I'm looking for some recommendations on good rv parks north of San Francisco. Looking for something premium without a bunch of permanent residents with easy access to the city.

KOA Petaluma comes to mind. Nice place and not far from The City

Why North? That means you have to cross the Golden Gate to get into SF. San Francisco RV Resort in Pacifica is a great place (not cheap) and has very easy access to SF, but it is just south of SF on Highway 1.

This past June we spent a week at Marin RV Park in Greenbrae, just north of SF. It's nice and clean, but the spots are very small. Not a problem if you're going somewhere everyday like we did, but it's certainly not a place to have a campfire and sit outside. We enjoyed our stay because we found it very convenient. It was close to everything we were interested in. Most days we walked the 10 minutes to the ferry then sailed for about 30 minutes to dock right at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero. From there you can walk to the various piers (very touristy) and the Alcatraz ferry tour. Or you can ride on a cable car or a streetcar. One day we drove to Tiburon and took the ferry to Angel Island where we biked the circumference of the island. Another day we biked across the Golden Gate Bridge (a wonderful experience!). There's no shortage of things to do and we were very glad we weren't way up in Petaluma, fighting traffic into the city every day.

BusterMama wrote:This past June we spent a week at Marin RV Park in Greenbrae, just north of SF. It's nice and clean, but the spots are very small. Not a problem if you're going somewhere everyday like we did, but it's certainly not a place to have a campfire and sit outside. We enjoyed our stay because we found it very convenient. It was close to everything we were interested in. Most days we walked the 10 minutes to the ferry then sailed for about 30 minutes to dock right at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero. From there you can walk to the various piers (very touristy) and the Alcatraz ferry tour. Or you can ride on a cable car or a streetcar. One day we drove to Tiburon and took the ferry to Angel Island where we biked the circumference of the island. Another day we biked across the Golden Gate Bridge (a wonderful experience!). There's no shortage of things to do and we were very glad we weren't way up in Petaluma, fighting traffic into the city every day.I've been by that area a jillion times and never even noticed that RV park there. In looking at the Google earth image it does look like a tight fit, but that is a good location if your goal is to go into SF.To the OP: I've never stayed at this place, but this looks like a very good option for what you're looking for. Another similar type set up (but further away) is the RV park at the Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. It's a ways from SF, but only a couple of miles from the BART station so you can ride BART directly into SF. But this park in Marin County looks like your best choice.

Thanks for the replies.I'm not to concerned with the lack of fire pits or the tight spots. As you say you're there to see San Fran. I'm more just trying to find a place with a friendly group of Rvers touring. These types of places have a nice vibe. I get bummed out when you're in a place full of perminant residence, I just kind of kills it for me. I also like places that are full, they have energy.

Where to stay in San Francisco? | Good Sam Community

tropical36
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
IAMICHABOD wrote:
KOA Petaluma comes to mind. Nice place and not far from The City

We stayed there as well. Nice place and their own tour bus picked us up at the office for a tour of the city, going places where the big buses don't go and with a very knowledgeable driver who grew up in the city. Price was about $75 per person and what we thought, very reasonable. It's also not far from the ferry landing next to San Quentin, which makes for a nice ride across the bay to Fisherman's Wharf. This is a very busy campground in summer when the kids are out of school, so plan accordingly. We didn't have a reservation and had to do a bit of shuffling, along with almost ending up in their overflow lot.
Executive45
Explorer III
Oct 29, 2014
San Francisco RV Park in Pacifica is perfect for you. Get one of the sites overlooking the Pacific. Watch hang gliders from your front window. Follow the whales migrating right from your site. Walk along the beach and gather treasures. Pool/Spa/Activities

If you want to go into San Francisco, leave your car home and take the bus that picks you up at the campground entrance. It'll take you downtown or to the BART station where you can go anywhere. Use the cable cars to tour the city. Enjoy your stay without the hassles of traffic and/or parking......be sure to eat at Bubba Gumps on the Pier.....Dennis

San Francisco RV Resort
BTPO1
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
IAMICHABOD wrote:
KOA Petaluma comes to mind. Nice place and not far from The City

X2 on this campground. Lots of people and things to do. JMO
tad94564
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
Lake Chabot in Hayward.

Has full hookups, forest type setting, minutes from everything..
msmith1199
Explorer II
Oct 29, 2014
gfs1943 wrote:
We spent a few days last month at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo. I don't believe this is the place for you. We were the only occupants of the fairground at the time we were there. It's close to the SF Bay ferry, and right next to I-80 if you wanted to drive into SF (which we did). But the Fairground is really just a parking lot with full hookups. Plenty of space, plenty quiet, no one else around except a few workers in the daytime, but absolutely no activities for families except Six Flags across the road.

I was a cop in Vallejo years ago and I didn't even know they now had an RV park at the fairgrounds, but I sure would not stay there. That neighborhood across Highway 37 is one of the most crime ridden places in the SF Bay Area. No way would I be able to get any sleep knowing the area. There is a reason you were the only one there!
gfs1943
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
We spent a few days last month at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo. I don't believe this is the place for you. We were the only occupants of the fairground at the time we were there. It's close to the SF Bay ferry, and right next to I-80 if you wanted to drive into SF (which we did). But the Fairground is really just a parking lot with full hookups. Plenty of space, plenty quiet, no one else around except a few workers in the daytime, but absolutely no activities for families except Six Flags across the road.
Valkyriebush
Explorer II
Oct 29, 2014
msmith1199 wrote:
Why North? That means you have to cross the Golden Gate to get into SF. San Francisco RV Resort in Pacifica is a great place (not cheap) and has very easy access to SF, but it is just south of SF on Highway 1.

X-2 This would be my choice. Nice ocean views. Very close to city.
rr2254545
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
jaydub74 wrote:
Thanks for the replies.
I'm not to concerned with the lack of fire pits or the tight spots. As you say you're there to see San Fran. I'm more just trying to find a place with a friendly group of Rvers touring. These types of places have a nice vibe. I get bummed out when you're in a place full of perminant residence, I just kind of kills it for me. I also like places that are full, they have energy.

KOA Petaluma is for you, we stayed there a week - we took the ferry into SF from Larkspur, parking was 2.00 and senior rate on the ferry was 10.00 each round trip. In SF we got around on buses, cable car and trolley cars. It was quite easy to get around. Senior rate on the bus and trolley was .75 and the cable car is 6.00 for everyone

We stayed at the KOA in April of this year weekly rate was 289, Marin park was $140 more on the weekly rate
tropical_ron
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
X3 for Marin RV Park in Greenbrae. We spent a week there; perfect for visiting SF. We took the ferry each day to get to the waterfront...rode cable cars; visited Alcatraz..very convenient campground. No frills; quiet and clean, paved interior roads.
jaydub74
Explorer
Oct 29, 2014
Thanks for the replies.
I'm not to concerned with the lack of fire pits or the tight spots. As you say you're there to see San Fran. I'm more just trying to find a place with a friendly group of Rvers touring. These types of places have a nice vibe. I get bummed out when you're in a place full of perminant residence, I just kind of kills it for me. I also like places that are full, they have energy.