Description
An amazing retreat into nature, Kirby Cove boasts the best view of the Golden Gate bridge. The best part? It's only a 20-30 minute drive from San Francisco.
This campground is a walk-in that may be tough to reserve, but it's worth looking into if you’re looking to camp while in the city. Deer will wander through and raccoons might try to steal some snacks, so make good use of the lockers. Kirby Cove=cool camping.
Protip: There is sometimes a rope swing set up down by the beach.
Activities
Offered near the campground.
Biking
Whether fast single track mountain biking is your thing, or you’re more of a road bike warrior , GGNRA will be your bag, baby!...Read more
Boating
Stow Lake, in Golden Gate park, is a great spot for inexperienced boaters. Cruising around this lake is truly a joy ride, as th...Read more
Fishing
Recreational anglers in this area can (with a little patience and some good bait) expect to catch things like brown smoothhound...Read more
Hiking
Golden Gate National Recreation area is huge! Whatever you are looking for in a national park, chances are Golden Gate National...Read more
Horseback riding
Trails near Golden Gate at Fort Funston offer an amazing place to ride horseback.
Paddling
Paddling at the Golden Gate is one of the most spectacular experiences you can have in California. Let your stoke levels build ...Read more
Wind sports
Crissy Field shoreline is a popular spot for kiteboarding. Why, you ask? Well, because it’s rad (and boasts some ridiculous vi...Read more
Surfing
Ever heard of Ocean Beach? It’s a massive expanse of coastline that happens to also have some world class breaks (on the right ...Read more
Wildlife watching
Don’t let the urban feel of Golden Gate fool you – there is plenty of wildlife to see here. Be on the lookout for animals su...Read more
Terrain
Natural features you'll find at Kirby Cove Campground.
The vibe at Kirby Cove Campground
14 Reviews
Site #1 is the most scenic by far. Views of the city, bay, and Golden Gate Bridge from your tent & from your camp. But, if you have a big group, try to book sites 2 & 3 together. Site 4 is the most private, but is back in the woods, farthest from the beach.




The views of the city and the bridge are amazing at night. Avoid camping there on foggy nights the foghorn goes off every minute ( all night if it is foggy all night) Ear plugs will not help since the fog horn is very close.
This campground can go from sunny to foggy in a snap, so be sure to pack layers!
A beautiful campground! Couldn't be in a more scenic location. This campground is very popular so be prepared to book far in advance.

This is one of my favorite camp sites! Good views of Golden Gate Bridge and access to the beach! It was fairly quiet in late March.
This is one of those super hard to reserve campgrounds. But I've snagged a site with a few days notice, probably due to a cancellation, and it's worth cancelling work to go.
Ear plugs can be helpful if fog and boat horns annoy you. There are usually several wheelbarrows at the parking area to haul gear, but sometimes people forget (cough) to bring them back from sites for others to use.
A nice trick is to get a campsite, then reserve the day use area so your pals can come down and enjoy the beach for a day. You get some parking, and the day use area is fabulous too.



You gotta be lucky to get a spot but it is so worth it. I had two broken ankles when I had my reservation for 1 night but I still made it out anyway. We were lucky enough to be there on a night without the blaring fog horn, but its the Bay Area, and it gets foggy sometimes so be prepared with noise canceling head wear. A WONDERFUL SCENIC VIEW from the beach!
Whales can be spotted off the coast in May, keep an eye out!
Use the food boxes as the raccoons are aggressive.
- Park
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- State
- California
- Country
- United States
- Phone Number
- 415-331-1540
- Directions
- View on Google Maps
- Official Website
- View Website
- Coordinates
- 37.827° N, 122.49° W
- Unknown price
- Tent Only: 4 Sites (Up to 10 people per site)