Camp near San Francisco?

I was hoping to get a few suggestions for reasonably priced (under 20 - preferably free) camping within a days ride from San Francisco. We dont need any amenities, I just want the place to be relatively private and to stink pretty. Any suggestions close to this are really appreciated thanks.

17th Edition
By: Tom Stienstra
Series: Moon Outdoors
ISBN-13: 9781598807523
Pages: 936
Published: May 1, 2011
http://tomstienstra.com/books/california-camping/

$35 and pretty close:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=469

Kirby Cove is awesome but hard to get into: $25
The online res system says they have a space sunday and monday night this week.
http://www.recreation.gov/campsiteC...ate=08/24/2012&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70972

Memorial Park in the hills to the south, amongst some of the greatest motorcycle roads around: http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/portal...0VgnVCM1000001d37230aRCRD&cpsextcurrchannel=1

Those are within an hour or so. Depending on what you consider a "day's ride" there's a whole lot more.

This one is a day's ride north of San Francisco, and forces you to ride Highway 36.

Yes, maybe I was bit ambiguous by saying "days ride".

Funny I have camped maybe 15 miles of Grizzly Creek as the crow flies. A bit further than I had hoped, but I imagine thats what you have to do get cheap camping in California.

butano or portola redwoods state parks in the santa cruz mountains have camping, and a very nice couple hours ride from SF. not sure what the camping fees are. they are both in hte middle of motorcycle heaven.

also, big basin state park has camping in santa cruz county and henry cowell. there's a pile more.

most state park developed drive-up campsites are like $35, while walk-in can be a bit to a lot cheaper depending on where. drive-in spaces generally require reserviations, many places have walk-in first come first serve.

I have 20 acres near Gilroy, about 70 miles south of SF. Plenty of camping area, BBQ facilities and pit toilet. Very secluded and quiet, (except for the birds). You are more than welcome to camp a few days, no charge. KLRocket and attest to the serenity and remoteness.
Eric

Then they're just an hour away from:

Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo-$6.50/person
3080 Rio Road Carmel, California 93923<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
(831) 624-1271<o></o>
http://www.carmelmission.org/<o></o>
9:30am - 5:00pm Monday &#8211; Saturday, 10:30am - 5:00pm Sunday

<o>http://img.tfd.com/wiki/3/32/MissionCarmelSEGL2.jpg</o>
<o></o>
<o>


Point Lobos State Natural Reserve &#8211; $10/vehicle, free parking outside park along CA Hwy 1<o></o>
Route 1 Box 62, Carmel, CA 93923 (on CA Hwy 1, between Riley Ranch Rd and Allen Rd)<o></o>
(831) 624-4909<o></o>
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=571<o></o>
Winter Hours: 8:00am - 1/2 hour after sunset, Daylight Savings Time Hours: 8:00am - 7:00pm
<o></o>
<o>http://pacheco-family.net/2008/08_California Trip/Point Lobos State Reserve.JPG</o>
</o>

If you'll be coming from the north, Sonoma County has campsites at Gualala Point (w/ several walk-in sites that are often open mid-week . . . other than perhaps the weeks preceding and following Labor Day weekend), in Bodega Bay at Westside or Doran (Mariposa camp is tent only, others for RVs), and in Santa Rosa, there's a cute little campground at Spring Lake Park (west side of town, next to Annadel State Park, which does not have camping), within walking distance of restaurants and coffee shops. There's also some campgrounds along the Russian River, but my #1 choice would be to call Brad at the Rio Nido Roadhouse and see if he'll let you camp out in the back yard of the roadhouse. They have a pool and a locked parking area in back and host a couple of ADV events each year.

another nice campground in the santa rosa/sonoma area is Sugarloaf State Park... but its likely as expensive as the other state parks (used to be cheap, now at $35/night, ouch)

BTW, I personally avoid campgrounds that are right ON the west coast, everything is cold clammy and salty in the AM, bleah. a couple-3 miles inland and up a couple 100' elevation, and its a totally different climate zone.

Awesome cheap camping on the coast in the Lost Coast about 1/2 day North of San Fran.

Check it out here:

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=820196

Lots of great campgrounds along hwy36 - one the best motorcycle roads around!

Mike Z

Double check the camping at Sugarloaf before committing. It was one of the parks closed for the budget BS and IIRC reopened for day use but not camping. If it is open- its a nice place.

The Lost Coast is a LONG haul from San Francisco.

Samuel P. Taylor State Park in Marin.

There's also Olema Campground, right on Hwy. 1. A little further up the coast, consider Hendy Redwoods in Philo, you're probably 2.5 hours north of SF via 101 or a pretty awesome 5 to 6 hours down 1.

There's also a campground up in the Marin Headlands, that's pretty quiet. If you're more adventurous, try camping on Angel Island. You'll be camped in the middle of SF bay with an amazing view of the bridges and city. Take the ferry from Tiburon. Bring supplies. There's a bar on the island, but food can be kind of limited. A full moon night is the way to go. You're going to have to hump your stuff in from the ferry terminal.

Samuel P Taylor is $35/night, Olema is like $40. both of those are quite a bit more than the OP said he wanted to spend.

hmmm. Kirby Cove is right outside the GG Bridge, I didn't realize there was a campground htere, $25/night per http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm#

man, thats gonna be cold, foggy, and salty in the AM tho. could be really really windy too. its also a 1 mile steep hike down from the parking lot, so your bike is left all alone up above. hmmm.

The Bay area is pretty big, so a 'day's ride' could put you in LA, out past Tahoe, or north up to Eureka. Sunset mag might be worth checking out. One article here: http://www.sunset.com/travel/california/northern-california-campgrounds-00418000067378/

I know you said "camp", but there's a great all ages hostel in the marin Headlands that will free you from having to carry a tent, etc. Cheap, four double bunks per room, common bath and kitchen. It's a great place, I've stayed there several times.

http://www.norcalhostels.org/marin/

Its very centrally located. San Francisco right to the south, hwy 1 along the coast to the north, and you can loop through Sonoma and Napa valleys and back in a day.

There is another hostel in Fort Mason within walking distance of Fisherman's Warf, which is also good. Parking is free, but out of site of the hostel (unlike the Marin Headlands), so you will need some really good locks for a motorcycle.

http://sfhostels.com/fishermans-wharf/

For camping, I second the recomendation for Butano State Park.

This is great web site of campgrounds all over US and Canada. Check it out.

http://www.uscampgrounds.info/