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PADDLENUT
Explorer
Aug 31, 2017

STEALTH OVERNIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO???

I’ll be attending the Indycar race at Sonoma Raceway (just above San Francisco) on Sept. 17. I have campground reservations for Sunday night (after the race) – but everything is reserved out for Saturday night (before the race). I’ll arrive on Saturday eve in my camper van, and just need a place to park for the night.

I’d like to be under an hour’s drive to the race track so that I can get up early, grab breakfast nearby, and then join the queue waiting for the gates to open. I think this means that I should be in Novato, Sonoma, Napa or Vallejo. ‘Trouble is – I’ve little experience as a “stealth camper”, and I’ve never been to that area. The web says that the nearby casino and Walmart’s all forbid RV overnighting. Looks like I’ll be really doing the stealth thing to make this go smoothly.

I know some of you must know this area. Any suggestions?

13 Replies

  • I seem to remember a good number of RVs parked along Great Highway along the coast just south of Golden Gate park. My thought was they must be stealth camping. Maybe I was wrong, it was a couple years ago. Watch the signs and permits.
  • Find a house that looks like no one is home and park in front. If someone comes out or police show up tell them you felt tired and just need some rest and politely move on.
  • There is a KOA in Petaluma. There are many campgrounds in the Delta area. Most would be around an hour or so from the race track. You need to do a little more homework or if that is not your thing, then just tuck in somewhere and be sure no lights are visible from outside of the van.

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