Samuel P Taylor State Park

Just stayed at campsite #29 over the weekend and enjoyed it! The area is beautiful but not very private and the site is on the small side. It was just what we needed for an overnight place to stay for 3 (Husband, dog, and I). I chose this campground because its dog friendly, which is cool! Its also very close to the city, super convenient.
I was sort of disappointed with all the generators I can hear humming through the night. You’re also very close to the main road so you can hear cars zooming by as well. I’ll probably do a tent only area next time, might avoid the generator noise.
All in all, the bathrooms were clean, staff is friendly, and the campsite is gorgeous.

Beautiful hiking, quiet and reclusive camp grounds, modern cabins with heating– whatever you are looking for this place has it.
We have visited just for a little hike in the redwoods (a day pass is available for that), and it was stunning and easy enough for young children to manage. The creek is deep enough for a dip up to the knees for an adult. The bathrooms have hot water showers at 50 cents per 5 minutes and they really get hot — be careful you don’t burn yourself! (I may or may not have screamed figuring that out).
There are even handicap friendly tent sites and cabins!
The cabins have heat!!! We came after Née Years and it was in the 40s and often rainy but the heated cabin made it worthwhile! There are outlets for any electrics you have (hairdryers, hot water kettles, and phone chargers come to mind). There is a charcoal only grill and a fire pit with cooking grate so you can old school it with firewood ($ 8 a bundle) or bring briquettes. There are two bunk beds, one has a double bed on the bottom– so up to 5 people can fit comfortably. There’s even a small closet but bring your own hangers if you want to use it!
This park is our home away from home and we could not love it any more than we do (well a toilet in the cabin wouldn’t hurt).

I guess if you plan on tent camping and have a small vehicle it will work for you. It’s very tight and the spots are on top of each other.
I don’t recommend and will not be back.

Samuel P Taylor State Park was a great camping experience. We needed something close to San Francisco but I still wanted to be in the Redwoods and surrounded by nature. Samuel P Taylor gives you a great nature feel with great campsites and it’s under an hour from the City. We traveled to Point Reyes for some local shopping and had a roaring camp fire after our wonderful nature hikes that located right around the campground. The history of the land was very interesting and we visited the old paper mill that brought life to this beautiful area in the late 1800’s. I would highly recommend this to campers. These are not the giant redwoods that are located around Humboldt, somewhere I camp often, if you go in knowing that you will not be disappointed with your stay at Sam P Taylors. 4 Stars from an expert Camper!

I went camping here for my birthday with my boyfriend and had the best time, super friendly staff and really enjoyed the scenery. I’d totally come back.

I have always loved this park. Ever since I piled in the car with a bunch of friends as a teen, we’d be headed to Limantour beach, and I’d beg to stop here. Just to walk on the trails… smelling the ferns and the redwoods.
Decades later, and I still do the same thing. It’s comforting that as time goes by so quickly, this beautiful space looks and feels exactly the same.
And now for the horribly awkward end note… Recently, I found out I was more than likely conceived here. Eek!!! Talk about your TMI…

Majestic redwoods! Our friend reserved campground #31 for us several months in advance. Parking was $ 8 for the night. Lot #31 is right across the bathrooms, so it’s so convenient if you need to pee in the middle of the night (which I did)! Our lot had a little fire pit, BBQ grill, picnic table, and cupboard to protect your food from vermin and raccoons! We set up 3 little tents for the 6 of us, which fit with no problem on the plot. My tent was right in front of the fire, which ended up being not so bad smoke-​wise. We mostly sat around, enjoying being unplugged, and ate grilled foods like cheeseburgers and s’mores. We told stories, played games, and ate and drank some more. We took a couple of hikes around the park including a jaunt to the swim hole, which was quite dry for lack of rain :(But, we skipped rocks, competing with one another to see who send the rocks the farthest. On our last day, we went geo-​caching in the park!
There are little treasures hidden in the park and along the road right outside the park! it was a fun way to get exercise and feel like kids again! Super fun!
Of note, some of my photos had green orbs in them. I’d like to believe there were angels in our midst:
Highly recommend this gem in the Bay Area! That is all.

Great picnic area under the redwoods. Lagunitas Creek flows through the park, very pretty.
Pioneer Tree Trail is a nice short hike, moderately strenuous. There’s a paved bike trail starting in the picnic area going west through the park, it leaves the park eventually. The bike trail also goes east from the picnic area toward Irving Group picnic area, then it’s an unpaved fire road along former Northwestern Pacific rail line to Shafter Bridge.
Interesting history in park: Samuel P. Taylor came west with his mule Barnabe (Barnabe Mountain) and established a lumber mill here. Later there was a resort here. Taylor and Barnabe are buried in the park.
Beautiful redwood park.

One of my favorite State Parks to go to. There are hot showers (you will need quarters). All campsites are shaded, many easy trails for children and a stones throw away from Point Reyes, Inverness, and Tomales Bay. I love this campground

This campground was very hard to find because of the lack of signs and/​or very small signs. We stayed here 3 nights to visit San Francisco, which ended up being about a 30 min-​45 min. drive each way every day. Beware of sites 7 – 20, as they are roadside campsites. You have to literally park your car on the side of the road (on the curb) next to your site. The sites are small and not very private or secluded at all, but it was nice and quiet at least. We had site 9, which was creekside, but there is a fence and heavy vegetation between the site and creek so you’re lucky if you even get to see it. One night we were sitting on the picnic table facing the campfire with our backs towards the tabletop when we heard a noise come from behind us. We turned around to find a raccoon on top of the table rummaging through our stuff. The raccoons are ballsy here so use the bear locker!

Great camping. I happened to be able to get a site here last minute for Labor Day weekend and it was great. Sites are clean with fire pits and food boxes in most all sites. It did get a little cold at night and early morning but nothing crazy. There isn’t any fishing in the stream that runs through camp, which is a bummer.
Restrooms were fine. Clean and stocked. Showers were fine also. Bring quarters to use. The campfire program was good. My boys seemed to like it. Many of the sites are pretty close together and don’t offer much in the way of privacy. With kids abundant and playing it can get rather loud if there not careful. Near by Point Reyes National Park is nearby and should be visited for the views if nothing else. The lighthouse was was a great local addition to our trip.

We love coming here! This was our second trip and while the site was smaller than our first trip it still was awesome! The only issue we had was someone had a dog that would not stop barking and it echoed through the Orchard Loop but we were able to over look it as best we could enjoy ourselves anyway

The only issues are:
1) doggie poo dried or semi-​fresh found on the campsite area you set up tent.
2) poison oak growing wild on the sequoia trees and ground.
If you can avoid those things you will have a great time.
The drive into the park can be confusing for first timers… lookout for the name of the campsite and then make a turn. Don’t just make a turn into a road opening because you’re excited to camp, the lanes are narrow for 2 way traffic And sadly for a RV.
Believe me, I have seen 2 RVs back out of the parking spot near campsite #47 because the ginormous vehicles’ wheels wouldn’t push up enough to prevent the metal frame & fender from scratching the pavement. They should have brought a wooden 4×4 to give their wheels «a lift.»

The majestic redwood trees offers privacy throughout the camp grounds. The babbling river gives the feeling of calmness which helps you reflect on within one’s inner self. Bathrooms and showers are well maintained. Camping sites are clean. Rangers offering woods to keep warm throughout the night while roasting marshmallows. Lovely environment to be surrounded by in watching the wildlife in it’s natural habitat. Make sure to have watchful eyes in securing your food since it is easily taken by lurking raccoons. Such a beautiful place to be. The appreciation of nature is always worth a stay!!!

FABULOUS camping close to home. The park is gorgeously maintained with sites studded throughout the redwoods, along a babbling river and up into the wooded hillside. Clean bathrooms with ample supplies including WARM water and cheap showers (but we are in a drought so maybe share a shower with your honey!). When it is not too crowded, it cannot get better. On crowded summer weekends, it can feel a little cramped but fortunately I have never had a problem with any neighbors.
Close to Point Reyes beaches and hiking. Ideal car camping spot close to the Bay Area. But feels a thousand miles away…

If I could pick any site at SPT’s Camp Taylor Campground I would go with site #44 because it’s large, private and, importantly, situated such that the highway noise is limited. Other sites along the back, outside of the upper, Orchard Loop (especially #38) also seem good for similar reasons, but 44 looked the nicest.
I disagree with other reviewers who promote the Creekside Loop sites largely because they are relatively small, on top of the road and close enough to the highway that road noise during the day was a nuisance (thankfully the noise was negligible at night). We stayed in site #10 and while it was fine – heck, the park is beautiful and I’d argue all of the sites are nice, although $ 35/​night tent camping is exorbitant – I would try to get a larger site with less road noise when I return. That means heading up the hill. But that’s okay because the creek isn’t a prominent feature for most sites, even Creekside sites, whereas trees dominate the landscape and add character to all of the sites.

I have been visiting Samuel P. Taylor for well over four decades: I seen this State Park undergo many changes such as upgrading the Park’s infrastructure=upgrading all the restrooms throughout the Park, remodeling the campsites’ shower facilities, picnic facilities, maintaining safe parking spots for every campsite, and adding the awesome, cool, log cabins. Every time, I notice something new such as the State Park’s name has changed within recent years-​the billboard sign entering the campground.
While camping at campsite #14, I noticed the recently installed new, wooden railing which separates and protects the steep hillside leading down to the river: The river access points are in-​between campsites #13, #14, and via Group Campsite #1. Still and regardless, I prefer the river campsites due to possessing more privacy; the upper campsites are so close to other campsites: Please do review my pics I took for RV peeps.
Out of all the river campsites, #7, #13, #14 are the nicest but, #7 is the most spacious campsite out of all the river campsites.
FYI: I posted a map of Samuel P. Taylor State Park’s campsites: Please do study the map carefully and also, please note the pics I took of all the campsites’ indicating the campsite’s number within each photo.
Cheers! \ (‘^ _​_​^’) /

Very nice setting to camp, but get a site on the edge (vs. in between other sites, as these have zero privacy) and pack lots of blankets and things to stay warm as the temps often drop into the 40s at night even on warm days. It’s nice that the park rangers drive around with firewood after sunset and you can buy from them ($ 7 for a good sized bundle of DRY redwood — the crap at Safeway nearby doesn’t burn well and is about the same price) — cash only of course. Make a reservation months ahead!

AWSOME camping, biking, hiking. Good for all ages. &And pets are very welcome we stayed 2 mid weekdays. Very clean. Lots of outdoories things to do. The redwoods are amazing. Always make reservation for weekends fill up fast. Stay a day or as week. Well care for. All ste have fire pits and easy assess water. BEWARE of Raccoons they don’t like ammonia FYI so bring some
$ 8 wood bundles at gate. But for $ 20 you can get some a wheel barrel full of oak wood down Sir Francis Drake about 5 ml south. Damp And very shady. We put plastic table cloth one bench to sit on. There are bins for recycling. Across the highway are noises kids but not unbearable $ 35 a night

Beautiful… BEAUTIFUL… redwood forests without having to drive 574 hours and 11,345 miles to the Redwood National State Park.
(Actually Google says its 284 miles and 4 hours 47 mins to get to Redwood National Park, but Samuel P Taylor Park is only 21.3 miles and 35 minutes from my hometown of Novato, CA.)
Great wedding location too!