Glamping near San Mateo
San Mateo has coastal mountains, Pacific beaches, and redwood forests right in its backyard.
91% (1592 reviews)
- San Mateo
91% (1592 reviews)
Popular camping styles for San Mateo
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7 top wheelchair-accessible glamping sites near San Mateo
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The Enchanted Forest Retreat
54 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents45 acres · Los Gatos, CA
Welcome to the Enchanted Forest Retreat! We are a meditation retreat center with 45 acres of some of the most gorgeous redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains to enjoy hiking, creeks and small water fall exploration, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, star gazing, relaxation, meditation and more.
Our campground has running water from a natural spring, Men and Women's Restrooms each with 2 toilets and 1 hot water shower, laundry shed with sink and hot water, and an outdoor amphitheater, (the kitchen and washer/dryer is Staff Only not for campers). We have meditation teaching at the amphitheater and campers are welcomed to attend for free.
4-6 guests maximum with 1 car included in the nightly rate. Each additional vehicle is $15 per day and will be added at checkout once you add the correct number of vehicles you will be bringing. You can bring a maximum of 2 cars.
PLEASE NOTE, we do not have a trash service on site, we require all campers to PACK OUT THEIR GARBAGE with them!
Pets are $10 per day, 1 pet per group ONLY. Please add this as an extra at the time of booking, you will see the option to add extras once you begin the checkout process. Dogs must be on leash at all times!
Quiet hours are 10pm-8am. No drugs of any kind including marijuana allowed. No loud music allowed. This is a private property so no visitors are allowed, only paid guests. Our onsite staff will go around and enforce the rules.
NOTICE REGARDING RVs and TRAILERS: While we can not offer hookups, theoretically we have no problem with RVs, the road is steep in a couple of places getting down to the campground and VERY narrow in one spot (10ft). If you feel you're willing to take this risk (we won't be held liable), you're welcome to reach out to us and we can see if the site is good for RV/trailers.
Only sites 8, 12 and 5 are good for trailers. No vehicle can drive into Site 7, 9, 10 and 11 (the parking area is separate). Other sites may be ok with small trailers. Check with the host. Any trailer larger than 20ft, take your own risk, there is a narrow point only 9ft wide.
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$80
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WindTree
7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents64 acres · Los Gatos, CA
WindTree is an awesome retreat perched high on top of the Santa Cruz Mountains in California, over looking the entire Monterey Bay and Santa Clara Valley. WindTree is sacred land used by many
over the past 30 years for retreat and ceremony. It has also been a working "Wwoof" -ing farm for volunteers from all over the world
to come and learn about organic gardening in a fun, beautiful, nurturing community restoring our sense of interrelatedness
and encouraging planetary sustainability by our choices and concerns
for the wellness of the environment.
You can make your experience apart of this community or enjoy a quiet private camp site away from any activities.
We are off the grid with solar power and our own well. We have small organic gardens with chickens and goats. You will love it up here under the stars.
Note: RV's over 21 feet will have difficulties on our driveway.
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$60
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Audrey Edna Cabin at Alpine Ranch
1 site · Lodging350 acres · Loma Mar, CA
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all.
Situated on top of a ridge with expansive redwood forest and coastal views, the Audrey Edna Cabin provides a completely private gathering place and destination for visitors with reservations. The cabin has spectacular views of forest, sky, ocean and the Butano ridgeline. It's a short hike to 8000+ acres of county parkland where you can hike, bike and ride horses (though please note, there are no facilities for horse boarding at the cabin.) The cabin is located at Alpine Ranch, a property adjacent to Sam McDonald County Park that was protected by Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST).
Whether you are looking for an active experience or just want to relax in a peaceful, remote setting, there's something here for everyone.
This is a rustic hike-in cabin designed for a introductory pack-in experience. Bedding is not provided. It is about a 1.7-mile hike on a rolling dirt road from the Sam McDonald County Park parking lot, with about 650 feet of elevation gain. Most hikers can reach the cabin in an hour or less. Guests should plan to arrive at least 2 hours before sunset, and pack water and flashlights or headlamps. Guests with limited mobility, please contact us for information regarding accommodations that will allow you to access this shared resource.
*A note about reservation availability: On the weekends, POST offers priority reservations for the cabin to our partners at the San Mateo County Health Department and Park Rx to provide patients with equitable access to the benefits of nature. Occasionally, we have last-minute public weekend reservation availability due to cancellations. The cabin is reservable up to 3 months in advance, on a rolling basis.
Love the idea of a hike-in cabin, but unable to visit us Sunday-Thursday? Check out the nearby Sierra Club Hiker's Hut in Sam McDonald County Park.
Property History:
At one time, the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains was a thriving center for trade between tribes of the coast and the bay, which we still find evidence of today in cultural sites and artifacts throughout the region. Native people have cared for this land since time immemorial, including the local Muwekma and Ramaytush Ohlone who are still active in the area today. This property specifically is host to a tributary to one of just a handful of waterways that support salmonids in this region, which are a species of tremendous importance to native people.
Over 1000 acres here were eventually purchased by entrepreneur Ridgeway Rowley, who built a home on the ranch in the 1880s as part of an unsuccessful wedding proposal to Fannie Page, daughter of a local mill owner (ever heard of Page Mill Road?) After being rejected by Fannie, Rowley operated the ranch for a decade in conjunction with his work as District Attorney and publisher of the Palo Alto Weekly, before eventually returning to his hometown of Cortland, NY, where he lived as a bachelor until his death. Over the course of the 20th century, the ranch was divided, some parts of which became Pescadero Creek County Park. POST purchased the 350 acre home property, now called Alpine Ranch, in 2012 through our Heart of the Redwoods campaign, an initiative to protect 20,000 acres of Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Alpine Ranch borders Pescadero Creek County Park and Sam McDonald County Park, adding to the area’s protected open space and containing more than a mile of tributaries to Pescadero Creek, which flows year-round and is a major spawning stream for steelhead trout.
The Audrey Edna Cabin at Alpine Ranch is situated at one of the property's most scenic overlooks. The cabin was built in the early 1900's, and completely reconstructed up to modern building codes by POST in 2018 so that all could enjoy this special place.
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$100
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Redwood Retreat: Camping & Cooking
5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents16 acres · Watsonville, CA
Located on 16 acres, Redwood Retreat is nestled among majestic redwood trees. We have a cottage, a tent cabin with queen air mattress, and two camping sites for up to 4. Sites 1 & 2 combine nicely for a group of up to 8 and site 3 can accommodate a group of up to 6. Enjoy the owls, doves, hummingbirds, and salamanders. Corralitos is ideal for biking, hiking (unfortunately, the terrain on our property is NOT hikeable), wine tasting, and the beach is 30 minutes away. We are equi-distant between Monterey and Santa Cruz (also approximately 30 minutes but depends on traffic) for all of your more "touristy" desires. Under 2 hours to San Francisco. We will send a very comprehensive list of recommendations for things to do, places to go, and things to see & do in the Santa Cruz/Monterey area when you book, as well as specific directions to get here. PLUS, Chef Mima has a host of things to offer in terms of culinary temptations like a whole line of SENSATIONAL SKILLETS. Menus are sent when you book. Why not line up a COOKING CLASS ($85. per person plus ingredients) for a 3 hour class and DINING ON THE DECK with your new culinary creation? Scroll to bottom of photo gallery for latest photos. Ask for the current list of classes. Mima spent 6 years at reknowned Chez Panisse restaurant before starting a career as a caterer in the food industry. SEE EXTRAS!
Imagine a peaceful, serene neck of the woods with NO WIFI. Feel the restorative power of nature building resilience and buffering tomorrow’s stress. Welcome to Redwood Retreat. in the mountains above the sweet town of Corralitos, approximately a half hour to either Santa Cruz or Monterey and 20 minutes to nearest beach. If you are the type of camper that likes to play music or be loud, this is not the camp for you. This is a refuge from that. When multiple sites are reserved, this spot is perfect for family vacations, company retreats, small celebrations etc. It is strongly recommended that you book all three sites if you wish to entertain. No amplified noise. A noise curfew is in effect from 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. for anything but talking. Sound carries and we must respect neighbors and other campers.THX!
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$75
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Lupin Lodge
53 sites · Lodging110 acres · Los Gatos, CA
Experience the Joy
“One of the great pleasures of life.” “The freedom to be me.” “The total sensations of sun, air and water.” “Surprisingly relaxing.” “No more soggy swimsuits.” “A direct connection with nature.” “Rearranges the gender-power equation.” “An invaluable reality check.” “The feeling of total acceptance.” “A truly spiritual experience.” Going nude in natural circumstances elicits a spectrum of responses as varied as the increasing number of people who also enjoy nudity in a social context.
The wider American culture is basically shame-based, vacillating between puritanism and pornography in its attitude towards the nude human form. But there exists a joyous parallel universe, largely unknown and thus unavailable to the general public until the Internet emerged. Sadly, it is still a rare bookstore which stocks, much less displays, any of the long published guides to nude recreation.
This web guide is an introduction to an emerging paradigm which not only accepts the whole human body as natural but also celebrates it as the uniquely individual gift of life it is. You won’t find a lot of nude pictures in this site because it is not intended to serve voyeurism. It is designed to help all who are open to experiencing themselves as nature created us, especially nervous first-timers.
Introducing Lupin
Sited on 110 wooded acres in the scenic Santa Cruz Mountains, Lupin is a special blend of private nature park, destination resort, recreational/athletic/fitness/social club, mountain campground, art gallery/clubhouse/restaurant, spontaneous retreat, small conference center and certified massage school.
Open daily year-round, Lupin can be experienced as a one-day excursion, a weekend getaway, home-base for a Bay Area vacation or a short-term residence during massage training. It is conveniently located between Los Gatos and Santa Cruz only minutes from San Jose International Airport.
Lupin nurtures mind, body and spirit. Members and guests may choose to read, relax, hike, swim, float, soak, chat, play, lounge, snack, sunbathe, exercise, meditate, dine, learn, dance, camp, picnic, stargaze, snooze, volunteer, create, recreate or otherwise enjoy a variety of family-style entertainment and group activities.
Who Visits Lupin and Why?
Transcending differences of age, origin, appearance, career and gender, many people of wide diversity experience personal acceptance, psychic freedom and social harmony at Lupin. A recent profile reveals our clientele to be productive citizens, thoughtful guests and intelligent free spirits, i.e., pleasant, good neighbors. Generally well-informed and well-traveled, they tend to be friendly, fun-loving and inclusive, yet respectful of any individual’s desire for privacy or solitude.
People’s reasons for visiting Lupin vary by individual. Many just seek a relaxing, natural break from stressful careers. Some, perhaps new to the Bay Area, come to meet new friends, while others become regular members to enjoy the familiar company of kindred souls. To the athletically inclined, Lupin offers the best nude volleyball in the Bay Area. Some members rarely miss a liberating opportunity to dance nude. Families enjoy Lupin because it appeals to inner children of all ages and offers choices of things to do both together and separately. For some individuals simply visiting Lupin provides an uplifting spiritual experience.
What’s It All About?
Social nudity is initially about improving a life-long relationship with one’s own quite unique body, the only possession on earth truly worth having, whatever shape it’s in. Simple “body acceptance” is the healthy, wholesome, inclusive, life-affirming, unifying theme. A rare experience of unselfconscious relaxation and universal acceptance of human reality is often a surprising bonus to the newly initiated.
Besides being personally liberating, experiencing social nudity is also both humanizing and equalizing. Without clothing’s message-laden facade people tend to accept one another as the special, sometimes fragile being each truly is. Mutual vulnerability promotes mutual respect, honesty and trust. Civilized behavior and open communications seem only natural within such a disarming context. (For better results our world leaders should try negotiations in a hot tub.)
Differentiating Nudity and Sexuality
An absence of sexual pressure is fundamental to the naturist experience at Lupin, which has served thousands of families since its founding in 1936. Club rules, naturist values and common sense define a clear difference between sexual behavior (excluded by consensus in all public areas) and nudity (encouraged everywhere on the grounds).
Such an ethic of confining all sexuality to “consenting adults in private” helps defuse sexual tension, as does an explicit non-harassment policy, which is enforced. Thus, public or predatory sexual conduct of any sort is quite rare (and, if illegal, also subject to prosecution). Gawkers may be asked to leave and not return.
Though people who meet at Lupin may often form close friendships and sometimes develop intimate relationships, just being nude at Lupin clearly does not signify sexual availability. In addition to being in bad taste, unwelcome sexual solicitations (especially from a new acquaintance) would be considered harassment and are grounds for expulsion.
Rediscovering Eden
Being clothes-free in a natural setting may theoretically reactivate some long-dormant genetic memory of a primordial existence well before smelly animal skins and scratchy fig leaves became fashion edicts to our ancestors. (Couldn’t an Eden “au naturel” be reflected in our DNA, as well as in our creation myths? After all, we humans survived tribally nude for a much longer time than the few centuries we’ve lived compulsively clothed.)
In plain fact, it just feels sensuously good and intrinsically wholesome to accept ourselves so completely and to experience nature and other people on an entirely “as is” basis. It’s refreshing. It’s relaxing. It’s liberating to mind, body and spirit. It’s just so completely natural.
Have you ever wondered what you might be missing by always remaining confined within a body-alienated society’s compulsory cover-up? In the final analysis, nude recreation has to be experienced to be believed. Try it, you’ll probably like it. No body’s perfect. Come as you are.
Still Nervous About a First-Time Nude Experience?
If you were typically raised (religiously indoctrinated?) within a patriarchal, judgmental, censorial, body-shaming culture (or if you’re among the 80% of Americans who have not yet experienced the enlightening joys of coed skinny dipping), then even the thought of social nudity may stir strong feelings and induce strange images much different from the truly relaxing nature of the experience. Some nervousness is common for almost everyone before taking the first plunge. (Acclimatization rarely takes more than an hour for even the most modest.)
Anxiety, guilt, self-rejection, embarrassment or fear of sexual arousal are not uncommon reactions stemming from the unnatural repressiveness of society’s widely enforced nudity taboo. If these negative responses in any part describe your feelings, then a thorough reading of this site (including Lupin’s expected behavior standards) is suggested before attempting a personal visit to Lupin or any other naturist locale.
A Network Node for Nude Recreation
An adventuresome 20% of experiential North Americans (and a far higher percentage of blase Europeans) are seeking out nude recreation and clothing-optional getaways in growing numbers as a matter of leisure choice. Many now vacation only where they can avoid the need to bring a swim suit.
Besides introducing Lupin and exploring social nudity, this site also links to many other naturist related web sites, including clubs, resorts and organizations around the world which support or offer wholesome nude recreation. Reciprocal links with appropriate sites are welcome.
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$79.60
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Redwood Ranch with Sweeping View
8 sites · Lodging, Tents6 acres · Gilroy, CA
Our 6+ acre ranch Misthaven sits in the redwood forest at Gilroy, just 20min from Gilroy downtown and 45min from San Jose. This ranch has huge space, lots of ranch amenities and many ranch related activities. If you are planning a short trip that you do not have to drive several hours to the busy lake Tahoe, Misthaven would be an ideal destination for family retreat, team building, or even a birthday party.
The ranch includes a 2,000 sq ft large barn with spacious indoor space, a 400 sq ft woodworking and crafts workshop, a 1,000 sq ft ranch center with microwave, oven and refrigerator, an amazing zipline, a shooting range for archery and BB gun under our staff guidance and supervision, a fenced petting zoo with goats, chicken, bunny and guinea pig, hammocks in the redwood forest and plenty of beautiful redwood trees.
With the ranch booking, you will have the access to:
- BBQ and fire pit usage (charcoal/propane with extra charge of $20)
- Fire-Roasted Golden Marshmallow Challenge (bring your own marshmallow or purchase with us, we provide skewers)
- Trampoline
- Hammock
- Tree climbing
- Petting zoo ($5/cup snack food for pets and animals)
- Edible garden
- 2,000 sq ft large barn indoor space
- 400 sq ft woodworking and crafts indoor space (woodworking activities need to be booked separately)
- Water gun
- 18ft inflatable Water slide
- Outdoor movie projector/screen
- Tables and folding chairs
There are plenty of ranch activities that you can book with us WITH A FEE separately during your stay. All will be supervised and guided by our professional instructors:
- archery
- Knife Throwing
- Learn survival techniques for lighting your campfire
- Spear making
- Water filtration in an outdoor environment
- Shelter building
- Tomahawks
- Outdoor BB gun arcade
- Camp Zipline and fun forest features.
- Woodworking such as Candy dispenser making, Bird feeder making, etc
- Pizza making and Ice cream making, butter churning
- and many others
20min to the Mt. Madonna County park.
20min to the Gilroy Garden theme park.
50min to Santa Cruz beach and the beautiful Capitola beach.
1hr to Monterey/Carmel.
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Delta Respite
1 site · Lodging5 acres · Sherman Island, CA
The perfect solo escape!
Treat yourself to a quiet getaway for one at this cozy, clean and comfortable cabin on our rural farm, between two rivers, on Sherman Island. Located in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area at the confluence of the San Joaquin River, Sacramento River, and the eastern terminus of San Francisco Bay, Sherman Island is known for its wildlife, sunrises, and sunsets, and its dark sky for stargazing opportunities.
The property is surrounded by alfalfa fields, grazing cattle, sheep, and a wildland habitat populated with migratory and native birds, animals, and plants.
The one-room cabin has a bed and clawfoot bathtub with hot water offering a peaceful escape on our 5-acre tree-lined farm. Here you can listen to birdsong instead of the sounds of the city. This is an ideal cabin for birdwatchers, plein air painters, nature photographers, stargazing, windsurfers/kiteboarders, meditation, or some stress-free, peaceful reset time.
The private cottage has a refrigerator, microwave, compostable dinnerware, drinking water, and a coffeemaker with coffee. It is air-conditioned in summer and heated in winter.
Pets are welcome and free to enjoy being off-leash in the cabin's fenced yard. The hosts raise free-range chickens and bees on their farm and also conduct a nonprofit rescue and hospice for senior pets.
The property is in the Pacific Migratory Flyway, surrounded by a 1000-acre
state habitat/preserve populated by seasonal bird populations.
Downtown San Francisco and Sacramento are each about 55 miles away in opposite directions. Mount Diablo, viewed from the property, is about 15 miles south and offers hiking trails with stunning views and abundant wildlife.
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Glamping near San Mateo guide
Overview
On the bay side of the San Francisco Peninsula just 30 minutes south of San Francisco, San Mateo is just 30 minutes from Half Moon Bay and an hour to multiple deep forest preserves in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The mountains around San Mateo have sprawling trail systems for hiking and mountain biking, plus serene campgrounds nestled among giant trees. On the coast, some of NorCal’s best surfing is close to San Mateo at Pacifica and Santa Cruz. There are also otherworldly tide pools to explore, and the chance to spot seals and whales.
Where to go
San Mateo Surrounds
For Bay Area nature excursions, check out Seal Point Park of Bair Island State Marine Park, renowned for kayaking and birdwatching. The closest mountain parks outside of San Mateo are the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve and Huddart Park in Woodside, both of which offer miles of forested hiking and mountain biking trails. RV campers can find RV parks with full hookups around San Mateo, as well as in nearby Redwood City and San Jose.
Half Moon Bay
Just 30 minutes from San Mateo, Half Moon Bay State Beach has four miles of coastline. This beach is popular with surfers, swimmers, beachcombers, and tide-poolers, many of whom stay at the tent and RV sites in the park’s Francis Beach area campground. Another solid beach camping site is the Sunset State Beach campground in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, to the east and southeast of San Mateo, are home to ancient redwoods and miles of peaceful forest trails with ferns, moss, and towering trees. Both Portola Redwoods State Park and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park have redwood groves to explore, while Memorial County Park and Butano State Park have campgrounds. Castle Rock State Park is another popular spot for hikers and rock climbers with its hike-in campsites.
When to go
Camping near San Mateo is possible year-round. Winter campers should prepare for rain and mildly cold temperatures, but this can also be a magical time to have parts of the beach or forest all to yourself. Summer is the busy season, so reserve well in advance. Spring visitors may be treated to powerful waterfalls and wildflowers in the area.
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