State Parks Near San Francisco, California
25 state park units lie within 50 miles of San Francisco. The closest is Samuel P. Taylor State Park, about 26 mi northeast of town. None are within 25 miles, so plan on a half-day trip.
- Closest park
- Samuel P. Taylor State Park26 mi northeast
- Within 25 miles
- 0of 25 within 50 mi
- With camping
- 8parks list campsites
- Dog-friendly
- 17pets allowed
State parks near San Francisco, nearest first
Straight-line distance from central San Francisco; driving distance is usually longer.
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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →San Gregorio State Beach
Things to do include surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for San Gregorio State Beach →Pomponio State Beach
Things to do include surfing, historic sites, boating, swimming, and fishing. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Pomponio State Beach →Pescadero State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Pescadero State Beach →Bean Hollow State Beach
The park supports surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Bean Hollow State Beach →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 →
Best picks by activity
Camping near San Francisco
- Samuel P. Taylor State Park 26 mi northeast · Campground listed
- Mount Tamalpais State Park 28 mi northeast · Campground listed
- Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park 30 mi north · Campground listed
- San Bruno Mountain State Park 33 mi east · Campground listed
- Angel Island State Park 33 mi east · Campground listed
+ 3 more in the list above
Dog-friendly state parks near San Francisco
- Samuel P. Taylor State Park 26 mi northeast · Pets allowed under park rules
- Tomales Bay State Park 28 mi north · Pets allowed under park rules
- Mount Tamalpais State Park 28 mi northeast · Pets allowed under park rules
- Gray Whale Cove State Beach 31 mi east · Pets allowed under park rules
- Montara State Beach 31 mi southeast · Pets allowed under park rules
+ 12 more in the list above
Swimming near San Francisco
- Tomales Bay State Park 28 mi north · Beach, pool or swim area
- Mount Tamalpais State Park 28 mi northeast · Beach, pool or swim area
- Pacifica State Beach 30 mi east · Beach, pool or swim area
- Gray Whale Cove State Beach 31 mi east · Beach, pool or swim area
- Montara State Beach 31 mi southeast · Beach, pool or swim area
+ 13 more in the list above
Hiking near San Francisco
- Samuel P. Taylor State Park 26 mi northeast · Hiking trails listed
- Tomales Bay State Park 28 mi north · Hiking trails listed
- Mount Tamalpais State Park 28 mi northeast · Hiking trails listed
- Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park 30 mi north · Hiking trails listed
- Pacifica State Beach 30 mi east · Hiking trails listed
+ 16 more in the list above
Fishing near San Francisco
- Tomales Bay State Park 28 mi north · Fishing listed
- Mount Tamalpais State Park 28 mi northeast · Fishing listed
- Pacifica State Beach 30 mi east · Fishing listed
- Gray Whale Cove State Beach 31 mi east · Fishing listed
- Montara State Beach 31 mi southeast · Fishing listed
+ 13 more in the list above
Questions about state parks near San Francisco
What is the closest state park to San Francisco?
Samuel P. Taylor State Park is the closest, about 26 miles northeast of San Francisco in a straight line. Next are Tomales Bay State Park and Mount Tamalpais State Park.
How many state parks are near San Francisco?
25 state park units are within 50 miles, and 0 within 25 miles. That includes parks, recreation areas, historic sites and natural areas run by the state.
Which state parks near San Francisco have camping?
8 parks list camping, the nearest being Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Mount Tamalpais State Park and Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park. Check each park page for site types, hookups and how to reserve.
Are dogs allowed at state parks near San Francisco?
Yes, at 17 parks, including Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Tomales Bay State Park and Mount Tamalpais 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 San Francisco?
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 Mill Valley, CA30 mi northeast
- Near Novato, CA36 mi northeast
- Near San Mateo, CA41 mi east
- Near Berkeley, CA41 mi east
- Near Petaluma, CA42 mi northeast
- Near Oakland, CA44 mi east
- Near Vallejo, CA49 mi northeast
- Near Menlo Park, CA51 mi east
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.