Doran Regional Park

Doran Regional Park

Doran Regional Park is a Sonoma County regional park campground on a sand spit between Bodega Harbor and Bodega Bay on California's North Coast. Our California pillar guide calls it the Sonoma Coast's best-kept RV secret, because the sites are genuinely on the beach rather than beach-adjacent. It suits experienced dry campers who want a raw coastal experience with a fraction of the Big Sur crowds and none of the highway drama, plus easy access to Bodega Bay's seafood and the Sonoma Coast State Park beaches to the north.

Hookups	None (dry camping)
Sites	128 sites, max 31 ft recommended
Cost	$35–45/night
Reservations	Mix of reservable and first-come, first-served
Cell signal	Moderate (AT&T and Verizon reliable)
Best for	Experienced dry campers wanting genuine beachfront

Hookups

None (dry camping)

Sites

128 sites, max 31 ft recommended

Cost

$35–45/night

Reservations

Mix of reservable and first-come, first-served

Cell signal

Moderate (AT&T and Verizon reliable)

Best for

Experienced dry campers wanting genuine beachfront

Why RVers stay here

Practically this is dry camping: no hookups across 128 sites, a recommended maximum of 31 feet, and rates of $35 to $45 a night. Part of the inventory is reservable and part is first-come, first-served, with a two-week maximum stay. Cell signal is moderate, with AT&T and Verizon reliable. The trade-off is weather: exposure to wind and summer fog that can settle in for days and drop temperatures into the low 50s even in July. The Owl Loop sites offer the best wind protection, and packing layers is not optional.

✓Sites that are literally on the sand between Bodega Harbor and Bodega Bay

✓The raw coastal experience without Big Sur's crowds or Highway 1 stress

✓Bodega Bay's working fishing village and seafood a short hop away

✓Moderate cell signal, with AT&T and Verizon reliable

!No hookups and a 31-foot recommended maximum

!Wind exposure and summer fog that can last days; the Owl Loop shelters best

!Only part of the inventory is reservable, and there is a two-week maximum stay

What our guides say about Doran Regional Park

Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.

Regional guide

Best RV Parks in California: From Big Sur to Joshua Tree

Doran Regional Park is the Sonoma Coast's best-kept RV secret, and we almost did not include it here because we selfishly want it to stay that way. The park sits on a sand spit between Bodega Harbor and Bodega Bay, with sites that are genuinely on the beach. Not "beach-adjacent." Not "ocean views if you stand on your roof." On the sand.

The trade-off is the usual one for coastal Sonoma: no hookups, exposure to wind, and fog that can settle in for days during summer. This is a dry camping situation with a two-week maximum stay, and the sites are first-come, first-served for a portion of the inventory. The park accepts rigs up to 31 feet, though we have seen larger rigs squeeze in during off-peak times.

Bodega Bay itself is a working fishing village with excellent seafood, a handful of good restaurants, and easy access to the Sonoma Coast State Park beaches stretching north. If you have read this far and are still thinking about Big Sur, consider this: Doran gives you the raw coastal experience that Big Sur promises, with a fraction of the crowds and none of the highway drama.

Field tip: The Owl Loop sites offer the best wind protection. If you are visiting in summer, pack layers — Bodega Bay fog can drop temps into the low 50s even in July.

Read the guide →

Doran Regional Park: frequently asked questions

Does Doran Regional Park have hookups?

No. Doran is dry camping with no hookups at any site.

How much does Doran Regional Park cost per night?

Our guide lists $35 to $45 per night. Confirm with Sonoma County Regional Parks.

What is the max RV length at Doran Regional Park?

31 feet is the recommended maximum. We have seen larger rigs squeeze in during off-peak times, but do not count on it.

Do you need reservations at Doran Regional Park?

A portion of the sites are reservable and a portion are first-come, first-served, with a two-week maximum stay.

Which are the best sites at Doran Regional Park?

The Owl Loop sites offer the best wind protection. Whatever loop you choose, pack layers; summer fog can drop temperatures into the low 50s.