Quick Guide to RV Travel and Campgrounds in Sonoma County
Sonoma County is paradise for RV travelers – and with good reason. In this part of the world, RV camping offers the same diverse beauty as the landscape itself.
"We love traveling around Sonoma County in our RV," said Sacramento-based RV travel journalist Janet Wilson, who writes and photographs as a team with her husband, Stu. "There are so many beautiful spots along the coast and just about everywhere else where you can pull over for lunch, take a hike, or just enjoy the beautiful scenery. We love the fact that there are so many well-run campgrounds and parks."
Together, we can protect and preserve the beauty and natural resources of Sonoma County for generations to come. Check out our page on Sustainable Travel, and look over the Leave No Trace Seven Principles.
Since RVing allows travelers to take their lodging with them, visitors can chart their own course through the county's myriad wonders. Want to explore Russian River wineries and get lost in a redwood forest? You'll find RV parks nearby. Interested in meandering slowly up the county's gorgeous 55-mile coastline? You'll find plenty of spots to hook up your lodging for a night or two – or longer.
Bringing your accommodations with you, rather than nailing down reservations in advance, allows you to be spontaneous and fancy-free.
You'll be able to concoct the perfect lifestyle blend to match your vacation's mood. Imagine one-quarter winery visit, one-half outdoor adventure, one-eighth history museums and sites, a hot-air balloon ride, some shopping, and even a spa treatment, all in one trip.
You'll always spend the night in style – your style. You won't have to eat every single meal in a restaurant. And you'll travel with all the comforts of home.
And if you're not towing a smaller runabout, you can transport yourself by RV to the scene of many activities. The parking lots of many wineries can accommodate RVs, and most state and regional park lots can accommodate your RV while you're off beachcombing, hiking, or gazing from a mountaintop.
If you don't have an RV, you can can find RV rentals or glamping options from airstreams to cabins here.
So what are you waiting for? Start planning that RV getaway. To assist in your planning, here are a few popular RV parks and campgrounds in Sonoma County, arranged in alphabetical order.
Bodega Bay RV Park
On the Pacific Ocean in Bodega Bay, this RV-only campground offers on-site facilities including a restaurant, restrooms and showers, coin laundry, game arcade, and dump station.
Casini Ranch Family Campground
This nicely laid out campground is situated on the Russian River, near the Pacific Ocean. Campground activities include outdoor movies, beach bonfires, and hayrides. RVs and tents are welcome. Convenience store on-site. Pet friendly.
Cloverdale Wine Country KOA Camping Resort
Nestled in the hills above Alexander Valley, this 60-acre resort offers wooded tent and RV sites. Nearby are wineries, canoeing, fishing, towering redwoods, and the gorgeous Pacific coast. The Golden Gate Bridge is only 80 miles away.
Doran Regional Park
Just south of Bodega Bay, Doran is situated on a stunning two-mile stretch of beach (family- and pet-friendly). It's open year-round for camping, by reservation only. Access for fishing, crabbing. Boat launch. Dump station, but no RV hookups.
Duncans Mills Camping Club
This stunning campground rests along a one-quarter-mile stretch of the Russian River just before it empties into the Pacific Ocean. It's surrounded by towering redwoods and sheltered from the coast, with warm coastal breezes and cool nights. Find first-class amenities and activities for families and people of all ages. Enjoy private campsites along the river with spectacular flora and abundant wildlife.
Gualala Point Regional Park
On the northern coast, south of the town of Gualala and on the banks of the Gualala River near its mouth, this campground offers 18 reserved campsites. Dump station, but no RV hookups.
Johnson's Beach
Situated on a beach on the Russian River near downtown Guerneville. The beach below the campground has a snack bar, plus canoe and kayak rentals on a seasonal basis. The 3.5-acre resort has a game room, laundry, and barbecue area. Only tent campsites (with a two-night minimum) are available; RVs or trailers cannot be accommodated.
Ocean Cove Campground
A scenic 20 acres situated on a sheltered cove near Stillwater Cove Regional Park and Salt Point State Park, this campground offers oceanfront sites on the bluff or secluded camps tucked in the trees. There is a boat ramp at Ocean Cove and a store nearby. RVs and tent sites available. Great place to watch a sunset. Pet friendly.
Porto Bodega RV Park
Offers 58 RV sites on 16 acres along Bodega Bay. This park is near a marina with numerous hiking and other outdoor opportunities. Well-behaved dogs allowed at no additional fee (must be under owner's control, leashed, cleaned up after at all times). Dog walk area. Sports fishing center on site that allows dogs on their boats.
Race Sonoma Campgrounds
Only available during major event weekends at Sonoma Raceway, this collection of five RV campgrounds are mostly peppered trackside; only one, the 50-acre, 1,000 camp-space Geico 50 Acres, is situated outside the raceway itself, just across Highway 12.
River Bend Resort
Located in the Russian River Valley, this RV, tent, and cabin camp is on the river itself, near Korbel Champagne Cellars and Armstrong Woods. Pet friendly.
San Francisco North/Petaluma KOA Campground
Consistently rated one of the state's top RV campgrounds, this park offers 312 sites on 70 rural acres. Guided tours of San Francisco are available May through October. Summer fun includes a recreation program, inflatable waterslide, pool and spa, mega playground, karaoke, hayrides and live weekend entertainment.
Sonoma County Fairgrounds RV Park
This RV park puts you within walking distance of the famed Sonoma County Harvest Fair (the nation's largest regional wine competition) and many other annual festivals and events. You'll also be near the fairground's golf course, Jockey Club, an off-track horse race wagering parlor and restaurant.
Timber Cove Boat Landing & Campground
This campground boasts a calm Pacific cove with boat self-launch, fishing, and diving. RV and tent camping is available on a first-come/first-served basis. Electrical and water hookups available. Showers, restrooms.
Westside Regional Park
On the north side of Bodega Bay and away from crowds, this campground has a beautiful setting with nearly 50 trailer and camper sites available only by reservation. Dump station, but no RV hookups.
For even more options, check our listings of campgrounds in Sonoma County.
Written by Sonoma Insider Suzie Rodriguez
