Best Campgrounds Near Concord
20 hand-picked camping destinations curated for families visiting REI Concord. Each campground selected for quality, scenery diversity, and memorable experiences.
Showing 20 campgrounds
Featured Picks
Kirby Cove Campground
Kirby Cove is one of the most iconic family campgrounds near Concord, with beachfront sites tucked under cypress and pine looking straight at the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s relatively close to home yet feels like a true escape, and offers great hiking, shoreline exploration, and access to the Marin Headlands bike network.
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Campground
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park gives families a classic Northern California mix of oak woodland, chaparral ridges, and shady creek canyons with a small waterfall, plus great stargazing. It’s an easy day-trip drive with strong reviews, varied hiking for different ages, and creekside exploring and fishing along Sonoma Creek.
Portola Campground
Portola Redwoods State Park is a standout redwood option with fewer crowds than the coastal parks and a very immersive forest feel. Families get shaded campsites, kid-friendly creek wading and swimming in season, and lots of loop hikes and bikeable park roads, all within a reasonable drive from Concord.
Wright's Beach Campground
Wright's Beach puts your tent just steps from a wild Sonoma Coast shoreline, with dramatic surf, sunsets, and miles of beach and bluff-top trail to explore. It’s ideal for a weekend when you want true oceanfront camping, strong reviews, and easy access to nearby coastal hikes and fishing spots.
Gerle Creek
Gerle Creek is a top-rated High Sierra destination where families can camp under pines right by the water, with a mellow reservoir and creek ideal for swimming, paddling, and fishing. It combines classic forest camping with excellent kid-friendly water access and plenty of nearby hiking, making it a great "first Sierra" weekend.
Mount Rose (Nv)
Mount Rose Campground offers a true high-mountain experience at 9,300 feet with big Sierra Nevada views, wildflower meadows, and excellent trail access. It’s a great choice for families ready to venture farther from Concord, with cooler summer temperatures, nearby Lake Tahoe for fishing and water play, and strong reviews.
More to Explore
Juniper Campground
Juniper Campground on Mount Diablo is one of the closest true mountain campouts from Concord, with sweeping Bay Area views and plenty of trails right from camp. It’s ideal for a quick overnight when you want big scenery, starry skies, and hiking or biking without a long drive.
Putah Canyon Campground- Napa, Ca (Bor)
Putah Canyon Campground gives families rare, close-to-Concord lakeside camping with many waterfront sites on Lake Berryessa. It’s great for warm-weather trips focused on swimming, paddling, boating, and shoreline fishing, with short hikes in the surrounding oak hills.
Benicia State Recreation Campground
Benicia State Recreation Area Campground is a convenient option for young families, offering easy access from Concord and mellow camping next to the Carquinez Strait and tidal marshes. Short trails and bike paths, bird-watching, and shore fishing make it a low-stress intro to camping close to home.
Steep Ravine Campground
Steep Ravine Campground delivers a dramatic mix of coastal redwoods and cliffside Pacific views just over the Golden Gate Bridge. Families who don’t mind a walk-in style site get incredible scenery, access to the Dipsea and coastal trails, tidepooling nearby, and excellent stargazing and sunrise views.
Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground
Samuel P. Taylor State Park Campground offers classic creekside redwood camping with a family-friendly feel and a paved multi-use bike path along Lagunitas Creek. It’s a strong choice for mixed-age groups who want shady sites, gentle trails, and the option to splash or wade on hot days.
Francis Beach Campground
Francis Beach Campground at Half Moon Bay State Beach is a very family-friendly coastal option with blufftop sites, a long sandy beach, and a popular coastal trail for walking and biking. It’s well-reviewed, easy to reach for a weekend, and great for beach play and surf casting.
Main Campground
Castle Rock State Park’s Main Campground is perfect for adventurous families who love rocky landscapes, with sandstone formations, rugged canyons, and far-reaching views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s a small, hike-in style campground that gives easy access to some of the Bay Area’s best day hikes and scrambling.
Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area Campground
Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area Campground is a unique pick for families who are into off-road motorcycles, ATVs, or dirt-oriented mountain biking. The canyon setting and rolling hills offer a very different environment than redwoods or coast, and it’s still within an easy day-trip drive from Concord.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground combines towering redwoods with access to the San Lorenzo River for swimming holes, plus nearby Santa Cruz attractions. It’s an outstanding weekend base for families wanting big trees, water play, and both hiking and biking options.
Bodega Dunes Campground
Bodega Dunes Campground offers a different kind of coastal experience, with sheltered sites among cypress and dune vegetation about a mile from the beach. Families can explore sand dunes, walk or bike coastal trails, and easily access the broader Sonoma Coast for whale watching and scenic drives.
Liberty Glen (Lake Sonoma)
Liberty Glen at Lake Sonoma sits above a large reservoir, giving families a great base for boating, paddling, and fishing weekends within wine country hills. The ridgetop setting, extensive trail network, and mix of water and land activities make it a versatile option for active families.
Eagle Point Campground
Eagle Point Campground at Emerald Bay offers postcard-perfect views of Lake Tahoe, forested sites, and easy access to the water. It’s a spectacular alpine-lake choice for families ready for a longer drive, with hiking trails, swimming coves, and boating opportunities all nearby.
Navarro Beach Campground
Navarro Beach Campground sits where the Navarro River meets the Pacific, blending a redwood-lined valley with a rugged beach. It’s a great pick for families seeking a more remote North Coast feel, with fishing, beach exploring, and access to nearby redwood hikes.
Calpine Lookout
Calpine Lookout is a unique fire-lookout rental where one family has a mountaintop tower to themselves, with 360-degree views over Sierra forests and meadows. It’s best for families with older kids and offers a very memorable, highly rated alternative to traditional campgrounds.
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