Hike, bike, and kayak the rocky California coast; in the winter, join the locals in whale-watching.
Set on the Pacific Coast, where Marin County and Sonoma County meet, Bodega Bay makes a great base for exploring the Northern California and Bay Area coastline. It's also a great spot to combine Sonoma wine-tasting with a coastal stay. This little town offers a variety of excellent restaurants, particularly if you're fond of seafood, in addition to plenty of state and regional parks, many of which offer seafront tent and RV camping.
California’s North Coast
With its scenic stretches of sandy beaches and abundance of ancient forests, the North Coast gives California's other coastal gem—Big Sur—a run for its money. Stretching north of Bodega Bay up to the border with Oregon, this region is best known for its gargantuan Redwood trees, some of the largest of which can be found in the Redwood National Park.
Around Sonoma County
With its abundance of world-renowned wineries and adorable towns, Sonoma has long been a darling of weekend road trippers from the Bay Area. It's also a great place for sleeping under the stars, and the county's regional park system has over 200 year-round campgrounds.
The San Francisco Bay Area
Although most people associate the Bay Area with urban sprawl, this populated part of California also offers plenty of places to escape the city lights. You'll find campgrounds and trails galore just north of the city in Marin County, while east of Oakland is home to a mix of regional parks and even some wilderness areas.
Bodega Bay enjoys a temperate climate, and things never get too hot or too cold here, with summertime highs in the mid-80s and winter temperatures rarely dropping below freezing. Summers can be busy, when the weather is warm and dry. September is a good time to visit if you want warm weather without the crowds associated with summer vacationers, while October and November can be fun for harvest festivities.
A Stillwater Cove Regional Park camping trip invites you to a tranquil coastal escape. It's a quiet haven, offering sea views, forested trails, and campsites that encourage you to connect deeply with nature.