So if hot showers and warm food just steps from your tent sounds ideal to you, read on — we’ve compiled a list of a few nearby glamping locations, as well as campsites that offer cabins, to up your outdoor game this year.
(And if you happen to be the “camping friend” who can never convince your friends or family to accompany you into nature overnight? This list could be what changes their mind.)
Jump straight to:
Home to what was the state’s largest hydraulic gold mine, Malakoff Diggins — north of Nevada City in the Sierra Foothills — immerses visitors in 1800s California and allows glampers to stay in one of three cabins designed to resemble those of Gold Rush-era miners back when the town was known as Humbug.
Be aware: These cabins, located in the historic ghost town of North Bloomfield, are “very primitive,” said park aide Deidra Hall. Each has bunks for four to six people and potable water for drinking and cooking. They each also have a wood stove inside and an outdoor fire pit for grilling, plus a picnic table and bear box for food storage. Dogs are allowed both in the campground and in town.
Hall said the state park runs tours of the historic town on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon. While the towering cliffs of the “Diggins” — carved out by powerful water cannons in the 1800s — are the main attraction nearby, Hall said there are plenty of trails for hikers and bikers to explore. Anyone staying in the state park, whether at the cabins or in the campsites above North Bloomfield, can also get a chance at some gold panning, Hall said.
“We have gold pans here that you can check out at the Visitor Center and we have a spot on Humbug Creek where you can go and try your hand,” Hall said.
Pro tip: If you’ve made a reservation, consider calling ahead of your arrival to check on the park’s fire status, “because we do stop campfires later in the summer,” Hall said. Also: Don’t forget to bring bug spray.
For peace in the redwoods: Stay in Anderson Valley’s Hendy Woods
Just a few hours from the Bay Area, Hendy Woods State Park feels a world away. Nestled in the Anderson Valley, famous for its Pinot Noirs, is a warmer, less foggy alternative to many redwood forests in California — and it has four cabins that can be reserved online.
Senior Park Aide Bo Venturi said while the bathrooms are shared with other campers, each cabin includes a wood stove, table and full size bunk beds.
Venturi said that while the cabins get booked up quickly on the weekends, there are openings all summer long during the weekdays.
As for the park itself, if the redwoods aren’t enough of a draw themselves, park visitors can do everything from ranger-led nature walks and ample hiking to canoeing, kayaking and picturesque picnic spots. Dogs are allowed at the campground but not on trails, and bikes are allowed only on paved roads.
Pro Tip: While the cabins technically sleep six, “I think four would be more comfortable in there,” Venturi said.
Perhaps the most famous glamping experience in the Bay Area, the nine Steep Ravine Cabins are nearly impossible to snag.
The cabins themselves are fairly understated — they don’t have any electricity, heaters, A/C or other amenities, and bathrooms are shared by the whole campsite.
But their location, perched on rugged, rural cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean from Marin, gives overnight visitors the remote feeling of seaside camping right here in the Bay Area. And their resulting popularity has prompted the state parks department to pilot a lottery system to give more people a chance at getting a site.
So how does it work? Anyone can put their hat into a drawing for a cabin for free up to eight months in advance of your desired reservation, and if selected, will have 30 days to pay and claim their spot. When applying, you can add preferences like how many nights, your preferred arrival date and whether you need an accessible site.
Pro tip: Don’t worry if you don’t get a spot your first time entering the lottery: Each time you apply and aren’t selected, you get an increased chance at winning via a points system that awards you one point for every failed application you put in. The more points you have, the more likely you are to win a reservation.
For stunning ocean views: Stay inTreebones Resort in Big Sur
A section of Highway 1 through Big Sur may remain closed, but the stunning Treebones Resort is still open. And even though it’s located south of the Hwy 1 closure at the town of Lucia, the resort is accessible inland from the Bay Area via the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road over the Santa Lucia mountain range.
“It’s one of those roads that either you love it or you hate it,” laughed Donna Heckert, Treebones’ manager of guest relations and reservations, who’s worked here for 20 years.
This glamping spot is renowned for its hard-to-beat location on Big Sur’s bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and its luxurious amenities, from a sushi restaurant and massage therapists onsite to yurts with running water, heaters and fireplaces.
“You’ve got the best of both worlds,” Heckert said. “Think of it like going to a hotel with the bathroom down the hall.”
Be aware that this luxury comes at a price, making Treebones much more expensive than other options on this list and may be best saved for a splurge or special occasion.
Heckert said although reservations fill up quickly, and “we get a lot of repeat guests,” Treebones still has availability for this summer.
Pro tip: If you’ve got extra time, head south to Hearst Castle or San Simeon to see elephant seals basking in the sun at the Piedras Blancas Rookery.
For an escape on the northern coast: Stay in Mendocino Grove
“Camping made comfy” is how Teresa Raffo, owner and camp operator for Mendocino Grove, describes the rustic-yet-cushy “neighborhoods” of tents just a few hours north of the Bay Area on the coast. The campsite features around 60 tents, but it doesn’t feel crowded, Raffo said, as everyone has their own space and quiet hours help guests “relax into the experience,” she said.
Their goal is to toe the line between the peace and quiet of a camping experience and the amenities of a resort — like a dry sauna, heated mattress pads, complimentary breakfast and high-touch customer service: “If you need hot cocoa at 11 o’clock at night, we’re going to go get you hot cocoa,” Raffo said. And unlike traditional camping, you don’t need to bring anything for your stay.
The beauty of the campsite itself is a main draw, with towering redwood forests, ocean views and an expansive meadow where you can play volleyball, bocce ball or do other camping activities. Nearby you’ll find the quaint town of Mendocino with its cozy downtown and lots of small beaches to explore up and down the coast.
Pro tip: If you’re hoping to come up on a weekend but don’t see anything available, Raffo suggested that you call the front office direct, as last-minute cancellations are common.
For a family-friendly campout: Stay at Nevada’s City’s Inn Town Campground
That’s right, this is another glamping spot in the Nevada City area. The Inn Town Campground is a privately run camping, glamping and RV park started by couple Erin Thiem and her husband Dan, who, after living in New Zealand, wanted to replicate that country’s “holiday park” experience in Erin’s very own hometown.
“We thought a campground would be a good fit for this community, and I’m grateful that we have been correct,” Thiem said.
For glampers, the site offers 21 glamping tents which include a bed, linens, electricity and a fan. Four of these tents are large enough for a big family, and even the smaller tents are “super family friendly,” Thiem said and can be outfitted with cots for additional kids if needed.
The campground is also dog-friendly and features a swimming pool, outdoor movie screening area and communal kitchen and living room area, plus a camp store to pick up any extra food. There are communal bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities onsite.
Being a short walking distance from Nevada City’s historic downtown has its perks, as glampers can see live shows or concerts or time their visit around events like summer nights on Wednesdays, first Friday art walks or the county fair in nearby Grass Valley. That’s not to mention the ample outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, mountain biking and whitewater kayaking, or the nearby Empire Mine Historic State Park.
Pro tip: “No one should miss the South Yuba River,” Thiem said. Whether in spring, when the wildflowers are blooming or in winter, when the river is in full flow, it’s a sight to behold, she said. “You go down there and the river is just raging,” she said. “It’s powerful.”
