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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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
Joshua W
VerifiedJune 2, 2024 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
Overall we had a great experience at Kirby Cove. The view was incredible day and night. The individual campsite (#5) was large and felt private, with toilets not too far away. The walk from the parking lot was doable, though should definitely be taken into consideration when transporting your things.
Some additional notes. When arriving you navigate to the Battery Spencer overlook parking lot, where you'll find the gate on a sharp right turn off of the main road. The gate has the combination locks (look at the bottom of each lock to input the code). The dirt road down is in pretty good shape, generally wide enough for two cars to pass at certain points. The bottom of the road has some erosion, beware if your car has low clearance. The parking lot at the campground is small, with only about 8-9 cars fitting in the allotted spaces (though there is some additional space off to the sides of the parking area). Finally the racoons are ever present at night, they generally keep their distance from people, but they will go for left out food even if you are in the general area.
Autumn C
VerifiedMay 16, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
Great view, peaceful campsite
Nicole C
VerifiedApril 30, 2024 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
Loved the location. We had some anxiety because we weren't quite expecting the entrance to be off of a busy touristy road like Hawk Hill. A car was blocking the entrance and we had to find the owners to move it. Also, you need to carry your camping gear several hundred yards to the site.
Leslie W
VerifiedApril 29, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
We've camp at camp 1 several times. This time the weather was perfect. The moon was bright. Reflecting S.F. and the G.G. bridge over the calm waves. No wind. No fog. No sounds of loud horns due to no fog. We were the only group that camped out in the park. Had the whole park to ourselves. Great fun.
Willis S
VerifiedApril 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
The best!
Lindsay M
VerifiedApril 10, 2024 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
A beautiful campground with great proximity to the ocean, San Francisco, and the surrounding national park. We also visited the Bay Area Discovery Museum and Point Bonita Lighthouse during our stay.
Stanley K
VerifiedMarch 28, 2024 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
Great campsite. Close to everything. But you feel far away from everybody at the same time. Magical place. Well worth staying here at least once. Bucket list location that you won't soon forget.
Louie P
VerifiedMarch 22, 2024 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
Incredible
Lydia T
VerifiedMarch 20, 2024 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
It’s a beautiful location! Highly recommend!
Joseph G
VerifiedMarch 19, 2024 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA
Amazing views!
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
