Van Damme State Park Campground is found along the Mendocino coast, a few miles south of the town of Mendocino. Van Damme State Park offers some of the best camping in the area with campsites along the Little River and others higher on a ridge in an area known as Highland Meadow. Visitors to Van Damme State Park enjoy the beach set in a protected cove, scuba diving, abalone fishing, kayaking, hiking, and sight-seeing.
Van Damme State Park Campground has 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. In addition, there are 9 environmental campsites requiring a couple of miles of hiking up Little River from the main campground to reach. Van Damme State Park also has a Hike & Bike campsite and a Group Campsite.
Notice: A temporary (2024) single-lane bridge has been installed to allow for access to campsites on the east side of Little River. The narrow bridge is very difficult for large RVs and those pulling trailers to negotiate. Read the detailed information on the park website: Van Damme State Park.
| Van Damme State Park Campground 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 for Van Damme State Park Campground | |
|---|---|
| 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: | None designated, but accessible features |
| Fees: | $45 per night ($45 in off-season) 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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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 Van Damme State Park for any campground 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