Gualala, California
Looking for a new place to camp? You’re in for a sweet surprise. Get ready to camp at one of our favorite campsites that’s just a stone’s throw away from the ocean.
Talk about a GEM of a campsite! We have been camping in Gualala for several years now and it continues to be one of our absolute favorites campgrounds to date.
We love this campground so much that we wanted to share it with my family this year and decided that Thanksgiving was going to be the perfect occasion to get my family to experience camping in Gualala.
My family isn’t use to camping, so Gualala offered the perfect balance of easy trails, coziness and solitude.
If you especially like smaller campgrounds this is the place for you. Here is all the important information you need to know before your trip to Gualala.
This post is all about Camping in Gualala.
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Gualala Point Regional Park
Once you arrive you will see exactly why we love camping in Gualala. Gualala Point Regional Park is the perfect mixture of forest, meadows and beach. The way the sun beams through the trees throughout the day is nothing short of magical. At night you will enjoy the soothing sound of ocean waves crashing. The perfect white noise for sleeping.
Gualala campground is open all year round and views of the Gualala river can be enjoyed from several campsites. Campground map attached below.
We have camped at 4 different sites and we have enjoyed them all. Our two favorites are campsite 10 & 11.
where is Gualala Located
Gualala Campground is located within Gualala Point Regional Park right off Coast HWY 1 and borders Sonoma and Mendocino County. It’s located north of Sea Ranch and south of Point Arena.
The campground is enclosed within the Gualala River Redwoods and a short walking distance to the beach.
Gualala is a very small town but has everything you need for a sweet little getaway, a local grocery store, a couple restaurants, a gas station and several hotels.
camping in Gualala
Gualala Campground offers 19 campsites for tents, trailers and RV’s. It’s nestled within the forest right along the Gualala river.
Reservations are required and I personally recommend booking at least a few months in advance during off season and up to 6 months during high season. To make a reservation you will need to make a profile on Sonoma County Regional Parks website.
There are 6 walk up sites that are located at the back of the campground, one site is reserved for hikers or cyclists.
Campsites are equipped with a picnic table with grill, a fire pit and food locker. Within the campground you will find restrooms, a coin operated shower $2 for 5 minutes and a dump station.
There are several tap water spigots throughout the park.
A reservation includes one vehicle and one towed vehicle. Each additional vehicle is $7 per night. A single campsite can have up to 8 people. A dog fee applies of $2 per dog per night.
- $37 per night +$9.50 non-refundable reservation fee May 1 through Nov. 30
- $35 per night +$9.50 non-refundable reservation fee during off-season
- Check-in 2 PM. Check-out 12 PM.
what to do in Gualala
One of the main reasons I love Gualala Campground is it’s close proximity to several beautiful and easy trail starts.
Take the trail from camp to Gualala Point for a beautiful view of the river, it’s about 1.5 miles round-trip.
Coastal Bluff Trail-6.5 miles round-trip from Gualala Point Regional Park to the Walk On Beach Trail.
Salal and Bluff Trail Loop-2.4 mile loop.
Snap a picture of the ceremonial Serge Posts located in the meadow of Gualala Point Regional Park.
Eat at Gualala Seafood Shack and enjoy some fresh seafood.
Fish or kayak the Gualala River.
Golf at the world famous Sea Ranch Golf Links.
Relax and enjoy wildlife watching at one on the many benches perched on top the coastal bluff.
Whale migration season falls form November through March.
Don’t forget your binoculars, these are the ones we have and are priced well and work great.
Visit the nearby Point Arena Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in the West Coast. This is about a 20 minute drive from camp and is totally and absolutely worth it. Cost is $5 to enter the site and $5 for the lighthouse tour. Cash and Card accepted.
tips
Dogs ALLOWED on leash at camp and on trails.
Since the campground is surrounded by trees there’s not a lot of direct sunlight, so bring a few extra layers, it tends to be much colder at camp.
No electrical hookups available.
If you forget anything don’t worry, a 5 minute drive from camp you’ll find the town of Gualala with two markets, the Gualala Supermarket and Surf Market.
Gualala Campground sells firewood at $10 a bundle, cash only.
If the camp host happens to be off, firewood can be found at Gualala SuperMarket for $11.50 a box.
The morning of departure support a local business and have breakfast at a locals favorite, Trinks Cafe, a laid back cafe with a nice view of the ocean and really yummy pies.
Leave No Trace Principles
If you love to be outdoors whether it’s hiking, backpacking, kayaking or camping please follow these guidelines. Leave No Trace Principles helps minimize our impact and aids in preserving our earth as much as possible. If you would like additional information please read this article The 7 Principles.
The 7 Principles:
- Plan Ahead & Prepare
- Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Others
Take Nothing but Pictures; Leave Nothing but Footprints
OTHER RELATED POSTS:
- Camping at McArthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park
- 27 Must-Have Tent Camping Essentials Every Camper Should Have
This post covered everything you need to know about camping in Gualala.
~travel resources~
Here you can find all the travel site links that we personally use and recommend.
ACCOMMODATION: We find the best deals with BOOKING.COM. The more you book the better the perks like free breakfast with your stay, room upgrades and even higher discounted room rates.
CAR RENTALS: We have always used RentalCars.com and find them to have the best deals, customer service and selection of locations.
FLIGHTS: Our go too for booking flights has always been SKYSCANNER. We always find the best prices on this site.
TOURS/EXCURSIONS: GET YOUR GUIDE and VIATOR are two very reputable sites with easy and hassle free bookings.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: It’s so important to travel with insurance and for this we use World Nomads or Safety Wing.
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