Kirby Cove Campground

Category: Campground in Sausalito, California

Address: 948 Fort Barry, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA

Phone: +14153311540

Reviews

Junior Brown

Nov 9, 2021

Amazing place with a beautiful view of San Francisco, making reservations is somewhat difficult since they are booked so fast. It is definitely worth it if you are looking for somewhere to hike or camp in San Francisco with a view of the bridge. I took my sports boat along.

Ivonne Gonzalez

Apr 16, 2021

We had a great day! We went crabbing and we got pretty good size. Is very quite place! Beautiful to enjoy with family or just a Date.

Steven Lundy

Apr 14, 2021

Such a great campsite! Most of our party biked in from San Francisco and we had one car drive in with water, food and equipment. Recreation.gov says, "If you brought it, take it with you," but there are trash, recycling AND compost receptacles so that was a pleasant surprise. Booking a campsite is difficult, but if you have the choice here's how I'd rank them from best to worst 1 - The iconic site with the swing and view of the city 3 - Good distance from other sites with lots of trees 4 - Furthest from the ocean, nice and secluded 2 - Accessible but no trees and very close to site 5 5 - Accessible but no trees and very close to site 2

Birkeland Stout

Nov 3, 2019

Kirby Cove is a fantastic site. We stayed with a Boy Scout troop as well as a Cub Scout pack. I know reservations took a while to get but it was well worth it. Very primitive camping, but the views make it all worth it. There are a few vault toilets through the camp, and no running water. So bring several gallons per person; it goes quick when you consider personal hydration, cooking, fire safety, and sanitation. The winds can pick up at night and in the early morning, so don't forget your tent stakes. From the parking lot there should be a plastic wheelbarrow belonging to the park, it's useful for moving bulky camping gear to and from your site. If its not around I'd check the other sites to see if someone else has it because it is a lifesaver. Our medium size group used it for several runs back and forth to the car and our 2 sites. Each site has a spacious bear box that you MUST USE. While setting stuff out on the tables we had a bag of marshmallows stolen by raccoons in the first few minutes. Another mom in our group who was new to camping had some cheese stolen out of her cooler. Cant blame the raccoons though. The boxes are large enough for several grocery bags or a large cooler, so take advantage of it.

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Questions & Answers

Is there a tent camping place? I am going to San Francisco on February 4.

Darren huang | Aug 23, 2019
Jeanmarie Boben | Aug 23, 2019

Reservations can be made 3 months ahead of time, to the date. The campsites are booked out with in a second. This is NOT a place to just swing by and camp -- it requires extensive luck and discipline to actually get a site. Kirby Cove Camp is a campground and scenic area managed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the Marin Headlands, California. Thus, you can reserve it on the Federal site (recreation.gov) -- NOT the California site (reservecalifornia.com).

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Hi, i will be arriving from canada in august! If i reserve 3 month in advance do i have a chance to get a spot for my tent ?and how far is the camping site from where we leave the car ?thank you

Ianick Tel | Aug 23, 2018
Christine Loh | Aug 23, 2018

The distance depends on the site you choose, but it's not more than a 5 minute walk. They have wheelbarrows at the parking lot for you to borrow to bring your stuff down. If you reserve 3 months in advance, make sure you're on the reservation site EXACTLY at 7am PST because the spots go insanely fast.

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do you allow smaal campers on your campground? love to hear! it seems like a magical place to stay.

Karo Kats | Aug 23, 2018
Jeanmarie Boben | Aug 23, 2019

No RVs or Campers. Only tent camping allowed at Kirby Cove Campground. That said, if it is truly a "small camper" then you could sleep in the parking lot, but you're still going to need to get a campsite. The parking sites require a permit in your car that is associated with each campsite -- and, you need the gate code to even drive your car to the parking lot. Reservations can be made 3 months ahead of time, to the date. The campsites are booked out with in a second. This is NOT a place to just swing by and camp -- it requires extensive luck and discipline to actually get a site. Kirby Cove Camp is a campground and scenic area managed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the Marin Headlands, California. Thus, you can reserve it on the Federal site (recreation.gov) -- NOT the California site (reservecalifornia.com).

Hi! I was just wonder if we can camp there for night? Or do we have to make reservation... I don’t want to spend $$ for hotel. Or anyone have suggestion

Javier Lambarena | Aug 23, 2018
Kerry Steuart | Aug 23, 2018

Yes you have to make reservation's at recreation.gov

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How's swimming in the cove? Cold I'm sure, but waves or currents?

Todd Jaser | Aug 23, 2018
Diana Tucker | Aug 23, 2018

Watch the tide and current, you are so close to the main channel with huge currents.

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Is the swing still there

Alyssa Roach | Aug 23, 2018
Crystal Collins | Aug 23, 2018

Here April 1 2018. No swing. :(

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Long term rv parkiing?

margery harp | Aug 23, 2018
Kerry Steuart | Aug 23, 2018

RV's are not allowed. You could park a spinter van though. The road is narrow and difficult for two vehicles to pass at certain portions.

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Is it a long hike

Karina M Lozano | Aug 23, 2018
Roman Kolesnikov | Aug 23, 2018

Depends, are you camping there or just walking down from the vista point parking area?

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Is there a bathhouse?

Hari Bhavan Kaur | Sep 26, 2021
Michael Murray | Sep 26, 2021

There are several outhouses around the campground. They have toilets, but no sinks or showers. (There is no running water at the camp.)

Is the road closed off right now? I'm just wondering if they have a gate or if they're closed. I just want to park at the day use area and walk down to the beach.

cgy jgf | Aug 22, 2021
Daniel H | Aug 22, 2021

You can totally do so! You don't need to be camping there to enjoy Kirby cove, however you can't drive down past the gate I'm assuming you need to be camping to donI have always wanted to go check it out but I'm physically disabled so it's hard for me to walk for long periods of time and I've past by it before and didn't bother cos it looked like a far walk and judging by what people have said it seems like it's about a mile walk from the road where the entrance gate is.

Kirby Grove does not have running water. Does it have restrooms? Does it have barbecue grills? fire pits? Please post a list of things needed to camp there. Right now we are having a spare the air day- can we still cook and light fires?

Linda Simonin | Aug 22, 2021
O Silva | Aug 22, 2021

Restrooms (outhouses), bbq's are allowed in STA days. Not sure if area had BBQ pits though I did see people BBQing. Sorry not as helpful as could be. I'm vegan so I don't always notice these things.

Is there a campground in the neighberhood for a rv

Tineke Vermeulen | Aug 22, 2020
Nicolas Montambaux | Aug 22, 2020

Kirby cove isn't suitable for RV

Is the swing still there?

Claudia Ramos-Rodriguez | Aug 22, 2020
Nicolas Montambaux | Aug 22, 2020

No swing anymore

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we will be visting our son on 11-23-2019 and need a place to stay with are 32 ft motor home how much per night

Dave Peppmuller | Aug 22, 2020
Paulo Navarro | Aug 22, 2021

Motor homes are a bit too large for the unpaved road down to the Cove.

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Is there rv camping anywhere in or around the area?

Ramon Arrazcaeta | Aug 22, 2020
Dru Looks | Aug 22, 2020

Not anywhere near at Golden Gate Recreation area.

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How much is 2-3 nights to camp with a tent?

Christian Martinet | Aug 22, 2020
Edmundo Mouet | Aug 22, 2020

60-90 USD Good luck getting a reservation.

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Is there any type of entrance fee to use the trail?

Keshika Maharaj | Aug 23, 2019
Joe Reyes | Aug 23, 2019

Zero fees for day time use. To get a campsite. Go to recreation.gov. Kirby booked months in advance. Getting a spot is wildly difficult but worth it.

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IS it free to pitch a tent there?

Adrianna Flanagan | Aug 23, 2019
Jeanmarie Boben | Aug 23, 2019

No, no show up same day camping in most every spot within 60 minutes drive of San Francisco. Reservations can be made 3 months ahead of time, to the date. The campsites are booked out with in a second. This is NOT a place to just swing by and camp -- it requires extensive luck and discipline to actually get a site. Kirby Cove Camp is a campground and scenic area managed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the Marin Headlands, California. Thus, you can reserve it on the Federal site (recreation.gov) -- NOT the California site (reservecalifornia.com).

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Is the swing back up? (May 17, 2019)

Elise Webb | Aug 23, 2019
Paulo Navarro | Aug 22, 2021

As of September 2020, no. The swing was not up.

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How much for just tent per night

Jessie Anthony Medina | Aug 23, 2019
Julia Babka-Kurzrock | Aug 23, 2019

$35-40 https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232491

do they allow dogs

jay he | Aug 23, 2019
Julia Babka-Kurzrock | Aug 23, 2019

No, nope, no 🐕

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Where is the parking from the campsite? Is the dirt road drivable for AWD vehicles in the early spring? March 2019!

Sean “Jet Plane” Muniz | Aug 23, 2019
Wally B | Aug 23, 2019

Parking is accessible with any vehicle (preferably smaller in size) as single-lane hard packed dirt road winds down to campsite. Entrance is locked gate and can only be accessed with campsite reservation in advance through www.recreation.gov. Alternatively shoreline can be reached via long hike.

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Is the swing back up? Going January 28th 2019

April Brough | Aug 23, 2019
Ryan Toriello | Aug 23, 2019

Swing isn’t there Jan 26 2019

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Are there any tent camping spots in February?

Darren huang | Aug 23, 2019
Paulo Navarro | Aug 22, 2021

Tent camping is allowed by reservation only. Go to Recreation.gov to reserve a spot. I suggest trying to get a reservation exactly 90 days in advance, and at 07:00 Pacific Standard Time.

Can I use a tent for camping in February?

Darren huang | Aug 23, 2019
Paulo Navarro | Aug 22, 2021

Only if you get a reservation from recreation.gov. In February, the Cove is usually not open for reservations. The reservation season usually starts in March.

How much is it per night?

Christy Griffith | Aug 23, 2019
Paulo Navarro | Aug 22, 2021

It is not free. You can find reservation prices at recreation.gov. I went there in March of 2017 and paid $25 a night for campsite number one.

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Do you get to have your own camping area ??

Asiana Ayala | Aug 23, 2019
Nate Fleming | Aug 23, 2019

Yea I believe they're either 4 or 5 campsites with one not being used one of them is far off closest to the bluff which is the nicest view but you have to check your stuff in the farthest to a next to each other and then one is off to the left the one that's not being used I believe is the closest one to the parking lot

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does the swing still in Kirby Cove?

hong anh tran | Aug 23, 2018
Uma Sharma | Aug 23, 2018

No.

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Is the swing still there

Ashley Carolina | Aug 23, 2018
AmaZing Explorer (Explo_Bro) | Aug 23, 2018

Do us all a favor and put another one up ✊🏼

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Can you park car next to campground? or you have to carry all your stuff from car and walk a distance to be at the camping site?

gopalpatil69 | Aug 23, 2018
Jeanmarie Boben | Aug 23, 2019

No car camping -- but the parking lot is a short walk away. There are wheel barrows to haul your stuff down to the site.

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Are dogs welcome?

Arielle Crowder | Aug 23, 2018
aaron prather | Aug 23, 2018

No dogs.

Hello , we have a mobile home and want to stay at your campground for 2 nights. Do you have place 21 july till 23 of July? We hope so Greetings Carla and Johan

Joey Groenewegen | Aug 23, 2018
Paulo Navarro | Aug 22, 2021

Mobile homes will not fit at the campsites. Availability can be checked at reservations.gov.

can we get a space on Saturday or Sunday night with a 38 foot motorhome

Patti Frazier | Aug 23, 2018
Jeanmarie Boben | Aug 23, 2019

Tent camping ONLY -- no car camping, no RV camping, and you will not even get a motor home that big down the road. Reservations can be made 3 months ahead of time, to the date. The campsites are booked out with in a second. This is NOT a place to just swing by and camp -- it requires extensive luck and discipline to actually get a site. Kirby Cove Camp is a campground and scenic area managed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the Marin Headlands, California. Thus, you can reserve it on the Federal site (recreation.gov) -- NOT the California site (reservecalifornia.com).

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Can you reserve the whole camp ground?

phyllis Larkin | Aug 23, 2018
Paulo Navarro | Aug 22, 2021

It would be nearly impossible, but if you have multiple people to go after the different campsites it technically possible. I wouldn't recommend getting one, then going to the next one to reserve the next, then the other. Reserving this campground is very much like a race to be the first to reserve ... With each campsite having it's own race. Prep your team and have each team race to be the first to reserve. It's a very slim chance, but technically it is possible.

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