It’s Summer of 2020, with pandemic lockdowns, road trips and camping were the best and safest ways to get outdoors. In California, especially along the Pacific Coast Highway, there are so many beautiful choices to camp any time of the year. We did not want to miss sleeping under the stars again this summer.

Deja vu! (we were there in 2018 too!) we were back at our favorite Salt Point State Park campground, situated about 100 miles north of San Francisco, along the beautiful Sonoma Coast. This place has it all. Coastal bluff hiking trails, tide pools, fascinating water-carved tafoni (sandstone formations), ocean-facing picnic tables, and plenty of open space (perfect for social-distancing in the pandemic).

There are two tent/RV campgrounds for over-night camping to choose from. Gerstle Cove Campground, on the ocean side on the bluff (can be windy and cold in summer evenings), and Woodside Campground located on the East side in a more wooded setting (less windy and slightly warmer).

Tip - On this 3 hour road trip, don't forget to make quick stops at beautiful coastal towns of  Bodega Bay, Jenner and Timber Cove for some excellent roadside crabs and lobsters or just coffee. Remember, Check in time for campsite is 2PM

Trip Highlights

Duration - 3 Days (2 nights)

Places - Salt Point State Park (near Jenner), Sonoma Coast, California

Best for - Overnight Tent Camping. Most campsites have 8 person max and 2 car occupancy.

Travel Pace - Easy

Season - Summer is best (May-June-July-Aug-Sep to early October).

Experiences - Tent Camping, Forest to Coast Hiking, Beach Picnic. Golden Hour Photo and Droning!

Trip Cost - $300/family of 4 for 2 nights. Includes campsite ($40/day) cost of gas, food, and drinks

Trip Route

Itinerary

Day 1 San Francisco to Sonoma Coast (Salt Point SP)

Head to Sonoma Coast from San Francisco on US 101 North. Leave around mid-morning (10 or 11 AM), so you can enjoy the beautiful countryside and coastal towns of Bodega Bay and Jenner on the way. Perhaps stop for a quick coffee. Your campsite check-in is at 2 PM. So soak in nature, the famous bay area fog rolling over the bluffs. By 3 PM you will reach Salt Point SP. We camped this time at the pine-shaded Woodside Campground. Pitch your tents, settle in, go for stroll around the camp forest. By evening, gather around the fire pit, enjoy dinner, drinks, and marshmallows, gaze at the beautiful starry night sky before retiring into cozy sleeping bags.

Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours drive

Activity Level: Low (flat, highway, and coastal car drive)

Good To Know: 1. Firelogs from the camp host at check-in (open till 7 PM), 2. Campgrounds have clean toilets, water taps at each site, and food storage, 3. if you need any urgent groceries/sundries then head to Ocean Cove General Store, about 2-3 miles before the park entrance. Store closes by 5 PM

How to get there:

Drive for about 2.5 to 3 hours (100 miles with stops) on 101 North / CA-1(Pacific Coast Highway) from San Francisco to Salt Point State Park Entrance. You can also go all along CA-1, but that will take you 3+ hours.

Morning/Afternoon

Evening

Day 2 Hiking + Beach Picnic + Sunset Coastal Hike

Start the morning with some fresh french press coffee and french toast (yes!). Today we have a couple of hours of hiking - forest to coast, picnic on the beach, soaking in tide pools, and “golden hour” hike along the beautiful coastal bluff trails.

Tip - Prepare brown bag lunch (chips + sandwiches) and lots of water before leaving the campsite. 

Duration: 4-6 hours

Activity Level: Moderate (walking/hiking on hills)

Good To Know: There is no food or water on forest or coastal trails.

How to get there: From Woodside Campground entrance take the forest trails to Gerstle Cove Reserve. About 1.5 miles (30min slow pace)

Morning and Afternoon

Evening

Day 3 Salt Point SP to San Francisco (Return)

Today we drive back home to SF. Since Check out is 12noon, we decided to have a quick breakfast - scrambled eggs, salmon, coffee and then packed up our tents and gear and we ready to go by 11 AM.

The drive back was on a warm, sunny day. You could see tons of people on the beaches along the route. I guess it was also the last week before school re-opened, albeit online.

Tip - If you have time, stop at Jenner town for 1-2 hour kayaking on the Russian River.

Duration: 2.5 hours

How to get there:

Take the same route back - drive for about 2.5 hours (100 miles) on 101 North / CA-1(Pacific Coast Highway) from Salt Point State Park Entrance to San Francisco. You can also go all along CA-1, but that will take you 3+ hours.

Before You Go

1. Food & Drinks - For the first day, take pre-packed sandwiches and dinner ready for grilling like burger patties, marinated chicken, veggie patties, etc.. in a cooler. For other days, canned food like chili and pasta is ideal.

2. Gear - Sleeping bags, Individual inflatable pillows, and mattresses, 3-4 Person Tent per family, Fleece Jacket, Hiking Shoes, Stove, Propane gas tanks, Ice cooler, trash bags, mosquito repellant, first aid kit, paper towels, phone charges, wireless speakers (yes music in evenings is soothing)

3. Online Reservation confirmation - take a picture as accessing email at the campsite is difficult - no signal!

Map It!

Recommended Additions

Here are some helpful alternatives to add /swap in this itinerary

1. Rent a Kayak in Jenner (Russian River)

2. Coastal Road Cycling (Bodega Bay to Jenner)

3. Timber Cove - Add a night in this beautiful upscale hotel situated on a cliff facing the Pacific Ocean.

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Plan Your Trip

Take this itinerary as is or if you like to make some tweaks you can consider swapping with the recommendation additions above. If you have questions on planning your trip or have feedback on this itinerary, leave us a comment below.