Kirby Cove Campground is *the* premium spot to camp near San Francisco and one of the finest on the California coast. Located just west of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge with spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline – there is no other campground with views like this!

Whether you are looking for some budget-friendly accommodation, the best campground views or just a unique night under the stars – consider including a stay at Kirby Cove in your travel plans. It feels miles from the hectic hustle and bustle of the city, yet so close you can see it.

If you sit on the shore and glance right, you could be in a craggy, uninhabited land somewhere, staring out across the Pacific Ocean. If you look left, you’re in a super unique Instagram post. The views are majestic and unmatched, anywhere in the world.

We’ve written this post to provide you with all the information – how to reserve a site, which campsites are the best, what you’ll need, weather and more.



Just across from San Francisco, as you head north over the Golden Gate Bridge, glance left. There, nestled in an enclave of pine, cypress and eucalyptus-carpeted trees, sits Kirby Cove. It has a pristine dark sand beach with direct views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the magnificent San Francisco skyline.

The cove is set in the Marin Headlands, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This region has excellent hiking, beaches and some interesting historic sites which makes for some fantastic day activities from Kirby Cove if you are camping.

Kirby Cove Campground is accessed by a steep, mile-long, gated dirt road that begins at the parking lot for Battery Spencer (off Conzelman Road). To access the cove by car, you must have a gate code that you are provided with alongside your campsite reservation. If you are heading in for day-use only, you must hike the steep trip in and out.

Fun fact | there is an old artillery battery on the beach. This was formally called ‘Gravelly Beach Battery’. It was later renamed after a lieutenant who died in the civil war in 1853, Edmund Kirby.



WHERE TO BOOK – RECREATION.GOV

WILDLIFE – BOBCATS, DEER, COYOTES AND RACCOONS

COST – $40 PER SITE, PER NIGHT

BEST SEASON – BETWEEN MARCH AND NOVEMBER

TREES – EUCALYPTUS, PINE AND CYPRESS

NUMBER OF CAMPSITES – 5

RESERVATIONS – ESSENTIAL

San Francisco skyline | Kirby Cove Campground

We always rent our vehicles all over the world, including our recent trip in the United States, with Discover Cars. They’re often the most affordable, plus they paid out immediately on an insurance claim we made when our car took some heavy damage in Sicily. We fully recommend them.

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TAKE A LOOK BELOW OR CHECK CAR RENTAL

Kirby Cove is rarely *that* warm. It is also frequently foggy, especially in the summer season between May and September. This means your choice is visiting when the visibility is better, or when it is warmer! It’s a gamble. There is also a decent likelihood it could be chilly at night, and it might rain. It can also get windy!

Having said all that, we visited in late September and in July. Both were great, although our July stay was far foggier. Both times we were surprised at how warm we felt, even at night (and it didn’t rain). 

The reservation season is between March and the end of November. This means you will avoid the rainy season in San Francisco (when 80% of the rain falls!). The major fog rolls in around June until August, so that could be a determining factor in your decision too.

Foggy views from site 1 | Kirby Cove Campground
Sunny views from site 5 | Kirby Cove Campground

There are five campsites at Kirby Cove. They are not all equal though! Here we list them in order, best to worst:

Kirby Cove Site 1

The most coveted spot at Kirby Cove Campground. This is set up on a cliff, closest to the Golden Gate Bridge. It has the greatest privacy with the finest views. It’s also huge – three tables and three tent pads spread out over a large area. Be aware that if you have kids, you’ll need to watch them near the cliff edges. This site is furthest from the car park area, so be prepared to walk a few minutes with your gear (it is questionable whether there are wheelbarrows to help now). This site is also well protected from the wind. There was previously an Instagram spot in site 1 – a swing. This means you might have a few people wander through your campsite looking for it.

Kirby Cove Site 3

This site is set back in the wooded area, furthest from site one, surrounded by eucalyptus trees. It is private, has a slight view of the bridge and is quite near the parking lot which is major plus! It has four tent pads.

Kirby Cove Site 4

This is a large, well-hidden site at the back of the cove. This site has a nice view of the sea but not the bridge. It is reasonably close the parking lot and encircled by eucalyptus trees. Equal privacy alongside site 1.

Kirby Cove Site 2

At the front near the beach, this site is quite open with less trees. Quite near site 5. It is a reasonable distance from the car park. Lovely setting near the sea. Has disabled access. Nice ocean view.

Kirby Cove Site 5

This site is the same as site 2, but even less private and adjacent to the path to the beach. It has disabled access and is the nearest walk to the beach. Minimal shade.

There are no bad camp sites at Kirby Cove, only some that are slightly better than others. We camped at sites 1 and 5 in two separate years. Although they are the best and worst in the list above, both stays were incredible, and any night spent in Kirby Cove is well above the average!

Golden Gate Bridge at night | Kirby Cove Campground

Reservations for the sites are done through the recreation.gov website. Here, you can see availability for each site on your chosen dates. The grid shows an ‘R’ for reserved and ‘A’ for available.

Things to know:

◊ You can book up to three nights per year per camper, so this is not a long-stay type campground.

◊ Sites become available for reservation exactly three months before your date, at 3pm BST. 

◊ The reservation season runs between early March and November 30th. Outside of these dates, there are no reservations. In 2025, the season is March 7th – November 30th.

◊ The nightly rate for a Kirby Cove campsite is $40 before taxes.

◊ Ten people maximum are allowed at each site (and you can reserve up to three sites in one go, so a theoretical group of 30).

◊ Three cars are allowed in the parking lot per campsite.

◊ Keep the accessible sites available for people who need them – only book sites 2 or 5 if the other ones are not available.

◊ No pets are allowed at Kirby Cove campground (service animals aside).

◊ Day-use only site – this is available to reserve the same way the camp sites are. It’s a really pretty spot by the seafront, on the opposite corner to site 1.

With only five sites, competition is stiff! However, we have never had a problem getting one, as we were ready to go when the sites were made available. Here are some things to note:

1. Ensure you create a recreation.gov account and are logged in. Click the ‘Sign Up’ on the top right.

2. Consider not going for site 1 on a weekend in the summer! You are more likely to get one of the others. Or try and use two browsers/computers and try for two different ones. 

3. Be prepared to book before the reservation period opens.

4. If you miss your window and they book up, keep checking back – cancellations do happen much nearer the time.

5. You have 15 mins to complete your reservation – have all your details and credit card to hand.

6. For us, we got site 5 much later in the day (we forgot about it!). They sell out very quickly, but not always lightning fast, nothing like camping in Glacier National Park or Yosemite!

7. If you manage to get your reservation, please ensure you cancel if you are unable to make it – this gives somebody else the chance to camp there!

Raccoons! | Kirby Cove Campground

The campsites are reasonably primitive. Each campsite has:

◊ Two, three or four reasonably large tent pads

◊ 1-3 picnic benches

◊ A fire ring

◊ A bear box (for the crazy raccoons)

◊ Lots of space

The campground has a parking lot, dumpsters, recycling receptacles and at least three pit toilets. There is no running water, so ensure you bring ample supplies. The bathrooms are basic, but clean, sometimes with toilet paper.

The biggest surprise for most people is that the campsites are not adjacent to the parking. It is a few hundred yards between the camps and the cars (the website says around 300 yards – this varies depending on the site you choose). This is not proper car camping in its purest form. Pack light or come prepared to move all your stuff. There were wheelbarrows to help with this both times we visited, however the official website now specifically says ‘wheelbarrows are not available’. The last we heard, they all had punctures.

If you have accessibility issues, it is possible to park you vehicle near to camp 2 and camp 5. You will need a second access code which you can request after you have your reservation by calling the Marin Headlands Rangers on (415)-331-1540.

The Golden Gate Bridge and Beach | Kirby Cove Campground

Pack light if you are worried about the walk from the car to your camp! You can bring your own stuff-transport if you have one. Other things we would recommend:

Firewood | you are not allowed to gather firewood in Kirby Cove

Toilet paper | occasionally the pit toilets run out

All the water | there is none available

(Head) torch | there is no electricity

Clothes in layers | the weather is temperamental, even in summer

Ear plugs | the foghorns are no joke when it is foggy!

Spare food | the raccoons seriously try to steal your food and are often successful

Hand sanitiser | because no running water, you know?

Decent tent pegs | it can be windy

Warmish camping gear | this would be useful if you get cold when you camp (like me). We have a lightweight three-season camping set up and it was very comfortable (if a little warm).

Here are a few things we think everyone should know before heading down to camp:

Spare the Air’ days – when wood burning is prohibited in the Bay Area (so no campfires). There may be fire restrictions for other reasons, find out more from the National Park Service.

Nature can be a bitch – there is poison oak around, especially around sites 3 and 4. Be careful if wandering off from the designated paths.

Strong phone reception – being so close the city, there is great cell signal here on all networks.

Fog horns – during the foggy months you won’t just lack in views, you may also lack in sleep! The ships that you watch floating past talk to each other, and it is not quiet! Bring ear plugs.

The Kirby Cove Campground swing – this has been removed by rangers. Don’t hike down here purely for your Insta pic on the swing! I read that the tree has been removed so the swing will not be replaced.

Do not sneak in with your car if you do not have a reservation – you’ll get stuck at the gate on the way back and won’t be able to get out!

Wildlife – there are aggressively confident raccoons, loud coyotes and shy deer. On a much grosser note, there are also ticks. The raccoons are the most common cause for concern – they have no fear. There are many, many stories of these little critters stealing campers’ food! However, we saw no raccoons either night at Kirby Cove Campground – maybe that was just luck though. Always use the bear lockers and do not leave anything unattended.

Bridge toll – don’t forget to pay your bridge toll if you are heading southbound on the Golden Gate Bridge. Find out more about Golden Gate Bridge tolls.

Wheelbarrow at site 5 | Kirby Cove Campground

Within the actual cove area, there is the beach, woods, and the old coastal defense battery to explore. On the east side of the cove at low tide, you can discover tide pools and little caves and grottos. I’m no fisherperson, but other people also come here to fish. I know nothing about the fish, but if that is your jam, go for it! Don’t forget to watch for the whales and seals from the shore.

Outside of the cove there are numerous possibilities to keep you entertained. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area has a plethora of fascinating historical and cultural attractions along with natural features and outdoor activities. This is not your average recreation area – it has 37 individual park sites, including Alcatraz. You can comfortably devote more than a day of your trip here.

A ten-minute drive north, also within the Golden Gate Recreation Area, is the Muir Woods where you can see the majestic redwood trees. South of the cove is the main city of San Francisco, with the famous Crissy Field just beyond the bridge. This is another famed view of the Golden Gate Bridge and is always full of dogs with their owners (my kind of jam). For more information on other sites, check out the National Park Service – there’s too much to list on this post!

Sausalito, just east of the bridge is a great place to go for a meal (and avoid camp cooking), with a variety of choices. Scoma’s has exceptional views and seafood but comes with a hefty price tag. Bar Bocce is a popular place for pizza with a view (loved this place – fully recommend).

You cannot access Kirby Cove with a car, without a relevant reservation for either the campground or day use area.

There is a gate at the top of the hill, with a combination lock that stops any unauthorised vehicle heading down.

When you make a booking, your confirmation email will include a four-digit code for the lock.

Ensure you re-lock the gate when passing through in either direction (otherwise other people may not realise and get stuck down there!

You are allowed to walk down without a reservation, however, be aware that the hill is pretty steep!

For any issues, call the Marin Headlands Visitor Centre on 415-331-1540.

Kirby cove is a little slither of magic. It’s fantastic if you’re not a regular camper or new to the game too, being so close to the urban metropolis of San Francisco. It’s great for kids of all ages and it’s also a brilliant budget choice for the backpackers out there who can’t afford a hotel room in the city.

If you have a tent, get on the website a nab yourself a spot. We hope this post helps you organise your trip – if there is anything we missed, let us know below in the comments!

Have a fantastic day!


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