Kirby Cove Campground

It’s a beautiful location! Highly recommend!

Amazing views!

Incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge lit up at night. We have an awesome picture taken about an hour before sunrise.

I love it here wish day hikers and uses didn't come to pop into my camp and get made when I tell them to wait cause my laptop and other valuables are out and being used so I can put my stuff away so they can have lunch at my only table that facest the water.

Our recent camping experience at Site 1 provided us with an unforgettable escape into nature, offering a fantastic view of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. This site is very private, shielded from the neighboring campsites. As of November 2023, the swing is back!

The campsite's only drawback was the distance from the parking lot to Site 1. While the 10-minute walk was manageable, it's important for campers to pack light as wagons are impractical on the uphill journey back to the parking lot. This minor inconvenience was a small trade-off for the secluded and peaceful atmosphere. Our only unpleasant encounter occurred during our departure. As we were diligently packing out, some campers who had reserved the site for the following night arrived nearly two hours earlier than allowed. Their eagerness to claim the spot overshadowed our departure, creating a sense of anxiety and haste as we vacated the campsite at 12 pm. Besides this, we left with a treasure trove of memories from this picturesque place. We will definitely come back with a lighter load!

Kirby cove is a hidden gem just outside the city. The 5 campsites are spread apart and can accommodate about 10 people (site 1 had 3 tent platforms), but that’s a lot of EOR when you are trying to get away from people. Access to the beach is simple and the views of the bridge are iconic. Some people crabbed in reviews about the distance from the cars to the campsite: not sure what to say to those folks except perhaps KC isn’t for you (or camping, or going outside). This place is magical.

Excellent stay - amazing view on the bridge at sunset, night and sunrise. I found the instructions to get to the camp are a bit unclear: the code opens the locks on the gate close to Hawk Hill. Don't walk all the way down like us :)

It is VERY difficult to get a reservation at this campground. But persistence has paid off and I have camped there a couple of times now. It is truly one of the greatest San Francisco adventures there is! Although you can park a car down there, it would be super easy to backpack across the bridge and then down to Kirby Cove. You are rewarded by a spectable of The Bridge, The City, Big Ships, Wildlife (we saw a full on Pelican fish eating extravaganza frenzy off shore such that even a seasoned local spear fisher guy had never seen), we saw Hawks and Deer and heard the wild yelps of Coyotes apparently getting a kill. Really incredible to watch the City through the bridge from a Marin beach view point. There are NO services; There are super large campsites that can host family and friends, and trash cans to accomodate your garbage, and out houses to take care of other things. But no water. Worth every penny many times over.

Good site! Great hiking up to get a good view of the Golden Gate Bridge & fairly easy to access. HELPFUL TIP: We followed directions along with Maps but failed to execute the “Travel downhill on the one-way road until you reach Battery Spencer, and it will be sharp right turn toward the Kirby Cove service gates” directions. For our second go around we set a phone towards the site and another phone to Battery Spencer to locate the gate. It’s an extremely sharp right turn right before the Battery Spencer View so drive super slowly so you don’t miss it like we did!

We got lucky with the weather and got a clear view of Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco until about 11 pm when the fog rolled in, after which the fog horns started blaring. That did cause a sleepless night for many. Remember to always bring ear plugs when camping at Kirby Cove.