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Favorite group camping spots close to the bay area
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molybdanum
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:29 pm    Post subject: Favorite group camping spots close to the bay area Reply with quote

I'm trying to figure out a short notice camping trip, so I'm looking for suggestions on group camping spots within 3ish hours of San Francisco. Should be Westy and tent friendly and available with a couple weeks notice. The group will be about 10 people and 3 or so vehicles.

Thanks in advance

Dan
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rockfish
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

From a very local point of view:

Memorial Park - San Mateo County
Huddart Park? - San Mateo County
New Brighton State Beach
Sunset State Beach

I believe there's some group camping out at La Valle Lake in Livermore.

Also check into the East Bay parks.

Don't know availability - but it must be better than during summer season.
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j_dirge
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ocean or Mountain?

For mountains:
HWYs 4, 108 and 120 are all within 3.5 hrs of the Bay Area.. less if you are already in the East Bay.

LOTS of campgorunds and open spots for 3 vehicles should not be difficult to find.

If you want lake shore then it gets a little more challenging.
But Gold Lake area north of Placerville is very interesting.. near the Sierra Buttes.. hike to the fire lookout. Awesome

For Ocean:
In addition to those listed above there several nice places up in the Fort Bragg / Mendocino Area.
Manchester State Beach
Russian Gulch etc
Lots to choose from

I don't think there is a "best".
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those are straight line runs with light weight race cars for only 1/4mile at a time..
not pushing a loaded brick up a mountain pass with a family of 4+ inside expecting to have an event free vacation..


Last edited by j_dirge on Wed Aug 24, 2011 8:03 am; edited 1 time in total
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Californio
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's a pretty big radius.

Closest to Berkeley is Lake Chabot, about 20 minutes, part of East Bay Regional Parks District. Easy but not exotic. There's also Del Valle, about 50 minutes, in Livermore, same district. Del Valle is redneck lowlife in summer, esp. on weekends, so be prepared for boomboom music. Mt Diablo also has group camping but there aren't a lot of sites so check first.

These are the closest in the East Bay. As someone said, depends on what you're looking for.

Redwoods? Memorial Park in San Mateo County, with the possibility of a quick excursion to Duarte's in Pescadero and the ocean.

Beach? Sonoma County state parks.

Whatcha looking for?
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CurtisS
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 2:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We like the campground at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca when there is NOT an event taking place. Some of the spots have awesome views towards Monterey and the facilities are fairly nice.

Ciao.

CurtisS
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rockfish
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We drove down to Laguna Seca on Sunday to catch the races...saw some Westies (with the tops popped of course...some w/ awnings), in some primo camp/park spots overlooking the course.
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kuleinc
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

j_dirge wrote:
Ocean or Mountain?

For mountains:
HWYs 4, 108 and 120 are all within 3.5 hrs of the Bay Area.. less if you are already in the East Bay.

LOTS of campgorunds and open spots for 3 vehicles should not be difficult to find.

If you want lake shore then it gets a little more challenging.
But Gold Lake area north of Placerville is very interesting.. near the Sierra Buttes.. hike to the fire lookout. Awesome

For Ocean:
In addition to those listed above there several nice places up in the Fort Bragg / Mendocino Area.
Manchester State Beach
Russian Gulch etc
Lots to choose from

I don't think there is a "best".


Dirge,
I've driven to tahoe from the bay area on hiway 4, but this was before I owned my current drivable westy. Any spots that you think WON'T be over run with people this weekend? I might try to go out with the wife somewhere, but I know its a busy weekend, and we, um, hate most non westy people... Well I do. There seemed to be a one lane road and some water way out on 4 or something if I remember correctly. I was in my old BMW and we couldn't stop, stupid electric radiator fan stopped working...
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