Camping in Napa Valley may not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning a trip to wine country, but it can be an inexpensive way to find a place to stay.
Camps
Surprisingly, you can find some campgrounds in the Napa Valley that are conveniently located near the most popular cities.
- Camping Napa Valley Expo RV Park: This RV park is located just 10 blocks from downtown Napa. They have water, sewage, electrical connections and free wifi.
- Calistoga RV Park and Campground – Located at the north end of the Napa Valley, just a few blocks from downtown Calistoga. All of their sites have water and 30 or 50 amps of electricity and some have sewer hookups. They also have a tent and accept pets. Amenities include WiFi and complimentary showers. They are open all year round.
- Skyline Wilderness Park – This place is surprisingly close to the city of Napa. Some of its spaces have connections, but others are only for camping in tents. They have toilets and showers and they also have some horse camping sites, with nearby equestrian trails. You can bring your pet, but dogs are not allowed on the hiking trails in the park.
- Bothe-Napa Valley State Park – This campground is located on California Highway 29 north of St. Helena, in the middle of the Napa Valley. It can accommodate campers up to 31 feet long and trailers up to 24 feet long. They have pay showers and they also have some yurts for rent. It has a swimming pool that is open during the warmer months of the year. To reserve a campground at this or any other state park, you need to plan ahead.
Campgrounds within 50 miles
Camping options are limited in the Napa Valley, but you can find quite a few places to stay that are less than an hour’s drive away.
- The closest RV park to Napa is in Vallejo, just 15 miles south of downtown. Tradewinds RV Park has sites of various sizes, some of them large enough for vehicles up to 45 feet long with full hookups and 30-50 amp service. Sites can accommodate most slides. They also have WiFi, cable TV connections, laundry facilities, bathrooms, and showers.
- The closest KOA is in Petaluma, about 45 miles west of the city of Napa.
- Vineyard RV in Vacaville is about 30 minutes south of downtown Napa. They also offer cabins for rent, which can be more affordable than a luxurious Napa hotel. Also in Vacaville is Midway RV Park , which has full hookup sites, satellite TV, and a pool. Most of its sites are accessible to even the largest RVs.
- In many places, Walmart stores allow overnight parking, but unfortunately for you, both stores near Napa are among its stores across the country who do not.
Camping at Lake Berryessa
Lake Berryessa is east of the Napa Valley. On a map, it doesn’t seem that far away, but the mountains that form the eastern boundary of the Napa Valley turn a 30-mile drive into an hour’s drive.
Most of the campgrounds at Lake Berryessa are on the west or southwest side of the lake. If you’re just going to enjoy the lake, all the locations are fine, but check a map and driving times before choosing one of these campgrounds while visiting Napa Valley.
Pleasure Cove Marina has about two dozen RV sites, with full or partial hookups, as well as over 100 water-only campgrounds. This is your best option if you are considering camping while exploring Napa Valley.
