I first discovered Hipcamp two years ago when desperately searching for a last-minute campsite in Joshua Tree National Park. With two days until my trip, I was willing to settle for anything, but what Hipcamp gave me was an art-filled oasis in the middle of the desert — an experience I still talk about all the time.
Since then, I’ve used Hipcamp to stay in a geo-dome overlooking the ocean, a tiny A-frame surrounded by the forest in Oregon, and a tent next to frogs croaking by a pond. I’m often surprised by how many people still aren’t aware of the service, which has been billed as the “Airbnb of the outdoors.”
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Bay Area native CEO Alyssa Ravasio founded Hipcamp in San Francisco in 2013 with a goal of getting more people outside: The service works by connecting campers with private landowners who rent out their wide-open spaces. Today, Hipcamp offers over 382,000 both public and private campsites nationwide.
In this new world of social distancing, private campsites are a commodity that don’t just feel desirable but necessary. Hipcamp has introduced strict safety standards, including limiting guest access to shared areas, adding extra space between campsites when necessary, and requiring hosts to thoroughly disinfect their properties before and after stays. Additionally, each host must certify that they’ve complied with all these new health standards before they’re allowed to open their sites again.
Getting outside and connecting with nature is a form of therapy all the time and especially now. We’ve compiled seven of the best Hipcamps within a few hours of the Bay Area you’ll want to book ASAP.
(All listings in this article except as noted have self-certified that Hipcamp’s Covid-19 Safety Standards have been implemented.)
1. Oceanview dome in Pescadero
Replies to my Instagram stories from this campsite blew up my phone. People. Were. Into. It. As was I. This geo-dome in Pescadero, about an hour’s drive from San Francisco, overlooks the ocean and is glamping at its finest, with access to a hot shower, a rentable space heater, and a fully operational bathroom just a short walk away. The off-grid dome is located on a working ranch and farm animal sanctuary. On the way in, you’ll pass horses, alpacas, and dogs.
This dome is one of three campsites on the property, all far enough apart that you’ll forget this fact almost immediately. The host has also assigned each campsite designated bathrooms to limit any interaction with people outside your social bubble.
There’s a comfortable large bed — just be sure to bring your own blankets and comforter to follow current Covid-19 guidelines. An abundance of hiking awaits within a short driving distance, including Año Nuevo State Beach (where you may even spot some elephant seals) and Butano State Park. The best part, however, is the sunsets, with uninhibited views of the Pacific as far as the eye can see. Be sure to poke your head outside at night, too, and view the sky lit up with a thousand stars.
$133/night
2. Camp with the animals on a Grass Valley farm
The farm at Love Creek Sanctuary in Grass Valley (a two-hour drive from San Francisco) is home to around 50 rescued farm animals, including llamas, alpacas, donkeys, sheep, a goat named Mojo, and a pig named Hank. Due to Covid-19, the hosts are only allowing one camping group at a time, so you’ll have the whole place to yourself.
You can watch the hosts partake in the daily feeding of the animals (from a safe distance), walk among the fig and apricot trees, and get to know Macciatto the alpaca. When you’ve grown tired of the animals (if that’s even possible), the farm is perfectly located near many outdoor adventures. It’s only a 20-minute drive to the Yuba River, and there is plenty of hiking nearby. The only downside? The resident roosters may wake you around 4 a.m. with their crowing, but it’s a small price to pay for endless access to alpacas.
$50/night
3. Barn camping in Sonoma
This rustic barn is only an hour’s drive from San Francisco and a five-minute drive from downtown Sonoma. Sitting at the end of a walkway lined with palm trees, this peaceful spot overlooks a field that bursts with wildflowers in spring. There are thoughtful and colorful decorations throughout the barn; you’ll have access to a record player along with a large collection of records, a wood-burning stove, a long antique-style dining room table, and a large sun-drenched patio complete with a fire pit. While the stay does not include a kitchen or hot water, you’re welcome to bring your own food and enjoy it on the patio. There is a sleeping loft with a queen bed and a fully functional private bathroom. Though typically great for groups, the host is currently only allowed two guests at a time to ensure safety during Covid-19.
Wake up to the sounds of birds chirping, spend your day at some of the best wineries within just a few minutes of the property, and discover your new favorite hobby: barn camping.
$225/night
4. Camp beachside in Mendocino County
Bonfire on the private beach at Jug Handle Creek Farm. Photo: @vamoselsewhere for Hipcamp
Jug Handle Creek Farm sits on 39 acres of private land with 10 large and carefully spaced campsites and ample privacy. The campground, a three-hour drive from San Francisco, has direct access to a private beach (about a seven-minute walk away) and plenty of hiking trails. It’s also home to an organic garden and native plant nursery. Be sure to check out the Jug Handle Ecological Staircase trail, a two-hour hike that starts at the campground and weaves you through the beautiful redwood and pygmy forest. End your night with a sunset on the secluded beach and a bonfire back at camp.
$45/night
5. An off-grid cabin near Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is notorious for its competitive campgrounds, with outdoor enthusiasts booking sites within the park up to five months ahead of time. If you missed your alarm clock to book those coveted sites this year, Hipcamp has a better option. Ranked third among the user-voted Best Hipcamps in California of 2019, Juniper Camp is a cozy 10-by-12-foot cabin that is completely isolated, with no internet or electricity and only oil lamps and a warm wood-burning stove. A sleeping pad in the corner of the cabin, once you add your own blankets and sleeping bag, makes for a perfect sleeping nook. The views are unparalleled, with Mono Lake visible in the distance and a sky full of stars at night. The location is remote, yet the entrance to Yosemite is only a 30-minute drive away and Mono Lake is right in front of you. Kids stay free.
$55/night
6. Camp on a pond in Butte County
Spread out over 500 acres a three-hour drive north of San Francisco is Maple Creek Ranch — a massive private property with several spread-out and private campsites (I promise you’ll barely see another soul), each surrounded by forest. Several hiking trails are directly accessible from the ranch, but what really makes this place special is the freshwater pond that sits in the middle of the property. The pond is perfect for fishing or swimming, and there’s a canoe and rowboat available to anyone in the mood for a paddle. Spend the hot summer days cooling off in the water, and end the day with a warm outdoor shower (routinely sanitized) and a campfire.
$60/night
Honorable mention: Desert camping near Joshua Tree National Park
Sky Camp was my very first Hipcamp experience, so it has a special place in my heart. Yes, this one is more than just a couple hours from the Bay Area and the furthest drive on our list, but if you’re planning a visit to Joshua Tree, there’s truly no better place to stay. Also, an important note: Skycamp seems to be closed due to Covid-19 since March. So while you can’t stay there now, we wanted to include it so you can bookmark to check back in the future to see if it’s reopened safely.
Self-described as “a home without walls,” Sky Camp perfectly embodies the artistic desert vibe of Joshua Tree. The campsite is on the hills of the Bartlett Mountain Range and is surrounded by vast desert land extending for miles. Hiking and biking are accessible directly from the campsite, and both Joshua Tree National Park and the village of Joshua Tree are only a few miles away. Art is everywhere you look at Sky Camp, from the colorful bathroom door and the eclectic common area to the mural on the side of a truck that’s been converted into an indoor hangout space. Complete with an outdoor shower and stunning desert sunrises and sunsets, Sky Camp is undoubtedly the most unique stay in Joshua Tree.
$50/night
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