Explore the East Bay Hills and other Bay Area wilderness highlights from a campsite near Hayward.
On the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay, Hayward sits directly below the East Bay Hills. Multiple parks just outside of Hayward provide access to this mountain range’s crests and canyons with hiking and biking trails that lead to stunning Bay Area views. For deeper nature excursions and classic Bay Area camping trips away from Oakland and San Francisco, Hayward is also close to ancient redwood groves in the Santa Cruz Mountains, beach camping on the Pacific coast, and the sun-soaked vineyard campsites of the Napa Valley.
The East Bay Hills behind Hayward offer a joyful reprieve from the Bay Area’s urban sprawl. You’ll find miles of hiking and biking trails that meander through live oak, eucalyptus, and bay laurel trees. Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, and the Five Canyons Open Space are good places to start. RV campers passing through can book an RV park with full hookups, wifi, and other services near Hayward and other East Bay cities like San Leandro, Fremont, and Pleasanton.
Half Moon Bay has the closest Pacific beach camping to Hayward, a 40-minute straight shot away on SR 92. The Half Moon Bay State Park campground has tent sites and RV sites overlooking the beach with picnic tables, restrooms, showers, and a dump station. There are multiple hiking, swimming, surfing, and tide pool sites along Half Moon Bay.
The sprawling Santa Cruz Mountains provide a deep forest experience with access to nearby Santa Cruz beaches. We recommend Portola Redwoods State Park and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park for redwood encounters.
It’s a 70-minute drive from Hayward to Napa, the heart of Northern California’s wine country. Camping options in this region include ranches, vineyards, and forest hideouts. In addition to wine tastings, fine dining, and natural hot springs, this area has natural highlights like Lake Berryessa, Mount Saint Helena, and multiple state parks. More great camping can be found in nearby Sonoma and Mendocino too.
Camping is possible around Hayward and the Bay Area year-round. Winters run cooler and wetter, while summers can be hot, especially during heat waves. It’s important to reserve campsites in advance for summer, which is generally the most popular camping season near Hayward. Waterfalls and wildflowers are most prominent in the surrounding areas in spring.