RV Rental San Rafael, CA

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Located on the San Pablo Bay, 20 miles north and over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco is San Rafael. The town, now home to almost 58,000 people, was once home to the indigenous Coast Miwok people. The Miwok Indians occupied the area from the Golden Gate to north of Bodega Bay and helped build the San Rafael Mission. When the Spanish colonized California and founded Mission San Rafael Arcangel, the Miwok people were soon wiped out. According to retired Bishop Francis A. Quinn, the Miwok people were mistreated by the Church with the destruction of their spiritual practices and were cruelly punished for any disobedience. By the 1800s, Chinese settlers established a village at China Camp and supported themselves by shrimp fishing in San Pablo Bay. Due to laws passed in the early 1900s restricting the export of shrimp, closing the height of shrimp season, and prohibiting shrimping with nets, the population of China Camp greatly declined. The land remained owned by the Quon family until it was sold in 1976 to the California State Parks Foundation, who later sold the property to the State of California to create China Camp State Park.

Today, San Rafael is a thriving city with many historical buildings, including the Marin County Civic Center - a building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and considered to be his most unique design and his last major commissioned work. RV enthusiasts will find San Rafael a perfect location for a relaxing vacation, whether playing on the beaches of San Pablo, hiking the many trails in China Camp National Park, or taking a day trip into San Francisco, there’s a lot to experience when you book an RV in San Rafael, California.

Discover San Rafael


The Great Outdoors

San Rafael has a very unique location with access to beaches, mountains, big cities, historical places, and unlimited day trips to Napa Valley. It is in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which includes Marin County and San Francisco. Here you can experience all that nature has to offer. You can hike from the ocean to the top of Montara Mountain at Rancho Corral de Tierra, visit the plaque in honor of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Muir Woods’ Cathedral Grove, and hike the park’s many trails. If you go to Muir Beach Overlook between the months of December through February you can even see the whales as they make their yearly migration! Observe amphibians, birds of prey, exotic redwoods and more - all within a day’s drive from your rental RV in San Rafael.

RV Parks

There a numerous RV Parks near San Rafael, California, where you can park your RV rental and leave for the day knowing your property will be safe and secure. Forty-five minutes from San Rafael is Tradewinds RV Park. Here, you’ll be guaranteed full hookups for your RV rental, and lots of fun to be had hanging at the clubhouse, playing in the gameroom, and hiking the trails. If you’re looking to stay within Marin County, Marin RV Park and Novato RV Park are great choices. Both of these RV parks offer full hookups and more for your RV rental, and are only minutes away from the Golden Gate Bridge, and close enough so that you can easily enjoy the city life of San Francisco while also getting to experience the quiet country. The adventure is just beginning when you rent an RV in San Rafael, CA.

Exploring the City

San Rafael is rich in culture, history and recreation activities. There are 19 parks throughout the city where you can enjoy hiking, biking, or just relaxing on the sandy beach of San Pablo Bay. If visiting museums is your passion, there are plenty of them to visit in San Rafael. The World War II US Military Vehicle Museum has a large collection of military vehicles including 65 Tanks, as well as an M19 Gun Motor Carriage. Marin History Museum boasts historical collections documenting life in Marin County from the time of the Miwok Indians to present time. Bolinas Art Museum collects, preserves, and exhibits the art and history of Coastal Marin County. Marin County Civic Center was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and Mission San Rafael Arcangel - a restored Spanish mission - are all within walking distance in San Rafael. Dining can be a mouth-watering challenge when deciding which restaurant to try next! Of the many restaurants in San Rafael, you can find not only California cuisine ranging from seasonal entrees to fusion cuisine, but also Mexican, Thai, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese food as well. Nightlife in San Rafael is lively with many bars, pubs, lounges, wine bars, dance clubs. If this isn’t enough, San Francisco is only a few minutes away and waiting to fulfill your craving for the big-city life.

There is so much to discover in northern California, so rent an RV in San Rafael, hit the road and let your the adventures begin!

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Popular nearby hiking trails and campgrounds


  • Hiking TrailLocation
  • Wood Oaks Trail, CASan Rafael, CA
  • Santa Margarita Island Open Space Preserve, CASan Rafael, CA
  • Phoenix Lake Trail, CADeer Park, CA
  • Hidden Meadow - Yolanda Trails, CADeer Park, CA
  • King Mountain Loop Trail, CAGolden Gate National Recreation Area, CA
  • Tucker Trail, CAMount Tamalpais State Park, CA
  • Baltimore Canyon Trail, CAKentfield, CA
  • Hoo-Koo-E-Koo Trail, CAMill Valley, CA
  • Huckleberry Trail, CALarkspur, CA
  • Terra Linda - Sleepy Hollow Ridge Trails, CASan Rafael, CA

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