Top Camping Spots Near UC Davis, CA: Explore Nature's Best Outdoor Escapes
Nestled in the heart of Northern California, near the University of California-Davis, camping enthusiasts can explore diverse options that cater to all preferences, from RV parks to tent camping and dispersed sites. The area is characterized by its stunning landscapes, including rolling hills, picturesque vineyards, and the nearby Cache Creek Natural Area, offering a perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures. For RV campers, Davis RV Park provides full-hookup sites, convenient amenities, and easy access to local attractions, making it an ideal base for exploring the vibrant college town. Tent campers can enjoy the serene environment at Lake Berryessa, where multiple campgrounds are available, surrounded by water sports, hiking trails, and breathtaking views of the lake. For those seeking solitude, dispersed camping areas in nearby Mendocino National Forest allow for a rustic experience amid towering trees and pristine nature, perfect for a getaway that prioritizes tranquility. With California's mild weather and rich ecological diversity, camping near UC Davis offers endless opportunities for recreation, connection with nature, and exploration of the surrounding natural wonders.
Brannan Island Campground is part of Brannan Island State Recreation Area in California (just 22 min north of Oakley, CA) with an elevation of 32 feet. There are a total of 112 campsites including 13 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 99 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 36 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 7 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $31.00 to $121.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, swimming, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, floating sports.
Beals Point Campground is part of Folsom Lake State Recreation Area in California (just 13 min northwest of Folsom, CA) with an elevation of 469 feet. There are a total of 50 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 31 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 14 sites have electric and water hookups. 1 site has electric hookups. Fees range from $28.00 to $48.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, general store, accessible, swimming, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Peninsula Campground is part of Folsom Lake State Recreation Area in California (55 min north of Folsom, CA) with an elevation of 447 feet. There are a total of 78 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 31 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $28.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, dump station, accessible, boat ramp, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Ritchey Creek Campground is part of Bothe-Napa Valley State Park in California (35 min northeast of Santa Rosa, CA) with an elevation of 481 feet. There are a total of 55 campsites including 8 cabins and 10 yurts. The campground is open all year. 24 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 24 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $6.00 to $225.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, accessible, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Sugarloaf Ridge Campground is part of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in California (just 25 min east of Santa Rosa, CA) with an elevation of 1,221 feet. There are a total of 44 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $35.00 to $45.00. Some amenities include drinking water, restroom, amphitheater. Activities include hiking trails.
Juniper Campground is part of Mount Diablo State Park in California (38 min northeast of Danville, CA) with an elevation of 2,892 feet. There are a total of 30 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 2 sites have water hookups. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include accessible, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Live Oak Campground is part of Mount Diablo State Park in California (just 27 min northeast of Danville, CA) with an elevation of 2,892 feet. There are a total of 18 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 20 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include accessible, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
River Campground is part of Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area in California (32 min west of Yuba City, CA) with an elevation of 65 feet. There are a total of 14 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet. 6 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $28.00 to $135.00. Some amenities include shower, boat ramp, picnic table, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Auburn Boat-In Sites is part of Auburn State Recreation Area in California (39 min east of Lincoln, CA) with an elevation of 841 feet. There are a total of 15 campsites including 15 boat sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $38.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming, restroom. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Acorn Campground in Calaveras County is located 46 min east of Lodi, CA with an elevation of 737 feet. There are a total of 126 campsites including 1 tent-only site. The campground is open all year. 125 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $20.00 per night. Some amenities include drinking water, dump station, boat ramp, swimming, fish cleaning station, restroom, trash dumpster, amphitheater, firewood, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, water skiing, floating sports.
Oak Knoll Campground in Calaveras County is located 45 min east of Lodi, CA with an elevation of 732 feet. There are a total of 49 campsites including 2 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the beginning of September. 47 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 37 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $20.00 per night. Some amenities include dump station, swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Angel Island Campground is part of Angel Island State Park in California (about 7 miles from San Francisco, CA) with an elevation of 280 feet. There are a total of 10 campsites including 9 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Activities include fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Mineral Bar Campground is part of Auburn State Recreation Area in California (45 min northeast of Lincoln, CA) with an elevation of 1,147 feet. There are a total of 15 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $28.00 per night. Some amenities include accessible, restroom. Activities include fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Indian Grinding Rock Campground is part of Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park in California (56 min southeast of El Dorado Hills, CA) with an elevation of 2,375 feet. There are a total of 22 campsites. The campground is open all year. 20 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 27 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include accessible, restroom, pay telephone. Activities include hiking trails.
Coyote Point Campground in Calaveras County is located 44 min northeast of Manteca, CA with an elevation of 240 feet. The site is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of September. Prices start at $130.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Kirby Cove Campground in Marin County is located just 24 min northwest of San Francisco, CA with an elevation of 680 feet. There are a total of 6 campsites including 5 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of March to the end of November. Max equipment length is 15 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $40.00 to $75.00. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Carnegie Campground is part of Carnegie SVRA in California (just 16 min southwest of Tracy, CA) with an elevation of 658 feet. There are a total of 23 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 40 feet. All sites are currently first-come first-served. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Prices start at $10.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include ohv trails nearby, ohv allowed from campsite.
Sly Guard Cabin is located in the Placerville Ranger District, Eldorado National Forest (43 min east of El Dorado Hills, CA) with an elevation of 3,611 feet. The site is open all year. Prices start at $65.00 per night. Some amenities include restroom, flush toilets. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Samuel P. Taylor Campground is part of Samuel P. Taylor State Park in California (42 min west of Novato, CA) with an elevation of 615 feet. There are a total of 56 campsites including 21 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 35 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 31 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $35.00 to $105.00. Some amenities include shower, accessible, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Bicentennial Campground in Marin County is located 31 min northwest of San Francisco, CA with an elevation of 49 feet. There are a total of 3 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $25.00 per night. Activities include biking.
Clear Lake Campground is part of Clear Lake State Park in California (1 hr 27 min north of Santa Rosa, CA) with an elevation of 1,336 feet. There are a total of 138 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 1 site has electric hookups. Fees range from $30.00 to $75.00. Some amenities include shower, accessible, boat ramp, marina, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Caswell Campground is part of Caswell Memorial State Park in California (just 14 min southeast of Manteca, CA) with an elevation of 53 feet. There are a total of 55 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 24 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $30.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, swimming, restroom, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
Ponderosa Cove Group Campground is located in the Georgetown Ranger District, Eldorado National Forest (1 hr 11 min northeast of El Dorado Hills, CA) with an elevation of 4,297 feet. The site is normally open from the end of May to the end of August. Prices start at $175.00 per night. Some amenities include dump station.
Forbes Creek Campground is located in the American River Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest (1 hr 6 min northeast of Lincoln, CA) with an elevation of 3,808 feet. There are a total of 2 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the end of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 45 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $132.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Giant Gap Campground is located in the American River Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest (1 hr 16 min northeast of Lincoln, CA) with an elevation of 3,738 feet. There are a total of 21 campsites including 6 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the end of October. 15 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 31 and 99 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $24.00 to $48.00. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Shirttail Creek Campground is located in the American River Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest (1 hr 16 min northeast of Lincoln, CA) with an elevation of 3,970 feet. There are a total of 20 campsites including 2 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the end of October. 18 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 100 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $24.00 to $72.00. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Stumpy Meadows Campground is located in the Georgetown Ranger District, Eldorado National Forest (1 hr 9 min northeast of El Dorado Hills, CA) with an elevation of 4,469 feet. There are a total of 38 campsites including 10 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of May to the end of September. 28 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 19 and 42 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $28.00 to $56.00. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Black Oak Campground is located in the Georgetown Ranger District, Eldorado National Forest (1 hr 9 min northeast of El Dorado Hills, CA) with an elevation of 4,492 feet. There are a total of 4 campsites including 3 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of May to the end of August. 1 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $105.00 to $145.00. Some amenities include dump station, boat ramp, swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Point Reyes National Seashore Campground in Marin County is located 1 hr 13 min west of Novato, CA with an elevation of -11 feet. There are a total of 47 campsites including 5 boat sites. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $30.00 to $90.00. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Lake Sonoma Boat-In Sites in Sonoma County is located 33 min northwest of Santa Rosa, CA with an elevation of 787 feet. There are a total of 108 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $20.00 to $80.00. Some amenities include swimming, marina. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
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