State Parks Near Novato, California
37 state park units lie within 50 miles of Novato. The closest is Olompali State Historic Park, about 5 mi north of town. 16 parks are within 25 miles, close enough for an evening visit.
- Closest park
- Olompali State Historic Park5 mi north
- Within 25 miles
- 16of 37 within 50 mi
- With camping
- 15parks list campsites
- Dog-friendly
- 24pets allowed
State parks near Novato, nearest first
Straight-line distance from central Novato; driving distance is usually longer.
Olompali State Historic Park
Visitors come for horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, geocaching, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Olompali State Historic Park →China Camp State Park
Visitors come for surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, boating, and swimming. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and a boat ramp. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites and showers).
Hours, fees and rules for China Camp State Park →Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Popular activities here are horseback riding, historic sites, wildlife watching, geocaching, and biking. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites, tent sites, group camping, equestrian camping, and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Samuel P. Taylor State Park →Mount Tamalpais State Park
Things to do include snorkeling and diving, surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, and swimming. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites, group camping, and equestrian camping.
Hours, fees and rules for Mount Tamalpais State Park →Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park
Visitors come for historic sites, ranger programs, geocaching, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park →Sonoma State Historic Park
Visitors come for historic sites, ranger programs, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Sonoma State Historic Park →Angel Island State Park
The park supports snorkeling and diving, surfing, historic sites, boating, and swimming. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites and group camping.
Hours, fees and rules for Angel Island State Park →Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park
Things to do include historic sites, boating, wildlife watching, and hiking. Water access includes a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park →Albany State Marine Reserve
Things to do include surfing, boating, fishing, wildlife watching, and hiking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Albany State Marine Reserve →Jack London State Historic Park
Popular activities here are horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and picnicking. Its trail network totals roughly 26 miles, according to the park.
Hours, fees and rules for Jack London State Historic Park →Tomales Bay State Park
Things to do include snorkeling and diving, historic sites, boating, swimming, and fishing. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Tomales Bay State Park →Benicia State Recreation Area
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.
Hours, fees and rules for Benicia State Recreation Area →McLaughlin Eastshore State Park State Seashore
Popular activities here are surfing, historic sites, boating, swimming, and fishing. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for McLaughlin Eastshore State Park State Seashore →Benicia Capitol State Historic Park
Popular activities here are historic sites and ranger programs.
Hours, fees and rules for Benicia Capitol State Historic Park →Emeryville Crescent State Marine Reserve
The park supports surfing, boating, fishing, wildlife watching, and biking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Emeryville Crescent State Marine Reserve →Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Popular activities here are horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Sugarloaf Ridge State Park →Trione-Annadel State Park
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, fishing, ranger programs, and wildlife watching.
Hours, fees and rules for Trione-Annadel State Park →Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
Popular activities here are surfing, historic sites, boating, swimming, and fishing. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach →Thornton State Beach
Covering about 63 acres, Thornton State Beach lies in San Mateo County, in Daly City.
Hours, fees and rules for Thornton State Beach →Candlestick Point State Recreation Area
Things to do include surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and geocaching. Water access includes a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Candlestick Point State Recreation Area →San Bruno Mountain State Park
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching.
Hours, fees and rules for San Bruno Mountain State Park →Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park
The park supports historic sites, ranger programs, geocaching, picnicking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park →Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
The park supports historic sites, swimming, geocaching, biking, and picnicking. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Bothe-Napa Valley State Park →Pacifica State Beach
The park supports surfing, swimming, fishing, wildlife watching, and geocaching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Pacifica State Beach →Gray Whale Cove State Beach
Things to do include surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Gray Whale Cove State Beach →Montara State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and fishing. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Montara State Beach →Mount Diablo State Park
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers).
Hours, fees and rules for Mount Diablo State Park →Sonoma Coast State Park
Things to do include snorkeling and diving, surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, and boating. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and a boat ramp. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites, tent sites, and showers).
Hours, fees and rules for Sonoma Coast State Park →Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
Visitors come for horseback riding, historic sites, picnicking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve →Robert Louis Stevenson State Park
The park supports geocaching and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Robert Louis Stevenson State Park →Austin Creek State Recreation Area
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, swimming, fishing, and hiking. The official site lists about 20 miles of trails. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites). The park says there are no showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Austin Creek State Recreation Area →Half Moon Bay State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and fishing. Water access includes a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Half Moon Bay State Beach →Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Park Property
Visitors come for horseback riding, historic sites, wildlife watching, geocaching, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Park Property →Brannan Island State Recreation Area
Popular activities here are surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach and a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Brannan Island State Recreation Area →Marsh Creek State Park State Historic Park
The park supports historic sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Marsh Creek State Park State Historic Park →Fort Ross State Historic Park
The park supports snorkeling and diving, historic sites, boating, fishing, and ranger programs. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites and tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Fort Ross State Historic Park →Franks Tract State Recreation Area
Popular activities here are boating and fishing.
Hours, fees and rules for Franks Tract State Recreation Area →
Best picks by activity
Camping near Novato
- China Camp State Park 7 mi southeast · Campground listed
- Samuel P. Taylor State Park 11 mi southwest · Campground listed
- Mount Tamalpais State Park 11 mi south · Campground listed
- Angel Island State Park 16 mi south · Campground listed
- Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park 18 mi west · Campground listed
+ 10 more in the list above
Dog-friendly state parks near Novato
- Olompali State Historic Park 5 mi north · Pets allowed under park rules
- China Camp State Park 7 mi southeast · Pets allowed under park rules
- Samuel P. Taylor State Park 11 mi southwest · Pets allowed under park rules
- Mount Tamalpais State Park 11 mi south · Pets allowed under park rules
- Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park 12 mi north · Pets allowed under park rules
+ 19 more in the list above
Swimming near Novato
- China Camp State Park 7 mi southeast · Beach, pool or swim area
- Mount Tamalpais State Park 11 mi south · Beach, pool or swim area
- Angel Island State Park 16 mi south · Beach, pool or swim area
- Albany State Marine Reserve 19 mi southeast · Beach, pool or swim area
- Tomales Bay State Park 19 mi west · Beach, pool or swim area
+ 14 more in the list above
Hiking near Novato
- Olompali State Historic Park 5 mi north · Hiking trails listed
- China Camp State Park 7 mi southeast · Hiking trails listed
- Samuel P. Taylor State Park 11 mi southwest · Hiking trails listed
- Mount Tamalpais State Park 11 mi south · Hiking trails listed
- Angel Island State Park 16 mi south · Hiking trails listed
+ 26 more in the list above
Fishing near Novato
- China Camp State Park 7 mi southeast · Fishing listed
- Mount Tamalpais State Park 11 mi south · Fishing listed
- Angel Island State Park 16 mi south · Fishing listed
- Albany State Marine Reserve 19 mi southeast · Fishing listed
- Tomales Bay State Park 19 mi west · Fishing listed
+ 15 more in the list above
Questions about state parks near Novato
What is the closest state park to Novato?
Olompali State Historic Park is the closest, about 5 miles north of Novato in a straight line. Next are China Camp State Park and Samuel P. Taylor State Park.
How many state parks are near Novato?
37 state park units are within 50 miles, and 16 within 25 miles. That includes parks, recreation areas, historic sites and natural areas run by the state.
Which state parks near Novato have camping?
15 parks list camping, the nearest being China Camp State Park, Samuel P. Taylor State Park and Mount Tamalpais State Park. Check each park page for site types, hookups and how to reserve.
Are dogs allowed at state parks near Novato?
Yes, at 24 parks, including Olompali State Historic Park, China Camp State Park and Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Dogs usually must be leashed, and some areas such as beaches or buildings may be off-limits.
Are there free state parks near Novato?
None of the nearby parks list free entry; most charge a daily vehicle fee or accept an annual pass. Fees are on each park page.
State parks near other cities
- Near Petaluma, CA12 mi north
- Near Mill Valley, CA12 mi south
- Near Vallejo, CA16 mi east
- Near Napa, CA20 mi northeast
- Near Berkeley, CA20 mi southeast
- Near Santa Rosa, CA26 mi north
- Near Oakland, CA28 mi southeast
- Near Fairfield, CA31 mi northeast
Or see all California state parks or every city we cover.
Built from official park data and updated as parks change; this list was last rebuilt Oct 30, 2026. Features shown are those the official source lists. Filter these parks on the map.