The best camping near Gray Whale Cove State Beach

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Gray Whale Cove State Beach adventure.

Spot migrating whales or take in epic buff views from this cozy California cove.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Gray Whale Cove State Beach

Top-rated campgrounds near Gray Whale Cove State Beach

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Blackberry Farm

6 sites · Lodging, Tents6 acres · Bolinas, CA

Blackberry Farm sits on the western side of Mount Tamalpais, tucked in the Gospel Flat area of Bolinas. The family farm and residence were established during the late 1970s on the site of the historic Peter’s Dairy Ranch. The original farmhouse dates back to the late 19th century and survived the great 1906 earthquake. Today, the 7-acre farm is being restored to sustainably support fruit orchards, cottage flower and kitchen gardens, honey bees, a boisterous flock of chickens, and naughty shetland sheep. Our self-serve farmstand attached to our barn has seasonal flowers, organic eggs, heirloom fruit, and local goods from the farm. Our property is the perfect rustic getaway for backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts. You’ll be surrounded by farm/ranch life: chickens clucking, roosters crowing, bees buzzing, and sheep bleating. We also have active nighttime wildlife: coyotes howling, raccoons foraging, owls hooting, etc. Bring earplugs if nature sounds are too much for you. We offer 4 walk-in tent sites that allow you to immerse yourself in nature. We welcome well-behaved pets ON LEASH that won’t harass the chickens, cats, sheep, other campers, or residents. Unruly pets and their campers will be asked to leave. No refund. Limit: 1 dog per site. Pitch your tent in a meadow shared by: Campsite 1 - left side of the meadow, closest to the common area and hot tub. Campsite 2 - middle of the meadow, closest to our fenced apiary and bee garden. Campsite 3 - right side of the meadow, near the orchard. (sites 1 and 3 are next to each other) Campsite 4 - front of the pasture, closest to the parking area (best for car/van campers wanting space to lounge near their parked vehicle.) Multiple sites may be booked for group camping. Sites 1 and 3 are next to each other under the Cypress Trees. Add site 2 if you would like the entire back half of the campground. Add site 4 if you'd like to have a maximum number of 16 total campers and 2 tents/per site. The common area has an outdoor shower, hot tub, covered bbq/cook area, tented (weather-protected) hangout space, and a place to stash your surfboard. The pizza oven is not available for campground use. Redwood Grove hangout areas have seating and tree swings. Please pack out your trash. We offer a recycling bin for glass bottles, cans, and clean paper. Parking is 100 yds or less from the campsites. We have a large wheelbarrow to help you cart your camping gear across the pasture to your campsite. No driving onto or parking in the meadow. Due to the narrow driveway and parking area (lack of turnaround), the site cannot accommodate RVs, trailers, or oversize vehicles beyond 16ft in length, 7ft in width, or 10 ft in height. 1 car per campsite, please. 15-minute walk to the beach and downtown.

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The Ranch at Cross Road

12 sites · RVs, Tents84 acres · Livermore, CA

Welcome to the ranch at cross road! We are a family owned organic farm in the heart of Livermore wine country. We have 10 camp sites spread across the property for you to choose from. The property is 15 minutes from Lake Del Valle and some of the best wineries and breweries California has to offer. Settle in and enjoy amazing sunsets every night with us! We accommodate tents,Travel trailers, Fifth wheels, Toy haulers, Pop-up campers, Class A RVs, Class B RVs, Class C RVs, Campervans, and Cars. Our guests love us too! "I had a wonderful stay at Matt’s ranch! It was easy to find even as it was starting to get dark, and the campsites were well lit and easy to find. The ranch is beautiful. It was such a treat to stay here. I would definitely stay again."

Booked 13 times

May's Luxury Farmstay

5 sites · Lodging19 acres · Los Gatos, CA

Relax and recharge at our retreat in Los Gatos. Whether you’re here to reconnect with nature, hike the trails, camp under the stars, or explore the Bay Area, Harlan’s Retreat, has everything for a worry-free stay! With nature trails on-site and the Saratoga Gap down the road, you won’t have to go far, For fun drive into the city. Come home and admire the amazing views from your secluded glamp-site with sweeping views of San Francisco Bay and Silicon Valley 2,800 feet below. This very private site offers breathtaking views of San Francisco Bay and the south bay. The views at night are transcendent. The Apple building and Moffet field are clearly visible. you look down from above the clouds to the valley floor 2,800 feet below.

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Felton Open Space Camp Sites

10 sites · RVs, Tents14 acres · Felton, CA

Next to Historic Winery in the heart of Santa Cruz Mountains in the quaint town of Felton. Located between two state parks, Henry Cowell and Fall Creek. Just 6 miles, up in the mountains, from the Pacific Ocean and the Monterey Bay. Half a mile from the famous Roaring Camp Railway. Wine & Cider tasting next door at Hallcrest Vineyards; Dine in Felton, hiking, biking and local shops to explore. Please note when booking that each of the sites are limited to two adults only. Children are welcome.

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Dreamy California Coast Airstreams

4 sites · Lodging30 acres · Pescadero, CA

This is private 30 acres property overlooking the stunning Tunitas Beach and Pacific ocean from a breathtaking ocean cliff view. Stunning sunrise and sunset greet you in these fully equipped Airstreams. Fully loaded with all the amenities to make your glamping experience perfect. Fire pit, BBQ, Pizza oven, A/C, Heater, full kitchen with all necessary cookware and serving dishes to cook inside the airstream or on the BBQ or Pizza oven outside. Comes will full bathroom with hot shower. Truly a rare and memorable experience, located within 9 mins of Half Moon Bay shopping. Beach access short walk or drive.

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Lobitos Creek

1 site · RV, Tent24 acres · Half Moon Bay, CA

Beautiful view from the quiet camping spot. Picnic table and porta potty. Dog friendly. There is only one big camp spot. Quiet and private. Four miles to hwy. 1 and the beaches. Close to Open Space trails. 20 Minutes to historic little town of Half Moon Bay. 30 Minutes to the harbor. Fresh fish, fresh local vegetables for sale. Moderate temperatures at 700 feet, sunny skies cooled by the marine layer below. But watch the weather report for winter storms.

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Sleep Up High In A Redwood Tree-net

1 site · RV, Tent2 acres · San Geronimo, CA

A unique experience awaits you. Spend a night sleeping 20 feet up in the air suspended between towering Redwood trees. A custom woven "treenet" by West Marin artist Andrew Castle (https://treenet.studio/), provides a firm surface to hang out and sleep up to 5 people on. It's like floating in space. Bring your sleeping bag, this is open air camping at its best - No roof, no floor! Wake up to the sun filtering through your temple made of trees! Rain is nearly non-existent in the Summer and early Fall in beautiful San Geronimo Valley, making this the perfect place and time to sleep out in the glory of the redwoods. Swainson's Thrush will sing at dusk, followed by the owls and coyote's yipping and howling in the middle of the night (don't let it spook you!) There is amazing hiking all around, potable water on site and a public toilet not far away. There's parking for your camper directly next to the site, keeping your amenities close by.

Booked 9 times

Patchen Christmas Tree Farm

3 sites · RVs, Tents6 acres · Los Gatos, CA

Patchen Farm is a 6 acre, choose and cut Christmas tree farm. Since the farm is only open during the holiday season, in the off season you'll find a working farm (work being done, cars coming and going, etc.). Patchen is located only 10 mins from downtown Los Gatos in one direction and the Santa Cruz beach in the other direction. Perched at the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Patchen offers the scenic beauty of lush redwood forests and views of the surrounding area. There are several wonderful wineries within 5 miles and great hiking and biking trails.

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Slide Ranch - Tent Camping

17 sites · Tents134 acres · Muir Beach, CA

Discover the magic of Slide Ranch spending the night overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Slide Ranch offers camping so we can offer full scholarships to students for summer camps and other programs throughout the year. We really appreciate your support! Check in 2pm / Check out 12pm Camping is available to guests 18 and up. Minors aged 17 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult and cannot be dropped off or picked up. No pets allowed; service animals are permitted. The campsite area is NOT accessible by vehicle. Guests must park in the guest parking lot and hike to the Dome campsite area. Guests are NOT permitted to sleep in cars/vans/campers in the parking lot. Upon your arrival, we will provide roomy wheelbarrows to easily bring your personal items to our campsite area which overlooks the Pacific Ocean (about 10 minutes, mostly-flat hike). Tents and gear are not included; please bring and pitch your own tents. Bring your own food (there is a cooler and dry food storage container) or plan to enjoy dining in Muir Beach. Please note that we do not have showering facilities or flush toilets. Porta-potties or composting toilets are available around the property. Water in all Slide Ranch taps is potable for refilling water bottles/jugs. There is no running water at the Dome but there will be containers of water out there for use in hand washing, dish washing, and limited for drinking. Slide Ranch does not have any concessions on site. Please plan to bring any snacks or picnic items you’d like to enjoy while enjoying the ranch. Per GGNRA regulations, camp fires and open flames of any kind are not allowed out at the campsite meadow or inside the Geodesic Dome as there is no running water. Slide Ranch is located on the Marin coast, on land that has a rich history in connecting people to food. The Miwok once fished and foraged for food at this site, and in the late 19th century Portuguese dairy farmers purchased the land and produced milk and butter for residents of San Francisco. In 1969, 134 acres of this fertile coastline were rescued from commercial development and purchased by the Nature Conservancy. The Slide Ranch nonprofit organization was established in 1970, becoming one of the first Park Partners in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

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Redwood Paradise

4 sites · Tents40 acres · Santa Cruz, CA

40 Acres of majestic redwoods bordering Wilder Ranch State Park gives you access to thousands of acres of excellent hiking and mountain biking right from your campsite. Miles of single-track and fire roads in this world-class mountain bike destination lead you through the redwoods to sunny meadows with sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean and the Monterey Bay. Conveniently located above the westside of Santa Cruz, our site will give you easy access to scenic Westcliff Drive, Natural Bridges State Beach, downtown Santa Cruz, quaint Felton, Henry Cowell Redwoods state park as well as incredibly scenic & private North Coast beaches. Please note tent camping is a rain-or-shine activity. :)

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Kings Mountain Camp w/ ocean views

4 sites · Lodging10 acres · Woodside, CA

Breathe deep in nature on our 10-acre property on a hillside in Kings Mountain, California. Our generously sized Safari-style tents offer a unique blend of comfort and adventure. Each tent has beds, down comforters, crisp cotton linens, lights, and more. Outdoor and indoor furniture and lots of little touches will make your stay unique. Each tent is perched on a sturdy wooden platform and features a fully furnished deck, providing a cozy space to relax and soak in the breathtaking ocean (Half Moon Bay views) and forest views (Kings Mountain). All tents include a mini fridge and a stove, which are ideal for light cooking, intimate fireside storytelling, and warmth during cool mornings and evenings. We suggest you bring easy-to-prep food, drinks, warm clothes, hiking shoes, and a beanie, as it can get chilly without notice. Your designated parking space is a 6-minute walk from the campsite (downhill on arrival, then back uphill (steep) in the forest), so we recommend traveling light. Our campsite is nestled within the same property as our charming little farm. If you're interested in meeting our friendly farm animals, get in touch, and we'll be delighted to arrange a visit at a time that works best for you and them. Our goats roam the land all day and may visit you for pets and nuzzles. They are gentle, but please do not feed or let them inside the tent. Recharge from the day with a hot shower. Grab your fresh towels from your tent and go to your allocated bathhouses, where you’ll find an indoor shower and well-appointed restrooms. They are nicely lit and stocked with bath products. Additionally, a sink area is available for dish clean-up. Kings Mountain is famous for its hiking and biking trails nested amongst the redwoods. The closest is a 15-minute walk from our campsite, and dozens of others are within a 15-minute car ride. Tent 01 (180sqft) accommodates three people in a queen-size bed and a daybed. Tent 02 (210sqft) accommodates four people: two in a queen-size bed and two in a bunk bed Tent 03 (210sqft) accommodates four people: two in a queen-size bed and two in a twin bed + daybed Children: Kids under the age of 10 are not allowed. An adult must accompany minors under 21 YO.

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Audrey Edna Cabin at Alpine Ranch

1 site · Lodging350 acres · Loma Mar, CA

Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all. Situated on top of a ridge with expansive redwood forest and coastal views, the Audrey Edna Cabin provides a completely private gathering place and destination for visitors with reservations. The cabin has spectacular views of forest, sky, ocean and the Butano ridgeline. It's a short hike to 8000+ acres of county parkland where you can hike, bike and ride horses (though please note, there are no facilities for horse boarding at the cabin.) The cabin is located at Alpine Ranch, a property adjacent to Sam McDonald County Park that was protected by Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST). Whether you are looking for an active experience or just want to relax in a peaceful, remote setting, there's something here for everyone. This is a rustic hike-in cabin designed for a introductory pack-in experience. Bedding is not provided. It is about a 1.7-mile hike on a rolling dirt road from the Sam McDonald County Park parking lot, with about 650 feet of elevation gain. Most hikers can reach the cabin in an hour or less. Guests should plan to arrive at least 2 hours before sunset, and pack water and flashlights or headlamps. Guests with limited mobility, please contact us for information regarding accommodations that will allow you to access this shared resource. *A note about reservation availability: On the weekends, POST offers priority reservations for the cabin to our partners at the San Mateo County Health Department and Park Rx to provide patients with equitable access to the benefits of nature. Occasionally, we have last-minute public weekend reservation availability due to cancellations. The cabin is reservable up to 3 months in advance, on a rolling basis. Love the idea of a hike-in cabin, but unable to visit us Sunday-Thursday? Check out the nearby Sierra Club Hiker's Hut in Sam McDonald County Park. Property History: At one time, the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains was a thriving center for trade between tribes of the coast and the bay, which we still find evidence of today in cultural sites and artifacts throughout the region. Native people have cared for this land since time immemorial, including the local Muwekma and Ramaytush Ohlone who are still active in the area today. This property specifically is host to a tributary to one of just a handful of waterways that support salmonids in this region, which are a species of tremendous importance to native people. Over 1000 acres here were eventually purchased by entrepreneur Ridgeway Rowley, who built a home on the ranch in the 1880s as part of an unsuccessful wedding proposal to Fannie Page, daughter of a local mill owner (ever heard of Page Mill Road?) After being rejected by Fannie, Rowley operated the ranch for a decade in conjunction with his work as District Attorney and publisher of the Palo Alto Weekly, before eventually returning to his hometown of Cortland, NY, where he lived as a bachelor until his death. Over the course of the 20th century, the ranch was divided, some parts of which became Pescadero Creek County Park. POST purchased the 350 acre home property, now called Alpine Ranch, in 2012 through our Heart of the Redwoods campaign, an initiative to protect 20,000 acres of Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Alpine Ranch borders Pescadero Creek County Park and Sam McDonald County Park, adding to the area’s protected open space and containing more than a mile of tributaries to Pescadero Creek, which flows year-round and is a major spawning stream for steelhead trout. The Audrey Edna Cabin at Alpine Ranch is situated at one of the property's most scenic overlooks. The cabin was built in the early 1900's, and completely reconstructed up to modern building codes by POST in 2018 so that all could enjoy this special place.

The best camping near Gray Whale Cove State Beach guide

Overview

About

Situated on the Northern California coast, between Pacifica and Montara, Gray Whale Cove State Beach gets its name from the numerous whales that swim close to the shore during the migration seasons. The beach is hemmed in by a steep cliff known as Devil's Slide and features a compact, sandy expanse with around 800 feet of shoreline. There’s also a small picnic area on the bluffs overlooking the beach. Note that getting to the beach is not for the faint of heart, and involves spiriting across busy Highway 1 from the parking lot and descending a long, steep staircase to the sands below.

When to go

Gray Whale Cove State Beach is open for day use only, officially from 8 am to sunset. The weather here is pleasant year-round, and temperatures rarely drop below the upper 40s, even in the dead of winter. If you want to see the gray whales that give the cove its name, your best bet is to come during one of the two annual migration periods: in December or January and again from March to May.

Know before you go

Gray Whale Cove has been clothing optional for a long time, and while nudity is not technically allowed here, it’s generally accepted.
There’s no restroom at the beach, but there is a porta-potty in the parking area, on the opposite side of Highway 1.
Dogs are not allowed at the beach, even if leashed. The closest dog-friendly beach areas are Esplanade Beach, about a 10-minute drive north of Gray Whale Cove or Half Moon Bay Dog Park, 15 minutes to the north.
Visitors are not allowed to collect rocks, shells, driftwood, or other natural items from the beach.
The beach is not wheelchair accessible, and the stairway that leads down to the beach is steep.