The best waterside campgrounds near Dillon Beach, California

Just a 90-minute drive from San Francisco, Dillon Beach is a great spot to escape Bay Area life and reconnect with the Northern California coast. This Marin County town sits on Bodega Bay, right across the water from Point Reyes, and is close to all the region’s rugged coastal highlights—beaches, surfing, hiking trails, fresh seafood—as well as the redwoods and hot springs of wine country. While there are a couple of private camping options in Dillon Beach, many travelers set up camp in the area’s many public parks, such as Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Sonoma Coast State Park, Doran Regional Park, and the Point Reyes National Seashore—although all are incredibly popular and warrant far-in-advance reservations.

95% (5.2K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Dillon Beach

1. Thanktuary Retreat

96%

(115)

50mi from Dillon Beach · 11 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

Learn more about this land: The winds whisper through the redwood trees and provide respite from the hot sun. Here on the ridge above Gualala, lies nestled a lovely and serene campground called Thanktuary Retreat. Skunks, jackrabbits, deer, foxes and very rarely a mountain lion or bear can be found on our 5 acres of forested land. There is a fishpond with water lilies, mini golf course and pétanque court (both with equipment in a useful shed close by), a horse shoe ring and beautiful, natural secluded spots in the redwoods perfect for meditation and vision questing. Huckleberry bushes and ferns grow abundantly. The place lends itself to self-reflection and introspection. There is space for 1 RV with a patio table and chairs and some sun loungers. There are also 2 tent sites available on the property, located in one large area, further away from the RV sites. Barely 7 minutes away is downtown Gualala, with amenities such as 2 supermarkets, pharmacy, bakery, restaurants and more. There is a beautiful holistic gift store, The Sea Trader, Four Eyed Frog Bookstore, and some lovely art galleries in town.   Kayaking is available at the Gualala River. Hiking at Gualala Regional Park, the Bluff Trail, The Sea Ranch public access beaches, Stump Beach, Salt Point Park with a petrified forest, Bowling Ball Beach with its amazing natural formations (can only be seen fully at low tide of more than -0.2m), Manchester State Beach, Elk Beach, and more. Swimming at the Navarro River, and various bays. It is a place of incredible scenic beauty all along CA 1. Watch whales spouting during whale season. (Gray whales and orcas is December to May. For humpbacks, visit May through November, and for blue whales, the largest animal on Earth, plan your stay between July and October). Bower Park, just 0.5 miles away with a lovely lake, tennis courts, a baseball field, a basketball court, and two separate playgrounds. Play disc golf or hike along the nature trail/fitness course. Anchor Bay is 5 miles up CA 1, with a supermarket, a few cafes, restaurants (including a great Thai place!) laundromat, hair salon, and more. The quaint town of Point Arena is 12 miles north, with a supermarket, Frannie's Cup And Saucer, The Bird Cafe, a beautiful historic lighthouse, a theater, a pier, a mini-safari park (B Bryan Preserve with zebras, giraffes and more. Tours need to be booked in advance). Also visit Roots, a natural pharmacy for herbs, teas and supplements.  There are also spots like Occidental, Bodega Bay, Jenner (with the Russian River to kayak and swim) and Timber Cove, all on the way to Gualala from the south. Bodega Bay has lovely spots to eat, with clam chowder, fish and chips. Enjoy wind and water sports, and walk on the pier.

Just a 90-minute drive from San Francisco, Dillon Beach is a great spot to escape Bay Area life and reconnect with the Northern California coast. This Marin County town sits on Bodega Bay, right across the water from Point Reyes, and is close to all the region’s rugged coastal highlights—beaches, surfing, hiking trails, fresh seafood—as well as the redwoods and hot springs of wine country. While there are a couple of private camping options in Dillon Beach, many travelers set up camp in the area’s many public parks, such as Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Sonoma Coast State Park, Doran Regional Park, and the Point Reyes National Seashore—although all are incredibly popular and warrant far-in-advance reservations.

95% (5.2K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Dillon Beach

1. Thanktuary Retreat

96%

(115)

50mi from Dillon Beach · 11 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

Learn more about this land: The winds whisper through the redwood trees and provide respite from the hot sun. Here on the ridge above Gualala, lies nestled a lovely and serene campground called Thanktuary Retreat. Skunks, jackrabbits, deer, foxes and very rarely a mountain lion or bear can be found on our 5 acres of forested land. There is a fishpond with water lilies, mini golf course and pétanque court (both with equipment in a useful shed close by), a horse shoe ring and beautiful, natural secluded spots in the redwoods perfect for meditation and vision questing. Huckleberry bushes and ferns grow abundantly. The place lends itself to self-reflection and introspection. There is space for 1 RV with a patio table and chairs and some sun loungers. There are also 2 tent sites available on the property, located in one large area, further away from the RV sites. Barely 7 minutes away is downtown Gualala, with amenities such as 2 supermarkets, pharmacy, bakery, restaurants and more. There is a beautiful holistic gift store, The Sea Trader, Four Eyed Frog Bookstore, and some lovely art galleries in town.   Kayaking is available at the Gualala River. Hiking at Gualala Regional Park, the Bluff Trail, The Sea Ranch public access beaches, Stump Beach, Salt Point Park with a petrified forest, Bowling Ball Beach with its amazing natural formations (can only be seen fully at low tide of more than -0.2m), Manchester State Beach, Elk Beach, and more. Swimming at the Navarro River, and various bays. It is a place of incredible scenic beauty all along CA 1. Watch whales spouting during whale season. (Gray whales and orcas is December to May. For humpbacks, visit May through November, and for blue whales, the largest animal on Earth, plan your stay between July and October). Bower Park, just 0.5 miles away with a lovely lake, tennis courts, a baseball field, a basketball court, and two separate playgrounds. Play disc golf or hike along the nature trail/fitness course. Anchor Bay is 5 miles up CA 1, with a supermarket, a few cafes, restaurants (including a great Thai place!) laundromat, hair salon, and more. The quaint town of Point Arena is 12 miles north, with a supermarket, Frannie's Cup And Saucer, The Bird Cafe, a beautiful historic lighthouse, a theater, a pier, a mini-safari park (B Bryan Preserve with zebras, giraffes and more. Tours need to be booked in advance). Also visit Roots, a natural pharmacy for herbs, teas and supplements.  There are also spots like Occidental, Bodega Bay, Jenner (with the Russian River to kayak and swim) and Timber Cove, all on the way to Gualala from the south. Bodega Bay has lovely spots to eat, with clam chowder, fish and chips. Enjoy wind and water sports, and walk on the pier.

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Deborah

November 2025

Tent

1 night at Thanktuary Retreat

The “Thanktuary “was a peaceful place. Our campsite was soft. Had water and a table with umbrella which was helpful due to the rain. We enjoyed walking the grounds, sitting in the hot tub and enjoying the woods.

s

sun

September 2025

Tent

1 night at Thanktuary Retreat

It's not the camping ground, it's nursing home, and In my opinion, don't book for people it's camping ground It's hard to get there we got there night time we almost scared to death to go there. But next morning we show it is peaceful and natural to heal mantaly that it.

N

Noam

September 2025

Tent

1 night at Thanktuary Retreat

Camped with two other groups at the site and didn't feel crowded. Bathroom was nice. Hot tub amazing. Great location. Recommend!

M

Mary

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Thanktuary Retreat

Pleasant stay. Quiet shaded campsite, clean restrooms and showers, convenient large sink for washing dishes. Didn’t use the hot tub because the weather was quite warm, but it looked nice..

S

Shiv

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Thanktuary Retreat

We had an amazing time camping here! The host was extremely friendly, very prompt in communication, and provided clear instructions that made everything smooth from the start. The location itself is absolutely beautiful and felt safe throughout our stay. The toilets were spotless, and there was access to clean water, which made things super convenient. Being right next to the Gualala River was a huge plus — it added a peaceful vibe and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. One of the highlights for us was stargazing at night. The sky was unbelievably clear, and it felt magical lying under a blanket of stars. Overall, this place checked all the boxes for us — safe, clean, scenic, and well-managed. We’ll definitely be coming back and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing and memorable camping experience. 🌟

C

Carol

July 2025

Tent

2 nights at Thanktuary Retreat

Great place for my van. Place was quiet and clean. Loved the bathhouse and kitchen dish washing area behind. Close to town and ocean

R

Reed

June 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Thanktuary Retreat

Everything as advertised. Bathroom setup and hot tub are superb, very clean and well maintained. Would absolutely visit again!

C

Chris

June 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Thanktuary Retreat

Was excellent. Quiet, plenty of space (though it didn’t hurt that we had the whole place to ourselves). Hit water, flushable toilets, hot showers, nice big sink to wash dishes. Very convenient, clean. We were in the Meadow campsite. 10 minutes to the ocean. Gualala a cool seaside town.

I

Isaac

June 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Thanktuary Retreat

Great spot to camp - room for a few nice flat pitches. Quiet at night so a perfect sleep and really nice toilet / shower block as well. Would recommend.

Stephanie

January 2025

Tent

1 night at Thanktuary Retreat

We had the meadow and the hot tub all to ourselves. Veena’s directions and communication were great. We stayed on a rainy night and had to move out of the meadow to avoid getting stuck in mud. We found a dry spot to park up top. Only stayed 1 night. Very quiet and clean.

A

April

November 2024

Tent

Weekend Trip to Thanktuary Retreat

Perfect quiet retreat. We were the only campers, though there are a few camp sites. The place was quiet and perfect for what we were looking for. The cedar hot tub was beautiful and relaxing, so nice to have a hot shower afterwards as well. Plenty of space to enjoy ourselves and a quick drive to the beach, shops, coffee, etc. Thank you!

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best waterside camping near Dillon Beach guide

Where to go

Point Reyes National Seashore

Across the water from Dillon Beach is the Point Reyes National Seashore, a protected swath of Pacific Coast with opportunities to hike coastal bluffs, lay out on sandy beaches, and spot elephant seals or Tule Elk. Time your visit right for a chance to see the seasonal Alamere Falls or wildflowers. And don’t miss the chance to stock up on farm fresh groceries or sample local Tomales Bay oysters when passing through Point Reyes Station.

Inland and Wine Country

Head inland from Dillon Beach and you’ll have an array of wine country attractions to explore, like the peaceful redwood groves at the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. There are also many campgrounds, hot springs, spas, and vineyards to visit throughout Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino.

Sonoma Coast State Park

With 17 miles of beaches, Sonoma Coast State Park is one of the largest beach parks in the Dillon Beach area. It features tide pools with anemones, mollusks, seaweeds, and starfish. It also has a 5-mile trail system for hiking and horseback riding. Sonoma Coast State Park borders the Russian River, a popular floating and rafting route in summer. Harbor seals are often found at the river’s mouth.

Bodega Bay

Just up the road from Dillon Beach, Bodega Bay features a cluster of unique beach parks. They include Bodega Head (bluff hiking), Bodega Dunes Beach, and Salmon Creek State Beach.

When to go

Dillon Beach is temperate and accessible to campers year-round. California coast mornings are often foggy and damp, even in summer before the sun comes out and highs are in the 60s (it’s a good idea to bring a jacket and rain gear year-round). If you plan to visit Dillon Beach on a warm summer’s day, be prepared to deal with crowds and notoriously bad traffic. Winter visitors can expect temps in the mid-40s and the possibility of rain, but may be rewarded with fewer crowds. Spring wildflowers are most abundant in March and April.