Kirby Cove Campground
Kirby Cove is located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge at historic Battery Kirby. Visitors are awarded breathtaking views of San Francisco, its famous Golden Gate Bridge, and the rugged Pacific Coast of northern California.
More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 5 |
| picnic | 1 |
Site guide
6 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Use | Day Use Area | Picnic | Gravel | Full | 35 / 4 | Yes | Yes | |
| 001 | KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA | Tent only | Gravel | Full | 10 / 3 | Yes | ||
| 002 | KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA | Tent only | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 3 | Yes | Yes | |
| 003 | KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA | Tent only | Gravel | Oceanfront | 10 / 3 | Yes | ||
| 004 | KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA | Tent only | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 3 | Yes | ||
| 005 | KIRBY COVE CAMPGROUND AREA | Tent only | Gravel | Full | Oceanfront | 10 / 3 | Yes | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 9:00 AM, checkout 9:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 15 ft |
| Equipment | Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites Day Use, 002, 005 are listed accessible |
Kirby Cove offers five overnight camp sites and one day-use picnic site, all reached via driving on a steep access road. Vehicle parking is separate from the individual campsites - please be prepared for up to a 200 yard walk from the parking area to your campsite. There is no water available at this campground - campers must bring any water necessary for drinking, cooking, etc. The day-use site is available as an accessible picnic site for persons with a disability or otherwise limited physical mobility. Sites 2 and 5 are available as accessible campsites for persons with a disability or otherwise limited physical mobility. Access to the first Kirby Cove gate is available to all campers. Access to the second gate is only for persons with a disability or otherwise limited physical mobility. Kirby Cove gate codes can be made available to any park visitor with a physical disability, but only during the months that the campground is open.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
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.
| Nearest town | Sausalito, California |
| Coordinates | 37.8404° N, 122.4889° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- The parking area for the campground is a short walk from the campsites, so RV or car camping is not allowed at Kirby Cove Campground.
- Contact the Marin Headlands Rangers at least 48 hours in advance by emailing your name, phone number, date of visit, and photo of your ADA vehicle placard to [email protected] to receiv
Charges and cancellations
The Kirby Cove Day Use Site must be cancelled or modified more than 14 days before your check-in date otherwise it will be considered a late cancellation.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Bluerush ↗ | 1.3 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 7.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Fog Campers ↗ | 11.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The San Francisco Bay Area has no shortage of fun and interesting things to do and see. Awe-inspiring Muir Woods National Monument, with its old-growth coastal redwood forest and numerous hiking trails, is just a 20-minute drive from Kirby Cove. Mount Tamalpais State Park, with hiking and sweeping views of the Bay Area, is another 10 minutes past Muir Woods. Downtown San Francisco offers a myriad of restaurants, shops, museums and tourist attractions. Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz Island and Chinatown are popular destinations. Visitors love riding San Francisco's world famous cable cars up and down the city's hilly streets.
- 3.1 miOutpost Meadow Picnic Pods ↗Day use
- 3.1 mi
- 3.2 miWilliam Penn Mott, Jr. Presidio Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
- 4.3 miMaritime Museum ↗Visitor center
Public land it sits in
Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge begins about 8.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 8.5 miMarin Islands National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 469 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
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Natural features
Kirby Cove offers a coarse-sand beach with spectacular views - when it's not foggy - of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and northern San Francisco, including the historic Presidio. The cove is nestled at the foot of the craggy Marin Headlands and has beach access. A steep, mile-long trail to the cove begins at the parking area above Battery Spencer on Conzelman Road. The path descends through a stately grove of Monterey, cypress, pine and Blue Gum eucalyptus. Coastal sage and colorful Lupine dot the hillsides. Temperatures are mild year-round. Expect lows from 50-55 degrees and highs from 60-65. Fog is prevalent in the summer months from May-Sept. It is best to bring clothing that can be layered. Lightweight summer clothes are rarely comfortable to wear at Kirby Cove.
Recreation
Hiking, picnicking and taking in the beautiful views from Kirby Cove are among the park's most popular activities. Visitors also enjoy exploring Battery Kirby, a historic army battery in use from 1898-1934. The Point Bonita Lighthouse and Nike Missile Site SF-88 are also close to the campsite.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Kirby Cove Campground?
Sites at Kirby Cove Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Kirby Cove Campground?
Check-in 9:00 AM, checkout 9:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Kirby Cove Campground have?
6 sites, including 5 tent-only sites and 1 picnic.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Kirby Cove Campground?
The longest site here provides 15 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Can I have a campfire at Kirby Cove Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Kirby Cove Campground?
Sites Day Use, 002, and 005 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Kirby Cove Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Kirby Cove Campground?
Hiking, picnicking and taking in the beautiful views from Kirby Cove are among the park's most popular activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Kirby Cove Campground?
Sausalito, California. The San Francisco Bay Area has no shortage of fun and interesting things to do and see.
Source: Getting there
What if Kirby Cove Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Hawk Campground (2 mi), Bicentennial Campground (2.1 mi), and Rob Hill Group Campground (3.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Kirby Cove Campground in?
Kirby Cove Campground is a Golden Gate National Recreation Area campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.