No reviewed day-trip ideas are available for this guide yet. See things to do in Santa Clara.
40 recreation areas and campgrounds within 86 miles, from Recreation.gov. Filter by what you want to do.
14 miles northwest · straight-line distanceFish and Wildlife Service
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located in a vast cultural and natural landscape.
BikingBirdingBoatingFishingHuntingNature educationPhotographyRanger programs
33 miles north · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
America's only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Eugene O'Neill, chose Northern California as his sanctuary at the pinnacle of his writing career.
History
39 miles south · straight-line distanceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Elkhorn Slough is one of the relatively few undisturbed coastal wetlands remaining in California.
HikingPaddlingPhotographyRanger programsWildlife viewing
40 miles northwest · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
Aquatic Park Cove is a vibrantly urban harbor that mimics a natural anchorage and is located on the Pacific shores of one of America's great West Coast cities.
BikingBoatingCampingClimbingFishingHikingHistoryHorseback riding
40 miles northwest · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area in the stunning San Francisco Bay.
BoatingHistory
41 miles northwest · straight-line distanceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
An area of 3,295 square miles off the northern and central California coast, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary protects the wildlife and habitats of one of the most diverse and bountiful marine environments in the world.
BoatingDivingFishingPaddlingPhotographyRanger programsSnorkelingSwimming
41 miles northwest · straight-line distancePresidio Trust
As San Francisco's only group campground, Rob Hill offers a national park camping experience just minutes from the city.
BikingBirdingCampingHikingHistory
42 miles northwest · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
From its vantage point overlooking the spectacular Golden Gate, Fort Point defended the San Francisco Bay following California's Gold Rush through World War II.
History
43 miles north · straight-line distanceBureau of Reclamation
Contra Loma Dam and reservoir are part of the Central Valley Project - Delta Division and offers recreational opportunities for the East Bay area near San Francisco.
BikingBoatingFishingHikingHorseback ridingPicnickingRecreational VehiclesWater sports
44 miles north · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
John Muir’s life was a tapestry of roles—fruit rancher, family man, writer—each interwoven with his deep love for nature.
HikingWildlife viewing
44 miles northwest · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
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.
BirdingCampingFishingHikingHistoryMountain BikingPicnickingWater Access
44 miles northwest · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted.
History
44 miles northwest · straight-line distanceUS Army Corps of Engineers
The Bay Model was built in 1957 as a research tool to test the impact of proposed changes to San Francisco Bay and its related waterways.
BoatingFishingHistoryPicnickingWater sportsWildlife viewing
44 miles south · straight-line distanceFish and Wildlife Service
This 367-acre coastal National Wildlife Refuge is located where the Salinas River empties into Monterey Bay.
FishingHuntingWildlife viewing
45 miles northwest · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
Bicentennial Campground is in an ideal location in the Marin Headlands surrounded by a grove of cypress trees. The campground is a great location for those wanting to camp near the city.
BikingCampingHistoryMountain Biking
46 miles east · straight-line distanceFish and Wildlife Service
The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge located in Stanislaus County encompasses more than 7,300 acres of riparian woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands that host a diversity of wildlife native to California’s Great Central Valley.
BirdingHikingPhotographyPicnickingWildlife viewing
46 miles southeast · straight-line distanceBureau of Reclamation
Recreation facilities at San Luis Lake were constructed under a cost-share agreement between the Bureau of Reclamation and the State of Colorado during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
BikingBoatingCampingFishingHikingHuntingPicnickingWater sports
47 miles north · straight-line distanceFish and Wildlife Service
Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is the only national wildlife refuge in the country established to protect endangered plants and insects – the Antioch Dunes evening primrose, the Contra Costa wallflower, and the Lange’s metalmark…
Ranger programs
47 miles northwest · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
Haypress Campground is nestled within the coastal scrub of Tennessee Valley, near Mill Valley. The hike to this campground is 1 mile from the Tennessee Valley Trail head parking lot, which means car or RV camping is not allowed.
BikingBirdingCampingHikingWildlife viewing
47 miles southeast · straight-line distanceBureau of Reclamation
San Justo Dam and Reservoir are features of the San Felipe Project. The reservoir is approximately 3 miles southwest of Hollister, California . Facilities open for use Wednesday through Sunday. Operation hours: sunrise to sunset.
BoatingFishingPicnickingRecreational Vehicles
49 miles northwest · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species.
BikingCampingFishingHikingHistoryHorseback ridingPicnickingWildlife viewing
50 miles northwest · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog.
HikingWildlife viewing
51 miles northwest · straight-line distanceFish and Wildlife Service
More info to come.
Fishing
52 miles south · straight-line distanceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of the most spectacular marine protected areas. This sanctuary also has one of the largest underwater canyons and closest-to-shore deep ocean environments.
BikingBoatingCampingDivingFishingHikingHorseback ridingPaddling
54 miles east · straight-line distanceBureau of Reclamation
O'Neill Dam and Forebay are joint Federal-State facilities located on San Luis Creek 2.5 miles downstream from San Luis Dam. O'Neill Forebay Dam is a feature of the Central Valley Project - San Joaquin Division - San Luis Unit .
BikingBoatingCampingFishingHikingHuntingPicnickingRecreational Vehicles
54 miles southeast · straight-line distanceBureau of Reclamation
Recreation area lakes include O'Neill Forebay, San Luis Reservoir, and Los Banos Creek Reservoir.
BoatingFishingHorseback ridingHuntingRanger programsRecreational VehiclesWater sportsWinter sports
59 miles north · straight-line distanceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve comprises two components located along the salinity gradient of the San Francisco Bay.
PaddlingPhotography
61 miles northwest · straight-line distanceFish and Wildlife Service
In response to rapidly disappearing wetlands and its prime location within the Pacific Flyway, the refuge was created in 1974 to protect migratory birds, wetland habitat, and endangered species.
BoatingFishingHuntingPhotographyRanger programs
62 miles southeast · straight-line distanceBureau of Reclamation
The Los Banos Dam and Reservoir are on Los Banos Creek above the San Luis Canal, near Los Banos, California. The dam and reservoir are features on the Central Valley Project - San Luis Unit .
BoatingCampingFishingHikingHistoryHorseback ridingHuntingPicnicking
66 miles northwest · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
Point Reyes National Seashore offers four backcountry hike in campgrounds and thirteen boat in campsites along Tomales Bay. Note: For reservation purposes, our campgrounds are organized under the "loop" column of the reservation grid.
BackpackingBikingBirdingBoatingCampingHikingHistoryHorse Camping
74 miles south · straight-line distanceUSDA Forest Service
Amid a grove of towering trees, eight campsites create a loop within White Oaks Campground, just off Tassajara Road.
BikingCampingHikingWildlife viewing
75 miles northeast · straight-line distanceUS Army Corps of Engineers
Coyote Point sits along New Hogan Lake in the brush-covered foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
BoatingCampingFishingHikingMountain BikingSwimmingWater Access
75 miles southeast · straight-line distanceNational Park Service
Pinnacles Campground is located in the unique Pinnacles National Park, 32 miles south of Hollister, California. The park encompasses 26,000 acres of spectacular rock formations and remnants of an extinct 23 million-year old volcano.
CampingClimbingHikingRanger programsWildlife viewing
76 miles south · straight-line distanceUSDA Forest Service
Pleasantly nestled under a large canopy of pine trees, China Camp is a campground where peace and quiet is commonplace. The spacious campsites allow you to set up camp with more than enough space between you and your neighbors.
BikingCampingHikingWildlife viewing
82 miles south · straight-line distanceUSDA Forest Service
Arroyo Seco Campground is a semi-rustic, but developed facility in California's westernmost national forest.
BikingCampingFishingHikingWildlife viewing
84 miles northeast · straight-line distanceUS Army Corps of Engineers
New Hogan Dam and Lake is located in the oak- and brush-covered foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The 4,400 acre lake was created in 1964 with the completion of New Hogan Dam.
BoatingCampingFishingHikingHuntingSwimmingWater AccessWildlife viewing
84 miles northeast · straight-line distanceUS Army Corps of Engineers
New Hogan Dam and Lake is located in the oak- and brush-covered foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The 4,400 acre lake was created in 1964 with the completion of New Hogan Dam.
BikingCampingFishingSwimming
85 miles northeast · straight-line distanceUS Army Corps of Engineers
Acorn Campground is a sunny campground in the brush-covered hills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The area is generally characterized by a warm, dry climate with summer temperatures regularly soaring above 90 degrees.
BoatingCampingFishingHikingHuntingSwimming
85 miles north · straight-line distanceBureau of Reclamation
Nestled between Blue Ridge and Cedar Roughs east of Napa Valley, Lake Berryessa provides ample public recreation opportunities.
BirdingCampingCanoeingFishingGuided Interpretive WalksHikingKayakingNature education
86 miles northeast · straight-line distanceUS Army Corps of Engineers
Oak Knoll Campground sits along New Hogan Lake in the brush-covered foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Recreation Boating is a popular pastime, with boat ramps conveniently located around the lake.
BoatingCampingFishingHikingHuntingSwimming
From the National Park Service; closures, dangers and cautions only. Check the park's page before you go.
Recreation areas and campgrounds from Recreation.gov's directory, checked October 12, 2026. Listings are not live availability: check Recreation.gov or the managing agency for open dates, fees, reservations and conditions. Directions go to the listed coordinates, which may not be the entrance. Campground driving times: Powered by Geoapify · © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Recreation.gov lists 16 campgrounds within 86 miles, including Aquatic Park Cove, Black Point Overnight Anchoring, Sailing Vessels only (auxiliary engine OK) (40 miles northwest), Rob Hill Group Campground (41 miles northwest), Kirby Cove Campground (44 miles northwest). Check Recreation.gov for current availability, seasons and reservations.