Five state parks along the Mendocino coast, from Fort Bragg south to Point Arena, have campgrounds among fern canyons, pygmy forests, dunes and a river mouth. They're busiest in summer, and in winter several close and others cut back, so check each park's dates before you drive up Highway 1.
Mendocino camping at a glance
| Park | Where | Campgrounds | Booking | Winter status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russian Gulch | 2 mi north of Mendocino | 26 standard, 4 equestrian, 1 group site | Reservations May–Labor Day | Closed; reopens April 2, 2027, first come |
| Van Damme | 3 mi south of Mendocino | 63 standard, 5 tent-only, 1 group | Reservations, plus first-come sites | Sites 1–13 open first come; 14–92 closed |
| MacKerricher | 3 mi north of Fort Bragg | Campgrounds incl. East Pinewood and Surfwood, group and hike-and-bike sites | Reservations | East Pinewood and Surfwood closed until April 2027; other sites by reservation |
| Navarro River Redwoods | Highway 128 and the Navarro River mouth | Navarro Beach, Paul Dimmick | Call (707) 937-5804 | Paul Dimmick closed; open May 28–Sept 7, 2027 |
| Manchester | About 7 mi north of Point Arena | Campground | First come | Closed; reopens Memorial Day weekend 2027 |
Booking
- Reserve on ReserveCalifornia.com or at 1-800-444-7275, up to six months ahead.
- Summer is the busy season: Russian Gulch, for one, strongly recommends reservations in summer.
- Day use is $10 per vehicle at Russian Gulch and Van Damme and $8 at MacKerricher.
Russian Gulch State Park campground
Best for: the waterfall hike and a campground close to the village. Two miles north of Mendocino, a three-mile forested canyon runs down to a beach cove, with a hike to a 36-foot waterfall, Devil's Punchbowl (a collapsed sea cave) and the Frederick W. Panhorst Bridge, 100 feet above the gulch. Part of the Fern Canyon trail is currently closed.
- 26 standard campsites, four equestrian campsites with corrals (off Caspar–Little Lake Road; book through the district office at 707-937-5804) and one group site.
- Reservations May through Labor Day, up to six months ahead.
- The campground is closed for the winter and reopens April 2, 2027 for first-come camping; reservations run May through Labor Day. RVs and trailers up to 24 feet.
- Firewood for sale at the campground. Dogs (6-foot leash) are allowed in the campground, at the picnic area and beach, on paved park roads and on the Headlands Trail, but not on Fern Canyon (the waterfall trail) or other trails.
Van Damme State Park camping
Best for: Fern Canyon and a beach for kayaking. Three miles south of Mendocino on Highway 1, with year-round camping: 63 standard, 5 tent-only and 1 group drive-in sites (reservations strongly recommended spring through fall; the 9 hike-in environmental sites are closed for maintenance), the Fern Canyon trail system and a pygmy forest of cypress and pine just 6 inches to 8 feet tall; Highway 1 separates the campground and Fern Canyon trailhead from the beach.
- Right now, sites 1–13 are open first come, first served; sites 14–92 are closed for the season.
- A temporary single-lane bridge (10 feet wide, 53 feet long) leads to the campsites on the east side of Little River. With a large trailer, park in the beach lot first and walk in to check it; the park can also accommodate you in the beach lot.
- Dogs allowed in the campground, on the beach and at Spring Ranch, but not on the Fern Canyon, Old Logging Road or Pygmy Forest trails.
MacKerricher State Park camping
Best for: beach, dunes and tidepools near Fort Bragg. Three miles north of Fort Bragg near Cleone, with beach, bluff, headland, dune, forest and wetland habitats, a harbor seal rookery and whale watching. The park has group and hike-and-bike sites and a dump station.
- East Pinewood and Surfwood campgrounds are closed for the season and reopen in April 2027. RVs and trailers up to 35 feet.
- Dogs aren't allowed at the Seal Rookery, Virgin Creek Beach or Ten Mile Beach and Dunes.
Navarro River Redwoods State Park
Two campgrounds along the Navarro River:
- Navarro Beach Campground, at the river mouth on the Pacific; the access road is on the south side of the Navarro River Bridge.
- Paul M. Dimmick Campground, on Highway 128, six miles east of Highway 1. Closed for the season; open May 28 to September 7, 2027. The park takes trailers up to 24 feet and motorhomes up to 30. Summers inland here can be very warm, unlike the coast.
Manchester State Park
Seven miles north of Point Arena, with nearly 18,000 feet of ocean frontage, dunes, grasslands and five miles of sandy beach running south toward the Point Arena Lighthouse. The campground is closed for the winter and expected to reopen Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend 2027, first come, first served. Its environmental campsites are permanently closed, and dogs are allowed in the campground but not on the beach or trails.
Private campgrounds and RV parks
For hookups or cabins, private parks along the coast fill in; Pomo RV Park is open year-round. Rates below are as listed on each operator's own site; most don't show a year, so confirm before you book.
| Park | Where | What's there | Listed nightly rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caspar Beach RV Park | Caspar, near Mendocino | Full and partial hookups (30 amp), tent sites, cabins | Full hookup $62–78, tent $55–58, cabins $100–130 (2026) |
| Westport Beach RV Park | Westport | Full-hookup RV sites, tent and beach sites, log cabins | Full hookup $75–85, no-hookup RV/tent $63, tent $58, cabins $140–160 |
| Pomo RV Park | Fort Bragg, open all year | Full hookup and power/water sites with cable, tent sites, laundry | Full hookup $73, tent $50 (plus tax) |
| Dolphin Isle Marina & RV Park | On the Noyo River off Highway 20 | 50+ full-hookup sites (30 amp), seasonal: March 1–November 1 | $60–70 |
| Mendocino Grove | 1/4 mile south of Mendocino Village | Glamping tents with heated beds and linens | Not listed |
- Caspar Beach and Westport Beach both charge a $5 booking fee and $2 per pet at RV and tent sites ($10 in cabins), have coin-op showers and Wi-Fi, and set a 2-night minimum in their cabins. Rates are for two people.
- Pomo has coin-op hot showers, laundry, a dump station and propane; rates are for 1–2 people, 50-amp service is $6.15 extra, and Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day and Thanksgiving have a 3-day minimum.
- Dolphin Isle doesn't accept RVs over ten years old without management approval and has a 3-day minimum on holiday weekends.
- Mendocino Grove allows dogs only in its limited pet-friendly tents, at $35 a night plus tax, added to the reservation before arrival.
Before you go
- Check the park's current status the week you go: winter closures and storm repairs change what's open.
- Bring layers: the coast parks advise layered clothing because the weather is changeable.
- A free beach wheelchair (it doesn't fold; you'll need a truck or SUV) can be picked up at Van Damme or MacKerricher; reserve at least seven days ahead.
- Drones aren't allowed in the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District's state parks.
Up the coast: Redwood National Park camping. Down the coast: Half Moon Bay camping. For the rest of the state, see our California camping guide.
