- San Mateo
The best river, stream, or creek RV camping near San Mateo
92% (351)
Top-rated campgrounds
92% (351)
Top-rated campgrounds
Camper favorites near San Mateo
Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.
Public campgrounds near San Mateo
Stories from the community
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Sarah
3 weeks ago
16 ft car
This is our second time to this beautiful property and we will return again. Doug and Denise are both very warm and welcoming. They are the perfect combination of offering help if needed but also giving us our space. The property is just beautiful with a river you can walk to and so many varieties of mushrooms. Don’t forget to look out for the banana slugs!
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Cheryl
October 2025
Tent
With pets
The site is beautiful, private and secluded. We loved the creekside location with the small little trail. Great place for dogs and very serene.
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Matt
October 2025
Tent
With pets
I camped here one night on a clear night and loved the sunset and star gazing. You'll definitely need a decent off road capable vehicle with some clearance as the access road is a bit rough. My stock Audi q3 made it but it felt close to it's limits (or mine as a driver, I'm not sure). The site is about 1500ft of elevation so mostly out of the marine layer, but not completely - my gear was very dewy for part of the night.
If you want a polished glamping site then this isn't for you, but if you want some excellent views and don't mind a mini adventure off-roading up past old weed farms, check it out. I'd go again.
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Mackenzie
October 2025
Tent
With pets
We stayed at the Creek Site and it was perfect for my partner, pup and me. Doug and Denise were both super welcoming and took us down to the site as it is away from their home. It’s a short hike down to the creek, and worth it! It’s so magical down there. As far as location, it’s in the mountains and close to both the ocean and Santa Cruz. Great spot and would go again! As expected, totally off the grid – no cell service.
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Alex
October 2025
Tent
Great little spot , we really enjoyed ourselves here. Josh was a big help with very detailed direction's on getting there .
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Samir
September 2025
Tent
With pets
The coolest hipcamp I have stayed at thus far. Joshua gave very clear directions and was very helpful. The property is massive and views are extraordinary. Definitely need 4x4 with higher clearance, but the top is so worth it. Will be coming back when I am in the area again.
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Anna
September 2025
25 ft campervan
Group trip
This site was a surprise-it was very isolated, peaceful and nature-filled. It has no amenities- so be sure you have a toilet, water and lots of lights! Luckily we came prepared and it was very serene. The creek sounds were lovely, although it was a bit of a steep hike to get to it. We loved that the site was all our own, there were very few bugs and it was the retreat we needed.
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Ann Marie
September 2025
20 ft Class B
A beautiful, quiet space! It felt safe and was very private. Doug was super helpful when I arrived. The road in is rough but doable for 2-wheel drive.
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Matthew
September 2025
25 ft pop-up camper
Easy to find and very accessible. The tranquility was a definite plus. Being a single campsite was very nice. Site electrical worked great. Thank you for allowing my wife and I to stay here one night after Boots & Brews instead of driving all the way home.
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Noah
September 2025
1 night at Orion Observatory
Beautiful view and lots of privacy. Definitely need a high clearance 4x4/AWD vehicle to get to the spot. Perfect for a Jeep or something similar. Great host. Great communication. Truly a hidden gem.
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David
September 2025
36 ft fifth wheel
A very peaceful and quiet location just outside of Morgan Hill. Kind of the ideal place for a quick getaway.
We stayed there in our fifth wheel RV and Brian was an excellent host, always very friendly and made sure that we felt welcome.
And an absolute plus to being here was being able to hang out with the Highland cow Dually!
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Steven
August 2025
26 ft travel trailer
What a great little spot. The spot is as advertised. Plenty of room to back in my 24' trailer. I needed about 2" for leveling that that's no big deal. Water pressure and electric were great. Lots of opportunity to place your rig for decent shade. Duley the little cow was such a fun addition and made the spot.
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Molly
August 2025
Tent
Beautiful and so quiet! Only thing that was challenging was the no toilets. I hope the plan for the space is to eventually add a portable toilet at least cus that was a little more rustic than I prepared myself for. Still, super lovely property and we had a great time.
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Juliette and
August 2025
Tent
With kids
We had an amazing weekend in the peace of the woods and dipping in the creek! This spot is a real gem, the hosts are so nice and welcoming. Great place to spend some time outside with kids! We will be back!
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Gerald
July 2025
16 ft travel trailer
With pets
It was a beautiful, peaceful and secluded site. It was easy to get to and the hosts were very hospitable.
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Eric
July 2025
Tent
With pets
Wonderful site! Huge, super private, easy to access, and with incredibly kind hosts!
Just be aware about the bucket toilets - but our whole crew (of adults and kids) worked them with no problem!
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Paula
July 2025
20 ft pop-up camper
Group trip
We had a large group and had plenty of space to spread out, with lots of room to play in the meadow in the midst of the redwoods. Having a water hose at the edge of the camp was great. The walk to the creek (~ a mile) was beautiful, and the creek itself was lovely. The intro to the horses at the barn at feeding time was fun. The hosts were friendly and very accommodating to our needs and last minute changes.
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Ethan
July 2025
Tent
With pets
Denise’s place is absolutely amazing. Complete privacy, in the clearing of a redwood Forrest, on a running creak, 10 minutes from the coast. I’ve stayed at over a dozen Hipcamps and this is my favorite spot to date. I’m already planning another visit.
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Amalia
July 2025
16 ft car
I loved car camping here! It was a great time. Met some really cool people. The staff were so sweet and very helpful. People were very respectful and I felt amazing whether dressed or undressed. The pool and hot tub were nice as well. Looking forward to the next time I come back.
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Nancy
July 2025
Tent
Camping on Doug & Denise’s property was lovely! We drove up from LA to escape into some Santa Cruz magic and it did not disappoint. Thank you for having us!
Ps. Bring mosquito repellents for the evening.
See moreNearby parks
Explore the area’s public lands.
The best river, stream, or creek RV camping near San Mateo guide
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.