camping highly risky and subject to local enforcement.
Site 1
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 1, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Site 10
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 10, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Site 11
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 11, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Site 12
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 12, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Site 2
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 2, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Site 3
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 3, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Site 4
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 4, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Site 5
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 5, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Site 6
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 6, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Site 7
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 7, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Site 8
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 8, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Site 9
A walk-in backcountry campsite designated as Site 9, located in the Sky Camp area along Sky Trail.
Sky Camp (Point Reyes National Seashore)
A quiet backcountry camp featuring twelve designated walk-in sites nestled in the pine forest of Point Reyes National Seashore.
State Park - Eastbay Sites 1, 2, 3
A group of walk-in campsites located on the wooded slopes of the island. These spots offer partial shade and wonderful vistas looking eastward across the open bay water. Ideal for backpackers looking for a managed island wilderness experience.
State Park - Frank Valley Horse Camp
A designated equestrian group campground nestled in a scenic valley near Muir Woods, offering rustic camping with corrals and horse facilities. Vehicle access is via paved but winding coastal roads.
State Park - North Garrison Campsite Group
A spacious group campsite situated near the historic North Garrison area. This site provides excellent group accommodations in a historic, scenic island environment away from the main day-use pathways.
State Park - Rocky Point-Steep Ravine Environmental Camp
A highly coveted environmental campground situated on a breathtaking marine terrace. This walk-in campground features rustic campsites along the cliffs, providing incredible panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the sound of crashing waves below.
State Park - Steep Ravine Cabins
Historic redwood cabins perched directly on the rocky coastal cliffs. These rustic, primitive structures feature wood-burning stoves, wooden sleeping platforms, and outdoor picnic tables, offering a secluded and iconic coastal wilderness lodging experience.
State Park - Sunrise Sites 7,8,9
These walk-in environmental campsites are positioned on the eastern side of Angel Island. They offer iconic views of the San Francisco Bay and East Bay skyline. Campers must transport all gear from the ferry terminal to these isolated sites.
Urban Stealth Parking (Mill Valley)
This urban stealth area is located along Tennessee Valley Road in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, near local walking trails and municipal facilities. While overnight parking is technically prohibited by local ordinance, some travelers have used the roadside shoulder for short-term overnight stays. Always respect local signage and maintain a low profile.
Urban Stealth Parking (San Rafael)
Industrial and commercial street parking along Windward Way in San Rafael. Features a 24-hour parking limit but is subject to active local parking enforcement and weekly street sweeping restrictions.
Urban Stealth Parking (Santa Venetia)
A suburban roadside area along Vendola Drive in Santa Venetia, located near local parks and residential neighborhoods. Overnight parking and sleeping in vehicles are prohibited on public streets in this area.
Vineyard Road Pulloff
A quiet dirt road pulloff near the Verissimo Hills Preserve on the outskirts of Novato. Frequented by locals accessing nearby trails, the area is sloped and narrow, requiring high discretion.
Wildcat Campground
A scenic backcountry walk-in campground situated on a grassy meadow bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Accessible only via hike, bike, or horseback riding along the scenic trails of the national seashore.