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Johnson's Beach & Resort
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
16241 1st StGuerneville, CA 95446
(707) 869-2022
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
41 reviews for Johnson's Beach & Resort
Review Highlights
"...a trip to this spot while visiting the russian river area."
(in 12 reviews)
"They rent paddle boats and canoes."
(in 7 reviews)
"The snack shack has great burgers and root beer floats."
(in 3 reviews)
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica t.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 9/6/2011
Canoe-ing down Russian River, the picture blue skies stretching above us, the sun glistening on my pale shoulders; we glided through the water in long graceful movements.
Johnson's Beach still has it. If you get there early, parking is no problem and though they often rent out of kayaks quickly, you can pretty easily secure a canoe for the day - for thirty dollars.
We did just that and didn't even both pitching an umbrella on Johnson's Beach's main rocky strip of beach. We took our canoe out into the big blue and ended up finding some cozy, soft sanded hang-outs where we docked our canoe - and collapsed in Vitamin D bliss.
Having had the chance to really venture down Russian River in our canoe this past Sunday - I'm a firm believer that if you want some peace and quiet - then Johnson's Beach isn't necessarily your spot for a tranquil day. It's definitely more of a family fun beach. But if you just need a spot to park, and rent some inner-tubes, a kayak, a canoe, or a paddle-boat - then Johnson's Beach is a quality spot.
My advice is leave your stuff in the car and just head straight on the water. You'll find far better rest spots while floating in your canoe.
Trust.Listed in: Places and Businesses that I…, Russian River Spots
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/26/2008
I'm sitting curled up on the chair right now, my towel still damp and will probably be asleep in a… Read more »
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Review from carlos a.
6/12/2011 3 photos
Wow. So glad I found this place.
- Free parking
- Easy access to the river
- You can buy beer and food for cheap. Beer is $3 for a giant bud light or $2.50 for a cheeseburger. Ice cream is $1.50
- Lots of sun (a plus for people like me who live in SF)
- Close to lots of wineries
- Seems to be family owned.
I will DEFINITELY be coming back here.
The only downside is the beach is rocky, but no biggie. -
Review from zia s.
San Pablo, CA
6/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
So much fun! Going mid week was PERFECT, because it wasn't as crazy busy as it is on weekends. We rented a couple of umbrellas for $6 each, and posted up in the sun for 6 hour straight! (in and out of the water, of course)
The staff at the food/beer/snack/rental shack were awesome and friendly. We even got hooked up with a few freebies for just being polite. (Thank you!)
We're going back soon, and probably again shortly there after as long as this weather keeps up! -
Review from Judah L.
Cazadero, CA
9/19/2011
This place rules. Read the other good reviews, they're right. Cheap decent food and cheap beer. Cheap rentals. Totally awesome. Don't come here and be a dick, it's annoying.
It's a kinda rocky beach with some algae in the water so be prepared for that and don't be a wuss and complain to Yelp too much about it later. It's a beach in Guerneville, not Water World ;)
Haven't camped there since I was a kid so this is just a review of the beach and rentals/snack shack. Boss. -
Review from Alex R.
San Jose, CA
5/19/2011
My family and I went here for it seemed like every year when i was kid during the summer for vacation. It is a property with multiple cabins, a full-service campground and private beach (with rental kayaks, canoes and paddle boats, as well as a hot dog and beer stand) right in the heart of downtown Guerneville. It is cheap (I think it is $200 a week for a cabin) but fills up very fast. Last year we went there but I had to book in February for a July 4th week vacation. The cool thing about it lately is that they have a fireworks show on July 4th above the river. It's actually a pretty nice and long show, considering the size of the town.
Also, the town itself is a quaint stretch of roadway off River Road (accessible via 101N) and has things like cafes, five and dimes, antique shops, a make-it-yourself ice cream shop (Flavors Unlimited...one of the best Ice cream shops around Northern CA) and a Safeway. There is also a Saturday morning flea market that happens in the Safeway parking lot, so that's a nice thing when you wake up on the weekend to walk (you don't have to drive because it's literally a one or two street town) down to the market with some coffee and check out all the stuff.
They also have an internet cafe, which is cool since the cabin (and the town itself) is pretty rustic. So if you're longing to check out Yelp or whatever the cafe is off the main road. Just ask around and the folks will point you to it.
One drawback: they used to have a really cool carnival-type theme park called J's Amusements across the bridge, but that closed down years ago. It was awesome as a kid to race my big brother and the rest of my family on the go karts there at night after some nice times at the beach. Stupid economy.
One note about the beach: If you go in July or August, it will be really hot during the day so be prepared to rent one of their beach umbrellas. It's worth it and since the beach is rocks (not sand) you will have a hell of a time trying to stake your plastic umbrella in there. I've seen people try and and have just laughed at them from under our cool setup. Oh and the umbrellas do run out so don't be a slouch on a beach day. -
Review from Ernest M.
Paso Robles, CA
10/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great annual trip for the Jazz festival in September. The people are great, the food in the town is good and not expensive as it is on the beach. Place is very beautiful.
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Review from mike b.
Great Falls, VA
9/15/2011
Definitely rustic, but very nice. We got there at 5pm and they close at 6 so no time to rent canoes. It was free and the water was refreshing. Beautiful redwood trees. Good times.
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Review from Rebekah T.
San Francisco, CA
All I want are sunny summer days, laying on the beach, wading in the river, eating cheeseburgers under umbrellas and drinking ice cold beer or orange swirl drinks.
I woke up to another foggy San Francisco Saturday morning, rescued by a phone call from my sister - Wanna go to Russian River? It's going to be beautiful. Yes, yes I do.
We arrive at the beach in the afternoon when some are heading home, but the sun is still out and us city kids need to soak up as much as we can get. We rented an umbrella by the shore ($6) and laid out in the sun.
My nephew is playing in the water, showing me what he can do and playing other kids. All the kids are having fun, laughing and playing games, the adults are tossing around a football while wading in the water.
We ordered yummy cheeseburgers ($2.50) and an orange swirl (orange soda with vanilla softserve - $2). Everything was inexpensive, nothing on the menu is over $3. I think we spent $20 max.
It was a perfect day, family fun in the sun without spending a lot of money. A quick little escape from the city and the fog for a day to enjoy the summertime sun. -
Review from Eric L.
8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Well located private camp ground that serves as a great landing pad while enjoying the yearly Russian River Beer Festival. Its a bit of a walk to the brewery, but is right on the river and right in town for those looking to enjoy those locations.
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Review from Bryan S.
Sacramento, CA
9/1/2011
They do not take reservations forn camping . Really? The guy was SO rude and jerky to my bf and I. Not an option for us . we will be staying at the Parker for Lazy Bear .
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Review from Hyun N.
Los Angeles, CA
8/17/2011
This was my first trip to Johnson's Beach camping ground and I was absolutely disappointed with camping aspect, although the beach itself was bearable for 'a day trip'
The camping ground was oddly located right in the middle of the town. It felt like a ghetto. The lady in the office was unkind and has a little temper as well. She seemed enjoying ruling over the little camp ground. I arrived at the camping ground around 8:00 am because the lady said (over the phone) that the site was operated on a first come first served basis. However, the office only opened a little after 9:00 am and the lady was already pissed off when I told her that I had parked my car at an empty spot and was waiting for her to show up in front of the office. I didn't even set up my tent yet.
There were bunch of young adults camping right next to our site and they made my stay unbearably miserable. They were heavily drunk, putting on loud music until 2:00 a.m. and yelling at one another. One guy was shouting that he had 4G on his phone all night! Other folks at the camp site were too afraid to confront them. The office was closed around 6:30 pm and there was no noise control after that!
The thick green algae in the river was appalling. I needed some courage to step in the muddy water with full of algae. I even saw drifting tanning oil close to shore.
The water on the shower had strong rustic smell and taste.
This is definitely not a place for a family looking for a quiet camping trip in the woods. -
Review from Connie C.
San Jose, CA
7/26/2008 2 photos
Day Three at the Russian River! Apparently, the hottest day of the Summer, according to our cutie pie Johnson's Beach boy. The Johnson's Boys (beach staff) are so sweet and helpful.
We spent yesterday and today at Johnson's Beach, the main beach in Guerneville located minutes away from our rental house, where we rented inner tubes ($4) and a canoe ($25/day or $10/hr) for some fun in the river. We also rented an umbrella ($4) and beach chairs ($3) -- a must on a hot summer day on this non-sandy beach. A Johnson's Boy accompanies you to put the umbrella up in the spot you choose on the rock beach. Since it's a rock beach, he needs to drive a stake into the ground and then secure the umbrella in it with a bungee rope for you. There are bursts of wind every now and then, so you probably won't want to put up your own umbrella because it might fly away. It's hard work for these boys, so be sure to tip them a buck or two.
You can also rent paddle boats and kayaks from the rental shack. If you get there an hour or two before the 6pm closing time, they'll slash the prices, which is very fair of them. There's also a concession stand where you can get $2.50 draft beer and $3.50 Red Hook Ale. They also sell burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, and other goodies, for very cheap. Make sure you bring cash and an ID as a deposit if you're renting anything.
This is definitely a family beach on the weekend. The beach has free parking, and although a lot of people come out the the beach it doesn't get overly crowded. We got prime parking and a prime spot on the beach. They never run out of tubes or canoes, and if they rent out all the paddle boats, it's only a few minutes wait for the next one.
Rent a canoe for sure! The river before the bend is not extremely long, but the roundtrip row is a great workout, and is especially relaxing. Our Johnson's Boy was so friendly and patient when giving us pointers on how to maneuver in our canoe. It was such a fun way to end our day at the beach.Listed in: From Russian River With Love
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Review from Nicole G.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2008 1 photo
Day two at Russian River, and we hit up Johnson's Beach, again! It's the main beach in Guerneville, with a huge expanse of umbrellas and people just soaking up the sun. $2 beers cool you down and cheap inner tube rentals ensure everyone gets into the river.
Guerneville is full of family-run businesses, and Johnson's beach is no exception. The folks who run the place are great and set the tone for the whole beach, cheerfully renting out umbrellas and selling beers and grill. The beach gets packed with families, renters and gays all looking to kick back and enjoy the water.
Suggestion -- Make sure to rent a canoe! We got to see so much of the river by boat, and say hi to families and party animals hanging out on the docks all along the way. You won't want to miss out on the people watching opportunities.
Observation -- They may have rentals, but this is no "resort." Expect rocks, lots of kids and maybe even a doobie being sparked up next you. This is Guerneville, people.Listed in: North Bay Trips, Russian River Wineries
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Review from quinn s.
Richmond, CA
6/27/2011
I've been to this place several times with kids and without. It's the best food beer and atmosphere you can find on the river. Weather your sitting on the beach letting the kids play or taking a stroll up the river in a boat. It's the best out there.
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Review from Kerry P.
8/30/2008
Nothing spells summer more to me than Johnson's Beach. Colorful umbrellas and children frolicking in the water. Canoes, paddle boats and innertubes. Cherry icees, $3 beers and sandwiches with just a LITTLE sand in them. Suntans, sunburns and the smell of Banana Boat.
Johnson's Beach is certainly a class act, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a resort. The air is all innocence. It will transport you back to the days when summer was all play and no work. Everyone is super laid back and just happy to be alive (awesome people-watching!) Located just one hour north of SF, it's the perfect day trip for a day of sunning or you can even make a weekend out of it.
The oldest man alive runs the show around here and thankfully no one seems offended when I blind everyone with my pasty white skin (oh the joys of sitting in an office all summer long). -
Review from Gabe R.
South San Francisco, CA
7/22/2009
Mmm. Their cheeseburgers are delicious! Mmm, so are their milkshakes...BUT anyway, This is about the beach/resort, not the food they make (well, maybe a little bit)
We went to Johnson's Beach to relax on our last day camping. A group of 9 of my friends went down here to relax and swim in the river.
The camp ground is decent; it's not sand at all, mostly rocks, which can hurt a bit, but the get go to the river is great. Anyway, there are no obstructions here whatsoever, so getting a tan here is great, except make sure you bring something good to lie down on. It will be really rocky with just a towel. The River itself is pretty narrow, but can get a bit deep (I'm pretty tall, so it wasn't that much trouble standing on my tip-toes). They rent out tubes here along with other activities such as canoeing, kayaking, and paddle-boating. It's really cheap and affordable.
The food, like I said, is really gooooood. Their cheeseburgers, although plain and simple, hit the right spots. Their milkshake was a winner too. What topped it off is that the prices are cheap, definitely not a tourist trap, so yeah. Great place to eat with friends and family --- they don't let you bring barbeques though (or outside alcoholic beverages... i know!) because they want you to buy from them, which to me is totally understandable because this is a serious family owned business. They want to keep revenue going!
All in all, my experience with this place was great. Definitely worth taking a trip to this spot while visiting the russian river area. -
Review from Dave B.
5/27/2008
No reservations means that the early bird gets the worm. Thanks to our terrific hostesses, we were treated to the best site in the place. Without the competition of other campers, they secured the spot nearest the manager's office closest to the beach. It made it easy to spread out six people and four tents. $14 a night never went this far before.
Bathrooms: Very clean. I didn't mind shelling out the 50 cents for the six minute shower once I was told that they were hot. And, they were very hot.
The place is clean, relatively quiet, but filled with people who were enjoying themselves. Families, friends, couples. The camaraderie amongst the campers reminded me that we're all in this world together. Everyone was so helpful. Always willing to provide advice and helping hand.
Johnson's is really close to town. Two minutes to the Visitor's Center, pizza, and many shops and restaurants. A short drive to fantastic wineries. With the green trees and towering redwoods, it was hard to believe this place is less than 70 miles from San Francisco.
Minus one star for more than one gravel storm on the beach. Of course, it does encourage people to go in the water. Maybe it does serve a purpose... plenty of people were playing in the water with their kayaks.
Plus one extra star for having a pool table to work on your game. :) -
Review from Dory B.
San Francisco, CA
6/30/2008
I camped here with friends over Memorial Day weekend. It's not the prettiest campground you'll ever see, nor the quietest, but if you're looking for a quick getaway from the city with access to all sorts of amenities, this isn't too shabby.
As is the case with most campgrounds, the sites are pretty close together, but we lucked out and scored a site that allowed for some distance between us and our neighbors. There are bathrooms with hot showers (bring quarters), and a game room with pool and ping pong tables. There are even electrical outlets at the sites - good news for your friends with those giant mattresses that require a machine to inflate.
The town is a short walk away, and there you'll find restaurants, stores, a couple of bars, and a visitors center which is a great source for info about nearby wineries and other attractions. Oh - and there's the "beach", which is basically a stretch of the Russian River surrounded by gravel. Hard, uncomfortable gravel. Despite this, the beach is surprisingly popular, and you can rent canoes and kayaks nearby. -
Review from Dave K.
San Francisco, CA
7/30/2008
Ever since I was a little boy, I have been returning to Johnson's Beach every summer or two. The sand feels like your at the ocean, but the lack of sharks, warmer, and fresh water let's you know otherwise!
The town of Guerneville is full of colorful people, and fun hangouts, but none like Johnson's Beach. It can get packed in the summer, but that only makes it better for people watching.
Take a dip in the river, hop on over to the rope swings and make a splash in the water. Get a few cheap beers, relax in the sun, warm up, then rent an inner tube to cruise around for an hour.
As far as parking goes, sometimes it gets a bit crowded so don't look to be able and be the closest car to the beach. If you are staying in the nearby area, work that heart rate up, and walk there.
ALL YOU NEED FOR A GOOD TIME: SUNSCREEN, TOWELS, SWIMSUIT (OR NOT), AND A FEW BUCKS FOR A SNACKS, AND DRINKS.
**DIRECTIONS: COME. LAY OUT. SWIM. BEER. SNACK. LAY OUT. AND REPEAT AS NECESSARY!** -
Review from Julie M.
Santa Rosa, CA
9/8/2008 1 photo
My daughter and I enjoy spending lazy afternoons here on the beach. The parking is free. The consession stand sells veggy burgers and slushies at reasonable prices.
They rent canoes and floaty things. They also rent umbrellas, but I usually just bring a towel and enjoy the sun a bit. The area around the beach is so beautiful - huge trees and clean air. It is such a great drive from Santa Rosa. -
Review from Jill k.
Oakland, CA
12/19/2010
one of my favorite memories of 2010 thus far has been a day trip here with friends! it totally brought me back to my childhood - floating around in an inner tube, eating sandy snacks, tire swings, and good company.
on a more logistical level, johnson's beach can't really be beat for the price. there's no charge to park or enjoy the "beach," you can rent an umbrella or an inner tube for a few bucks each, a kayak is $25 for a day. we brought our own snacks, but they also have a snack shack with super cheap food.
i can't wait to make this an annual stop!Listed in: good ol' guerneville
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Review from Rob R.
San Francisco, CA
8/26/2008
this is just a review of the beach, not the camp site. This is a very kid friendly beach - we didn't have any kids, but we got to act like them - inner tubes and ice cream - but ordered a couple of $2.50 adult beverages too. I had read the reviews so I knew to order their umbrellas - they sledge hammer a stake into the ground - and that saved us about 4 times as the wind really kicked up every now and then.
It is a gravel/rock beach, so expect to wear your sandals whereever you go, but not all that bad either.
On our way home we stopped in at the Stumptown Brewery which appeared to have it's own beach for adults, but no one was there at the time - I mention it in case you'd prefer the non-kid experience as Johnson's can get a little loud at times. Otherwise, I definitely recommend a beach day at Johnson's -
Review from J S.
San Jose, CA
8/25/2011
So I'm not a fan of the actual water in the russian river. The water is green and you can see great strings of algae swaying like seaweed when you go into the water. But I must say, john sons made up for that. I loved the small touches... There was 1920s style music playing on the loud speakers, they had a burger shop right there at the beach. Guys set up your umbrella and it was really good. The bad... Not so much a beach but a pebbly expanse that is hard/painful to walk on and really, really hot. This is obviously not their fault, but just letting you know n prices were decent and the woman who works the counter was funny, personable and gave us a really good deal.
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Review from Dom F.
Guerneville, CA
4/12/2009
I've been coming to Johnson's Beach every summer since I was a kid. It's a fun beach with all the amenities. Now my kids spend their summers here and they love it like I did. We rent double kayaks or paddle boats and explore the river looking for rope swings, etc. The food at the beach is awesome (total comfort food) and the prices are great!!! Late in the day we find ourselves paddling against a slight breeze so remember to bring just enough energy for the float back to the beach. No question about it, a great family excursion.
See you on the river! -
Review from vanessa d.
Alameda, CA
1/28/2009
the russian river jazz on the river takes place here, and i had such a great time seeing boney james and chaka khan, except when she got all preachy and 12-steppish in between songs. the place itself was large and cozy, with a nice location next to the water. i recommend bringing your own chairs and other creature comforts, only because it gets really crowded and the competition for umbrellas and recliners can be too cutthroat for most people. inner tubes and hibiscus printed neon towels aplenty.
it's great for the whole family-- kids running amok, ice cream fingers and red icee-stained mouths. women in sarongs and huge floppy sabrina hats. men with the tops of their protruding beer bellies sunburnt. hot, evenly-tanned bodies on svelte blondes with toe rings. men looking like daniel craig coming out of the water, all james bond style.
a great place to come out and pack a picnic, bring the wine (or buy some there), and enjoy the fine weather coupled with fabulous music and friendly company.
fyi, for my fellow queers-- it's also down the street from a couple of gay bars. pretty convenient and gay-friendly! -
Review from vinney a.
San Mateo, CA
9/28/2010
Johnson's beach is old, nostalgic, fun and inexpensive. Camping was just $22 per night for each car. They have a great pebble beach and easy access to downtown for good eats.
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Review from Vince G.
Santa Rosa, CA
5/19/2008
I normally only review restaurants and bars on Yelp, but I had to make an exception for Johnson's. I've been coming here every summer since I was about eight years old. I'm 35 now. Some things have changed, but the essence of Johnson's remains unchanged.
Johnson's beach is the main beach people go to in Guerneville. The beach is mostly covered with rocks, which can be painful on the feet but also means you don't go home with sand in weird places, so don't forget your flip-flops or water shoes. The dam goes up around Memorial Day every year and goes down around Labor Day. There are fireworks every Fourth of July. There are also jazz and blues festivals here at other times.
There's an awesome shack on the beach that sells the greatest cheeseburgers of all time, as well as other sundry items like ice cream cones, chicken burgers, soda and frozen candy bars. Right next to the food station is the rental/beer station. Current prices are $2.50 for a domestic draft and $3.50 for a Red Hook. Both are served in a big paper cup. The rentals include canoes, kayaks, inner tubes, umbrellas and I think chairs. The umbrellas and tubes are only $5 for all day and I highly suggest you get an umbrella from them, because if you put up your own it WILL fly away when the wind picks up in the afternoon and everyone will laugh at you. As for hard and fast rules, there are only three: You can't bring your own booze to the beach, no throwing rocks and no dogs on the beach. If you are guilty of an infraction of either of the second two, you will hear Clare's mighty voice booming across the loud speaker correcting you.
Now for the "resort" part. The resort consists of a few large lawns spread out over about 1/4 of an acre. The campsite starts about 100 feet up from the river. There are tables and fire pits scattered here and there and you pick out a spot and set up your tent. There are no assigned spots. If you have a big group and need another table or something talk to Willy or Laura up at the trailer in front and they can probably hook you up. There are also cabins for rent. They're quite rustic but they're comfortable. The restrooms are very nice, with flush toilets and coin operated showers. The owners are very tolerant, but they also are adamant that you obey the rules and don't disturb the other guests.
This will always be my beach and camping spot, not only for its personal nostalgia, but also because it's the most comfortable, has the best amenities, is super friendly and is so convenient to both the river and town. -
Review from Karyn J.
Seattle, WA
7/20/2009
This is just a review of the actual campsites, not the beach (the beach is pretty great).
I can't say that I had the greatest experience at the campgrounds. First off, the people that run the campsite are horrible, unhappy, and unreasonable. They told us we were getting the last campsite available, but there were 2 more open sites right next to ours that were filled shortly after our arrival. Since it is "first-come-first-served" this seems pretty shady. I was super excited to be out of the city, away from work & right by the beach so I was in happy/charming overdrive. They were having none of it and couldn't have been more rude. Every question was met with a bitchy answer and they were so unhelpful.
Our first night was just going to be 2 people and then we had 5 friends joining us the 2nd night. It clearly says that the max per campsite is 8 and we had plenty of space. I told them up front that this was the situation and they said "we'll see about the joiners". Why? It is totally fair to fill our site for one night and pay for the extra people! They had people with 5 tents and 5 cars there on one site. They had people in trailers there that had built freaking fences and had flat screen tv's installed outside, there was one with about 20 potted plants. Shouldn't they follow their own "rules" and not allow long-term/permanent stays?
The next day when our friends arrived they gave us hell. Our friends arrived early and were friendly. The last girl to arrive they tried to deny... seriously- one person?! They would only give us one bathroom key for 7 people. The bathrooms were filthy, ran out of toilet paper, and were totally insufficient for the number of sites. We decided to park one car on the street so they wouldn't be so angry and use that car to shuttle us up the river for a float trip. They yelled at us when we drove in to pick people up and our tubes. Seriously?! We can't even drive a car in for 5 minutes and then leave again?
It could be a good place: there are awesome views and it is amazingly convenient. But, they make it horrible and the bathrooms are gross. They don't even have trash cans or recycling- they have one stinky truck that you chuck all of your trash in & you have to ask them where it is so they can give you one more snooty answer (how the hell was I supposed to guess that I was supposed to throw my trash into a tucked-away truck and that you're 20 years behind the times and don't recycle?!)
I definitely recommend the beach, but stay away from the campgrounds... if they even let you in. -
Review from Scott L.
New York, NY
12/20/2009
Cold GIANT drafts (not so giant) but nice and cold. The guy that runs the place couldn't be nicer. You have to laugh at his use of the microphone.
"Hey KID! NO throwing rocks. Lady, can you mind the kids please." -
Review from Ruthie V.
4/8/2009
I know summer has started when I'm at Johnson's Beach for the RR Blues Festival! Lots of big names and it's a 3-day event, usually mid June. We stay at the Rio Villa Inn which is in Monte Rio, very close by car. The people are down to earth, swimming is excellent but don't expect any shade unless you bring an umbrella or rent one (they will stake it in the ground for you). We rented TWO for maximum shade when we needed it.
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Review from William A.
Healdsburg, CA
7/30/2008
My only experience with Johnson's beach is for the Annual Jazz on the River, or Blues on the River, both of which are a fun party. I usually rent a house nearby from Russian River Rentals, wine taste in the morning, then drink and listen to music in the afternoon.
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Review from Hanson Q.
Berkeley, CA
12/24/2008 1 photo
Cute little business with a stronghold on the Guerneville shores of the Russian River. They sell a small assortment of candy and food - don't expect much in this area. They rent paddle boats and canoes. For the weak-legged, skip the paddle boats and get the canoes, because the paddle boats are real thigh burners, and you just can't get too far in them compared to the canoes. They were nice enough to let us switch after about five minutes trying to push the pedals around.
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Review from Chris R.
Guerneville, CA
9/16/2009
Johnson's Beach is one of my favorite places. The snack bar is dirt cheap and the beer is the coldest on the river. I love to hang out on Summer afternoons with my family and listen to Clare play his old Big Band music near the tube rentals. You can also rent Kayaks and Canoes and even paddle boats. It seems like the place has not changed in 50 years and I love that about Johnson's Beach.
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Review from Jen W.
8/26/2010
i don't even know how to start this review. i'm left speechless. i'll just stare at the screen for a few more moments. sigh.
what a perfect place to hide from the world and all of your stress. bring a cooler and a couple of towels...head over to the counter and get yourself a canoe or a kayak...or what the heck, get both! the guy behind the counter was super nice and told us that if we get sick of the canoe, we could always come back and switch it out for a kayak. super score!
so we totally took advantage of that...$20 for the rental since we got there around noon...we started out on our journey with a canoe. this was my first time...and it showed. not only did i zig zag for most of the way down the river, i also ran us into a tree...and i have the scratches and bruises to show it. haha. but i finally got the hang of things, and it was smooth sailing for us on the way back. we docked on a sandy area away from the craziness for a bit while we had some lunch...the canoe is big enough to bring along a cooler. on our way back, my arms were screaming at me and it was time to switch to a kayak, the easier of the two. wifey and i got a two seater and we were journeying off again. the kayak was much easier to control...and it was definitely more comfortable. the only con is that there isn't any extra room to put any of your belongings...which is why wifey dropped our camera into the russian river. haha. my quick tip for y'all? no cameras on the kayaks!!!
the river and the view was absolutely beautiful. the water isn't very deep...perfect for anyone to bring their kiddies. oh, and the guy on the PA system is hilarious. you better follow his rulese or he will scream at you over the loudspeaker.
if you go anywhere else, they charge you 3x as much as what they charge you here. what a deal...and what a beautiful getaway! -
Review from Mad L.
Santa Rosa, CA
8/16/2009
Be careful....these people think they can deny or
violate ADA regulations by denying access to service dogs! Even after management's being informed, people are still denied service of their companions. If this is a regular policy, it is in violation of civil codes 54.1, 54.2 and penal codes 365.5a,b,c,&f .By law, they are required to modify the "no pets" policy to accommodate these working animals. If they continue to violate these codes, they must be reported to the Dept. of Justice, since they have been denying me and my friends for years. What a shame; do want to keep our hard -earned money in the community, but only if the "community" abides by the law. It is disrespectful to the disabled community, but more importantly, it is against the law to do this denial. Please continue to educate this family, since they seem to ignore what is required and the common information that is available to anyone.
What? no comment from Laura? would be nice to be acknowledged. perhaps more literature is in order? -
Review from Jasper J.
Carmichael, CA
8/17/2010
This place is very nice! It can get kinda crowded though, so be sure to get there early in the day to pick out a good spot. If you want to rent water crafts you can get a great deal if you wait til the afternoon because I think around 3pm the price goes down to $10 for the rest of the day. We got a paddle boat and had a nice time cruising up and down the river for a couple of hours. My only gripe was the sign that read "seriously NO mayo" on the condiments bar for those killer $2.50 cheeseburgers. Yeah some of us prefer some extra fat to go with our already greasy burgers ;)
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Review from liz s.
San Leandro, CA
6/27/2010
We've been to Johnson's for the past 6 years and always have a great time. We stay in the cabins which are very basic. We stay in one of the front one's with the big deck and which is where we pitch a tent for the kids to sleep. It's super affordable and comfortable with a kitchenette. No frills though. The "beach" isn't sandy but rocky as you would expect at a river. Best to take a beach chair. You can rent umbrella's, inner tubes and boats. The snack shack has great burgers and root beer floats. This is a nice and affordable place for a family. You can't take alcohol to the beach, or dogs or build fires to cook at. There's a very shallow roped off area for small children to play. The folks at the snack shack watch the beach like hawks to be sure that everyone plays safe. We've never had a bad experience and I highly recommend it.
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Review from Libby L.
Covina, CA
8/15/2010
bridge next to campgrounds is full of homeless people doing drugs and young kids doing drugs and fighting where constantly all night long. the campsite was okay until all of that happened. the last night we were there there was an assault on beach and then we heard that the week before we came there was a homeless man beaten to death on the bridge. the owner said the last year the bridge has been horrible. if you stay please stay on the side away from the bridge and you won't hear a thing or see anything go on and if should be a great trip. if we had stayed on the other side we would have heard nothing.
the beach was great very kid friendly the food stand is awesome and they are very well staffed and friendly. the only thing that ruined the trip was the bridge that was a annoying factor in our peaceful vacation. -
Review from Thao D.
Oakland, CA
7/12/2010
This is a review of the beach and concession stand service. I went there with my kids and had a blast. There were lots of families with small children there. We got there early, got our umbrella set up and spent a wonderful day by the river. The water temperature was refreshing, not too cold. The concession stand people were friendly and very helpful. Forget about bringing your own food...they've got everything at a great price! Where else can you get $3 beers, $2.50 cheeseburgers, and $1.50 soft serve ice creams? For $10 we rented two inner tubes for the whole day. Can't wait to go back!
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Review from Carol D.
Forestville, CA
3/19/2010
Like a scene out of Dirty Dancing.... I live 10 minutes from here and it is my super quick vacation for a day. A true relaxing get away. The food is super cheap and good. You can practically go with nothing because you can rent it or purchase it all there. Okay bring a towel and sunscreen..... You can rent umbrellas, paddle boats, canoes. Sit and enjoy a hamburger and a soft serve ice cream and or milkshake... or perhaps a cold beer. It is all so inexpensive and a worthy activity with the family!
