There are many RV parks in the Bodega Bay area. But in many ways, the Bodega Bay RV park stands out from the rest. Named after the rocky inlet of the Pacific Ocean, the RV park is located at a premium spot in the bay area.
Bodega Bay is characterized by rugged mountains and alluring beaches. With many adventurous activities to engage in, it attracts tourists from across the US. If you’re one of them and have zeroed in on the Bodega Bay RV Park, this article is for you.
Here we review the RV park in detail and explore the campsites, the amenities, rates, and policies.
Bodega Bay RV Park: Overview
Bodega Bay RV Park is a full-service RV park in the Bodega Bay region. It sits right in front of the Bodega harbor in the village of Bodega Bay.
Campers coming in from San Francisco will have to follow Highway 101 to the park. It’ll be a 90-minute drive. Similarly, visitors from Santa Rosa will have to drive on Highway CA-12 W and Bodega Ave for 40 minutes to reach the park.
At the park, you’re going to find pull-through sites and back-in sites. Both sites have full hookups, although some are limited to water and electricity only. The park also has some overflow sites with no hookups. These are ideal for truck campers who may fail to secure a parking spot.
The park is on a beachfront and hence has an appealing environment. Stunning coastal views and moderate to strong breeze are guaranteed. You get a direct view of the Pacific Ocean from some spots.
Being located in a prime location, the Bodega Bay RV Park offers easy access to the rest of the region. Salmon Creek is the nearest, and the beaches over there are just as imposing. The UC Davis-Bodega Bay Marine lab isn’t too far either.
Since it is a full-service RV park, you’ll find laundries, restrooms, dump stations, and charging stations all inside the park. So once you’re inside the park, you probably won’t have to leave till the end of the tour.
Who Owns Bodega Bay RV Park?
The nature and attitude of the owners/hosts matter a lot. After all, why would you want to stay at a place that doesn’t value its guests?
Fortunately, the Bodega Bay RV Park has been a family-owned business since 1967. It is owned by the Adams family, who are also the hosts and take care of the guests. They’re really passionate about their work, and it shows in the high customer satisfaction rate.
They actively train their employees and managers to better handle the campers at the park.
Facilities and Amenities at Bodega Bay RV Park
Selecting a park with all the necessary facilities is essential for any RV trip.
As already mentioned, Bodega Bay RV Park is a full-service RV park. It’s intended only for RV coaches and trailers. No tent or yurt camping is allowed inside the park. This is done to minimize disruptions.
That being said, here are the facilities you can expect at the RV park:
- Full hookup RV sites
The park is designed to accommodate 71 RVs as there are as many sites. 55 of them are full hookups with the availability of water, electricity, and sewer at those sites.
Sixteen sites are partial hookups, while almost all sites have cable TV hookups. Moreover, 26 of the 71 sites are pull-through sites, and the rest are back-in sites. The site length varies from 50′ to 60′, which is enough to accommodate luxury coaches.
The sites have both 30 amps and 50 amps electrical hookups.
Besides the RV sites, the park has an RV storage lot. You can park your RV or trailer indoors while away on the trails or beaches.
- Dump Station
At Bodega Bay RV Park, you’ll never run out of your gray and black water tank capacity. There’s a dump station within the RV park where you can empty the tanks by connecting to the sewer.
Partial hookup sites with no sewer can use the dump station too. There’s also a water spigot for cleanup purposes.
Using the dump station is free of charge for all the guests unless otherwise specified.
- Internet connectivity and entertainment
The park is Wi-Fi enabled, and you get free internet access at all the sites. Since it’s a public Wi-Fi, there might be some bandwidth restrictions. But rest assured, you’ll have internet connectivity for the duration of your stay at the park.
Along with that, you have free limited cable TV at almost all the sites. Connect the cable to your TV and enjoy the available channels.
The park has a free DVD library for movie lovers where you can rent both classic and latest movies.
- Outdoor activities
You’ll never get bored while at the park as there are plenty of outdoor activities to participate in.
At the opposite end of the entrance/exit gate, there’s a horseshoe pit. Challenge your partner to a game to see who’s better at hitting the target. You also have a mini-golf course nearby where you can play a round of golf. In addition, you’ll find a bocce ball court.
If you’ve got dogs, the RV park has two dog parks, one for the big ones and the other for small dogs. It’s fenced, and you can leave your dog unleashed.
The park doesn’t allow biking or skating. But there are no such restrictions outside of the park premises. Hence, the opportunities are endless.
- RV Park Clubhouse
The park has two clubhouses available to groups that have reserved at least 10 RV sites. It can be used for meetings, reunions, parties, or even weddings. Eligible groups can use the clubhouses at no extra cost.
Both the clubhouses are cleaned and maintained daily. Upon request, the staff members will adjust and decorate the clubhouse to suit the occasion.
The RV park allows you to book the clubhouses up to one year in advance. And there’s an easy-to-follow cancellation policy as well.
- Restaurant
Many campers have to compromise on food when they go camping. But not with Bodega Bay RV Park, as you have a restaurant within the property.
It serves delicious seafood and sandwiches using locally-procured ingredients. It’s spacious enough to accommodate as many campers as possible. But seats are subject to availability.
- Laundry
The park has on-site laundry facilities that you can use and clean your clothes. Although it’s available in most RV parks, the Bodega Bay RV Park ensures they’re hygienic and available to campers all the time.
- Restrooms with showers
You’ll find well-maintained restrooms at the campsite. These are equipped with hot showers, toilets, and sinks. Like the laundry facility, the restrooms are cleaned regularly to ensure a hygienic environment. Even if your RV has an en-suite bathroom, you can use the restrooms 24X7.
The Adams family is continuously upgrading the RV park. So you may have even more amenities by the time you make it to the park.
Activities Near Bodega Bay RV Park
Bodega Bay is the preferred getaway spot for San Francisco, Sacramento, and Santa Rosa residents. The breathtaking coastal views, energizing hiking trails, fresh seafood, and laid-back vibe are some of the things that attract tourists to this place.
When you’re at Bodega Bay RV Park, you get an opportunity to experience everything Bodega Bay has to offer.
Here are the adventure activities you should look forward to at Bodega Bay RV Park:
- Hit the beach
The beaches of San Francisco are great, but they’re often crowded. The shores of Bodega Bay, in contrast, are calm and serene.
The nearest beach from the Bodega Bay RV Park is the Bodega Dunes beach. It is vast and secluded. It’s a great place for sand walking as there are many trails through the dunes.
The other beaches you should visit are Arched Rock Beach (named after a big rock with a hole), Bodega Head beach, Campbell Cove, Carmet Beach, Coleman Beach, and Doran Beach.
- Watch the whales
Bodega Bay is an excellent place to watch whales dive out of the water. It’s positioned right along the gray whale migration route.
The best place to spot whales is from the Bodega Head peninsula, about three miles from the Bodega Bay RV Park.
In the peak season, which is from January through April, you can spot magnificent whale breaching. That’s the time they migrate north and are closer to the shore.
- Catch the fish
There’s plenty of fish to catch at Bodega Bay, just like the rest of North California.
Walk down to the Bodega Bay Sport Fishing Center from the RV park. Hop on one of the boats and go out into the waters. The luckiest ones even catch a king salmon! Another coveted catch at the Bodega bay is the Dungeness Crab.
Besides that, you also can catch species like Rockfish, Cabezon, Bronzeback, and Copper. From March till the end of the year, the months are considered prime for fishing at Bodega Bay.
- Hike the trails
Bodega Bay offers thousands of miles of picturesque hiking trails overlooking the ocean.
The trail leading up to Bodega Bay from the RV park is among the best in California. The East trail runs through the coastal bluff of South Bodega Bay and offers a complete view of the ocean. The West trail will lead to the Bodega Marine Laboratory and Marine Reserve. You can combine these two trails into one for a one-day trekking trip.
Consider hiking the Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail with binoculars or DSLRs if you’re a bird lover. Bird species like shorebirds and waterfowl are spotted year-round.
- Ride the horses
Equestrians can participate in guided trail rides and traverse the dunes and picturesque trails on a horse.
There are coastal parks and private ranches at Bodega Bay that allow horseback riding. Foothill Regional Park, Spring Lake Regional Park, Shiloh Regional Park, and Doran Regional Park have rashes that are open to tourists. Many of the trails at these parks pass through the coast and rural Sonoma County.
The horse riding sessions last from thirty minutes to an hour.
- Taste the local, authentic wine
The Bodega Bay region produces some of the best wine-producing grapes, most notably the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. So if you’re into either of these varieties, a trip to one of the wineries at Bodega Bay is a must.
Sonoma Coast Vineyards, which is within 2 miles of Bodega Bay RV Park, has been run by a wine-loving couple since 2001. You can have a sip of the best-in-class Pinot Noir while enjoying the coastal views.
Littorai Wines (winner of Winemaker of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle) and Pax Mahle Wines are other wineries you should visit.
Other than the aforementioned activities, there are other options available too. This includes kayaking, canoeing, surfing, kitesurfing, swimming, and beach camping.
Bodega Bay RV Park Rates
The rates at Bodega Bay RV Park are quite reasonable. Price will never be a barrier, whether you’re coming for a short weekend trip or a month-long expedition.
The cost of RV sites at Bodega Bay RV Park varies by type, and it is as follows:
- Pull thru sites (full hookup) – $73
- Pull thru sites (water and electricity) – $68
- Pull in sites (full hookup) – $70
- Pull in sites (water and electricity) – $66
- Dry back in sites – $50
The RV park may charge you $10 more if you request a specific site number.
Bodega Bay RV Park Reservations
The reservations at Bodega Bay RV Park are made online or over the phone. You can check for site availability and book your preferred spot on this portal. The portal allows you to make the payment and receive the necessary receipts.
Or, you can call the reservation department and inquire about the availability of the sites. They will also guide you through the booking process.
Reservation at the counter is subject to availability and is not recommended since the spots get filled up pretty quickly, especially during peak seasons.
Bodega Bay RV Park doesn’t allow long-term rentals, and you’d have to book on a daily basis. There’s a $10 cancellation fee in place in case you cancel the bookings made.
Can you Boondock in Bodega Bay?
Bodega Bay is a place that respects boondocking. You’re going to find plenty of space in and around to get off-grid for a few days completely.
The Bodega Bay RV park has a few dry camping spots with no hookups. These cost $50 per day. You can still use the dumping station and restrooms for a fee.
Outside of the park, you can camp at the beaches of Sonoma Coast State Park, subject to approval from the authorities. Similarly, there are boondocking sites at Doran Beach, Pomo Canyon Environmental Campground, and Willow Creek Environmental Camp.
Other RV Parks to Consider at Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay RV Park is at a premium location; thus, it tends to get overbooked. In such cases, you can consider other RV parks in the region. Here are the recommended ones:
The Porto Bodega Marina and RV Park should be your preferred alternative in case you miss out on the spot at Bodega Bay RV Park. In fact, it’s located nearer to the north end of Bodega Bay, adjacent to the shores.
The privately-owned park has excellent campsites overlooking the ocean. They accommodate all types of RVs at reasonable rates.
At the park, you can engage in a wide range of activities like kayaking, sailing, kiteboarding, and surfing. Furthermore, you can take trips to the nearby state parks and conservation areas.
Since it’s also a Marina, there are 57 boat slips with necessary amenities like electricity and water.
Doran Regional Park is a public park overseen by the Regional Parks Department of Sonoma County.
It offers you access to the 2-mile long stretch of well-maintained Doran beach. There are 120 tent and RV sites, some of which are on the beachfront.
You won’t find electrical hookups, but there’s a generator nearby. Many RV sites are positioned at remote locations, offering complete privacy. These are ideal for dry camping as well.
If you decide to stay at this public campground, inquire about Shell, Gull, or Cove campsites that are located between Doran Beach Road and Bodega Harbor.
- Westside Regional Park and Campground
This is another public RV campground situated on the shores of Bodega Harbor, near the inlet. In fact, it’s next to the Doran Regional Park.
It is a year-round campground with sites available for both RVs and tents. There are no electrical hookups, but you’ll find both potable water, restrooms, and a dump station. The only concern is the gravel surface, which gets muddy during the rainy season.
There’s also a three-lane boat launch and a kayak launch right on the Bodega Harbor. Both of these are wheelchair accessible. So there is no need to leave the campsite for boating or kayaking sessions.
