Campgounds near San Francisco, CA - Montana Owners Club

washley1 · 07-01-2011, 02:30 AM

Ok, we are planning for next year. Our eldest just got reassigned to an office in San Fran, and has a TINY apartment in Emeryville that will only hold the 2 of them, so we are looking for something close. I noticed there is a place right on the coast near Pacifica called San Francisco RV Resort (formerly Pacific Park). Anyone been there? Are there any other spots in the area that we should check out?

PapaBeav · 07-01-2011, 04:11 AM

There is a KOA in Petaluma that a lot of people visiting the bay area use, but it is about 45 minutes (with no traffic) from Emeryville.

dandt · 07-01-2011, 04:22 AM

We have been to the park in Pacifica. It is okay...if planing ahead you probably could get one of the sites overooking the ocean. Pacifica is only about 10 minutes to DalyCity and they have a great BART station for getting into the city instead of driving and paying for parking. HAVE FUN.

Yamaha_Mama · 07-01-2011, 05:02 AM

We often stay in Pacifica. The spaces are tight but it is a great location...safe, clean and close to necesities..especially if you can get a spot along the ocean. Dandt mentioned BART. It goes to San Francisco and to the east bay as well. I think it stops in or near Emeryville. Enjoy!

washley1 · 07-01-2011, 09:35 AM

Thanks everyone for the info so far! The Bart station being so close is great, as the Emeryville station is an easy walk from our son's new place. Yamaha, I am concerned about your comment about tight spaces. I saw an overhead picture somewhere on the web, and was not sure if the ocean front sites had enough room for awnings. Is that the case? Also, is this one big asphalt slab?

Yamaha_Mama · 07-01-2011, 11:52 AM

Hi Walt and Carol, The spaces along the ocean are tight. You probably can put out your awning on those spaces...but remember you are on the ocean with the ocean breezes. Also, we are talking about Pacifica....a cool climate. In all the times we have stayed there (probably a half a dozen times from two to ten days) we have never had our awning out along the ocean. The spaces on the north side of the park, behind the oceanfront are larger. The south side is mostly permanent residents, but very well kept. Also, yes, the park is almost all asphalt with a few small lawn planters on the ends of each 'block' of spaces. There are some lawn spaces in the middle of the blocks as well. Enjoy. I don't know if there is a site map online. If not, let me know, I will send you one that we have at home. Enjoy.

Capt Kidd · 07-01-2011, 03:54 PM

We have also stayed there in our 3400 and it is tight and somewhat short and all asphalt but there really is not place else even close to SF to stay. We have looked for places in the east bay and there really aren't any. There is one place in the east bay called Cabot regional park. We have not stayed there so don't know what it is like. If you belong to the Elks lodge you might see if any of the lodges have anything. Good Luck let us know what you find.

Yamaha_Mama · 07-01-2011, 06:16 PM

I forgot to mention that the spots off the ocean in Pacifica have more room....plenty of room to extend an awning. They are also less expensive. A couple of them are on the planter area, which gives you that much more space.

washley1 · 07-01-2011, 06:22 PM

Thanks again, gang! At least now we will know what to expect, or to keep looking!!

washley1 · 07-02-2011, 02:52 AM

By the way,Capt Kidd, I looked up Chabot Regional Park. It looks real nice, except for two things; no rigs longer than 35 ft...COMBINED trailer and truck. And once they lock the gate at 10PM, no way in or out until morning.

brenkco · 07-02-2011, 03:44 AM

One other suggestion is the Pleasanton fairgrounds. We have stayed there as well as Pacifica. Nice area, much warmer, it's at the 580/680 junction. Bart is actually closer plus I'd imagine it's much less expensive. You'll have to check the fair dates. They have some nice lawn area if I remember correctly with much larger sites

Ken

Yamaha_Mama · 07-02-2011, 02:34 PM

Sorry....forgot about that one. Another good choice.

MBeaubien · 07-02-2011, 03:47 PM

We have stayed at the fairgrounds in Pleasanton on two occasions, not a bad park, more room than some others and close to SF Bay Area. We only stayed a few days each time while visiting relatives in San Jose, Fremont and Walnut Creek while passing thru on our way North & South.

washley1 · 07-02-2011, 05:53 PM

Could not find much on line about the fair grounds. No pictures, etc, but it will be worth looking at. Thanks!

**Carl n Susan** · 07-02-2011, 07:58 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by washley1

Could not find much on line about the fair grounds. No pictures, etc, but it will be worth looking at. Thanks!

Try using Google Earth. The park shows up clearly with it.

Yamaha_Mama · 07-12-2011, 04:03 PM

Hi Walt and Carol, I sent you a PM....but was unable to attach the campsite map. If you email me back, I will attach it to a regular email. Thanks, M

hunts800 · 08-01-2011, 05:55 PM

Don't know if I'm too late - but the Pacifica park is like an cement/asphalt parking lot - tight spaces - but on cliff overlooking the Ocean. We only stayed there one time.

The best campground (in my opinion) is about an hour south of San Francisco - Costa Noa KOA. It is a first class campground - lots of variations in sites - pull throughs, back ins, ocean views, and is about half-way between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay. It is a little pricey. Our son and daughter-n-law live in El Cerrito in the San Francisco area, and it is close enough for them to comfortably make day trips down to visit us with the grandkids. There is a lodge and fixed tent cabins also, and the kids have occasionally rented a tent cabin and spent the night.

There are not many options close to the City except Pacifica. There is a park in Vallejo - Tradwinds RV - which is reasonable - but about a 25 minute ride into the City - and lots of rush hour traffic. It is clean and sites are reasonably large.

washley1 · 08-02-2011, 02:05 AM

Hunts800,
Not too late at all. We probably will not pull the rig that way until next spring, but we like to plan early! As my son lives in Emeryville, at the east end of the Bay Bridge, Vallejo may be a good option. Certainly closer to him than Costa Noa. The ocean front setting in Pacifica does have my attention, though. We may fly out later this month, and we could possibly pop in and look at a couple of them. Thanks to all for your info! Anyone have anything else, let us know!

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