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Ocean Cove Campground
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
7 reviews for Ocean Cove Campground
Vikki hit me up last minute for the last camping trip of the year... once she said OCEAN COVE, I didn't even have to think twice... What better way than to end the summer the way we began it? We selected a different location in the park, but it was just as gorgeous and clean as the last camp site we selected. I also tried the outdoor showers for the first time at $2.00/5 minutes. And this time around, I brought my dog!
I LOVE THIS PLACE and I am eagerly awaiting for our 2010 trip!
Be sure to read my review from June 2009 for more details!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/8/2009
I don't know if the 5 complete stars is for the fact that I had the most amazing time camping here… Read more »
We ended up here to meet some friends and stay the night. Our campsite was right near a cliff with a gorgeous ocean view and water crashing into the rocks. Things get wet at night from the moisture at night like our tent and other things if they're not covered. No flushing toilets, just port-a-potties and a few showers but the place wasn't full like all of the campgrounds were in Bodega Bay. If you want fresh air, sunsets, and a beautiful ocean view, this is the place. If you're heading north on highway 1 to get there the road gets very twisty and winding once you pass Jenner for about 15 miles. Once you pass Fort Ross, you're almost there.
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I absolutely loooove the outdoors and Bodega Bay. I wanted to camp closer to the water so I found a review on Yelp that made me decide to check the place out. Ocean Cove Campground is one of the only non State Parks so its cheaper ($19 per car). Several different choices of camping (either open or under trees or right on the water). We, hands down, had the best spot there. We saw so mant whales during the sunset, it was amazing! They have a few outside showers with really hot water so that was great too! The guys up at the store were very sweet and let us borrow a harness for our pug since we forgot ours. I would recommend this place to everyone!
This is a great spot.
Clean. Large. Easy access. Rarely crowded. Beautiful views.
Damn close to our "secret" abalone diving zone.
The only less-than-positive? The shop across the street doesn't open until 9am. So if you are out of coffee filters, or need a piece of equipment replaced, or anything like that before you dive into the early morning icy cold shark-infested waters for your legal limit of beautiful tasty and ultimately heavenly abalone, as well as a few fish on the spear if conditions permit, you better take care of that BEFORE you set up camp in the evening.
Just sayin'.
Four Stars!
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The camp is 15 miles north of Jenner up the very curvy, twisty Hwy. 1. It'll take about 30 minutes to go those 15 miles. The campsite is actually ina little town called Gualala, but I don't know how to change the Yelp address.
This is a *privately owned and run campground*! This is *not* a state run area. There is a tiny little general store across the 2 lane highway that you register at for camping or day use. The store opened at 10 am when I was there, and was closed before 7 pm.
Be advised they charge *per vehicle*. So, if you register one night and plan to have a friend/relative drive up to join you the next day for camping, you will *both* have to pay the $19 per night fee the second night! There is also a $2 charge per dog for dogs, and from what I saw there is no one there enforcing the leash law, though they make a point of noting it on the website. Reeks of cheapness to me, and not in the inexpensive way.
The campsites on the bluff are amazing in that they offer a clear, unobstructed view of the ocean and the cove. Seriously impressive. The campsites away from the bluff have much in the way of vegetation, which in early spring included wild irises, crocus, clover flowers, hyacinths, and ferns in addition to the pines and shrubs. I know there are deer around, too, 'cause one or two left some scat in our campsite. The campgrounds in general seemed clean, and there were water spigots around the grounds.
The drawbacks, other than the pricing, were that the sites near or on the bluff were well taken care of it seemed, but we came on a day where the wind off the Pacific was quite literally flattening our tents. The folks in campers on the bluff were fine, but we had to rethink and go find a site behind the hill for wind protection, which was really too bad since the entire reason we went to that particular campground was to camp above the ocean!
We drove around and looked at probably 8 of the campsites behind the hill. Though they are beautiful, one gets the feeling they aren't used or tended to much. Many of these back sites had picnic tables with serious burn marks/holes in them or tables that were flat out rotting apart, fire rings with missing or deteriorating grates and with green plants growing in them, and trees or shrubs in serious need of pruning (so as not to catch fire from being over a fire pit) or just needing their cones and twigs cleaned up from around the sites. Many sites are right next to the road, and it is unclear in any site where you should park your car/camper. Oh, and all bathrooms are port-a-potties, like the other reviewer said, but not nasty ones at least.
I might try camping here again with all people in my party in one car and much later in the season, say August, when I might be able to pitch a tent on the bluff without being blown into Jenner, but that curvy, twisty drive makes me wonder when that someday might be.
Car camping at its finest! Ocean front with unobstructed views looking out at the mighty pacific is unbeatable and I havent found another campground anywhere near as perfect as Ocean Cove. Onsite amenities include shower and restrooms and bbq pits at each site. There is a general store across the street in case you forgot any crucial supplies, but I recommend you come self contained and check your list twice before you leave home so you spend your time relaxing. The abalone diving in this region is world class and the overall scenary of the sonoma coast is breath taking. If your looking for the best place to car camp in Sonoma County, this is it. Sold!
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note: about 15 miles past Jenner
ended up here one weekend when salt point state park campgrounds were full (be sure to reserve your spot at the state park). i wasn't too jazzed about it at first because, driving in, it looks like you'll be camping in a parking lot. however, once we drove around for a minute, we found a great spot looking out over the water. after you get settled, go climb around on the rocks-lots of tide pools and even a small cave to explore.
the good: amazing views; campsite fee is low ($15?); on site campstore
the not so good: chemical toilet = port a potty (SP state park has "real" toilets); most of the sites are very close together; smelly boat ramp area.
they have group campgrounds that you can reserve ahead of time, but these are located pretty much in the front parking lot. and 2 vacation homes w/hot tubs, haven't seen these but am curious to hear if anyone else has.
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