As the weather begins to heat up in the Bay Area, so too does the competition for campsites.

Expand your options with Hipcamp, the website (and app) connecting private landowners with outdoor enthusiasts looking for a place to rest. Campers gain access to a range of experiences—from wild foraging to treehouse stays to onsite hot springs—while the fees paid to hosts help prevent those lands from being developed.

Over the last decade, Hipcamp has grown to include sites in national, state, regional, and Army Corps parks in all 50 states that are often available long after regular campgrounds are booked up. These seven are among our favorites for spending a night under the stars in the Bay Area.

Salmon Creek Ranch, Bodega Bay

Rekindle childhood memories by sleeping in a treehouse in the forests above Sonoma County’s Bodega Bay. Salmon Creek Ranch kicks it up a notch with a queen bed, French doors, and a copper-lined shower 40 feet above the ground. The Eagle’s Nest treehouse sits within a 400-acre working farm where you can help herd ducks and learn about sustainable, organic farming practices. Or, keep to yourself just listening to the ocean from the deck. // hipcamp.com

Hilltop Vineyard's domes puts campers next to four acres of grapes.(Courtesy of Hipcamp)

Hilltop Vineyard Dome, Felton

Sleep among the grapes at this viticultural getaway in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Pitch a tent, bring your RV, or reserve one of two glamping domes for a bit more shelter and access to a hot shower. In addition to four acres of vineyards, this property has trails and a pond. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, along with everything Santa Cruz has to offer, is nearby. // hipcamp.com

Mercey Hot Springs Resort, Firebaugh

Located in the Panoche Hills of the Diablo Range, the off-grid Mercey Hot Springs Resort welcomes guests with individual outdoor tubs fed by a natural hot spring. The 144-acre property also features a swimming pool, hiking trails, and mountain-biking paths. Tent and RV sites are available, although hook ups are limited. // hipcamp.com

The Indian Flat Campground is about a half hour outside Yosemite National Park.(Courtesy of Hipcamp)

Indian Flat Campground, El Portal

Try out a Jupe tent (a solar-powered, air-conditioned canvas shelter) at this campground in El Portal, about eight miles from Yosemite National Park’s Arch Rock entrance. Sit around a campfire with views of the Merced River Canyon after a day of exploring, or sleep in on the memory-foam mattress and spend the afternoon lounging at the neighboring lodge’s swimming pool (to which campers have access). // hipcamp.com

Blackberry Farm, Bolinas

Pack your overalls to camp out at this site just west of Stinson Beach in Bolinas. Named one of Hipcamp’s best farmstays in 2024, the seven-acre property includes flower and kitchen gardens, chickens, sheep, honeybees, and a historic farmhouse dating back to the 19th century. Try out the farm’s organic eggs and heirloom fruit at the self-serve farm stand. A common area provides an outdoor shower, hot tub, and a place to cook. Walk 15 minutes to Bolinas’ downtown and beach, or make a day trip to nearby Mt. Tamalpais State Park or Point Reyes National Seashore. // hipcamp.com

Saddle Mountain's glamping tents give campers a view of the Monterey Peninsula.(Courtesy of Hipcamp)

Saddle Mountain Ranch, Carmel Valley

Unpack and unwind at this glamping spot in the Santa Lucia hills, a great base-camp for exploring the Monterey Peninsula. After checking out the area’s beaches, shops, and restaurants, retreat to Saddle Mountain’s 89 acres of forest, complete with canvas tents, a pool, sauna, and private trails. The grounds have RV and tent sites available in addition to platformed glamping tents. // hipcamp.com

Slide Ranch, Muir Beach

This outdoor school inside the Golden Gate National Recreation Area offers exceptional views of the Marin Headlands coastline. Camp in a flat meadow above the ocean, where you'll fall asleep to the sounds of the waves, then use the communal dome kitchen for breakfast in the morning. It's just a one-mile hike along the Owl Trail to the Muir Beach Overlook, and you can easily explore the larger Golden Gate area including the nearby Muir Woods National Monument and Point Reyes National Seashore. While you’ll share the property with goats and sheep, they hang out far from the camp meadow. Be prepared to carry your gear a quarter mile from your car to the campsite. //hipcamp.com

The Slide Ranch camping meadow on the Marin coast has perfect sunsets.(David Jen)