Benicia State Recreation Area

Covering about 456 acres, Benicia State Recreation Area lies in Solano County, about 2 miles west of Benicia.

The park supports fishing, wildlife watching, geocaching, biking, and picnicking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites.

Three "Enroute" campsites are available for an overnight stay on a "first-come, first-served" basis with no reservations possible. This camping is limited to motorhomes or vehicles with trailers, which must be fully self-contained. Tents are not permitted. Collecting or destroying anything in the park, including mushrooms, is prohibited. Diablo Range District - Camping Limits Overnight facilities: En route Campsites, RV Access

Overview Benicia State Recreation Area covers 720 acres of marsh, grassy hillsides and rocky beaches. It is a day use area that offers a quiet, breezy refuge from urban bustle and great views of the bay. It is located off Interstate Highway 780 less than 2 miles west of Benicia at the Rose Drive/State Park Road/Benicia SRA exit. Alternate less freeways route: exit I80 at Columbus Parkway, follow it to Rose Drive and turn right into the park. Phone (707) 648-1911 for more information. Picnic Area Generally accessible picnicking is available in the family picnic area. Two parking lots off Sub Station Road include generally accessible parking and provide the best access to the picnic area, the Benicia Bay Trail, and the Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden. The restroom building in the middle of the picnic area is usable; the restroom includes grab bars, but stall space is limited. An accessible portable toilet is provided in the parking lot. Trails The Mike Taugher Trail (part of the S.F. Bay Trail) is a shared-use path that is generally accessible for about 0.75 mile. The path meanders along wetlands adjoining the Carquinez Strait, and terminates at the park's main entrance on Dillon Point Road. Trailhead, accessible portable restroom, and parking lot are located in a small lot, just off the intersection of West K Street and Military West. The Benicia Bay Trail is an ‘out-and-back’ accessible trail that is 1.75 miles each way. The trail is a multi-use trail that meanders through the hills offering views of the Carquinez Strait and Southampton Bay. Trail surface is primarily compacted soil and aggregate. The trail is usable in dry conditions; some users may need assistance after periods of heavy rain. Along the first 1.2 miles of the trail, users may encounter trail width at or below 36 inches and trail cross slope at or over 5%, however, trail running slope is largely compliant. Between 1.2 miles to 1.6 miles, users may encounter trail width at or below 36 inches and trail running slope at or over 8%, however, trail cross slope is largely compliant. After roughly 1.6 miles the dirt trail junctions onto an asphalt service road, and then ends at Glen Cove Waterfront Park. Trailhead and generally accessible parking are in the family picnic area parking lot off Sub Station Road. The restroom building in the middle of the picnic area is usable; the restroom includes grab bars, but stall space is limited. An accessible portable toilet is provided in the parking lot. The Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden contains over 250 native plant species on 3.5 acres within Benicia SRA. Accessible pathways meander through the garden, offering views of Southampton Bay and marshlands. Accessible parking is available at the entrance to the botanical garden. An accessible portable toilet is provided in the parking lot. Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface Benicia Bay Trail 4% Average 4.5 Average 5 FT Average Aggregate, Asphalt & Soil 8% Maximum 5% Maximum 5 FT Minimum

Park Specific Rules Superintendent Orders are laws that are specific to a State Park District and/or a California State Park. The links below will take you to a copy of each District Superintendent Order that applies to Benicia State Recreation Area (SRA). These orders are posted for viewing at each public entrance of the park. These orders are subject to change and were recently renewed in 2026. Benicia SRA is part of the Diablo Range District Benicia SRA - Operating Hours Benicia SRA - Marsh Area Diablo Range District - Trail Use Policy Diablo Range District - Unmanned Aircraft Systems Diablo Range District - Juvenile Curfew Diablo Range District - Camping Limits Diablo Range District - Rescinded Orders