About Kirby Cove Campground
Number of accommodations: 5
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Water Access
- Beach Access
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Rates, Sites & Availability
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Site Details
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Reviews (183)
What Guests Are Saying
Kirby Cove Campground offers a unique camping experience with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and spacious, private sites. While visitors should prepare for a short hike from the parking lot and bring their own water, the clean facilities, helpful rangers, and beautiful beach atmosphere create a memorable stay. Some campers faced challenges with gate access and wind, but overall, the campground's charm and location near San Francisco make it highly recommended.
What Guests Are Saying
Kirby Cove Campground offers a unique camping experience with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and spacious, private sites. While visitors should prepare for a short hike from the parking lot and bring their own water, the clean facilities, helpful rangers, and beautiful beach atmosphere create a memorable stay. Some campers faced challenges with gate access and wind, but overall, the campground's charm and location near San Francisco make it highly recommended.
Review Summary
Thuong T
VerifiedNovember 15, 2021 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
I highly recommend this campsite in November. There was some rain during the week, but the day we reserved the camp, it was perfectly clear and warm.
Campsite 1 has the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The best location of Kirby Cove. There is also a short path to the beach. We hung out mostly at the very top.
There are plenty of space and three picnic tables. You can move the picnic tables wherever you want.
It look a bit of coordination since only 3 cars can park at Kirby Cove Campsite per reservation, but it's doable.
Lauren G
VerifiedNovember 8, 2021 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
Amazing camping experience. Prepare for all weather. It can be sunny and hot then just an hour later foggy and cold.
Samuel M
VerifiedNovember 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
Site 1 is beyond incredible. Worth all of the work it's going to take you to make a reservation.
Renee R
November 4, 2021
Driving down to the campsite once you entered the secured gated area was easy. We set up a tent and other supplies on the beach, which was about a 300m walk from the parking lot and an elevation difference of about 50m. The campgrounds provided wheelbarrows to haul supplies - which was a lifesaver. The walk and the climb would have made it a very unpleasant experience and would have been time-consuming. The beach views are gorgeous. We went midweek so there weren't many others around, which was nice.
Tracey T
VerifiedOctober 25, 2021 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
During our 2 week car camping trip, we found this location as an option to stay outside of the city while passing through. During our trip, we had camped at very remote locations and are experienced outdoors people. When reserving the site, we found that it was the only one available and seemed like a beautiful spot. Upon arrival, we were initially disappointed that we could not drive to our site. We used the carts available (with flat tires) to haul stuff to site. We noticed one tent set up in the area and all other sites empty. We did however notice, as it was getting dark, that people seemed to be sleeping on the beach. Two individuals walked close to our site and then turned around and went back to the beach without staying anything. We were very uncomfortable with the entire vibe, did not feel safe and decided to not stay there. A decision we both still feel was the correct one. There were also many many many raccoons that were able to open and close the garbage bins. We would have staying with the raccoons if this place didn’t appear to be a prime spot for a horror movie in the making.
Michael D
October 21, 2021
With the exception of a previous guest/visitor leaving a dirty diaper in the bear box, the site was well maintained. It was great to have access to two grills and a fire pit for our group of ~20.
One thing that would truly help is having more functional carts available to haul your gear down to the site (only a single cart that all sites/guests had to wait for and hope that someone didn’t keep it at their site).
Jim K
VerifiedOctober 14, 2021 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
my second visit and it continues to be amazing - part of a bicycle down the entire pacific coast - a real highlight
Curtis C
VerifiedOctober 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
Raccoons and no carts. Otherwise heaven on earth
Ying X
VerifiedOctober 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
Beautiful place! Be prepared to walk a distance between the car and the campground.
Josh R
VerifiedOctober 6, 2021 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
Loved it.
Location Kirby Cove Campground
Address:
The Access Gate Is Located On Conzelman Road Next To The Battery Spencer Overlook Parking Area, Within The Marin Headlands.
Sausalito, CA, 94965
United States
From San Francisco (travelling north):
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and take exit 442 onto Alexander Avenue. This will be the exit after the Vista Point. Continue straight for a few hundred feet, and then turn left onto Bunker Road. Travel through the Baker-Barry Tunnel and continue straight until you can turn left onto McCullough Road, after the speed bumps. Continue uphill until you hit the traffic circle, and take the 2nd exit onto Conzelman Road. 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. After entering the gate codes provided upon reservation, it is then a mile drive down the dirt trail to the Kirby Cove Parking lot.
From Marin (travelling south):
From US-101 South, take the last exit before the Golden Gate Bridge onto Alexander Avenue. Turn right at the stop sign and continue straight for about a quarter mile, until you can turn left onto Bunker Road. Travel through the Baker-Barry Tunnel and continue straight until you can turn left onto McCullough Road, after the speed bumps. Continue uphill until you hit the traffic circle, and take the 2nd exit onto Conzelman Road. Travel downhill until you reach Battery Spencer, and it will be sharp right turn toward the Kirby Cove service gate. It is then a mile drive down the dirt trail to the Kirby Cove Parking lot.
Kirby Cove Campground is accessible via US-101, which is approximately 2 miles away. Visitors can take the exit onto Alexander Avenue and follow the directions provided.
Latitude & Longitude: 37.8404 / -122.489
Elevation: 207 feet
Nearby National Park
Hetch Hetchy Entrance
Approximate driving time: 1 hr 20 min
Policies & Rules
General
- There is no water available at this campground. Campers must provide their own water for drinking, cleaning, etc. Bring enough water to last your entire stay.
- Reservations at Kirby Cove Campground can be made up to 6 months before your arrival and may extend up to 2 days beyond the 6-month booking window. Only 3 nights per season per camper! This is in order to ensure everyone gets to enjoy Kirby Cove. A maximum of 10 people can stay at the overnight sites and a maximum of 35 people can stay at the day use site.
- Access to the second Kirby Cove Gate: Access to the first Kirby Cove gate is available to all campers. Be prepared for a ~300 yard walk to your campsite. Access to the second gate is only for persons with a disability or otherwise limited physical mobility. Contact the Marin Headlands Rangers at least 48 hours in advance at (415) 331-1540 to inquire, or email your name, phone number, date of visit and photo of your ADA vehicle placard to goga_marinheadlands_info@nps.gov to receive the second gate codes. Kirby Cove gate codes can be made available to any park visitor with a physical disability, but only during the time that the campground is open. To inquire, please follow the instructions in the previous bullet point.
- Your confirmation is your permit which includes gate codes. Please print your confirmation email after reserving a site. Place a copy of your confirmation on the dashboard of each vehicle, and keep one on you as well. A maximum of 3 vehicles for Sites 1-5 and 4 vehicles for Day Use Site are permitted.
- The Parking area is separate from the actual campsites. This is a walk-in, Tent Only facility. No RVs or car camping is allowed.
- Campground Quiet Hours are between 10 PM and 6 AM. Please be respectful to others.
- Leave No Trace Do not leave trash at campsite or in food lockers. Use the designated dumpsters in the parking lot. Firewood must be nail and chemical free and purchased locally; gathering firewood is not allowed. Please help us keep wild animals wild! Do not feed or approach wildlife. Keep area clean of scented items and keep all food items locked in the provided food locker or in the trunk of your vehicle. Food left unattended will likely be eaten by wildlife.
- Check before you burn. Visit the Recreational Fire Regulations page to find out if there are restrictions on camp fires during your stay.
- Pets are prohibited, only trained service animals are allowed.
- Hammocks tied on trees or structures are not permitted. Only free standing hammocks are allowed.
- Foghorns on the Golden Gate Bridge can be loud; best to bring earplugs if staying overnight.
- In case of emergency call 911 or Park Dispatch at (415) 561-5656.
- For more information, call (415) 331-1540 or email us at goga_marinheadlands_info@nps.gov.
- Looking for something to do during your camping adventure?! 1) Beginner Birding with a Park Ranger - Join a NPS Park Ranger for a guided hike/program around Rodeo Lagoon and learn all about our local feathered friends. For program dates and to sign up: Click Here 2) Layers of History - A Ranger Guided Hike - Hike along with a ranger on a 2-mile loop starting/ending at Fort Cronkhite and learn all about the multi-layered history of the Marin Headlands. For more information and to sign-up: Click Here 3) Nike Missile Site SF-88 - Check out this fully restored piece of Cold War history and take a FREE Ranger/Docent led tour of the site. Open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with 3 tour options per day at 12:15PM, 1:15PM, and 2:15PM (No reservation required). For more information: Click Here 4) Point Bonita Lighthouse - Visit one of the oldest lighthouses on California's coast and catch a FREE Ranger/Docent led "Light Chat" about the site's history and ecology (12:15 PM). Open from Thursday through Monday from 12:30 - 3:30 PM. For more information: Click Here
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Last updated: June 5, 2026
