State Parks Near Sunnyvale, California
51 state park units lie within 50 miles of Sunnyvale. The closest is Castle Rock State Park, about 11 mi south of town. 15 parks are within 25 miles, close enough for an evening visit.
- Closest park
- Castle Rock State Park11 mi south
- Within 25 miles
- 15of 51 within 50 mi
- With camping
- 24parks list campsites
- Dog-friendly
- 33pets allowed
State parks near Sunnyvale, nearest first
Straight-line distance from central Sunnyvale; driving distance is usually longer.
Castle Rock State Park
Popular activities here are horseback riding, historic sites, geocaching, and hiking. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites).
Hours, fees and rules for Castle Rock State Park →Portola Redwoods State Park
The park supports historic sites, swimming, geocaching, picnicking, and hiking. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Portola Redwoods State Park →Martial Cottle Park State Recreation Area
In Santa Clara County, about 3 miles southwest of San Jose, Martial Cottle Park State Recreation Area covers about 137 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Martial Cottle Park State Recreation Area →Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Popular activities here are surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, swimming, and ranger programs.
Hours, fees and rules for Big Basin Redwoods State 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 →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 →Butano State Park
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, geocaching, and biking. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites and tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Butano State Park →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 →Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area
Popular activities here are surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, boating, and swimming. On the water side, there is a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Lake Del Valle 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 →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 →Año Nuevo State Park
Popular activities here are historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, picnicking, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Año Nuevo State Park →Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, fishing, ranger programs, and wildlife watching. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites and tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park →Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
The park supports surfing, historic sites, swimming, fishing, and ranger programs. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park →Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
The park supports historic sites, ranger programs, geocaching, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park →The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
The park supports historic sites, geocaching, picnicking, and hiking. The official site lists about 30 miles of trails. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites).
Hours, fees and rules for The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park →New Brighton State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, fishing, geocaching, and hiking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers).
Hours, fees and rules for New Brighton 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 →Seacliff State Beach
Popular activities here are surfing, fishing, geocaching, biking, and picnicking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Seacliff State Beach →Twin Lakes State Beach
Popular activities here are surfing, boating, swimming, fishing, and geocaching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Twin Lakes 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 →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 →Wilder Ranch State Park
Things to do include horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Wilder Ranch State Park →Henry W. Coe State Park
Popular activities here are horseback riding, historic sites, boating, fishing, and ranger programs. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites, tent sites, and group camping.
Hours, fees and rules for Henry W. Coe 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 →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 →Lighthouse Field State Beach
Things to do include historic sites, fishing, wildlife watching, geocaching, and biking. Water access includes a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Lighthouse Field State Beach →Natural Bridges State Beach
The park supports surfing, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Natural Bridges 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 →Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
Its trail network totals roughly 80 miles, according to the park.
Hours, fees and rules for Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area →Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe Park Property
The park supports historic sites and ranger programs.
Hours, fees and rules for Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe Park Property →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 →Manresa State Beach
Things to do include surfing, fishing, geocaching, and hiking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Manresa 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 →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 →Sunset State Beach
The park supports surfing, fishing, geocaching, picnicking, and hiking. Water access includes a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Sunset State Beach →Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area
Visitors come for surfing, boating, fishing, wildlife watching, and biking. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Bethany Reservoir 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 →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 →Marsh Creek State Park State Historic Park
The park supports historic sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Marsh Creek State Park State Historic Park →Zmudowski State Beach
Popular activities here are surfing, swimming, fishing, wildlife watching, and geocaching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Zmudowski State Beach →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 →Moss Landing State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. On the water side, there is a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Moss Landing State Beach →Salinas River State Beach
Visitors come for surfing, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Salinas River State Beach →San Juan Bautista State Historic Park
The park supports historic sites, ranger programs, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for San Juan Bautista State Historic Park →Benicia Capitol State Historic Park
Popular activities here are historic sites and ranger programs.
Hours, fees and rules for Benicia Capitol State Historic 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 →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 →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 →Marina State Beach
The park supports surfing, swimming, fishing, geocaching, and picnicking. Water access includes a swimming beach.
Hours, fees and rules for Marina State Beach →
Best picks by activity
Camping near Sunnyvale
- Castle Rock State Park 11 mi south · Campground listed
- Portola Redwoods State Park 13 mi southwest · Campground listed
- Butano State Park 21 mi southwest · Campground listed
- Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area 23 mi northeast · Campground listed
- Half Moon Bay State Beach 24 mi west · Campground listed
+ 19 more in the list above
Dog-friendly state parks near Sunnyvale
- Portola Redwoods State Park 13 mi southwest · Pets allowed under park rules
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park 18 mi southwest · Pets allowed under park rules
- San Gregorio State Beach 21 mi west · Pets allowed under park rules
- Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Park Property 21 mi west · Pets allowed under park rules
- Butano State Park 21 mi southwest · Pets allowed under park rules
+ 28 more in the list above
Swimming near Sunnyvale
- Portola Redwoods State Park 13 mi southwest · Beach, pool or swim area
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park 18 mi southwest · Beach, pool or swim area
- San Gregorio State Beach 21 mi west · Beach, pool or swim area
- Pomponio State Beach 22 mi west · Beach, pool or swim area
- Pescadero State Beach 22 mi west · Beach, pool or swim area
+ 28 more in the list above
Hiking near Sunnyvale
- Castle Rock State Park 11 mi south · Hiking trails listed
- Portola Redwoods State Park 13 mi southwest · Hiking trails listed
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park 18 mi southwest · Hiking trails listed
- Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Park Property 21 mi west · Hiking trails listed
- Butano State Park 21 mi southwest · Hiking trails listed
+ 33 more in the list above
Fishing near Sunnyvale
- San Gregorio State Beach 21 mi west · Fishing listed
- Pomponio State Beach 22 mi west · Fishing listed
- Pescadero State Beach 22 mi west · Fishing listed
- Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area 23 mi northeast · Fishing listed
- Half Moon Bay State Beach 24 mi west · Fishing listed
+ 27 more in the list above
Questions about state parks near Sunnyvale
What is the closest state park to Sunnyvale?
Castle Rock State Park is the closest, about 11 miles south of Sunnyvale in a straight line. Next are Portola Redwoods State Park and Martial Cottle Park State Recreation Area.
How many state parks are near Sunnyvale?
51 state park units are within 50 miles, and 15 within 25 miles. That includes parks, recreation areas, historic sites and natural areas run by the state.
Which state parks near Sunnyvale have camping?
24 parks list camping, the nearest being Castle Rock State Park, Portola Redwoods State Park and Butano State Park. Check each park page for site types, hookups and how to reserve.
Are dogs allowed at state parks near Sunnyvale?
Yes, at 33 parks, including Portola Redwoods State Park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park and San Gregorio State Beach. Dogs usually must be leashed, and some areas such as beaches or buildings may be off-limits.
Are there free state parks near Sunnyvale?
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 Saratoga, CA8 mi south
- Near Newark, CA8 mi north
- Near Fremont, CA9 mi northeast
- Near Menlo Park, CA9 mi northwest
- Near San Jose, CA13 mi southeast
- Near Union City, CA15 mi north
- Near San Mateo, CA20 mi northwest
- Near Livermore, CA25 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.