Van Damme State Park Campground is along the Mendocino coast, a few miles south of the town of Mendocino. Campers at the park have access to the wonders of Van Damme State Park.
Visitors to Van Damme State Park enjoy the beach set in a protected cove for wading and launching kayaks. The small cobble and sand beach at Van Damme State Park makes a scenic place for visitors to spread their blankets or set up their beach chairs for a few hours of sunshine and refreshing sea breeze.
Scuba divers appreciate the easy access to the ocean. Close offshore are several reefs to for experienced divers to explore, while nearby along the coast are caves and inlets. Kayak Mendocino offers sea cave tours starting from Van Damme beach.
◊ Fern Canyon Scenic Trail - available for hiking, jogging, and cycling. Begins east of the beach and goes up Little River valley through redwood forest lined with ferns and a small waterfall.
Van Damme State Park Trails
Fern Canyon Trail Guide
◊ Spring Ranch Trail - begins off Hwy. 1 at Gordon Lane, leads to coast, connects to Chapman Trail and Peterson Trail
◊ Pygmy Forest Self-Guided Nature Boardwalk - off Little River Airport Road - boardwalk trail is about 300 yards long but connects to other hiking opportunities.
◊ Bog Trail is a short hike near the park entrance.
While hiking park trails, birders have opportunities to spot warblers, swallows, Allen's hummingbird, red crossbills, and many others. In summer the park offers campfire programs, guided hikes, and Junior Rangers.
◊ Mendocino Whale Festival - first 3 weeks in March - Mendocino Whale Festival
◊ Mendocino Music Festival - usually held in mid-July - Mendocino Music Festival
◊ Mendocino Historic Walking Tours - Saturdays and Sundays at the Kelly House in Mendocino
◊ Mendocino Headlands - spectacular, rugged coast by the town of Mendocino - Mendocino Headlands
◊ Whale Watching Tours - Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg - Facebook: All Aboard Adventures
◊ Canoe Big River Estuary - rent a small craft at Standford Inn on south shore of Big River. Standford Inn Rental Boats
Van Damme State Park Campground offers some of the best camping in the area with sites beside Little River and others higher on a ridge in an area known as Highland Meadow. In all, the park offers 68 campsites. Five of the sites at the eastern end of the campground are designated for tents-only, while the rest can accommodate RVs, trailers, and tents. Campsites have picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and food lockers. Driveways are gravel.
In addition, there are 9 environmental campsites requiring a couple of miles of hiking up Little River from the main campground to reach (currently closed for maintenance, 2025). Van Damme State Park also has a Hike & Bike campsite and a Group Campsite.
| Basics | |
|---|---|
| Van Damme State Park Campground Location: | Highway 1, three miles south of Mendocino |
| Elevation: | 50 feet |
| Mileage from gateway cities: | Willits - 44 miles
Santa Rosa - 104 miles |
| Number of Sites: | 68 |
| Camping Season: | Open year-round |
| Max. People per Site: | 8 (including children) |
| Vehicles per Site: | 1 driven and 1 legally towed (fee for additional vehicles) |
| Pets: | on leash, always attended |
| Operated by | California State Parks |
| Van Damme State Park Information | (707) 937-5804 |
| Reservations | |
|---|---|
| Reservations recommended: | Van Damme State Park Campground campsites 1 - 13 can be reserved year-round. Other campsites are available first-come, first-served. From late March through early September all campsites may be reserved. Still, some campsites may be available first-come, first-served. |
| Booking Window: | Reservations taken from 2 days up to 6 months in advance of your arrival. |
| Maximum RV/trailer Length: | 35 feet |
| Wheelchair accessible Sites: | #7 and #10, Generally accessible combination toilet room/shower is located near campsite 11. Accessible Features at Van Damme State Park |
| Fees: | $45 per night Hike & Bike - $5 per person Enroute primitive site - $35 |
| Online Reservations at ReserveCalifornia: | Van Damme State Park Campground Reservations
or call (800) 444-PARK (7275) between 8 AM and 6 PM |
| Check-in, check-out: | Check-in: 2:00 PM Check-out: Noon |
| Van Damme State Park Campground Amenities | |
|---|---|
| Campsites: | Picnic table, food locker, grill and fire ring; no hook-ups |
| Campground: | Restrooms with flush toilets, tap water, amphitheater |
| Campground Map: | Van Damme State Park Campground Map |
| Showers: | Yes |
| Dump station: | Yes |
| Attractions near Van Damme State Park Campground: |
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| Updates | Last Updated April 2025 |
Van Damme State Park Group Campsite
Van Damme State Park has one group tent campsite for between 9 and 50 people and up to 15 vehicles (or 10 autos and 4 RVs). The maximum vehicle length is 27 feet. The group site is open from late March through November.
Fee: $160 per night
Reservations: Van Damme State Park Campground Reservations
Van Damme State Park Campground
Visitors to Mendocino enjoy exploring the coast and visiting the little beaches along the way and stopping at rocky points. Campers at Van Damme State Park Campground one of the area's best kayaking and diving beaches just steps from their campsites.
Check for any campground and park updates.
Opening and closing dates of campgrounds are only estimates, usually dependent on snow conditions. Not all campsites can accommodate trailers or RVs of all lengths. Check carefully on the website when you make your reservation to be sure your vehicle will fit your campsite.
In order to prevent the spread of invasive insects, purchase firewood locally.
Designated Accessible sites are usually reserved for people with disabilities who have a vehicle displaying an accessible parking placard or license plate.
Reviews from Previous Campers
2024